Instruction Manual
8" LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopewith Autostar Hand Controller

Meade Instruments Corporation

The Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System
(2)

(1)

(1)

(2)
Ray (2)Ray (1)
(2)
(1)
Focal
Plane

Secondary
MirrorSecondaryBafflePrimary Baffle Tube
Field Stops
Primary Mirror

Correcting
Plate

In the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the Meade LX90, light enters from the right, passes through a thin lens with 2-sided
aspheric correction (“correcting plate”), proceeds to a spherical primary mirror, and then to a convex secondary mirror. The
convex secondary mirror multiplies the effective focal length of the primary mirror and results in a focus at the focal plane,
with light passing through a central perforation in the primary mirror.
The Meade 8" LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain includes an oversize primary mirror of an 8.25" diameter, yielding a fully illuminated field-of-view significantly wider than is possible with a standard-size primary mirror. Note that light ray (2) in the figure would be lost entirely, except for the oversize primary. It is this phenomenon which results in Meade SchmidtCassegrains having off-axis field illuminations about 10% greater, aperture-for-aperture, than other Schmidt-Cassegrains
utilizing standard-size primary mirrors. Field stops machined into the inside-diameter surface of the primary mirror baffle
tube significantly increase lunar, planetary, and deep-space image contrast. These field stops effectively block off-axis straylight rays.

® The name "Meade" and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. "LX90" is a trademark of Meade Instruments Corporation.
© 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation.

CONTENTS
WARNING!
Never use a Meade® LX90 Telescope tolook at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun
will cause instant and irreversible damage toyour eye. Eye damage is often painless, so
there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not
point the telescope or its viewfinder at ornear the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving.
Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

CAUTION: Use care to install batteries in
the orientation indicated by illustration in thebattery slots of the battery holder. Follow
battery manufacturer's precautions. Do notinstall batteries backwards or mix new andused batteries. Do not mix battery types. If
these precautions are not followed, batteries
may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly
installed batteries void your Meade warranty.

If you are anxious to use your telescope
for the first time, read the QUICK-STARTGUIDE on pages 4 and 5.

Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4
Telescope Features ...................................................... 6
Autostar Features .......................................................... 9
Getting Started ..............................................................12Parts Listing ..............................................................12
How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope ..............12
How to Assemble Your Telescope ............................12
Choosing an Eyepiece ..............................................14
Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder ....................14
Observing ......................................................................15
Observing By Moving the Telescope Manually ........15
Terrestrial Observing ................................................15
Observing Using Autostar's Arrow Keys ..................15
Slew Speeds ............................................................16
Observe the Moon ....................................................16
Astronomical Observing ............................................17
To Track an Object Automatically..............................17
Alt/Az Home Position ..........................................17
Moving Through Autostar’s Menus......................17
Initializing Autostar ..............................................17
Observe a Star Using Automatic Tracking ..........18
Easy (Two-Star) Align ..............................................19
Go To Saturn ............................................................20
Using the Guided Tour ..............................................20
Basic Autostar Operation................................................21
Autostar Navigation Exercise ....................................21Entering Data into Autostar ......................................22
Navigating Autostar ..................................................22
Menus and Menu Options ..............................................23
Complete Autostar Menu Structure ..........................23
Objects Menu ............................................................23
Event Menu ..............................................................24
Glossary Menu ..........................................................25
Utilities Menu ............................................................25
Setup Menu ..............................................................26
Advanced Autostar Features ..........................................29
Adding Observing Sites ............................................29
Finding Objects Not in the Database ........................30
Observing Satellites ..................................................31
How to Create Your Own Guided Tour ....................32
Landmarks ................................................................35
Identify ......................................................................36
Advanced Alt/Az Alignment ......................................37
Browse ......................................................................37
Photography with the LX90 ............................................38
Optional Accessories ......................................................39
Maintenance ..................................................................41
Collimation ..........................................................41
Inspecting the Optics ..........................................43
Gauging the Movement of the Telescope............43
Meade Customer Service ....................................43
Specifications ......................................................44
Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment ......................45
Appendix B: Helpful Charts ............................................48
Appendix C: Training the Drive ......................................49
Basic Astronomy ............................................................50
A Roadmap to the Stars ................................................52QUICK-START GUIDE
It is recommended that you attach the supplied tripod to the LX90 for observing. Perform the telescope and Autostar
setup indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing.



1.



Remove the field tripod from the shipping carton.
Stand the tripod vertically with the tripod feetdown and with the tripod still fully collapsed.
Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the fullweight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull thelegs apart to a fully open position.

4.



Remove the spreader bar (see above figure) fromthe shipping carton. Slide the spreader bar onto
the threaded rod and position the rod backthrough the tripod head. Place the "C" clip into theslot in the threaded rod – this clip holds thethreaded rod in place. Position the spreader bar
so that its three arms line up with the three tripod
legs.



2.

Thread in two lock-knobs on each leg (six total)
near the foot of each tripod leg. Use the lockknobs to vary the height of the inner, extendible
tripod leg sections. Tighten the locks to a firm feel
only; do not overtighten.



ThreadedRod“C” Clip

5.

3.

Remove the threaded rod (see above figure) fromthe tripod head. A small piece of plastic holds thethreaded rod in place. Remove the small plastic
bag that is stapled to the threaded rod. This bag
contains the "C" clip retainer and an extra clip.

4

Take the LX90 from its packaging and place theentire telescope onto the top of the tripod head,inserting the threaded rod into the central hole inthe bottom of the drive base of the telescope.
Tighten the tension knob (see above figure) to a
firm feel only; firm tightening of the tension knob issufficient to result in rigid positioning of the tripod
legs.

BatteryCompartment

Rib
Slew Speeds:
Speed 9: Fast
.
Arrow
.
.
Keys
Speed 5: Medium.
.
.
Speed 1: Slow
NumberKeys

9.
Battery
Holder6.

Remove the covers from both battery compartments located on top of the drive base and carefully lift the battery holders from their compartments,
being mindful of the connector wires. Insert four(user-supplied) C-cell batteries into each battery
holder (eight batteries total), oriented as shown on
the diagram on the battery holder.

Press the key prompted by Autostar to accept the
Sun warning. You can now use the Arrow keys toslew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left.
To change the telescope’s slew speed, press the
Number keys. "9" is the fastest speed and "1" isslowest speed. See page 16 for more details.
R.A.
Lock

Return the battery holders to the battery compartment. See the diagram above. Replace the covers
when you are done.
Dec
Lock



10. Tighten, to a firm feel only, the Dec and R.A. locks(6 and 9, Fig. 1). See page 7 for more information. Remove the dust cover from the end of thetelescope tube.
Thumbscrew

HBX Port

7.

ON/OFF

Autostar Coil
Cable Port

Slide the computer control panel power switch toOFF, if necessary. Remove the Autostar handbox
and the Autostar interface cable from the packing
materials. Plug one end into the HBX port of thecomputer control panel and plug the other end into
the Coil Cable port on the Autostar handbox.



Thumbscrew

11. Remove the dust cap from the rear cell of the telescope. Thread the eyepiece holder into the rearcell thread. Slide the diagonal prism into the eyepiece holder and lock in place by turning the
thumbscrew to a firm feel.

(c) 00 Meade [2.0]
A U T O S T A R

Place the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece into the
diagonal prism and tighten the attachment thumbscrew to a firm feel only.
8.

Sight along the side of the telescope’s main tube
to locate an object. Use the telescope’s focus
knob (8, Fig. 1) to bring the object into focus.
Practice using the Autostar’s Arrow keys to centeran object in the telescope’s field of view.

Flip the Power Switch on the computer control
panel to the ON position. The copyright message
lights on Autostar’s LCD display.

5

TELESCOPE FEATURES
(not shown;
see below)




















  




Fig. 1: The LX90 Telescope and Autostar Handbox.

6

LX90: Your Personal Window to the Universe
The Meade LX90 is an extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes with features similar to
those available only with larger and more specialized imaging systems. With pushbutton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects, and software downloading capability, the LX90 telescope may be all the telescope ever required by many terrestrial and astronomical observers.
Your LX90 telescope reveals nature in an ever-expanding level of detail. Observe the feather
structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of
800 million miles. Focus beyond the Solar System and observe majestic nebulae, ancient starclusters, remote galaxies, and even stars recently discovered to have planets orbiting about
them. Meade LX90 telescopes are instruments fully capable of growing with your interest andare ideal for both the casual observer and serious astronomer alike.

CAUTION:
Using products otherthan standard
Meade accessories
may cause damage
to the telescope’s
internal electronics
and may void the
Meade warranty.

 Eyepiece - Place the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece into the eyepiece holder or 90° diagonal prism (4, Fig. 1) and tighten in place with the thumbscrews. The eyepiece magnifies
the image collected in the optical tube.

 Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew - Tightens the eyepiece in place. Tighten to a firm feelonly.

 Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece in place Diagonal Prism - provides a more comfortable right angle viewing position. Slide the diagonal prism directly into the eyepiece holder (3, Fig. 1)

 Optical Tube - The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects andbrings this light to a focus for examination through the eyepiece.

 Dec Lock - Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the Dec lockcounterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about thevertical axis. Turning the Dec lock clockwise (to a firm feel only) prevents the telescopefrom being moved manually, but engages the vertical motor drive for Autostar operation.
NOTE: The Dec lock knob is a knurled knob located on the fork arm to the right of
the focus knob (8, Fig. 1).
CAUTION: When loosening the Dec lock, be sure to support the optical tube (5,Fig. 1). The weight of the tube could cause the tube to swing through the fork armssuddenly.

 Fork Arms - Hold the optical tube in place.
 Focus Knob - Moves the telescope’s primary mirror in a finely-controlled motion to achieveprecise image focus. The LX90 telescope can be focused on objects from a distance ofabout 25 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob counterclockwise to focus on distant objects,
and clockwise to focus on nearby objects.

 R.A. Lock - Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Turning the R.A. lockcounterclockwise unlocks the telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about thehorizontal axis. Turning the R.A. lock clockwise prevents the telescope from being rotatedmanually, and engages the horizontal motor drive for Autostar operation.
Right Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle - See "APPENDIX A," page 45, for detailed information.
Declination (Dec) Setting Circle (on left fork arm) - See "APPENDIX A," page 45, fordetailed information.
Declination Pointer - Line up the desired Declination setting with this pointer.

7 Computer Control Panel
A. Handbox (HBX) Port - Plug the Autostar coil cord (10, Fig. 2) into this port.
B. LED - The red power indicator light illuminates when power is supplied to
the Autostar handbox and to the telescope’s motor drive.
C. ON/OFF Switch - Turns the Computer Control Panel and Autostar ON or OFF.
D. Auxiliary (AUX) Port (2) - Provides connection for current and future Meade
accessories, such as the Meade Accessory Port Module. See “OPTIONALACCESSORIES,” page 39.
E. 12v Power Connector - provides connection so that the telescope assembly
may be powered from either a 12v DC auto cigarette light plug or from a standard 115v AC home outlet using optionally available 25' power cords.

 Autostar with coil cord - See page 9 for a description of Autostar’s features.
 Dust Cover- Gently pry the dust cover from the front lens of the telescope.
NOTE: The dust cover should be replaced after each observing session and thepower turned off to the telescope. Verify that any dew that might have collectedduring the observing session has evaporated prior to replacing the dust cover.

 Battery Compartments - Insert four (user-supplied) C-cell batteries in each compartment (eight batteries total).

 Viewfinder - A low-power, wide-field sighting scope with crosshairs that enable easy
centering of objects in the telescope eyepiece.

 Viewfinder Collimation Screws - Use these screws to adjust the alignment of the
viewfinder. See "Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder," page 14.

8

AUTOSTAR FEATURES
















Fig. 2: The LX90 Autostar Handbox.

Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button
Control of the LX90 is through the operation of the standard-equipment Autostar. Nearly all
functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar’s buttons. Someof the major features of Autostar are:•Automatically move the telescope to any of over 30,000 objects stored in the database or
manually enter the astronomical coordinates of any celestial object.

•

Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year.

•

Download the latest satellite data and software revisions directly from the Meade website(www.meade.com) and share software with other Autostar enthusiasts. (Requires optional #505 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 39.)•

Control your LX90 with your PC using an RS-232 interface.

•

Access a glossary of astronomical terms.

•

Calculate which eyepiece to use for optimum viewing of a celestial object.

•

Mount the telescope in the “Alt/Az” mode (Altitude - Azimuth, or vertical - horizontal) for
fully automatic tracking of celestial objects.

•

Extensive long-exposure astrophotography and CCD imaging capability is available whenthe LX90 is mounted in the "Equatorial" (Polar) mode using an optional mounting wedge.

9The Autostar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope function within
a compact handbox. Autostar has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in thedark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make Autostar extremelyuser friendly.
NOTE: Autostar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power
to Autostar.
NOTE:
Throughout this manual, you will notice
the term "Alt/Az."
Alt/Az is frequently
used to refer to
Altitude (vertical) andAzimuth (horizontal).
Alt/Az is just one ofmany methods usedby amateur
astronomers to help
locate stars in thenight sky.

 2-Line LCD Display - Provides an interface between Autostar and the telescope.
•

Top line: Lists the primary category or menu item.

•

Bottom line: Contains a menu option or information about an object or subject,depending on which function is being performed.

 ENTER Key - Accesses, in a sequential manner, the next menu or data level in the
Autostar database. See “MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR'S MENUS,” page 17 and“AUTOSTAR’S MENU AND MENU OPTION DESCRIPTIONS,” page 23.
NOTE: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or more and then released, Autostar
emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER to Sync" is relevant only
after the telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. If the "ENTER to
Sync" feature is accessed by mistake, press MODE to return to the previous
screen. See “HIGH PRECISION,” page 27, for more details about this feature.

 MODE Key - Returns to the previous menu or data level in the Autostar database until the
top level, “Select Item," is reached. The MODE key is similar to the ESCAPE key on a computer.
TIP:
To manually enter
the R.A. and Dec
coordinates of an
object:Press and hold
MODE for two seconds or more. The
R.A. and Dec coordinates display. Press
GO TO. "Object
Position" and a set ofcoordinates displays.
Then enter the R.A.
and Dec coordinatesof any celestial object
using Number keys.
As soon as the coordinates are entered,
Autostar slews thetelescope to the coordinates. Note that thetelescope must be
initialized (see page17) and placed in the
Home position (seepage 17) for this procedure to operateproperly.

NOTE: Pressing MODE while in the “Select Item” level moves Autostar to the topmost screen: “Select Item: Object.”
NOTE: If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, information about
the telescope's status is then available using the Scroll keys (7, Fig. 2), such as:• Right Ascension and Declination (astronomical) coordinates (see page 45)• Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal) coordinates• Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST)• Timer and Alarm Status• Accessory Port Module (APM) status. Information concerning these functions aredescribed on the instruction sheets supplied with the APM.
Press MODE again to return to the previous menu.

 GO TO Key - Slews (moves) the telescope to the coordinates of the currently selected
object. While the telescope is slewing, the operation may be aborted at any time by pressing any key except GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumes the slew to the object.

 Arrow Keys - Slew the telescope in a specific direction (up, down, left, and right), at any
one of nine different speeds. Speed selection is explained in “SLEW SPEEDS,” page 16.
The following functions are also available with the Arrow keys:•

Data Entry - Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to scroll through the letters of
the alphabet and numerical digits. The Down Arrow key starts with the letter "A"and the Up Arrow key starts with the digit "9." The Left and Right Arrow keys areused to move the blinking cursor left and right across the LCD display.

•

Alt/Az Alignment - Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move the telescopevertically up and down. The Left Arrow key rotates the telescope horizontallycounterclockwise, while the Right Arrow key rotates it clockwise.

Number Keys - Input digits 0 - 9 and changes the slew speeds (see "SLEW SPEEDS,"
page 16). The "0" key also turns on and off the red utility light on the top of the handbox.

10

 Scroll Keys - Accesses database options within a selected menu. The menu is displayedon the first line of the screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one at a time, on thesecond line. Press the Scroll keys to move through the options. Press and hold a Scroll
key to move quickly through the options.
The Scroll keys also scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits.
NOTE: The Scroll Down key and the Down Arrow key move forward through thealphabet & digits (A to Z, 0 to 9). The Scroll Up key and the Up Arrow key movebackward (Z to A, 9 to 0). Common symbols are also available in the list.

 ? Key - Accesses the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on how to accomplish whatever task is currently active.
Hold down the ? key and then follow the prompts on the display to access details ofAutostar functions in the Help feature. The Help system is essentially an on-screen instruction manual.
If you have a question about an Autostar operation, e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT,
etc., hold down the ? key and follow the directions that scroll on the second line of the LCD
screen. When a word appears in [brackets], press ENTER to access the Autostar
Glossary. A definition or more detailed information is displayed. Press MODE to return tothe scrolling Autostar Help display.
When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the original screen andcontinue with the chosen procedure.

 Coil Cord Port - Plug one end of the Autostar coil cord into this port (11, Fig. 2) located at
the bottom of the Autostar handbox.
Coil Cord - Plug one end of the Autostar
coil cord into the HBX port (13A, Fig. 1)of the computer control panel of the telescope.
RS-232 Port - plug an RS-232 cable into
Autostar for downloading functions suchas "Download" or "Clone." See page 28
for more details.
Utility Light - Use this built-in red light toilluminate star charts and accessories
without disturbing your eye's adaptation
to darkness.

LX90 TIPS
Join an Astronomy Club
Attend a Star Party
One of the fun ways to learn about astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check yourlocal newspaper, school, library, or telescope
dealer/store to find out if there’s a club inyour area.
At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy enthusiasts with whom you will be able
to share your discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way to learn more about observing thesky, to find out where the best observing sites
are, and to compare notes about telescopes,
eyepieces, filters, tripods, and so forth.
Often, club members are excellent astrophotographers. Not only will you be able to see
examples of their art, but you may even beable to pick up some “tricks of the trade” to try
out on your LX90 telescope. See page 38 formore information about photography with the
LX90.
Many groups also hold regularly scheduledStar Parties at which you can check out andobserve with many different telescopes andother pieces of astronomical equipment.
Magazines such as Sky & Telescope andAstronomy print schedules for many popularStar Parties around the United States andCanada.

11

GETTING STARTED
Parts Listing
Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

LX90 Telescope with fork mount system
Autostar handbox and interface coil cord
8 x 50mm viewfinder assembly
Eyepiece holder and 1.25 diagonal prism
Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece, packed in a plastic storage container
Variable height tripod and mounting baseSet of hex wrenches

How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope Assembly
The telescope’s fork mount attaches directly to the field tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an “Altazimuth” (“Altitude-Azimuth,” or “vertical-horizontal”) format. The telescope in thisconfiguration moves along vertical and horizontal axes, corresponding respectively to the
Declination (vertical) and Right Ascension (horizontal) axes in an astronomical observing mode.
The field tripod also can be used in conjunction with the optional equatorial wedge (see "EQUATORIAL WEDGE," page 47) for long exposure astrophotography. The equatorial wedge permits alignment of the telescope’s Polar Axis with the Celestial Pole (or North Star).
1.

After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand the tripod vertically, with thetripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed (see Fig. 3). Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart toa fully open position.

2.

Thread in the 6 lock-knobs (2 on each tripod leg) near the foot of each tripod leg (Fig. 3).
These lock-knobs are used to fix the height of the inner, extendible tripod leg sections.
NOTE: Tightening to a firm-feel is sufficient; over-tightening may result in strippingof the knob threads or damage to the tripod legs and results in no additional
strength.

3.

The spreader bar (4, Fig. 3) has been removed for shipment. To install, first remove thethreaded rod (2, Fig.3) from the tripod head (1, Fig. 3); a small piece of plastic holds thethreaded rod in place. Remove the small plastic bag that is stapled to the threaded rod.
This bag contains the “C” clip retainer and an extra clip.

4.

Slide the spreader bar onto the threaded rod (note the correct orientation as shown in Fig.
4) and position the threaded rod back through the tripod head. Place the clip retainer ( a “C”
clip) into the slot in the threaded rod. This clip holds the threaded rod in place. See Fig. 3.









Fig. 4: Attaching the telescope to the tripod.
Note the orientation of the spreader bar.

Fig. 3: Field Tripod. (1) Tripod Head;(2) Threaded Rod; (3) Tension Knob;(4) Spreader Bar; (5) Lock Knobs;

12

5.

Position the spreader bar so that the 3 arms of the spreader bar line up with the 3 tripod
legs.

6.

Place the entire telescope onto the top of the tripod head, and insert the threaded rod into
the central hole in the bottom of the drive base of the telescope. Tighten the tension knob
(3, Fig. 3); firm tightening of the tension knob is sufficient to result in rigid positioning of the
tripod legs.

7.

To vary the tripod height, loosen the 6 lock-knobs, slide the 3 inner tripod leg sections out
to the desired height, and firmly re-tighten (but do not overtighten) the 6 lock-knobs.

To collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope and equatorial wedge, if applicable) for
storage follow these steps:
1.

Rotate the spreader bar 60° from its assembled position, so that one spreader bar arm islocated between each adjacent pair of tripod legs.

2.

At the base of the tripod is a 3-vane extension strut system, with a circular hub at its center (6, Fig. 3). Grasp the tripod head (1, Fig. 3) with one hand and, with the other hand,pull directly “up” on the central hub of the extension strut system. This operation will cause
the tripod legs to move inward to a collapsed position.

Precautionary Notes•

If the tripod does not seem to extend or collapse easily, do not force the tripod legs in orout. By following the instructions above, the tripod will function properly, but if you areunclear on the proper procedure, forcing the tripod into an incorrect position may damage
the extension strut system.

•

Do not overtighten the 6 lock-knobs used to fix the inner tripod leg sections at various
heights. Tighten to a firm feel only.

•

Be sure the spreader bar (4, Fig. 3) is not upside-down on the threaded rod.

How to Assemble Your Telescope
Battery
Compartment

Rib

Assembly of the LX90 telescope requires eight C-cell (user-supplied) batteries or optional
power cords (25') to a standard 115v home outlet or to a 12v DC automobile cigarette lighter
plug. See the Instruction Sheets supplied with the optional power cords for installation information. To install batteries:
1.

Unlock the Dec lock (6, Fig. 1) to move the optical tube (5, Fig. 1) through the fork arms.
Move the optical tube to the position depicted in Fig. 1 and relock the Dec lock.

2.

Remove the battery compartment covers (16, Fig. 1) and carefully remove the battery holder, being mindful of the connector wires. Insert four C-cell batteries into each battery holder, oriented as shown on the diagram on the battery slots inside the battery holder. Returnthe battery holders to their respective compartments and replace the covers.
See Fig. 5 for the proper orientation of the holder. Do not force the holder into the battery
compartment. If a holder does not slip easily into the compartment, you may have inserted the holder incorrectly. Replace the compartment covers when you are done.

Battery
HolderCAUTION: Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery compartment.
Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards ormix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are notfollowed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries
void your Meade warranty. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used
for a long period of time.

Fig. 5: Four C-cellbatteries mounted inside oneof the battery holders . Note
position of rib in the battery
compartment.

3.

Be certain that the power switch on the computer control panel (13C, Fig. 1) is in the OFF
position. Plug the coil cord of the Autostar Controller into the HBX port (13A, Fig. 1).
NOTE: Autostar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power
to Autostar.

4.

Remove the dust cap from the rear cell of the telescope. Thread the eyepiece holder into
the rear cell thread. Slide the diagonal prism into the eyepiece holder and lock in place byturning the thumbscrew to a firm feel.

5.

Remove the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece (1, Fig. 1) from its container and place it in the
diagonal prism (3, Fig. 1). Tighten the thumbscrew (2, Fig. 1) to a firm feel only.

6.

Remove the dust cover (15, Fig. 1) from the optical tube assembly (5, Fig. 1) by gently prying it off.

13

Choosing an Eyepiece
A telescope’s eyepiece magnifies the image formed by the telescope’s main optics. Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters, or “mm.” The smaller the focal length, thehigher the magnification. For example, an eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has a higher
magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 26mm.
NEVER point thetelescope directlyat or near the Sunat any time!
Observing theSun, even for thesmallest fractionof a second, will
result in instantand irreversible
eye damage, as
well as physicaldamage to thetelescope itself.

NOTE:
For a list of magnification ratingsof the eyepieces
available for the
LX90 telescope,see "OPTIONALACCESSORIES,"
page 39.

Your telescope comes supplied with a Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece which gives a wide, comfortable field of view with high image resolution.
Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions. To find an object with a telescope, always start with a lower power
eyepiece such as the Super Plössl 26mm. When the object is located and centered in the eyepiece, you may wish to switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much aspractical for prevailing seeing conditions. For information about optional eyepieces for the
LX90, see "OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES," page 39.
NOTE: Seeing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and site-to-site. Turbulencein the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an image
appears fuzzy and ill-defined, back off to a lower power eyepiece for a more wellresolved image (Fig. 7a and 7b).
The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of the telescope
and the focal length of the eyepiece being used. To calculate eyepiece power, divide the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. For example, a 26mm eyepiece is suppliedwith the LX90. The focal length of the LX90 is 2000mm (see "Specifications," page 44).
Telescope Focal Length

Eyepiece Power ==Eyepiece Focal Length

2000mm

= 77X

26mm

The eyepiece power, or magnification is therefore 77X (approximately).

Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder
To align the viewfinder, perform steps 1 through 5 during the daytime; perform step 6 at night.
1.

Slide the track on the bottom of the viewfinder into the slot in the viewfinder mounting
assembly. See Fig. 6a. To secure the viewfinder to the mounting assembly, tighten the two
thumbscrews (Fig. 6a) to a firm feel only.

2.

If you have not already done so, insert the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece into the diagonal
prism.

3.

Unlock the R.A. (9, Fig. 1) and Dec (6, Fig. 1) locks so that the telescope moves freely on
both axes.

4.

Point the telescope at some well-defined and stationary land object at least 200 yards distant, such as the top of a telephone pole or street sign. Center the object in the telescope
eyepiece. Re-tighten the R.A. and Dec locks.

5.

Look through the viewfinder eyepiece (Fig. 6b) and loosen or tighten, as appropriate, one
or more of the viewfinder collimation screws (Fig. 6b) until the viewfinder crosshairs are
precisely centered on the object you previously centered in the telescope eyepiece.

6.

Check this alignment on a celestial object, such as the Moon or a bright star, and makeany necessary refinements, using the method outlined in steps 3 and 4.
Collimation
ScrewsMounting
Slot

Viewfinder
Eyepiece
Track
Thumbscrews

Fig. 6a: Viewfinder Assembly.

Fig. 6b: Viewfinder Assembly.

14

OBSERVINGIMPORTANT NOTE:
Objects appear
upside-down andreversed left-for-rightwhen observed in the
viewfinder and also in
the eyepiece wheninserted directly intothe (straight-through)eyepiece holder –with the diagonal
prism in place,images will be rightside-up, but reversed
left-for-right.
This image inversion
is of no consequencewhen observing astronomical objects and,in fact, all astronomical telescopes yield
inverted images.
During terrestrial
observing, where afully-correctly-oriented
image (right-side-up
and correct left-forright) is desirable, an
optional #928 45°
Erecting Prism isavailable. See“OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 39.

Observing By Moving the Telescope Manually
If you wish to observe a distant land object, such as a mountain top or a bird, you can observeby merely pointing the telescope and looking through the eyepiece.
1.

Loosen the telescope’s R.A. lock (9, Fig. 1) and Dec lock (6, Fig. 1).

2.

Move your telescope to observe distant street signs, mountains, trees, and other structures. Use your viewfinder to to help site-in on an object.

3.

Center the object in the viewfinder’s crosshairs and then in the telescope eyepiece. Whenthe object is centered in your eyepiece, remember to re-tighten the R.A. and Dec locks.

4.

Practice focusing objects with the focus knob (8, Fig. 1).

5.

Once you get a feel for how your telescope moves and focuses, try to view something
more challenging, like a bird or a distant moving train.
NOTE: Viewing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and site-to-site.
Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. Lowpower eyepieces, such as the Super Plössl 26mm supplied with your telescope, arebetter suited to resolving images in poor viewing conditions.

You can also observe stars and objects in the night sky using this method, but note that objects
begin to slowly drift across the eyepiece field. This motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth.
As you become familiar with the Autostar handbox operation, you can counteract the drift using
the automatic tracking feature in the Autostar Setup menu (see "TO TRACK AN OBJECTAUTOMATICALLY," page 18), or by using Autostar's GO TO capabilities (see "GO TO SATURN," page 20).

LX90 TIPS
Terrestrial Observing
The LX90 ia an excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing terrestrial
objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat waves
often cause degradation of image quality.
Lower power eyepieces, like the Super
Plössl 26mm eyepiece, magnify these heatwaves less than higher power eyepieces.
Therefore, lower power eyepieces provide a
steadier, higher quality image. If the image isfuzzy or ill-defined, reduce to a lower power
eyepiece, where the heat waves do not havesuch an effect on image quality. Observing inearly morning hours, before the ground has
built up internal heat, produces better viewing
conditions than during late afternoon hours.

Observing Using Autostar's
Arrow Keys
You may observe land and astronomical
objects using Autostar's Arrow keys to movethe telescope.
1.

Make sure that the Dec and R.A. locks (6and 9, Fig. 1) are secured as describedon page 5.

2.

Verify that Autostar is properly connected
to your telescope. See “HOW TOASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 13.

15

Too Much Power?
Can you ever have too much power? If thetype of power you’re referring to is eyepiecemagnification, yes, you can! The most common mistake of the beginning observer is to“overpower” a telescope by using high magnifications which the telescope’s aperture andatmospheric conditions can not reasonably
support. Keep in mind that a smaller, butbright and well-resolved image is far superior
to one that is larger, but dim and poorly
resolved (see below). Powers above 400X
should be employed only under the steadiest
atmospheric conditions.
Autostar can calculate the best eyepiece foryou to use. Try out the “Eyepiece Calc” feature in the Utilities menu.
Most observers should have three or four
additional eyepieces to achieve the full rangeof reasonable magnifications possible with
the LX90 telescopes. See “OPTIONALACCESSORIES,” page 39.

Fig. 7a & b: Jupiter; example of too muchmagnification.

3.

Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
The Autostar screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by ashort beep. Then Autostar takes a few moments to start up the system.

4.
5.

A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press
the key prompted by Autostar to signify that the message has been read and understood.
The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left.

6.

Press a Number key (8, Fig. 2) to change the telescope’s slew speed. See "SLEW
SPEEDS," below, for more information.

7.

Use the viewfinder (17, Fig. 1) to locate an object and practice using the Autostar’s Arrowkeys to center the object in the telescope’s field of view.

8.

Use the telescope’s focus knob (8, Fig. 1) to bring the object into focus.

Slew Speeds
Autostar has nine slew speeds that are directly proportional to the sidereal rate and have been
calculated to accomplish specific functions. Pressing a Number key changes the slew speed,which is shown for about two seconds on Autostar’s display.
The nine available speeds are:Number Key 1 =1x =1 x sidereal (0.25 arc-min/sec or 0.004°/sec)

Number Key 2 =2x =2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008°/sec)

Number Key 3 =8x =8 x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or 0.033°/sec)

Number Key 4 = 16x =16 x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec or 0.067°/sec)

Number Key 5 = 64x =64 x sidereal (16 arc-min/sec or 0.27°/sec)

Number Key 6 = 128x =32 arc-min/sec or 0.5°/sec

Number Key 7 = 1.5° =90 arc-min/sec or 1.5°/sec

Number Key 8 =180 arc-min/sec or 3°/sec

3° =Number Key 9 = Max =390 arc-min/sec or 6.5°/sec)

Speeds 1, 2, or 3: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a higher power
eyepiece, such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece.
Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enables centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard Super Plössl 26mm.
Speeds 7 or 8: Best used for rough centering of an object in the eyepiece.
Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another
NOTE:
Do not look throughthe telescope's eyepiece or viewfinder
while it is rapidly moving. Children should
always have adultsupervisionwhile
observing.

Observe the Moon
Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not visible every night) and practiceusing the Arrow keys and the slew speeds to view different features. The Moon contains many
interesting features, including craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view
the Moon is during its crescent or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during these
periods and adds a depth to the view. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, causing theoverly bright surface to appear flat and rather uninteresting. Consider the use of a neutral density Moon filter when observing the Moon. Not only does it cut down the Moon's bright glare,
but it also enhances contrast, providing a more dramatic image.

16

Astronomical Observing
Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electromechanicalcapabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of optical performance isreadily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is, with minor qualification, limited only by the observer’s motivation.

North

0°

To Track an Object AutomaticallyAs the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The
speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to moveat the sidereal rate so that it automatically tracks the stars and other objects in the night sky. If
the telescope is not tracking an astronomical object, the object will drift out of the eyepiece fieldof view. The tracking function automatically keeps an object more or less centered in the telescope’s eyepiece.
To automatically track objects, you must first set the telescope in the home position, then initialize Autostar, and finally select "Targets: Astronomical" from the Autostar Setup menu. You
must also learn how the Autostar keypad operates in order to move through the Autostar
menus.

The "Alt/Az" Home Position
Fig. 8: Alt/Az Home Position.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Loosen the telescope’s Dec lock (6, Fig. 1).
Level the tripod head (1, Fig.3). Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec setting
circle (11, Fig. 1) with the Dec pointer (12, Fig. 1).
Tighten the Dec lock (6, Fig. 1) to a firm feel only.
Unlock the R.A. lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points North. See'LOCATING POLARIS," page 46 for more information.
Re-lock the R.A. lock (9, Fig. 1). Press ENTER.

Moving Through Autostar’s Menus
The Autostar database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation.

Initialization is a procedure that ensuresthat Autostar operates correctly. Whenyou first use Autostar,
it doesn't yet know
where the observation location site is or
the time or date of
the observation session.
During the procedure,
you will enter information, such as thecurrent time and date,and observation location. Autostar uses
this information toprecisely calculate
the location of celestial objects (such asstars and planets)
and to move your telescope correctly forvarious operations.

•••

Press ENTER to go deeper into Autostar's menu levels.
Press MODE to move back toward the top menu level.
Press the Scroll keys to move up and down through the options available foreach level.
• Press the Arrow keys to enter characters and digits.
The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope.

Initializing Autostar
This section describes how to initialize Autostar. Perform this procedure the first time you use
Autostar or after performing a RESET (see "RESET," page 28).
1.

Make sure that the Dec and R.A. locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1) are secured as described on page 7.

2.

Verify that Autostar is properly connected to your telescope. See “HOW TO ASSEMBLE
YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 13.

3.

Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
The Autostar screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by ashort beep. Then Autostar takes a few moments to start up the system.

4.

A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press
the key prompted by Autostar to signify that the message has been read and understood.

5.

The Getting Started menu displays a scrolling message. Press ENTER (2, Fig. 2) tobypass the Help tutorial and continue with initialization.

6.

Autostar then requests the current date. Use the Number keys (5, Fig. 2) to enter the digits for the date. Use the Right Arrow key (5, Fig. 3) to move from one number to the next
in the day display, and also to move to the month. Then, use the Scroll keys (7, Fig. 3) tocycle through the list of months.

17

NOTE:
Autostar requests theCountry/State, City, andTelescope Model information only the first time
Autostar is activated. If
you wish to change thisinformation, use the"Site" and "Telescope
Model" options in the
Setup menu. See pages
26 and 27 for more information.

When the current month is displayed, use the Right Arrow (5, Fig. 2) to move to the year.
Use the Number keys to enter all four digits of the current year. Press ENTER when thedate has been entered.
7.

Autostar then requests the current time. Use the Number keys to enter the time. (Use a "0"for the first digit if less than 10.) Use the Right (or Left) Arrow key to move from one number to the next. Press one of the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to scroll to "AM" or "PM." If you
select the "blank" choice that follows "AM" and "PM," the clock displays time in a 24-hour(military time) format. Then, press ENTER to start the clock.

8.

The next screen requests the status of Daylight Savings Time. Pressing a Scroll key toggles between the YES/NO settings. Select the desired setting by pressing ENTER.
NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by a different name in various

areas of the world.
NOTE: When multiple choices are available within a menu option, the current option

is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing Arrow (>).
9.

The next screen asks for the country or state (listed alphabetically) of the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of countries, states, and provinces.
Press ENTER when the correct location displays.

10. The next screen asks for the city (listed alphabetically) closest to the observing site. Use
the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of cities. Press ENTER when the correct city
appears on screen.
11. System initialization is complete and the screen reads "Setup: Align."

Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature
In this example, the Autostar Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then Autostar's tracking
capability automatically keeps the star centered in your telescope's eyepiece.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
While performing theautomatic tracking procedure, only use theArrow keys to move thetelescope. Once the telescope has been set in
the Alt/Az home position, do not loosen thetelescope locks (6 and
9, Fig. 1), or move thebase manually, or alignment will be lost.

1.

Make sure that the Dec and R.A. locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1) are secured as described above.

2.

Verify that Autostar is properly connected to your telescope. See “HOW TO ASSEMBLE
YOUR TELESCOPE,” page 13.

3.

Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
The Autostar screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by ashort beep. Then Autostar takes a few moments to start up the system.

4.

A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press
the key prompted by Autostar to signify that the message has been read and understood.

5.

Press ENTER (2, Fig. 2) repeatedly until "Setup: Align" displays.

6.

Press the Scroll Down key repeatedly until "Setup: Targets" displays. Press ENTER (2,Fig. 12).

7.

"Targets: Terrestrial" displays. Press one of the Scroll keys once (7, Fig. 2). "Targets:
Astronomical" now displays.

8.

Use the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to locate a bright star in the night sky. Use the viewfinder(15, Fig. 1) to help line up on the star. You may choose any unobstructed, bright star forthe purposes of this example. Use Autostar's Arrow keys to center the star in the eyepiece.
Once the star is centered, press ENTER to select "Astronomical." The telescope's tracking motors then engage. It may take the tracking motors several seconds to begin tracking. When they do, it may be necessary to once again center the star in the eyepiece. The
tracking motors will then keep the star you have chosen in the center of the eyepiece.

9.

Press and hold the ENTER key for a few seconds and then release to stop tracking. You
may repeat the procedure to locate another star or object using the Arrow keys. Then press
ENTER to re-engage the tracking motors.

18

Easy (Two-Star) Align
The fastest and easiest way to locate objects with Autostar's GO TO capabilities is to use Easy
Align.
Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database for the Easy Align procedure. During
this procedure, Autostar slews the telescope to a first alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then prompted to center the star in theeyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the alignment.
NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,”
page 17, has been performed. See “MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR’S MENUS,”
page 17, for a description of how Autostar’s keys operate.
How to perform the Easy Align Procedure

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The "Telescope: Mount"option of the Setup
menu is set to "Alt/Az"
as the default alignmentby the factory.The
example presented inthis section assumes
that you are performing
an alignment procedure
for the first time withyour telescope andtherefore, the"Telescope: Mount"option does not need to
be selected. For information on equatorial(Polar) alignment, see“APPENDIX A,” page45.

If you have just applied power to Autostar, perform steps 1 through 5. If you have just performed
the initialization procedure, go to step 6.
1.

Sun Warning - Press the key prompted by Autostar to accept.

2.

Getting Started - Press ENTER to continue.

3.

Enter Date - Enter the current date, then press ENTER.

4.

Enter Time - Enter the current time. Select "AM," "PM," or 24-hour clock (blank). Thenpress ENTER.

5.

Daylight Savings - Select “Yes” or “No,” then press ENTER.

6.

Alignment Option Screen - “Setup: Align” displays. Press ENTER.

7.

Select Alignment - “Align: Easy” displays. Press ENTER.

8.

Set Home Position - Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az
Alignment home position (if necessary). To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position (see Fig. 8):
•
•
•
•
•

Loosen the telescope’s Dec lock (6, Fig. 1).
Level the tripod head (1, Fig.3). Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec
setting circle (11, Fig. 1) with the Dec pointer (12, Fig. 1).
Tighten the Dec lock (6, Fig. 1) to a firm feel only.
Unlock the R.A. lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it
points North. See 'LOCATING POLARIS," page 46 for more information.
Re-lock the R.A. lock (9, Fig. 1). Press ENTER.

9 . Star Alignment - The Autostar then chooses two stars to align upon. When the telescope
slews to the first star for alignment, it
may not appear in the field of view in the
LX90 TIPS
eyepiece. The alignment star should be
easily recognized and be the brightest
star in the area of the sky where the telWhich One’s theescope is pointing. Use the Arrow keys
Alignment Star?
to move the telescope until the star is
If Autostar has chosen an alignment star withvisible and centered in the eyepiece.
which you are unfamiliar, how can you be
Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for thesure if the star in your eyepiece is really thesecond alignment star.
alignment star?
When the procedure is performed correctly, "Alignment Successful" displays.
If Autostar does not display this message, perform this procedure again.

The rule of thumb is that an alignment star isusually the brightest star in that area of thesky. When you view an alignment star in an
eyepiece, it stands out dramatically from therest of the stars in that portion of the sky.

NOTE: Autostar locates alignmentstars based on the date, time, andlocation entered. The alignment stars
may change from night to night. All
that is required is for the observer tocenter the selected stars in the eyepiece when prompted.

If you have an obstruction, such as a tree ora building blocking your view of the alignment
star, or if you have any doubts at all about thestar that has been chosen, no problem. Justpress the Scroll Down key and Autostar willfind another star to align upon.

19

NOTE: The GO TO key also allows you to perform a "spiral search." A spiral searchis useful when the telescope slews to an object, but that object is not visible in theeyepiece after the telescope finishes it search. (This sometimes occurs during analignment procedure.) Press GO TO when the slew is finished and the telescope
starts slewing in a spiral pattern at a very slow speed around the search area. Lookthrough the eyepiece and when the object does become visible, press MODE tostop the spiral search. Then use the Arrow keys to center the object.

Go To Saturn
After performing the Easy Align procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the telescopeis aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position eventhough the Earth is rotating beneath the stars.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once aligned, only use the GO TO or Arrow keys to move thetelescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1), or move the basemanually, or alignment will be lost.
This exercise demonstrates how to select a celestial object, the planet Saturn, for viewing from
Autostar’s database.
NOTE: Saturn is not visible the entire year and you may need to choose anotherobject from Autostar's database; however, the procedure, as described below,
remains the same.
1

After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item: Object” displays. Press ENTER.

2.

“Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.

3.

“Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until “Solar System:
Saturn” displays.

4.

Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then “Saturn” and a set of coordinates displays.
Note that Saturn’s (and other planets’) coordinates change throughout the year.

5.

Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays and the telescope slews until it finds Saturn.
You may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. Autostar
then automatically moves the telescope so that it "tracks" Saturn (or whatever other object
you may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains centered in the eyepiece.

Using the Guided TourThis example demonstrates using “Tonight’s Best” Guided Tour.
1.

After observing Saturn, press MODE twice so that “Select Item: Object” displays again.

2.

Press the Scroll Down key twice. “Select Item: Guided Tour” displays.

3.

Press ENTER. “Guided Tour: Tonight’s Best” displays. Press ENTER.
NOTE: If you wish to try out other Guided Tours, press the Scroll Down key to scroll
through other tour choices. When the tour you wish to select displays, press
ENTER.

4.

“Tonight’s Best: Searching...” displays. After calculating, “Tonight’s Best: Jupiter” displays.
NOTE: Different objects may be displayed on a tour list on any given night.
Press ENTER to display information about the object. Press GO TO to move the telescopeto the object.

5.

Press MODE to return to the Tour list. Press the Scroll keys to scroll through the list. Press
ENTER when you find the next object you wish to observe.

6.

Press and hold down MODE for two seconds to leave the Guided Tour menu.

20

BASIC AUTOSTAR OPERATIONOBJECT
Select from over 30, 220 database objects andpress GO TO to move the telescope automatically to theobject and place it in the telescopic field of view.
SETUP
Quick, easy alignment
permits all telescope
operations with only
a 2-minute setup.

Select Item:
ObjectSelect Item:
Setup
UTILITIES
Calculate eyepiecemagnifications; set the
timer for an observing
session; or change thedisplay brightnes.

The Universe of

Autostar

Select Item:
Utilities

Select Item:
Event
EVENT
Access the time ofan astronomical
event, such as therising or setting
times of the Moon.
Select Item:
Guided TourGLOSSARY
Discover the world of astronomy
by alphabetically accessing
astronomical terms.

Select Item:
Glossary

GUIDED TOUR
Journey through theuniverse as Autostar
escorts you to thebest celestial objects
at your location.

Fig. 9: The Autostar Universe: The six primary categories listed in the Select Item menu of Autostar.

ObjectEvent
Guided Tours
Glossary
Utilities
Setup

It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 9). This means thatpressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 2) cycles down through all the available options within agiven category, then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (7, Fig. 2) cycles up through theoptions in the opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to get to an option that isnear the bottom of the list. The following example demonstrates this capability.
Example:To navigate to the “Select Item: Setup” menu option when the “Select Item: Object” menu is displayed:

Fig. 10: Menus set ina loop.

ENTER

Select Item
ObjectSelect Item
Solar System

1.

Press the Scroll Down key four times or the Scroll Up key once.

The screen in Fig. 10 displays two lines of information. The top line shows the current menu
level. The second line displays an option which may be selected within that menu level. Some
options are choices that select the next menu level down. The Scroll keys move up and down
within the list of available options, showing one option at a time.
When the desired option is displayed on the second line, press the ENTER key to choose that
option and move down one menu level.

Fig. 11: Autostar levels.

Press the MODE key to leave a level; e.g., the wrong menu option is chosen.
IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter how many levels into Autostar are traveled, eachpress of the MODE key moves up a level, until the top level, "Select Item," isreached. Once in the Select Item level, press MODE to return to the topmost level,"Select Item: Object."

Autostar Navigation Exercise
To demonstrate how the Autostar menu structure works, the following exercise calculatesSunset time so an evening observing session can be planned.
NOTE: To perform an accurate calculation, Autostar must be properly initializedwith the current date, time, and location of the observing site. To enter the current
date, time, and location information of your observing site, see “INITIALIZINGAUTOSTAR,” page 17, before proceeding with this exercise.

21

To Calculate Sunset time:
1. Press the MODE key several times, until “Select Item: Object” is displayed.
2.

Press the Scroll Down key once to display the “Event” option in the “Select Item” menu.

3.

Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event:Sunrise" is displayed.

4.

Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu.

5.

Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level.

6.

Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar
then displays the results of the calculation.

7.

Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar levels. The first level up
is the Event menu.

8.

Press MODE again to move up another level. This is the top level, "Select Item."

9.

Press MODE again to return to the starting point of "Select Item: Object."Entering data into Autostar"

To enter numbers and text:a) Use the Number keys, if available with your model, orb) Use the Arrow keys to scroll through numbers 0 - 9 and the alphabet. The Down Arrowkey begins with the letter "A;" the Up Arrow key begins with digit "9.""To move the cursor across the display:
Use the Right or Left Arrow key (5, Fig. 2) to move the cursor from one number to the next
in the display"

Press ENTER when the desired information has been entered.

Navigating Autostar
Autostar's menus are organized for quick and easy navigation:"

Press ENTER to go deeper into Autostar's menu levels.

"

Press MODE (3, Fig. 2) to move back toward the top menu level.

"

Press the Scroll keys to move up and down through the options or lists"

Press the Arrow keys to move the cursor across the display.

"Press the Help (?) key to access on-line help.
TIP: When multiple choices are available within a menu option, the option that iscurrently selected is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow
(>).

22

MENUS AND MENU OPTIONSObject Menu
Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (NOTE:
Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See “GO TO SATURN,” page 20, for an
example of observing using the Object menu. Also see “USING THE GUIDED TOUR,” page 20.
Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. An Autostar database is a list of viewable
objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of these objects isselected from a database, Autostar moves your telescope (if properly aligned) and points it at
the selected object.
The Object Menu options include:
Solar System is a database of the eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from theSun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets.
Constellation is a database of all 88 Northern and Southern Hemisphere constellations. When
this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen,press GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to that star. Use the Scroll keys tocycle through the list of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest.
Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our Solar System such as nebulae, star clusters,
galaxies, and quasars.
Star is a database of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or
nearby.
Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, theHubble Space Telescope, Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and geosynchronous
orbit satellites.
User Objects allows the user to define and store in memory deep-sky objects of specific interest that are not currently in the Autostar database. See "Appendix A" for more information.
Select Item:
ObjectSolar System
Mercury
Etc.
Moon
Asteroids
CometsConstellations
Andromeda
Etc.
Deep Sky
Named Object
Galaxies
NebulaePlanetary Neb.
Etc.
Star
Named
SAO Catalog
DoubleMessier
Other Star Catalogs
Satellite
SelectAdd
Delete
Edit
User Objects
SelectAdd
DeleteEdit
Landmarks
SelectAdd
DeleteIdentify
BrowseStart Search
Edit Parameters

Select Item:
Event

Select Item:
Guided Tour

Select Item:
Glossary

Tour Objects

A...

SunriseSunsetMoonriseMoonsetMoon Phases
Next Full Moon
Next New Moon
Next 1st Qtr
Next 3rd Qtr
Meteor Showers
Quadrantids
LyridsEta Aquarids
Delta Aquarids
Perseids
Orionids
Taurids
Leonids
Geminids
UrsidsSolar Eclipses
Lunar Eclipses
Min. of Algol
Autumn Equinox
Vernal Equinox
Winter SolsticeSummer Solstice

Accretion Disk
Etc.

Tonight's BestHow Far is Far
A Star's Life

B...
C...
D...
E...
F...
G...
H...
I...
J...
K...
L...
M...
N...
O...
P...
Q...
R...
S...
T...
U...
V...
W...
X...
Y...
Z...

Figure 12: The Complete Autostar Menu Structure.

23

Select Item:
Utilities
Timer
Set
Start & Stop
Alarm
Set
On & OffEyepiece Calc.
Field of View
Magnification
Suggest
Display Options
Sun Warning
Getting Started
Brightness Adj.
Contrast Adj.
Battery Alarm
Landmark Survey
Sleep Scope
Park Scope
Cord Wrap

Select Item:
Setup
Align
Easy
One Star
Two Star
Date
Time
Daylight Saving
Telescope
Model
Focal Length
Az/Alt Ratio
Mount
Alt Percent
Az Percent
Train Drive
Tracking Rate
Reverse L/R
Reverse Up/Dn
Calibrate Motor
High Precision
Targets
Astronomical
Terrestrial
Site
SelectAdd
DeleteEdit
Owner Info
Clone
Download
Statistics
ResetLandmarks stores the location of terrestrial points of interest in the permanent Autostar database.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function, the telescope must be locatedand aligned exactly as when the landmark was added to the database.
"

Select: To select a Landmark already in the database (see "Add" below), choose the"Select" option and scroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press
GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

"

Add: To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locateand center the Landmark in the eyepiece, then press ENTER.

Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar Arrow keys to move about
in the sky. Then follow this procedure:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope during the
Identify procedure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the base or alignment is lost.
1.

WARNING!
Never use a
Meade®
LX90 Telescope tolook at the Sun!
Looking at or near
the Sun will cause
instant and irreversible damage toyour eye. Eye damage is often painless,so there is no warning to the observerthat damage has
occurred until it is
too late. Do not point
the telescope or its
viewfinder at or near
the Sun. Do not lookthrough the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving.
Children should
always have adultsupervision whileobserving.

When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keep pressing MODE until the “Select
Item: Object” menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select this menu.

2.

Scroll through the Object menu options until the “Object: Identify” screen appears.

3.

Press ENTER. Autostar searches the database for the identity of the object being
observed.

4.

If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar database object, the nearest database object
is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to that
object.

Browse allows you to search the database for objects with certain parameters, much like asearch engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, such as:
Object Type, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc. Once you have set the parameters of thesearch, select "Start Search" and press ENTER. Autostar will display the results of the search.
See page 37 for more information.

Event Menu
The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event database includes:
Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun rises or sets on the current date. Findrise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See"DATE," page 26.
Moonrise and Moonset calculates the time that the Moon rises or sets on the current date.
Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See"DATE," page 26.
Moon Phases displays the date and time of the next Full, New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd Quarter
Moon.
Meteor Showers provides information on upcoming meteor showers, such as the Perseids, theLeonids, etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they reach maximum.
NOTE: Meteors are fast moving objects that cover large areas of the sky and areusually best observed with the naked eye.
Solar Eclipse lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, annular, or partial) of eclipse, and the location and time of the first and last contacts of the Moon's shadow.
Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Remember, never use a telescope to look at the Sun! See “WARNING!” to the left.
Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial,
penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data.
Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days during a 10-hour
period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. Autostar calculates minimum magnitude time at mid-eclipse.

24Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of thecurrent year.
Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and date of the winter or summer solstice ofthe current year.

Glossary Menu
The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common
astronomical terms and Autostar functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or
through hypertext words embedded in Autostar. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets],
usually found when using the Autostar Help function or when reading a scrolling message suchas a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is on screen andAutostar goes to the glossary entry for that word.
To access directly from the Glossary menu, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet.
Press ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry and then press ENTER to readthe description.

Utilities Menu
The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within Autostar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography
and tracking satellites. See “OBSERVING SATELLITES,” page 31. To use the Timer, press
ENTER, then choose “Set” or “Start/Stop.""

Set: Enter the time to be counted down, inhours, minutes, and seconds, then press
ENTER.

"Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle
between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate thetimer. When the timer runs out, four
beeps sound and the timer is deactivated.

LX90 TIPS
Observing Considerations•

Try to pick an observing site away fromstreet and house lights and car headlights.
While this is not always possible, the darker the site, the better.

•

Give your eyes about ten minutes toadjust to the darkness before observing.
Give your eyes a rest from observing
every ten or fifteen minutes to relieve eyestrain.

•

Try not to use a standard flashlight. A lot of
observers use red LED flashlights or tape
red cellophane over their flashlights to use
for setup and map reading so they don’t
have to continually readjust their eyes tothe darkness. Be careful not to shine
bright lights if there are other observers in
the area. Do not shine a flashlight into thetelescope while someone is observing!

•

Dress warmly. It gets chilly when you’resitting for prolonged periods.

•

Practice setting up your equipment during
the day or in a lighted area to become
familiar with it before going to a dark site.

•

Use your 26mm eyepiece to view terrestrial objects and wider areas of space, suchas open star clusters. Use your 9mm eyepiece when you wish to view something
up close, such as craters on the Moon or
the rings of Saturn.

•

Know your observing site. If you’re going to
try out an unfamiliar site, check it out in the
daylight for possible obstructions and pitfalls.

Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as areminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER,
then choose "Set" or "Start/Stop.""

Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm tosound, in hours, minutes, and seconds,
then press ENTER.

"

Start/Stop: Activates the alarm set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle
between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate thealarm. When the alarm time arrives,
Autostar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm.

Eyepiece Calc calculates information about
an eyepiece for the specific telescope towhich Autostar is connected.
"

Field of View: Scroll through a list ofavailable eyepieces. When an eyepieceis selected, the field of view is calculated.

"

Magnification: Scroll through a list ofavailable eyepieces. When an eyepiece isselected, the magnification is calculated.

25

"

Suggest: Autostar calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on thetelescope and the object being viewed.

Display Options enables or disables Autostar’s two initial displays. If both displays are disabled, Autostar begins with the Date display.
"

Sun Warning: Turns the “Sun Warning” message on or off.

"

Getting Started: Turns the “Getting Started” message on or off.

Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press
ENTER.
Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press
ENTER.
NOTE: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather.
Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a shortpause at each location. Press ENTER to start the survey. While a slew is in progress, press
any key to skip that object and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe a landmark fora longer period, press MODE when paused on the object to stop the survey. Press ENTER torestart the survey at the first object on the list. See "LANDMARKS," page 35.
Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down Autostar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. With "Sleep Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate the Sleep function. Autostar goes dark, but the internal clock keeps running. Press any key, except ENTER,
to re-activate Autostar and the telescope.
Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Alignthe telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope. Next time it is powered up,
enter the correct date and time – no alignment is required. Pressing ENTER causes the telescope to move to its pre-determined Park position. Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off
power.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When the "Park Scope" option is chosen and the display
prompts you to turn off the telescope's power, Autostar is unable to be returned tooperation without turning the power off and then back on.
Cord Wrap, when set to "On," moves the telescope in such a way as to prevent the cords andcables attached to your telescope assembly from getting wound around the assembly and tangled as the telescope slews to objects. "Off" is the default setting.

Setup Menu
The Setup menu’s primary function is to align the telescope (see "EASY ALIGN," page 19).
However, there are numerous other features available within the Setup menu, including:
Date changes the date used by Autostar. This function is useful to check events in the past or
future. For example, set the Date menu for a day three months in the future. Then check the"Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunset time on that date. See “EVENT MENU,” page 24.
Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar toproperly calculate locations and events. Time may be set to 24-hour mode (military time) byselecting the "blank" option which follows the "AM" and "PM" options.
Daylight Saving is used to enable or disable Daylight Savings time.
NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by different names in various areasof the world. Check local time to verify.
Telescope accesses the several options, including:" Model: Allows you to select the telescope model connected to Autostar.
"

Focal Length: Displays the focal length of the selected telescope.

"Az Ratio and Alt Ratio: The Az (Azimuth) ratio and Alt (Altitude) ratio refers to the gearsof the telescope's motors. Do not alter these numbers.

"

Az Percent: The Az (Azimuth) Percent allows you to change the azimuth backlash, i.e.,
the way the Arrow keys move the telescope along the azimuth (horizontal) axis. If you
enter a value near 100, the telescope tube responds more quickly (it responds immediately
at 100%) as you hold down an Arrow key and also slews (moves) the tube more quickly.
If you enter a value near 0, it takes longer for the tube to respond as you hold down an
Arrow key and also slews the tube more slowly. Experiment with this option. Try changing
the percent value until you get a "feel" for the Arrow keys that is comfortable for you.

26

Alt Percent: The Alt (Altitude) Percent operates identical to the AZ Percent option (see above),but allows you to change the altitude backlash, i.e., the way the Arrow keys move the telescope when moving along the altitude (vertical) axis.
" Train Drive: Trains the Altitude and Azimuth motors to locate objects with more precision.
If you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy, follow the proceduredescribed in “APPENDIX C: TRAINING THE DRIVE,” page 49, to insure accurate pointing
and tracking.
" Tracking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tracks targets in the sky.
a. Sidereal: The default setting for Autostar; sidereal rate is the standard rate at whichstars move from East to West across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth.
b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions.
c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates.
" Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left and Right Arrow keys (i.e., the Right key
moves the telescope to the left).
" Reverse UP/DOWN: Reverses the functions of the Up and Down Arrow keys (i.e., the Up
key moves the telescope down).
" Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have a problem, use this option toretest the motors before performing a Reset. This option is also used if an Autostar unit is
moved between telescopes, to match Autostar to the new telescope. To calibrate themotors, select this option and press ENTER.
" High Precision: If High Precision isturned on, when looking for a faint celesLX90 TIPS
tial object (i.e., a nebula or galaxy),
Autostar first slews to a nearby bright star
Surf the Web
and displays "ENTER to Sync." Center
One of the most exciting resources for astronthe star in the eyepiece, then press
omy is the internet. The internet is full of webENTER. At that point the telescope has asites with new images, discoveries, and thehigh precision alignment to that part oflatest astronomical information. For example,
the sky and it then slews to the object thatwhen comet Hale-Bopp made its approach to
our Sun in 1998, astronomers around thewas originally requested.
Targets switches between Astronomical targets and Terrestrial targets. If "Astronomical"
is selected, the telescope tracking motor isactivated and any object you observe willremain centered in the eyepiece. If"Terrestrial" is selected, the tracking motor isturned off. To learn how to track an object
automatically, see page 18.
Site provides access to several options
including:" Select: Displays the currently selected
observing site. Use the Scroll keys tocycle through all available sites (see"Add" below). Press ENTER when thesite you wish to select displays. Use thisoption when you move to a different geographic location.
""

Add: Allows you to add new observingsites to the database (up to six sites may
be stored). Scroll through the list ofCountries/States. Press ENTER when
the site you wish to add displays. Thenchoose the desired city in the same manner.
Delete: Deletes a stored site from thedatabase.

27

world posted new photos daily.

You can find websites for almost any topic
relating to astronomy on the internet. Try thefollowing key word searches: NASA, Hubble,
HST, astronomy, Messier, satellite, nebula,
black hole, variable stars, etc.
Check out Meade’s website for the latest
product and technical information. You candownload the latest software revisions, links
to other astronomical sites, coordinates ofcelestial objects and the latest satellite tracking information for your Autostar handset. See
page 28 for more information. You’ll find our
website at:
http://www.meade.com/
Here are some other sites you might find interesting:• Sky & Telescope:
http://www.skypub.com/• Astronomy:
http://www2.astronomy.com/astro/• The Starfield:
http://users.nac.net/gburke/• Astronomy Picture of the Day:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.goc/apod/• Heaven’s Above (satellite observing
information):
http://www.heavens-above.com/

Time Zone
Atlantic
Eastern
CentralMountainPacific
HawaiiShift-4 Hours-5 Hours-6 Hours-7 Hours-8 Hours-10 Hours

Table 1: Time Zone Shift.

"

Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, latitude, longitude, and time zone. Time
Zone refers to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone shift. Users West of Greenwich,
England use “-” hours, East of Greenwich use “+” hours. For the United States, look up thetime zone shift in table above.
NOTE: Autostar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See “Setup
Menu: Daylight Saving,” page 26.

Owner Info accesses the owner information menu, including:" Name: Users may enter both their first and last names using the Up and Down Arrow keys
to cycle through the alphabet. Use the Right and Left Arrow keys to move through the text.
Press ENTER when the entry is complete.
"

Address: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter your street address, city, state, andzip code. Press ENTER when the entry is complete.

Download transfers information from a personal computer or another Autostar. During theoperation, the warning “Downloading Do Not Turn Off” appears.
NOTE: The Download function requires the optional #505 Astrofinder Software andCable Connector Kit. See the instruction sheet included with the kit for more information on how to download. Also see “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 39.
Clone uploads information from one Autostar handbox to another. Three options are available:" Catalogs: Sends only user-defined object information, such as new satellite orbits orcomet data to another Autostar handbox.
"

Software: Sends only the basic Autostar software. This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version of Autostar software from the Meade website (www.meade.com)
and wants to pass this software along to friends.

"

All: Everything – user-defined information and Autostar software – is sent to another
Autostar.

Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including:" Characters Free: Shows how much room is available in user-defined object memory.
"

Version: Shows the current version of the Autostar software.

Reset completely resets Autostar. Most values entered into the menus revert to factory
defaults. Autostar requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding with observations. See “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 17.

28

ADVANCED AUTOSTAR FEATURES
Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic operations ofAutostar described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic
knowledge of Autostar and understand how to scroll to a desired menu or menu option, andhow to enter numbers and text. It also assumes that you have initialized Autostar and haveplaced the telescope in the "Home" position (when appropriate).

Adding Observing Sites
If you plan to observe using Autostar at different geographic locations, you can store up to six
observation sites in Autostar's memory to help simplify your telescope setup. Perform theseprocedures using the Site options (Add, Select, Delete, Edit) of the Setup menu.
To Add a Site to the user-defined site list:
In this example, you will choose a city and add it to the database list. You will then select thesite to enable it.
1.

Navigate to the "Setup: Site" menu. Press ENTER,

2.

Scroll through the options until "Site: Add" displays. Press ENTER.

3.

Scroll through the list of countries/states. Press ENTER when the country/state you wish
to add displays.

4.

Scroll through the list of cities. Press ENTER when the city you wish to add displays. The
Site is now add to the database. You may add 5 sites using this method (the sixth site is
the site you added during the Initialization process)5.

To choose a site, navigate to "Setup: Select." Press ENTER. Scroll through the list of sites.
When the desired site displays, press ENTER.

To Edit a Site:
In this procedure, you will enter a location thatis not available in the Autostar database byediting data of a nearby site. You will edit thelocation's name, latitude. longitude and thetime zone shift. You will then select the site toenable it.
You will need to know the latitude and longitude of your location to perform this procedure.

LX90 TIPS
Look into the Future
The Autostar Date option in the Setup
menu is much more than just an entry
of today's date; with it you can look far
into the future or learn about past
events. Autostar can calculate the date
and times of future events and, except
for eclipses, past events as well (basedon the current calendar system). E.g., aSunrise on March 6, 2043 A.D. or the
Vernal Equinox in 1776 A.D. To use thisfeature, enter the desired date in the
Setup menu and select an option in the
Event menu.

1.

Using the Add option, choose a site on
the list that is closest to your observingsite and press ENTER so that the site isadded to your observing sites list.
Choosing a site already on the list (asopposed to using the "Custom" feature)makes it easier to edit, as the "TimeZone" value may not need to bechanged.

2.

Scroll to "Site: Edit" and press ENTER.
"Edit: Name" displays. Press ENTER.

3.

The name of the site you have justentered to your list displays; if it does not,scroll to the site.

Autostar can calculate dates and times
for Sunrises, Sunsets, Moonrises,
Moonsets, Moonphases, Solar andLunar Eclipses (for the next 100 years),
meteor showers, equinoxes and solstices, and the minimums of Algol.

4.

Using the Arrow keys, change the nameof the site so that it now reads the nameof your observing location. Press
ENTER. "Edit: Name" displays again.

One very practical use of the date menu
is to check the Sunset option to determine when you can begin your astronomical observing.

29

Shift-4 Hours-5 Hours-6 Hours-7 Hours-8 Hours-10 Hours

5.

Press the Scroll Down key and "Edit: Latitude" displays. Press ENTER.

6.

Using the Number Keys, enter the latitude of your observing site and then press ENTER.
"Edit: Latitude" displays again.

7.

Press the Scroll Down key and "Edit: Longitude" displays. Press ENTER.

8.

Using the Number Keys, enter the longitude of your observing site and then press ENTER.
"Edit: Longitude" displays again.

Table 1: Time Zone Shift.

9.

Press the Scroll Down key and "Edit: Time Zone" displays. Press ENTER. (If the site you
chose from the list in step 1 has the same Time Zone as the site you are editing, just press
ENTER again to go on to the next step.) "Time Zone" refers to the Greenwich Time Zone
shift. Users West of Greenwich, use "-" hours (one hour per time zone) and users East ofGreenwich use "+" hours. For the United States, look up the shift in Table 1.

Time Zone
Atlantic
Eastern
CentralMountainPacific
Hawaii

10. After entering the shift, press ENTER. "Edit Time Zone" displays.
11. Press MODE. "Site: Edit" displays.
12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to "Site: Select." The site you have just edited displays. Press
ENTER to select the site or press MODE to exit.
TIP:
Entering R.A. and
Dec Coordinates ofan object without
using the menus:
If you do not wish tonavigate through themenus, a more direct
way to enter coordinates is to press andhold MODE for two
seconds or more. R.A.
and Dec coordinates
display. Press GO TO.
"Object Position" anda set of coordinates
displays. Enter the
R.A. and Dec coordinates of any celestial
object using Number
keys, overwriting thecoordinates currently
displayed. As soon as
the coordinates areentered, Autostar
slews the telescope tothe coordinates. Notethat the telescopemust be initialized(see page 17) andplaced in the Home
position (see page 17
for this procedure tooperate properly.
However, if you wish
to store the coordinates of an object inmemory, use themethod described at
the right.

Using Autostar to Find Objects Not in the DatabaseIn this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial objects that do not appear in any of the
Autostar database lists. You will enter the object's name and RA and Dec coordinates (required
information). You may also enter the object's magnitude and size (optional information).
Although Autostar contains an extensive database of celestial objects (stars, nebulae, planets,etc.) that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are not part of thedatabase. Autostar provides a feature that allows you to enter an object's R.A and Dec coordinates in the "User: Objects" option of the Object menu and allows automatic slewing of the telescope to the user-entered coordinates.
In order to use this menu option, you first need to look up the R.A and Dec coordinates of theobject or objects you wish to observe. Check out your local library, computer store, or bookstore for astronomy books, CD Roms, or magazines (such as Sky & Telescope or Astronomy),
to find coordinates of celestial objects. The objects/coordinates you enter become part of yourown permanent database, called "User Objects."
To enter coordinates of an object into the "User: Objects" option of the Object menu:
1.

Make sure Autostar has been initialized and the telescope has been aligned.

2.

After the telescope is aligned, "Select Item: Object" displays. (If necessary, use the Scroll
keys to scroll through the menus, as previously described, to find this option.) Press
ENTER.

3.

"Object: Solar System" displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Up key until "Object: User
Object" displays and press ENTER.

4.

"User Object: Select" displays. Press the Scroll Down key once. "User Object: Add" displays. Press ENTER.

5.

"Name" displays on the top line and a blinking cursor on the second line. Use the Arrowkeys, as previously described, to enter the name of the object you wish to add to the database. When you are finished, press ENTER.

6.

"Right Asc.: 00.00.0" displays. Use the Number keys to enter the digits for the Right
Ascension coordinate of your object. When you are finished, press ENTER.

7.

"Declination: +00°.00'" displays. Use the Number keys to enter the digits for the Declination
coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+" to "-." When you
are finished, press ENTER.

8.

Autostar then prompts you to enter the size of the object. This step is optional. Use the
Number keys to enter the size (in arc-minutes), if so desired, and press ENTER to go to
the next display. If you do not wish to enter this information, simply press ENTER.

30

9.

Autostar then prompts you to enter the magnitude of the object. This step is also optional.
Use the Number keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press ENTER to go to thenext display. "User Object: Add" displays again.

To GO TO a user-entered object:
In this procedure, you will choose an object from the User Object list and GO TO the object.
1.

With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Up key once. "User Object: Select" displays. Press ENTER.

2.

Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to the desired object. Press ENTER.

3.

The name of the object and the Right Ascension and Declination coordinates display.

4.

Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

Observing Satellites
In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass.
1.

Navigate to the "Object: Satellite" menu option and press ENTER.

2.

Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of satellites.

3.

Select a satellite from list and press ENTER.

4.

"Calculating...." and then "Tracking..." displays. If the satellite is going to make a pass,"Located" displays.

5.

Use the Scroll keys to display data about the pass: aos – acquisition of signal and los –loss of signal. If you subtract the aos from the los, you can calculate how long the satellite
will be visible. Location information also displays.

6.

"Alarm" displays after the location information. Press ENTER and Autostar automaticallysets the alarm to sound a minute before the satellite's scheduled appearance. You may
return to regular observations until the alarm goes off.

7.

When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite menu and press a Scroll key until thedesired satellite is on the top line of the display.

8.

Press GO TO. Autostar slews the telescope to where the satellite should appear. The motor
drive stops and a countdown is displayed.
NOTE: If the scheduled appearance position of the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by abuilding, tree, or hill), press ENTER and Autostar starts to move the telescopealong the expected satellite track. When the track clears the obstruction, press
ENTER again to pause the telescope, then continue with this procedure.

9.

With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the telescope
viewfinder for the satellite to enter the field of view.

10. When the satellite enters the viewfinder field of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts
to track with the satellite.
11. Use the Autostar Arrow keys to center the object in the viewfinder, then look through theeyepiece to view the object.
Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the
Meade web site (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated informationand instructions on how to download this data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more than
one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at the time predicted by Autostar.
Downloading requires the optional #505 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See“OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 39.
NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit,
travelling at approximately 17,500 mph. When visible, they move quickly across thesky and are only in the field of view for a few minutes, requiring Autostar to slew thetelescope rapidly. Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunset when the sky is still dark.
Viewing in the middle of the night can be problematic because the satellite may
pass overhead, but not be visible as it is in the Earth's shadow.

31How to Create Your Own Guided Tour
When a Guided Tour is selected, Autostar slews your telescope to a predetermined list of objects
and displays information about each object, such as type of object, constellation location, R.A. andDec coordinates, and so forth. Autostar contains a few Guided Tours which are programmed at
the factory. But it is also possible for an observer to create a custom Guided Tour.
A tour is basically an ASCII text file that contains a list of directions and descriptions. Each lineof a tour is either a comment line, a command line, or a description.
What you will need:•

A PC with text editor or word processing software installed (the tour must be saved as a"text only" or as a "MS-DOS text" file).

•

The Meade #505 Cable Connector Kit to download tour information to the Autostar handbox.

Tour Modes
The objects chosen for a tour list are selected from Autostar's database or by entering theobject's RA and Dec coordinates. The tour is presented in one of two modes:
Automatic Mode: The title of an object appears on first line and descriptive text scrolls on line 2.
Interactive Mode: Tour name appears on the first line of the Autostar display and the name ofthe object displays on line 2. To display descriptive text in this mode, the user must press
ENTER.
Comment Line
Information in the Tour program that is not displayed, such as authorship, revision history, copyrights, etc. All comments begin with a "/" character in column 1 of the line. For example:/ Extreme Objects/ (c) 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation
Command Line
This line contains programming commands, including: RA and DEC coordinates, a title string,a description string, and a keyword.
RA: Enter the Right Ascension of an object in the following format: HH:MM:SS. Eg., 18:51:05
Dec: Enter the Declination of an object in the following format: DDdMMmSSs. Eg., – 06d16m00s
Title String: Text within a title string is displayed as the title of the object. A title string can contain up to 16 characters and must be surrounded by quotation marks. For example. "M64" or"My Favorite Star."
In Interactive Mode, the title string appears on line 2 until it is selected with the ENTER key.
In Automatic Mode, or after Interactive Mode selection, the title string appears on line 1 while
the description scrolls across line 2.
Keywords: Action to be performed during a tour. Autostar recognizes the following keywords:
TITLE
IC
PLANETCOMETCONSTELLATIONPICK ONE/PICK END

TEXT
SAO
MOON
LUNAR ECLIPSESTAR
AUTO SLEW ON/OFFUSER
MESSIERSATELLITE
METEOR SHOWER
LANDMARK#ENDNGCCALDWELLASTEROIDDEEP SKY
DEFINE

Description String: Description of an object. Must be surrounded by quotation marks. If thedescription is longer than one line, each line must end with a quotation mark and a hard return.
Begin the next description line with a quotation mark.
If quotation marks are to be displayed in the on-screen description, use two quote marks at the
beginning and end of the desired phrase. For example: "The Orion Nebula is considered ""awesome"" by many who view it."32

Writing a Tour
Using the list of commands listed above, a custom tour can be created. Placing the word AUTOSELECT before any of the command lines activates Automatic Mode and, when selected,
Autostar automatically searches and finds the designated object.
The following is a list of command lines, complete with keywords and necessary strings:
TITLE
Title must be the first keyword in your tour after any comment lines and must be 15 charactersor less. Autostar displays this title when "Guided Tour" is selected from the menus.
For example: TITLE "A Star's Life"TEXT "title string" "description string"This command allows you to display a text title and description.
USER ra dec "title string" "description string"This command line allows you to access a specific object with your own description. Enter
USER, then the RA and DEC of a desired object, and its title and description. Use the format
described in the Command Line section.
The following commands specify objects that are already in the Autostar database. If thesecommands follow the command AUTO SELECT, the object's title displays on line 1 and its
description scrolls across line 2.
Do not add a description string after the following command lines; these commands access
objects with existing description in the Autostar database.
NGC xxxx
Enter NGC followed by the desired New General Catalog number and Autostar provides theuser with a description of the object from its database. For example: NGC 4256
IC xxxxEnter IC followed by the desired Index Catalog number and Autostar provides the user with adescription of the object from its database. For example: IC 1217
SAO xxxxxx
Enter SAO followed by the desired SAO number and Autostar provides the user with a description of the object from its database. For example: SAO 30200
Messier xxx
Enter MESSIER followed by the desired Messier number and Autostar provides the user witha description of the object from its database. For example: M 101
CALDWELL xxx
Enter CALDWELL followed by the Caldwell number and Autostar provides the user with adescription of the object from its database. For example: CALDWELL 17
PLANET "name"Enter PLANET and then the name of the desired planet in quotes. Autostar provides the user
with a description of the selected planet from its database. For example: PLANET "Pluto"
MOON
This command accesses information about the Moon from the Autostar database.
SATELLITE "name"Enter SATELLITE and then the name of the desired satellite in quotes. Autostar displays information about the satellite from its database. For example: SATELLITE: "Intl Space Stn"

33

ASTEROID "name"Enter ASTEROID and then the name of the desired asteroid in quotes. Autostar displays information about the asteroid from its database. For example: ASTEROID: "Ceres"
COMET "name"Enter COMET and then the name of the desired comet in quotes. Autostar displays information
about the comet from its database. For example: COMET: "Halley"
LUNAR ECLIPSE
If LUNAR ECLIPSE is part of the tour, Autostar checks its database every time the tour is activated to see if a lunar eclipse is visible that evening. If no eclipse is visible, this option is skipped
and the tour proceeds on the the next object.
METEOR SHOWER
If METEOR SHOWER is part of the tour, Autostar checks its database every time the tour isactivated to see if a meteor shower is visible that evening. If no meteor shower is visible, thisoption is skipped and the tour proceeds on to the the next object.
DEEP SKY "name"Enter DEEP SKY followed by the name of the desired object in quotes. For example:
DEEP SKY "Small Magellanic Cloud"
CONSTELLATION "name"Enter CONSTELLATION followed by the name of the desired constellation in quotes. For example: CONSTELLATION "Leo Major"
STAR "name"Enter STAR followed by the name of the desired star in quotes. For example: STAR "Vega"
LANDMARK az alt "title" "description"
Enter the azimuth (az) for the desired object in the following format: xxxdxxmxxs. For example:
123d27m00s. Then enter the altitude of the desired object in the following format: xxdxxmxxs.
Then enter the title string and description string in quotes. For example:
LANDMARK 123d27m00s 57d20m20s "Landmark 1" "North corner of apartment building"
PICK ONE / PICK END
These two statements are used to surround a list of items that Autostar can choose from during a tour. Autostar begins at the top of the PICK ONE list and displays the first object from thelist that is above the horizon and ignores the rest.
This statement is useful for developing tours that can be presented year round. For each object
type you wish to use to illustrate in your tour, pick 10 to 12 examples spaced across the rangeof right ascension. Bracket them by the PICK ONE / PICK END statements. One current example displays for the user. For example:
AUTO SELECT TEXT "Globular Cluster" "Globular clusters are huge balls of stars.""They contain 50,000 to 100,000 stars and are located on the fringes of our""galaxy."
PICK ONE
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 13
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 15
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 92
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 4
AUTO SELECT MESSIER 68
AUTO SELECT NGC 1234
AUTO SELECT TEXT "None Available" "I'm sorry. There are no bright globular""clusters visible at this time."
PICK END

34

AUTO SLEW ON / AUTO SLEW OFF
With AUTO SLEW ON enabled in the tour, Autostar automatically slews the telescope to objects
first before displaying the text description. This feature is useful when designing tours in whichobserving certain objects is required. For example, an astronomy professor may require his
students to observe six objects, four of which Autostar automatically slews to in a tour. The students would have to manually slew to the last two objects. He would then place AUTO SLEWON before his first required object and AUTO SLEW OFF after the fourth object.
#END
To end a tour, type the command #END on a separate line at the very end of the tour.
Downloading Tours
Once a tour is written and stored as an ASCII file (saved either as a "text only" or "MS DOS
text" file), load it into Autostar using the Autostar Update Utility on your PC. As tours are downloaded into the handbox, Autostar examines the programming. If it doesn't understand the terminology used within a tour, it flags questionable areas and displays them in a pop-up window
on your computer screen. Make the necessary corrections and try to download again. See theinstruction sheet with your #505 Cable Connector Kit for more information about downloading
data to and interfacing with Autostar.

Landmarks
This menu option allows you to define and store terrestrial objects in the Landmark database.
First, a landmark needs to be stored in memory using the "Landmark: Add" option. To view alandmark, use the "Landmark: Select" option. Landmarks may also be viewed using the"Landmark Survey" option in the Utilities menu.
To Add a landmark to the database:In this procedure, you will store the location of terrestrial landmarks in Autostar's memory.
1.

Set the telescope in the home position, if necessary. Note for future reference where the telescope is located and if you have aligned the telescope, which alignment method is used.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function, the telescope must be locatedand aligned exactly as when the landmark(s) was added to the database.

2.

Display the "Setup: Targets" menu option. Chose "Terrestrial" and press ENTER – "Setup:
Targets" displays again. Choosing this option turns off tracking for astronomical objects
and is not useful for the viewing of terrestrial objects such as those in the Landmark database. Be sure to change this option back to "Astronomical" when you wish to view celestial objects again.

3.

Press MODE once. "Select Item: Setup" displays.

4.

Press the Scroll Down key once and "Select Item: Object" displays. Press ENTER. "Object:
Solar System" displays.

5.

Press the Scroll Up key twice and "Object: Landmarks" displays. Press ENTER.
"Landmark: Select" displays.

6.

Press the Scroll Down key once. "Landmark: Add" displays. Press ENTER.

7.

"Landmark Name" displays. Using Arrow keys, enter a name for the landmark you wish to
add to the database. When finished, press ENTER.

8.

"Center Landmark. Press Enter" displays. Using only the Arrow keys (do not manually
move the telescope), move the telescope to the desired landmark and center the object inthe eyepiece. Press ENTER. The object is now stored in memory.

9.

"Landmark: Add" displays. If you wish to add more landmarks, repeat steps 5 through 7.

35

To Select a landmark from the database:
1. Make sure the telescope is located and aligned exactly as when the desired landmark wasentered into memory.
2.

Display the "Landmark: Select" menu option. Press ENTER.

3.

Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of objects you have previously entered. Whenthe desired object displays, press ENTER to select the object. Use the Scroll keys to scroll
through location information about the object, if desired. Press GO TO to slew the telescope to the landmark.

4.

Press MODE to exit.

To perform a Landmark Survey
This procedure allows you to perform a tour of the objects entered in the "Object: Landmark"menu option – note that the Landmark Survey will function only if you have previously enteredobjects in the Landmark menu.
1. Navigate to "Utilities: Landmark Survey" menu and press ENTER.
2.

"Landmark Survey: Slewing..." displays. The telescope moves to the first object on theSurvey list and displays the name of the object.

3.

Press MODE to pause the Survey. Press ENTER to restart the survey at the first object of
the survey.

To check on the available amount of memory in Autostar.
Autostar has a limited amount of memory. Once you begin to store Landmarks, User Objects
and other bits of information in Autostar, you will begin to use up memory. This procedure allows
you to check on how much memory is still available.
1.

Navigate to the "Setup: Statistics" menu option and press ENTER.

2.

"Statistics: 37.2K Char. Free" displays. This is the amount of memory that is still available
to the user.

Identify
This procedure allows you to use Autostar to identify objects you have found in the night sky
using the Arrow keys. If the object is not in Autostar's database, Autostar displays information
about an object in its database that is closest to the one you queried about.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For this function to operate properly, you must first set the telescope in the home position and initialize Autostar. If you physically move the telescope after initialization, this function will fail to operate properly.
In this procedure, you will center an object you wish to have identified by Autostar in the telescope eyepiece and use the "Identify" menu to find out information about the object or the nearest object to it in the Autostar database.
1.

Center the object you wish to have identified in the telescope's eyepiece.

2.

Navigate to the "Object: Identify" option and press ENTER.

3.

"Searching..." displays. When Autostar finishes calculating, the name of the closest object
displays.

4.

Press a Scroll key to display information about this object. Autostar displays some or all thefollowing information about the object with each press of a Scroll key:

Displayed information:
Catalog or common name of object
Type of object
Right Ascension
Declination
Constellation
Magnitude
Size
Scrolling message

36

Example:Messier 107, NGC6171, Orion Nebula, etc
Globular Cluster, Nebula, Black Hole, etc.
16:32:413°03'
Virgo, Orion, etc.
32'"This Globular Cluster is 10,000 light years
away...."

Advanced Alt/Az Alignment
If you would rather choose your own alignment stars from the Autostar database during the
Alt/Az alignment procedure, Autostar offers two methods. Information for Equatorial (Polar)alignment is discussed in "Appendix A," page 45.
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a databaseof bright stars and two stars from this database are chosen by the observer for alignment.
1.

Perform steps 1 through 7 as described in "EASY ALIGN," page 19.

2.

With "Align: Easy" displayed, use the Scroll keys to display "Align: Two Star." Press
ENTER.

3.

Place the telescope in the home position as described in the "EASY ALIGN" procedure.
When you have finished, press ENTER.

4 . "Select Star" displays. Autostar then displays a database of stars for the observer tochoose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star on the list that you wish to align upon.
Select a star that you can easily locate in the night sky. Press ENTER.
5.

The telescope slews to the star. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star iscentered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER.

6.

Repeat procedure for the second alignment star. The telescope is aligned and you are now
ready to use Autostar's GO TO capabilities for a night of observing.

One-Star Alt/Az Alignment
One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a databaseof bright stars. One-Star Alignment is identical to Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (see “TWO-STAR
ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT,” above), except only one star from this database is chosen by theobserver for alignment.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The accuracy of One-Star Alt/Az Alignment, unlike the TwoStar and Easy (Alt/Az) Alignment procedures, depends on how well the observer
levels the telescope and how close to North the telescope is pointed when setting
the Home Position (Fig. 8). Because the other methods use two stars to align upon,
they are more precise than One-Star Alignment.

BrowseThis menu allows you to search the database for objects with certain parameters, much like asearch engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, and "Start
Search" activates the search. A typical search might be performed as follows:1.

Select "Browse" from the Object menu. Press ENTER. "Browse: Start Search" displays.

2.

Press one of the Scroll Keys and "Browse: Edit Parameters" displays. Press ENTER.

3.

"Edit Parameters: Largest (mins)" displays. "Mins" stands for arc-minutes. Press ENTER.

4.

"Largest (mins)" and a value displays. Using the Number keys, enter a size in arc-minutes.
Autostar will search for objects up to this size and no larger. Press ENTER.

5. "Edit Parameters: Largest (mins)" displays again. Press the Scroll Down key. "Edit
Parameters: Smallest (mins)" displays. Enter the value for the smallest size of an object
that Autostar will search for in the database. Continue with "Brightest," Faintest," and"Minimum Elevation," using the procedure described in steps 3 and 4.
6. After "Minimum Elevation," "Object Type" displays. Press ENTER." "+Black Hole" displays.If you do not wish wish to have "Black Holes" in your search, press ENTER and the"+" changes to a "–." Press the Scroll Down to scroll to the next item. "+Diffuse Nebula"displays. Continue to scroll through the list and press ENTER if you wish to change the "+"to a "–" or vice-versa.
7.

After you have scrolled to the last item on the "Object Type" list, press MODE twice andthe Scroll Down key once. "Browse: Start Search" displays. Press ENTER. "Start Search:
Next" displays. Press ENTER. Autostar searches the database and displays the first object
that matches the search parameters you have entered. Use the scroll keys to display information about the object. Press MODE and "Start Search: Next" displays again. Press
ENTER and the next item matching the parameters displays. Repeat this procedure to display all the objects.

8.

Press MODE repeatedly to leave this menu.

37

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE LX90
2

Photography through the LX90 requires the addition of the optional #62 T–Adapter. See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 39. With the #62 T-Adapter and a T-mount attached to the telescope(Fig. 13), through-the-telescope photography is possible with any 35mm camera body with aremovable lens. In this way, the telescope effectively becomes the lens of the camera.

1

The #62 T-Adapter (1, Fig. 13) threads on to the photo port, followed by a T-Mount (2, Fig. 13)
for the particular brand of 35mm camera being used, followed by the camera body (3, Fig. 13).

3
Fig. 13: LX90 with #62
T-Adapter.

To orient an object in the viewfinder of the 35mm camera body, use a small jeweler’s screwdriver to slightly loosen three adjustment screws around the outer knurled ring of the T-Mount.
Rotate the camera body to achieve proper orientation of the object; then re-tighten the adjustment screws.
The #62 T–Adapter permits close-coupling of a camera body to the telescope. In this format
vignetting occurs: the photographic image appears on film with a slight darkening (vignetting)at the corners of the 35mm frame (Fig. 14).
Photography through a long lens such as the LX90 requires special technique for good results,
and the photographer should probably expect to waste a roll or two of film in acquiring this technique. Long-lens photography has its own rewards, however, rewards that short-focus lenses
cannot duplicate.
A few tips on photography with the LX90:
1.

Fig. 14: Example ofvignetting.

Use the Field Tripod for the telescope. At an effective focal length of 2000mm, even small
external vibrations can easily ruin an otherwise good photo.
CAUTION: With the #62 T-Adapter and a camera body mounted to the LX90 photo
port, the telescope can only be rotated vertically about 45°. Moving past this point
may damage the telescope and camera.

2.

Use a cable-operated shutter release. Touching the camera body to initiate shutter operation almost certainly introduces undesirable vibrations.

3.

Focus the image with extreme care. While observing the subject through the camera’s
reflex viewfinder, turn the telescope’s focus knob (8, Fig. 1) to achieve the sharpest possible focus. Note that some 35mm cameras may have an optional focusing screen (available from the manufacturer) for use with a long telephoto lens. This screen provides abrighter and clearer image to focus, and is highly recommended.

4.

Correct shutter speeds vary widely, depending on lighting conditions and film used. Trialand-error is the best way to determine proper shutter speed in any given application.
NOTE: The camera used with your telescope may have an exposure meter that isstill active when the standard lens is removed and the body is connected to the telescope with the T–Mount. If used for terrestrial photography, the camera metershould be acceptable. If used for astrophotography, the meter probably will not provide good results since camera meters are not made to compensate for a dark sky.

5.

Terrestrial photography through the LX90 is sensitive to heat waves rising from the Earth’s
surface. Long distance photography is best accomplished in the early morning hours
before the earth has had time to build up heat.

6.

Photography of the Moon and planets through the LX90 can be especially gratifying, but
points 1 through 4 should be particularly noted in this case. Lunar or planetary photography requires that the telescope be Polar aligned. See “APPENDIX A,” page 45.

38

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is available for the LX90 telescope. The
premium quality of these accessories is well-suited to the quality of the instrument itself.
Consult the Meade General Catalog for complete details on these and other accessories.
Meade Series 4000 Eyepieces:*
Magnifying With #140
EyepiecePower
2x Barlow Lens

Fig. 16: #909
Accessory Port Module(APM).

Super Plössl (4-elements)
SP 6.4mm
313X
SP 9.7mm
206X
SP 12.4mm
161X
SP 15mm
133X
SP 20mm
100X
SP 26mm
77X
SP 32mm
63X
SP 40mm
50X
SP 56mm
36X

626X
412X
322X
266X
200X
154X
126X
100X
72X

Super Wide Angle (6-elements)
SWA 13.8 mm
145X
SWA 18mm
111X
SWA 24.5mm
82X
SWA 32mm
63X
SWA 40mm
50X

290X
222X
164X
126X
100X

Ultra Wide Angle (8-elements)
UWA 4.7mm
426X
UWA 6.7mm
299X
UWA 8.8mm
227X
UWA 14mm
143X

852X
598X
454X
286X

Fig. 15: Series 4000 Eyepieces.

* Refer to "CHOOSING AN EYEPIECE," page 14, and "TOO MUCH POWER," page 15, to
determine which optional eyepieces are best-suited to your applications and how to avoid“overpowering” the telescope.
#140 2x Barlow Lens: An amplifying lens, the #140 2x Barlow doubles the power of all eyepieces with which it is used. Insert the #140 into the telescope’s eyepiece-holder first, followedby the diagonal prism and eyepiece.
Fig. 17: #928 45°
Erect-Image Diagonal
Prism.

#909 Accessory Port Module (APM): The #909 APM attaches to the rear cell of the LX90 andconnects by cable to the Aux port on the telescope's control panel. The APM includes auxiliary
connectors for plug-in of such accessories as corded models of illuminated reticle eyepieces,the #1206 Electric Focuser, or a CCD autoguider.
#505 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit: With Meade AstroFinder loaded into
your PC, Autostar-equipped telescopes, such as the LX90, may be remotely controlled from the
PC display. The #505 Connector Cable Set, permitting connection of the LX90, Autostar, andPC, is included with each AstroFinder package.
#928 45° Erect-Image Diagonal Prism: Primarily used for terrestrial viewing, this prism presents a correctly-oriented image at a comfortable 45° viewing angle.

Fig. 18: Illuminated
Reticle Eyepiece.

Illuminated Reticle Eyepieces: Meade Illuminated Reticle Eyepieces are used for precise
polar alignment of your telescope. During long-exposure astrophotography, in conjunction withthe optional Meade Off-Axis Guider, they are used for through-the-telescope monitoring of theobject being photographed while the camera’s shutter is open. Two optical designs are available: Series 4000 Plössl 9mm or Modified Achromatic 12mm. Each model is available in a wireless or corded configuration. The wireless models include a variable brightness control with
self-contained (user-provided) batteries. The corded models include variable brightness andblink rate functions and plug directly into the Accessory Port Module (see above), with actuation from the hand controller.

39

#62 T-Adapter: The T-Adapter is the basic means of prime-focus photography through all
Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain models. Thread the T-Adapter on to the rear cell of your telescope,
followed by a T-Mount for your 35mm camera, and the camera body is rigidly coupled to thetelescope.
Variable Tele-Extender: For eyepiece-projection photography of the Moon and the planets, aTele-Extender is required. The variable Tele-Extender threads onto the telescope's eyepieceholder, into which is inserted an eyepiece of typically about 26mm focal length; the 35mm camera body couples to the tele-extender by means of a T-Mount. The Meade Variable TeleExtender permits a range of projection images.
Fig. 19: #62 T-Adapter.

Fig. 20: Off-Axis Guider.

Off-Axis Guider: The Off-Axis Guider provides a means during long-exposure astrophotography for the photographer to monitor the tracking of the telescope to assure that the telescope remains precisely positioned on the object being photographed. Like the T-Adapter, the
Off-Axis Guider couples the camera body to the telescope but it also causes a small amount of
the guidestar’s incoming light to be diverted at a right angle, where the star’s position can be
examined for tracking errors with an illuminated reticle eyepiece; position corrections can thenbe effected using Autostar.
Electric Focusers: Meade electric focusers are uniquely designed to yield smooth, precise
microfocusing of the image, without disabling the manual focus knob, which may be used for
rapid coarse focusing. Two focuser models are available: the #1205, which includes pushbutton hand controller with self-contained (user-provided) battery, and the #1206, which plugs
directly into the Accessory Port Module (see previous page), with actuation from the hand controller.
Piggyback Brackets: Piggyback photography is one of the most popular and easiest ways to
get started in astrophotography. Attach your 35mm camera, with its own 35mm-to-250mm lens,
atop your LX90 in equatorial mode, and guiding the camera through the main telescope, widefield photos of the Milky Way of remarkable detail and clarity can be taken.
Dew Shield: In moist climates, water particles suspended in the atmosphere may condense on
the front surface of the telescope's correcting plate. This dew formation may be inhibited to asignificant extent by the addition of a dew shield, essentially an extension tube attaching to thefront-cell of the telescope.
#541 AC Adapter: The optional #541 AC Adapter permits powering of the telescope via a standard household (115v.AC) electrical outlet.
#607 Power Cord: Powering the LX90 telescope by means of an automobile cigarette lighter
plug requires the #607 Power Cord. With this 25 ft. cord, the LX90 may be powered for a fullnight’s observing without risk of car-battery drain.

40

MAINTENANCE
The LX90 is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, the LX90 will rarely, if ever,require factory servicing. Maintenance guidelines include:a.

Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: a little dust on the front surface of the telescope’s
correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens.

b.

When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with gentle strokesof a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at any pharmacy). DO
NOT use a commercial photographic lens cleaner.

c.

Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a solution of
3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1 drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short,
gentle strokes. Change tissues often.
CAUTION: Do not use scented or lotioned tissues or damage could result to theoptics.

d.

Do not, for any reason, remove the correcting plate from its machined housing forcleaning or other purposes. You will almost certainly not be able to replace the corrector in its proper rotational orientation and serious degradation of optical performance will result. Meade Instruments assumes no liability for damage incurred tothe telescope in this way.

e.

If the LX90 is used outdoors on a humid night, water condensation on the telescope surfaces will probably result. While such condensation does not normally cause any damage
to the telescope, it is recommended that the entire telescope be wiped down with a dry
cloth before the telescope is packed away. Do not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in the warm indoor air, sothat the wet optical surfaces can dry unattended.

f.

If the LX90 is not to be used for an extended period, perhaps for one month or more, it isadvisable to remove the batteries from the telescope. Batteries left in the telescope for prolonged periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope’s electronic circuitry.

g.

Do not leave the LX90 inside a sealed car on a warm summer day; excessive ambient
temperatures can damage the telescope’s internal lubrication and electronic circuitry.

Collimation
The optical collimation (alignment) of any astronomical telescope used for serious purposes isimportant, but in the case of the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the 8" LX90, such collimation
is absolutely essential for good performance. Take special care to read and understand thissection well so that your LX90 will give you the best optical performance.
As part of final optical testing, every Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain is precisely collimated at the
Meade factory before shipment. However, vibrations in shipping can cause the optical system
to become misaligned. Re-aligning the optics is, however, a straightforward process.
To check the collimation of your LX90, center a bright star that is overhead, or use a “hot spot”
of reflected Sunlight from a chrome car bumper, with the supplied 26mm eyepiece. Allow thetelescope to adjust to the temperature of your observation site before proceeding; temperature
differences between the optics andthe outside air can cause distortionin the images.
With the star or hot spot centered,de-focus the image. You will noticethat the out of focus star image looks
like a ring of light surrounding a dark
central spot; the dark central spot isin fact the shadow of the secondary
mirror. Turn the focus knob until the

41

(1)

(2)

Fig. 21: Defocused star images.

(3)ring of light fills about 10% of the eyepiece field-diameter. If the dark central spot is offset in(i.e., not concentric with) the ring of light, your telescope’s optical system is misaligned andrequires collimation.
Follow these steps for collimation of the optical system:a.

The only adjustments possible, or necessary, on the LX90 are from the three screws (Fig.
21) located at the edge of the outer surface of the secondary mirror housing.
CAUTION: Do not force the three collimation screws past their normal traveland do not loosen them more than two full turns in a counterclockwise direction or the secondary mirror may come loose from its support. You will findthat the adjustments are very sensitive, usually requiring only one-half turnor less to produce the desired result.

b.

While looking at the defocused star image, notice which direction the darker shadow is offset in the ring of light or notice which part of the ring is the thinnest (1, Fig. 21). Place yourindex finger in front of the telescope so that it touches one of the collimation set screws.
You will see the shadow of your finger in the ring of light. Move your finger around the edgeof the black plastic secondary mirror support until you see the shadow of the finger crossing the thinnest part of the ring of light. At this point, look at the front of the telescope where
your finger is aiming. It will either be pointing directly at a set screw, or it will be between
two set screws aiming at the set screw on the far side of the black plastic secondary mirror support. This is the set screw that you will adjust.

c.

Using the Arrow keys at the slowest slew speed, move the defocused image to the edgeof the eyepiece field of view (2, Fig. 21), in the same direction as the darker shadow is offset in the ring of light.

d.

Turn the set screw that you found with the pointing exercise while looking in the eyepiece.
You will notice that the star image will move across the field. If while turning the defocusedstar image flies out of the eyepiece field, then you are turning the screw the wrong way.
Turn the opposite direction and bring the image back to the center of the field.

e.

If the screw you are turning becomes very loose, tighten the other two screws by evenamounts. If the screw you are turning gets too tight, unthread the other two by evenamounts.

f.

When you bring the image to center (3, Fig. 21), carefully examine the evenness of thering of light (concentricity). If you find that the dark center is still off in the same direction,
continue to make the adjustment in the original turning direction. If it is now off in the opposite direction, you have turned too far and you need to turn in the opposite direction.
Always double check the image in the center of the field of the eyepiece.

g.

You may find after your initial adjustment that the dark center is off in a new direction (e.g.,instead of being off side-to-side it is now off in an up-and-down direction). In this caserepeat steps b through f to find the new adjustment screw.

h.

Now try a higher power eyepiece (e.g., 9mm or less) and repeat the above tests. Any lackof collimation at this point will require only very slight adjustments of the three set screws.
You now have good collimation of the optics.

i.

As a final check on alignment, examine the star image in focus with the higher power eyepiece as suggested above, under good viewing conditions. The star point should appear
as a small central dot (commonly referred to as an “Airy disc”) with a diffraction ring surrounding it. To give a final precision collimation, make extremely slight adjustments of thethree set screws, if necessary, to center the Airy disc in the diffraction ring. You now havethe best alignment of the optics possible with this telescope.

42

Inspecting the Optics
A Note About the “Flashlight Test:" If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer’s line of sight andthe angle of the light) may reveal what appears to be scratches, dark or bright spots, or justgenerally uneven coatings, giving the appearance of poor quality optics. These effects are only
seen when a high intensity light is transmitted through lenses or reflected off the mirrors, andcan be seen on any high quality optical system, including giant research telescopes.
The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by the “flashlight test;" the true test of optical quality can only be conducted through careful star testing.

Gauging the Movement of the Telescope
A common complaint of many first-time telescope owners is that they cannot see the telescope“move” when the motor drive is engaged. If fact, when the batteries are installed, the power ison and the R.A. lock engaged, the telescope is moving. However, the movement is at the same
speed as the hour hand of a 24-hour clock; as such, the movement is difficult to discern visually.

Fig. 22: R.A. Lock.

To check the movement of your telescope, look at an astronomical object through the telescope’s eyepiece with the telescope polar aligned and with the motor drive on. If the object
remains stationary in the field of view, your telescope is operating properly. If not, check toensure that you have engaged the R.A. lock and that the power switch on the control panel ison. Also check if "Astronomical" is selected in the "Targets" option of the setup menu.

Meade Customer Service
If you have a question concerning your LX90, contact the Meade Instruments Customer
Service Department at:
Telephone: (949) 451-1450
Fax: (949) 451-1460

Fig. 23: Dec Lock.

Customer Service hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. In theunlikely event that the LX90 requires factory servicing or repairs, write or call the Meade
Customer Service Department first, before returning the telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as to the nature of the problem, as well as your name, address, and daytime telephone
number. The great majority of servicing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding returnof the telescope to the factory.

43

LX90 Specifications
Optical design ............................................................Schmidt-Cassegrain
Clear aperture ............................................................8"
Focal length ................................................................2000mm
Focal ratio (photographic speed) ..............................f/10
Resolving power..........................................................0.56 arc secs
Coatings ....................................................................Meade EMC Super Multi-Coatings
Mounting ....................................................................Cast-aluminum, double-tine forks
Gears ........................................................................4.9"-dia worm gears, both axes
Alignment ..................................................................Altazimuth or equatorial w/optional wedge
Pointing Precision ......................................................5 arc-minutes in GO TO mode
Slew Speeds ..............................................................1x sidereal to 6.5°/sec in 9 increments
Tripod ..........................................................................Variable-height field tripod
Accessories ................................................................8 x 50mm finder....................................................................................1.25" diagonal prism....................................................................................Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece
Net telescope weight ..................................................31 lbs.
Net tripod weight ........................................................20 lbs.

Autostar Specifications
Processor ............................................................................68HC11, 8MHz
Flash Memory ............................................................1MB, reloadable
Keypad ........................................................................20 key alphanumeric
Display ........................................................................2 line, 16 character LCD
Backlight......................................................................Red LED
Utility Light ..................................................................Yes
RS-232 ........................................................................Yes
Coil Cord ....................................................................24"
Database ....................................................................30,223 objects

Autostar Dimensions
Length ........................................................................6.56" (16.6cm)
Width (LCD end) ........................................................3.19" (80cm)
Width (Connector end) ................................................2.25" (57cm)
Depth ..........................................................................0.81" (21cm)
Autostar net weight ....................................................1.12 lbs (0.51kg)

44

APPENDIX A: EQUATORIAL (POLAR) ALIGNMENT
Polar Alignment

In order to Polar align your telescope, it is essential to have an understanding of how and where tolocate celestial objects as they move across thesky. This section provides a basic introduction to
the terminology of Polar-aligned astronomy, andincludes instructions for finding the celestial poleand for finding objects in the night sky using
Declination and Right Ascension.

Celestial Coordinates
Fig. 24: Tripod set in Polarconfiguration with an optional
wedge.

North
Celestial
Pole(Vicinityof Polaris)+90 Dec.
Star

1
17
18
19

16

15

14

13 12

11

ation
clin
De

In Polar Alignment, the telescope is oriented sothat the horizontal and vertical axes of the telescope are lined up with the celestial coordinate
system.

10

9

Earth’s
Rotation

20 21

22

23

0

1

Right Ascension

2

3

8
4

7
6
5

Celestial
Equator
0 Dec.

2South
Celestial
Pole-90 Dec.

Celestial objects are mapped according to a coordi- Fig. 25: Celestial Sphere.
nate system on the Celestial Sphere (Fig. 25), an imaginary sphere surrounding Earth on which allstars appear to be placed. This celestial object mapping system is analogous to the Earth-based
coordinate system of latitude and longitude.
The poles of the celestial coordinate system are defined as those two points where the Earth’s
rotational axis, if extended to infinity, North and South, intersect the celestial sphere. Thus, theNorth Celestial Pole (1, Fig. 25) is that point in the sky where an extension of the Earth’s axis
through the North Pole intersects the celestial sphere. This point in the sky is located near the
North Star, Polaris.
In mapping the surface of the Earth, lines of longitude are drawn between the North and South
Poles. Similarly, lines of latitude are drawn in an East-West direction, parallel to the Earth’s
Equator. The Celestial Equator (2, Fig. 25) is a projection of the Earth’s Equator onto the celestial sphere.
Just as on the surface of the Earth, in mapping the celestial sphere, imaginary lines have beendrawn to form a coordinate grid. Thus, object positions on the Earth’s surface are specified bytheir latitude and longitude. For example, you could locate Los Angeles, California, by its latitude (+34°) and longitude (118° West); similarly, you could locate the constellation Ursa Major(which includes the Big Dipper) by its general position on the celestial sphere:
R.A.: 11hr; Dec: +50°.
•

Right Ascension: The celestial analog to Earth longitude is called “Right Ascension,” or“R.A.,” and is measured in time on the 24 hour “clock” and shown in hours or “hr," minutes
or “min," and seconds or “sec," from an arbitrarily defined “zero” line of Right Ascension
passing through the constellation Pegasus. Right Ascension coordinates range from 0hr
0min 0sec to 23hr 59min 59sec. Thus there are 24 primary lines of R.A., located at 15
degree intervals along the celestial equator. Objects located further and further East of theprime Right Ascension grid line, 0hr 0min 0sec, carry increasing R.A. coordinates.

•

Declination: The celestial analog to Earth latitude is called Declination, or “Dec,” and ismeasured in degrees, arc-minutes and arc-seconds, e.g., 15° 27' 33". Declination shownas North of the celestial equator is indicated with a “+” sign in front of the measurement,e.g., the Declination of the North Celestial Pole is +90°, with Declination South of the celestial equatorindicated with a “–” sign, e.g., the Declination of the South Celestial Pole is –90°. Any point on the celestial equator itself which, for example, passes through the constellations Orion, Virgo, and Aquarius, is
specified as having a Declination of zero, shown as 0° 0' 0".

All celestial objects are specified in position by their celestial coordinates of Right Ascension and Declination.

45

Using setting circles requires a developed technique. When using the circles for the first time,
try hopping from one bright star (the calibration star) to another bright star of known coordinates. Practice moving the telescope from one easy-to-find object to another. In this way, theprecision required for accurate object location becomes evident.
NOTE: You may also enter an object's R.A. and Dec coordinates using the "User:
Objects" option of Autostar's Object menu. Autostar then automatically slews thetelescope to the entered coordinates.

Locating the Celestial Pole
To get basic bearings at an observing location, take note of where the Sun rises (East) andsets (West) each day. After the site is dark, face North by pointing your left shoulder toward
where the Sun set. To precisely point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris) by using the Big
Dipper as a guide (Fig. 25).
For precise tracking of astronomical objects, yourtelescope should be Polar aligned.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For almost all astronomical observing requirements, approximate settings of the telescope’s latitudeand Polar axis are acceptable. Do notallow undue attention to precise Polar
Alignment of the telescope to interfere withyour basic enjoyment of the instrument.

Autostar Polar Alignment

Little Dipper

Big Dipper

PolarisCassiopeia

Fig. 26: Locating Polaris.

Autostar provides three different methods for Polar Alignment: Easy, One-Star and Two-Star.
In each method, the telescope is pointed at Polaris, which Autostar uses the star as a reference.

Easy Polar Alignment
IMPORTANTNOTE: In order toselect any ofAutostar's three
Polar Alignment
options, you mustfirst select "Polar"in the "Mount"option of the"Setup: Telescope"
menu.

Polaris and two alignment stars are chosen by Autostar based on the date, time, and locationentered. First, choose "Polar" from the "Setup: Telescope" menu. The rest of the procedure is
identical to the (Alt/Az) "EASY ALIGN," page 19, except that Autostar prompts you to point thetelescope at Polaris and center it in the telescope eyepiece.

One-Star Polar Alignment
Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database of bright stars and one star from this database is chosen by the observer for alignment.
Polaris is chosen by Autostar. First, choose "Polar" from the "Setup: Telescope" menu. The restof the procedure is almost identical to the (Alt/Az) "ONE STAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT," page 37,
except that Autostar you to point the telescope at Polaris and center it in the telescope eyepiece.

Two-Star Polar Alignment
Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database of bright stars and two stars from this database are chosen by the observer for alignment.
Polaris is chosen by Autostar. The rest of the procedure is almost identical to the (Alt/Az) "TWOSTAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT," page 37, except that Autostar prompts you to point the telescopeat Polaris and center it in the telescope eyepiece.

Setting Circles
Setting circles included with the LX90 permit the location of faint celestial objects not easilyfound by direct visual observation. R.A. circle is located on the top surface of the telescope’s
drive base. Declination circles (8, Fig. 1) are located at the top of each fork tine. With the telescope pointed at the North Celestial Pole, the Dec circle should read 90° (understood to mean+90°). Objects located below the 0-0 line of the Dec circle carry minus Declination coordinates.
Each division of the Dec circle represents a 1° increment. The R.A. circle runs from 0hr to (butnot including) 24hr, and reads in increments of 5min.

46

Note that the R.A. circle is double-indexed (i.e., there are two series of numbers running in
opposite directions around the circumference of the R.A. circle). The upper series of numbers(increasing counterclockwise) applies to observers located in the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere;
the lower series of numbers (increasing clockwise) applies to observers located in the Earth’s
Southern Hemisphere.
Figure 27: Section of Right
Ascension Setting Circle.

To use the setting circles to locate an object not easily found by direct visual observation:
With the telescope aligned to the Celestial Pole, first look up the celestial coordinates (R.A. andDec.) of the object in a star atlas. Then loosen the R.A. lock and turn the telescope to read thecorrect R.A. of the desired object; lock the R.A. lock onto the object. Next, turn the telescopein Declination to read the correct Declination of the object. If the procedure has been followed
carefully, and if the telescope was well-aligned with the pole, the desired object should now bein the telescopic field of a low-power eyepiece.
If you do not immediately see the object you are seeking, try searching the adjacent sky area.
Keep in mind that, with the 26mm eyepiece, the field of view of the LX90 is about 0.5°. Becauseof its much wider field, the viewfinder may be of significant assistance in locating and centering objects, after the setting circles have been used to locate the approximate position of theobject.

Figure 28: Section of
Declination Setting Circle.

Pinpoint application of the setting circles requires that the telescope be precisely aligned withthe pole See "LOCATING THE CELESTIAL POLE," page 46.

EQUATORIAL WEDGE
An optional equatorial wedge allows a more precise Polar alignment. Polar alignment allows
you to take longer exposure photographs with your LX90.
The LX90 requires an adapter to attach the equatorial wedge to the tripod. See the instruction
sheet supplied with the wedge for installation.
Equatorial Wedge
The equatorial wedge permits use in an astronomical, or “equatorial,” mode. The wedge fits
onto the field tripod.
NOTE: The Meade equatorial wedge is designed solely for use in conjunction with
the Meade field tripod. The wedge should never be used without the field tripod(e.g., by placing the wedge alone on a table top and then mounting the telescopeon the wedge – the wedge may become seriously imbalanced, to the point where
the telescope may actually tip over.

Fig. 29: Equatorial Wedge.

Included features:••••

Attachment of the wedge to the field tripod by means of only one manual knob.
Quick azimuth adjustment by loosening the manual knob as described above.
Bubble level for rapid tripod/wedge leveling.
Etched latitude scale for fast adjustment of the latitude angle.

Fig. 30: LX90 mounted onan equatorial wedge.

47

APPENDIX B: HELPFUL CHARTS
Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldTo aid in the Polar Alignment procedure (see page 45), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below. To
determine the latitude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site. Then follow theprocedure below:
Northern Hemisphere observers (N): If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) North of the listed city, add one degree forevery 70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city, subtract one degree per 70 miles.
Southern Hemisphere observers (S): If the site is over 70 miles North of the listed city, subtract one degree for every
70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city, add one degree per 70 miles.
UNITED STATES
City

State

LatitudeAlbuquerqueAnchorage
Atlanta
BostonChicagoCleveland
DallasDenverDetroitHonolulu
JacksonKansas City
Las Vegas
Little RockLos Angeles
Miami
Milwaukee
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Philadelphia
Phoenix
PortlandRichmond
Salt Lake CitySan Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
SeattleWashington
Wichita

New Mexico
AlaskaGeorgia
Massachusetts
Illinois
Ohio
Texas
Colorado
Michigan
Hawaii
Mississippi
Missouri
NevadaArkansas
California
FloridaWisconsin
Tennessee
Louisiana
New York
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Arizona
OregonVirginia
Utah
Texas
California
California
Washington
District of Columbia
Kansas

35° N
61° N
34° N
42° N
42° N
41° N
33° N
40° N
42° N
21° N
32° N
39° N
36° N
35° N
34° N
26° N
46° N
36° N
30° N
41° N
35° N
40° N
33° N
46° N
37° N
41° N
29° N
33° N
38° N
47° N
39° N
38° N

EUROPECity

Country

LatitudeAmsterdam
AthensBern
Copenhagen
DublinFrankfurt
Glasgow
Helsinki
LisbonLondonMadrid
Oslo
Paris
Rome
Stockholm
ViennaWarsaw

Netherlands
GreeceSwitzerland
Denmark
IrelandGermany
ScotlandFinland
Portugal
EnglandSpain
NorwayFrance
Italy
SwedenAustria
Poland

52° N
38° N
47° N
56° N
53° N
50° N
56° N
60° N
39° N
51° N
40° N
60° N
49° N
42° N
59° N
48° N
52° N

48

SOUTH AMERICA
City
Country

Latitude

Asuncion
Brasilia
Buenos Aires
Montevideo
Santiago

Paraguay
BrazilArgentina
Uruguay
Chile

25° S
24° S
35° S
35° S
34° S

ASIA
City

Country

LatitudeBeijing
Seoul
TaipeiTokyo
Victoria

China
South Korea
TaiwanJapan
Hong Kong

40° N
37° N
25° N
36° N
23° N

AFRICA
City

Country

Latitude

Cairo
Cape Town
Rabat
Tunis
Windhoek

Egypt
South Africa
MoroccoTunisia
Namibia

30° N
34° S
34° N
37° N
23° S

AUSTRALIA
City

State

Latitude

Adelaide
Brisbane
Canberra
Alice Springs
HobartPerthSydneyMelbourneSouth Australia
Queensland
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Tasmania
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria

35° S
27° S
35° S
24° S
43° S
32° S
34° S
38° S

APPENDIX C: TRAINING THE DRIVE
Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 31 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure.
NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete thisexercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy.
1

2

Verify that AUTOSTARINITIALIZATION iscomplete.
Press MODE until
Select Item is displayed.

Select Item
Object4

Access the Setup
ENTER menu.

Setup
Align

LX90 TIPS

12

Scope slews left.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Right Arrow key.

Further Study....

3

Press the scroll
up key once.

Select Item
Setup

Press > until it
is centered

Press < until it
is centered

This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies inastronomy, a few topics are suggested below that areworth reading up on. Try looking up some of these topics
in Autostar’s glossary.

13

Scope slews right.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Left Arrow key.

Train Drive
Az. Train

Also included below is a small sampling of books, magazines, and organizations that you might find helpful.
Topics14

Menu returns to
Az. training.

5
Multiple presses.

Train Drive
Alt. Train
Setup
Telescope151.

How is a star born? How does a solar system form?

2.

How is the distance to a star measured? What is alight year?

3.

What is red shift and blue shift?

4.

How are the craters on our Moon formed? How old
are the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun?

5.

What is a black hole? A quasar? A neutron star?

6.

What are stars made of? Why are stars different colors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant?

7.

What is a nova? A supernova?

8.

What are comets? Asteroids? Meteors? Meteor
showers? Where do they come from?

9.

What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster?

Altitude

6

ENTER (vertical)
training.

Access the
ENTER Telescope menu.

Telescope
7
1
Telescope Model

Drive Setup
For this op. . .

16

Reminder to

ENTER use terrestrial
target.

Multiple presses.

Center reference
17
objectTelescope
Train Drive8

Choose the Train

Train Drive
Az. Train

9

AzimuthENTER (horizontal)
training.

10. What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expanding orcontracting, or does it always remain the same?

keys.

Books

Press until it
is centered>

ENTER Drive option.

Center target

ENTER using Arrow

Scope slews down.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Up Arrow key.

Press until it
is centered>

Drive Setup
For this op. . .

10Reminder to
ENTER use terrestrial
target.

Center reference
11
object.
Center target

ENTER using Arrow
keys.

1.

18

19

MODE

2.

The Sky: A User’s Guide by David Levy

3.

Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis

4.

Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael
Covington

Magazines

Scope slews up.
Bring target backto center using
ENTER the Down Arrow key.

Train Drive
Az. Train

1.
2.

Sky & TelescopeBox 9111, Belmont, MA 02178
Astronomy
Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187

Organizations:
20

1.

Multiple presses.

2.
Select Item
Object

The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack Newton
and Philip Teece

21

3.

Figure 31: Training the Drive Procedure.

49

Astronomical League
Executive Secretary
5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific
390 Ashton Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
The Planetary Society
65 North Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

BASIC ASTRONOMY
In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably smaller
than the LX90, turned it to look towards the sky instead of distant trees and mountains. What
he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, forever changed the way mankind thought of
the universe. Imagine what it must have been like being the first human to see moons revolvearound the planet Jupiter or to see the changing phases of Venus! Because of his observations,
Galileo correctly realized Earth's movement and position around the Sun, and in doing so, gavebirth to modern astronomy. Yet Galileo's telescope was so crude, he could not clearly make out
the rings of Saturn.
Galileo's discoveries laid the foundation for understanding the motion and nature of the planets, stars, and galaxies. Building on his foundation, Henrietta Leavitt determined how to measure the distance to stars; Edwin Hubble proposed a glimpse into the origin of the universe;
Albert Einstein unraveled the relationship of time and light. Almost daily, using sophisticatedsuccessors to Galileo's crude telescope, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, more and moremysteries of the universe are being solved and understood. We are living in a golden age ofastronomy.
Unlike other sciences, astronomy welcomes contributions from amateurs. Much of the knowledge we have on subjects such as comets, meteor showers, variable stars, the Moon, and oursolar system comes from observations made by amateur astronomers. So as you look throughyour Meade LX90 telescope, keep in mind Galileo. To him, a telescope was not a mere machineof glass and metal, but something far more - a window through which the beating heart of theuniverse might be glimpsed, a fuse to set fire to mind and imagination.
Autostar Glossary
Be sure to make use of Autostar’s Glossary feature. The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions of common astronomical terms. Access directly
through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar. See “GLOSSARY MENU," page 25, for more information.
Objects in Space
Listed below are some of the many astronomical objects that can be seen with the LX90:
The Moon
The Moon is, on average, a distance of 239,000 miles (380,000km) from Earth and is best
observed during its crescent or half phase when Sunlight strikes the Moon’s surface at anangle. It casts shadows and adds a sense of depth to the view (Fig. 32). No shadows are seen
during a full Moon, causing the overly bright Moon to appear flat and rather uninteresting
through the telescope. Be sure to use a neutral Moon filter when observing the Moon. Not only
does it protect your eyes from the bright glare of the Moon, but it also helps enhance contrast,
providing a more dramatic image.

Fig. 32: The Moon.
Note the deep shadows in the craters.

Using the LX90, brilliant detail can be observed on the Moon, including hundreds of lunar
craters and maria, described below.
Craters are round meteor impact sites covering most of the Moon’s surface. With no atmosphere on the Moon, no weather conditions exist, so the only erosive force is meteor strikes.
Under these conditions, lunar craters can last for millions of years.
Maria (plural for mare) are smooth, dark areas scattered across the lunar surface. These darkareas are large ancient impact basins that were filled with lava from the interior of the Moon by
the depth and force of a meteor or comet impact.
Twelve Apollo astronauts left their bootprints on the Moon in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
However, no telescope on Earth is able to see these footprints or any other artifacts. In fact, thesmallest lunar features that may be seen with the largest telescope on Earth are about one-halfmile across.

50

Planets
Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on agiven day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and Telescope orAstronomy. You can also consult Autostar for information about planets. Scroll to the "Object:
Solar System" menu and scroll through the lists of planets. When a planet you are interested
in displays, press ENTER. Use the Scroll keys to display information about the planet, such as
the planet's coordinates, and the rise and set times (Tip: enter a date in the Date menu andyou can determine if a planet(s) will be visible during the night of the entered date by checking
its rise and set times). Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the LX90.

Fig. 33: Jupiter andits four largest
moons. The moons
can be observed ina different position
every night.

Venus is about nine-tenths the diameter of Earth. As Venus orbits the Sun, observers can see
it go through phases (crescent, half, and full) much like those of the Moon. The disk of Venus
appears white as Sunlight is reflected off the thick cloud cover that completely obscures any
surface detail.
Mars is about half the diameter of Earth, and appears through the telescope as a tiny reddishorange disk. It may be possible to see a hint of white at one of the planet’s Polar ice caps.
Approximately every two years, when Mars is closest to Earth in its orbit, additional detail andcoloring on the planet's surface may be visible.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is 11 times the diameter of Earth. The planet appears as a disk with dark lines stretching across the surface. These lines are cloud bands
in the atmosphere. Four of Jupiter’s 16 moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) can beseen as “star-like” points of light when using even the lowest magnification (Fig. 33). Thesemoons orbit Jupiter so that the number of moons visible on any given night changes as they
circle around the giant planet.

Fig. 34: Saturn has
the most extensive
ring structure in our
Solar System.

Saturn is nine times the diameter of Earth and appears as a small, round disk with rings
extending out from either side (Fig. 34). In 1610, Galileo, the first person to observe Saturnthrough a telescope, did not understand that what he was seeing were rings. Instead, hebelieved that Saturn had “ears.” Saturn’s rings are composed of billions of ice particles ranging in size from a speck of dust to the size of a house. The major division in Saturn's rings,
called the Cassini Division, is occasionally visible through the LX90. Titan, the largest of
Saturn’s 18 moons can also be seen as a bright, star-like object near the planet.
Deep-Sky Objects
Star charts can be used to locate constellations, individual stars and deep-sky objects.
Examples of various deep-sky objects are given below:

Fig. 35: The
Pleiades is one of
the most beautiful
open clusters.

Stars are large gaseous objects that are self-illuminated by nuclear fusion in their core.
Because of their vast distances from our solar system, all stars appear as pinpoints of light,
irrespective of the size of the telescope used.
Nebulae are vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust where stars are formed. Most impressiveof these is the Great Nebula in Orion (M42), a diffuse nebula that appears as a faint wispy graycloud. M42 is 1600 light years from Earth.
Open Clusters are loose groupings of young stars, all recently formed from the same diffuse
nebula. The Pleiades is an open cluster 410 light years away (Fig. 35). Through the LX90,
numerous stars are visible.
Constellations are large, imaginary patterns of stars believed by ancient civilizations to be thecelestial equivalent of objects, animals, people, or gods. These patterns are too large to be
seen through a telescope. To learn the constellations, start with an easy grouping of stars, suchas the Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Then, use a star chart to explore across the sky.
Galaxies are large assemblies of stars, nebulae, and star clusters that are bound by gravity.
The most common shape is spiral (such as our own Milky Way), but galaxies can also be elliptical, or even irregular blobs. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest spiral-type galaxy to
our own. This galaxy appears fuzzy and cigar-shaped. It is 2.2 million light years away in theconstellation Andromeda, located between the large “W” of Cassiopeia and the great square ofPegasus.

51

A Roadmap to the Stars

Rigel

The night sky is filled with wonder andintrigue. You too, can enjoy exploring theuniverse simply by following a few pointers
on a roadmap to the stars.

Orion
Betelgeuse

Andromeda
GeminiFirst, find the Big Dipper which is part of theconstellation Ursa Major. The Big Dipper isusually easy to locate year round in North
America.

PolluxCastorPegasus“Summer
Triangle”

Extending directly out from the far side of
the Big Dipper’s cup is the constellation
Orion. One of the most exquisite areas of
the winter sky, Orion is distinguished byOrion’s belt, which is marked by three stars
in a row. The Orion Nebula is located Southof the belt and is one of the most observed
deep-sky objects by amateur astronomers.
Extending from the “pointer stars” of the Big
Dipper’s cup is Polaris, the North Star.
Extending from Polaris is the Great Square
shared by the constellations Pegasus andAndromeda. .

Polaris“Sickle”
Regulus

Deneb

CygnusVega

Lyra

AltairLeo“Big Dipper”

BoötesArcturus

AquilaVirgo
Spica
Antares

Scorpius

Fig. 36: Road Map to the Stars.

The Summer Triangle is a notable region in the sky to the left of the handle of the Big Dipper.
The triangle is made up of three very bright stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair.
By drawing an imaginary line outward from the handle of the Big Dipper, you reach the southern constellation “Scorpius.” Scorpius curves to the left like the tail of a scorpion in the sky, or
like letter “J.”
Amateur astronomers commonly use the phrase “arc to Arcturus and spike to Spica” to refer tothe area directly off the arc in the handle of the Big Dipper. Follow the arc to Arcturus, the second brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere, then spike down to Spica, the 16th brightest starin the sky.
Star Locator
The chart below lists bright stars with their R.A. and Dec coordinates, along with the Northern
Hemisphere season when these stars are prominent in the night sky. This list aids the observer to find alignment stars at various times of the year. For example, if it is a midsummer evening
in the Northern Hemisphere, Deneb in the constellation Cygnus, would be an excellent alignment star, while Betelgeuse could not be used because it is in the winter constellation Orionand thus, below the horizon.
SeasonStar Name

Constellation

R.A.

Dec

SpringSpringSpringArcturus
Regulus
Spica

BootesLeo
Virgo

14h16m10h09m13h25m19° 11"
11° 58"-11° 10"

SummerSummerSummerSummerVega
Deneb
AltairAntares

Lyra
CygnusAquilaScorpius

18h37m20h41m
19h51m16h30m38° 47"45° 17"08° 52"-26° 26"

Fall
Fall
Fall

Markab
Fomalhaut
Mira

Pegasus
Pisces Austrinus
Cetus

23h05ms22h58m
02h19m15° 12"-29° 38"-02° 58"

Winter
Winter
Winter
WinterRigel
Betelgeuse
SiriusAldebaran

Orion
Orion
Canis Major
Taurus05h15m05h55m06h45m04h35m-08° 12"07° 25"-16° 43"16° 31"52

MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY
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to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A.
and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective
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RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number must be
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detailing the nature of the claimed defect, as well as the owner’s name, address, and phone number.
This warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized repairs have been
attempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-and-tear. Meade specifically disclaims
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