Meade 80EQ-AR, Instruction Manual

Page 1: ...MEADE INSTRUCTION MANUAL 80mm 3 1 Equatorial Refracting Telescope 80EQ AR www meade com Meade80EQ AR 4 28 06 9 55 AM Page 1...

Page 2: ...mm The lens diameter is one of the most important pieces of information about the telescope The size of the primary mirror determines how much detail you will be able to see in your telescope The foca...

Page 3: ...n 8 Cradle ring 9 Red dot viewfinder bracket mounting thumbscrews see Inset A 10 Red dot viewfinder 11 Focuser draw tube 12 Eyepiece 13 Eyepiece holder and thumbscrew 14 Diagonal mirror 15 Diagonal mi...

Page 4: ...ock 16 Latitude adjustment knob 17 Latitude circle 18 Tripod to mount attachment point see Fig 3 19 Latitude adjustment lock not shown 20 Equatorial mount 21 Tripod to mount wingnuts see Fig 3 22 Decl...

Page 5: ...eg lock thumbscrew to relock the leg lock d Repeat for the other two legs ATTACH THE ACCESSORY TRAY The tray helps stabilize the tripod and is also a convenient holder of eyepieces and other Meade acc...

Page 6: ...c ci id de en nt tl ly y s sl li ip pp pi in ng g BALANCING THE TELESCOPE In order for the telescope to move smoothly on its mechanical axes it must first be balanced as follows 1 Loosen the right asc...

Page 7: ...star hopping to locate celestial objects They use star charts or astronomical software to identify bright stars and star patterns as landmarks in their search for astronomical objects Another techniq...

Page 8: ...c minutes and arc seconds e g 15 27 33 Dec locations North of the celestial equator are indicated with a plus sign The celestial map also contains two poles and an equator just like a map of the Earth...

Page 9: ...a horizontal direction Rotate the telescope until it points due North Use a compass or locate Polaris the North Star as an accurate reference to North See Fig 7 2 Level the mount with the horizon if...

Page 10: ...d to unlock the TOO MUCH POWER Can you ever have too much power If the type of power you re referring to is eyepiece magnification yes you can The most common mistake of the beginning observer is to o...

Page 11: ...r observing the Moon you are ready to step up to the next level of observation the planets There are four planets that you can easily observe in your telescope Venus Mars Jupiter and Saturn Nine plane...

Page 12: ...Galilean dance On any given night you might be able to see the shadow of a moon on the face of Jupiter see one moon eclipse another or even see a moon emerge from behind Jupiter s giant disk Drawing t...

Page 13: ...see the Andromeda galaxy and several others in your telescope They will appear as small fuzzy clouds Only very large telescope will reveal spiral or elliptical details You will also be able to see so...

Page 14: ...You can also change magnification by using a Barlow lens The Barlow lens doubles the power of your telescope See Fig 9 Meade offers a complete line of eyepieces for your telescope Most astronomers hav...

Page 15: ...ck sharpness the same object when observed higher in the sky will appear sharper and have greater contrast Try reducing power change your eyepiece if your image is fuzzy or shimmers Keep in mind that...

Page 16: ...ope Just divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece Focal Length of the Telescope Focal Length of the Eyepiece Magnification Look at the specifications You will see t...

Page 17: ...r brush or compressed air gently to remove dust If the telescope s dust cover is replaced after each observing session cleaning of the optics will rarely be required Fingerprints and organic materials...

Page 18: ...ts which vary from state to state Meade reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without notice This warranty supersedes all previous Meade product warranties 17...

Page 19: ...18 Meade80EQ AR 4 28 06 9 55 AM Page 20...

Page 20: ...OBSERVER OBJECT NAME DATE TIME OBSERVED CONSTELLATION EYEPIECE SIZE SEEING CONDITIONS EXCELLENT GOOD POOR NOTES DRAWING OF IMAGE OBSERVATION LOG Meade80EQ AR 4 28 06 9 55 AM Page 21...

Page 21: ...OBSERVER OBJECT NAME DATE TIME OBSERVED CONSTELLATION EYEPIECE SIZE SEEING CONDITIONS EXCELLENT GOOD POOR NOTES DRAWING OF IMAGE OBSERVATION LOG Meade80EQ AR 4 28 06 9 55 AM Page 22...

Page 22: ...www meade com Meade Instruments Corporation 6001 Oak Canyon Irvine California 92618 1 800 626 3233 Meade80EQ AR 4 28 06 9 55 AM Page 24...