Meade MAX-ACF, Instruction Manual

Page: 3 / 60

Telescope Features ...................................................... 4
Autostar II Features ........................................................11
Assembly ........................................................................14
Tripod Assembly ........................................................14
Pedestal Assembly and Adjusting Latitude ..............14
RA Assembly ............................................................16
Dec Saddle Assembly ..............................................16
Attach Counterweights ..............................................18
Low Latitude Counterweights....................................18
Attach OTA to Dec Saddle ........................................20
Attach Autostar II ......................................................21
Electrical connections, Align Viewfinder with OTA ....22
Home Position and Balancing the OTA ..........................23
Balance RA Axis ......................................................23
Balance Dec Axis......................................................24
Getting Started ..............................................................25
Attach Handbox Holder ............................................25
Mounting, Focusing & Aligning the Viewfinder..........25
Focusing the Telescope ............................................25
To Change Focus Speed ....................................25
To Focus the Eyepiece ........................................26
Presets ................................................................26
To Define a Preset ............................................26
To Focus with a Microfocuser ............................26
To Focus the MAX-ACF and a Microfocuser ....26
To Select a Preset ............................................27
To Sync on a Preset ..........................................27
Slew Speeds ..................................................................27
To Align for the First Time ..............................................28
Automatic Alignment ................................................28
Drift Align ..................................................................29
Collimation ................................................................29
Align the OTA ............................................................30
Calibrate Home ........................................................31
Basic Autostar II Operation ............................................32
Autostar II Menus ........................................................34
Menu Tree ................................................................34
Objects Menu ............................................................35
Event Menu ..............................................................36
Glossary Menu, Utilities Menu ..................................36
Setup Menu ..............................................................38
Hot Button Menus ....................................................41
Advanced Autostar II Features ......................................42
Adding Observing Sites ............................................42
Creating User Objects ..............................................43
Observing Satellites ..................................................44
Identify ......................................................................44
Browse ......................................................................45
Alternate Polar Alignment Methods ..........................46
To Download the Latest Autostar II Software............46
Periodic Error Correction ..........................................47
Optional Accessories......................................................48
Maintenance ..................................................................51
Specifications ................................................................52
Meade Consumer Solutions ..........................................53
Appendix A: Latitude Chart ............................................54
Appendix B: The Moon ..................................................55
Appendix C: Smart Mount ..............................................56
Appendix D: How to Read the Latitude Scale ................58
CONTENTS
WARNING!
Never use a Meade
®
MAX-
ACF ™ Telescope to look at
the Sun! Looking at or near
the Sun will cause instant
and irreversible damage to
your 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 or near the
Sun. Do not look through
the telescope or its
viewfinder as it is moving.
Children should always have
adult supervision while
observing.
® The names "Autostar," "Meade" and the Meade logo are
trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office and in principal countries throughout the world.
"MAX-ACF" is a trademark of Meade Instruments
Corporation.
Patents:
US 6,304,376
US 6,392,799
US 6,563,636
D 422,610
Patent Pending.
© 2010 Meade Instruments Corp.
If you have never focused a
MAX-ACF telescope before,
go to pages 25 to 27 for
detailed information.