Meade LX850-ACF User Manual - Page 22

precise focus use the smaller fine focus knob for final

focus. If you have a 2” eyepiece, remove the 1.25”

eyepiece adapter from the diagonal by loosening the

thumbscrew(s). Slide the 2” eyepiece into the diagonal

and tighten with the eyepiece locking screw(s).

The bottom side of the focuser has a locking knob

which locks the focuser drawtube in place. Use

this lock knob when the focuser is attached with

heavy equipment to prevent unwanted movement to

the drawtube.

Slew Speeds

AutoStar II has nine slew speeds that move the optical

tube at rates that are directly proportional to the

sidereal rate and have been calculated to accomplish

specific functions. Press the Speed key (Number key

“1”) and then press a Number key (1-9) to change the

slew speed, which is shown for about two seconds on

AutoStar II’s display.

The nine available speeds are:

Number Key 1

= 1x = Guide Rate, programmable

Number Key 2

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

Number Key 3

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

Number Key 4


Number Key 5


Number Key 6

= 1/4° =15arc-min/sec

Number Key 7

= 1/2° = 30arc-min/sec

Number Key 8

= 1° = 60arc-min/sec

Number Key 9

= 3° = 180arc-min/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: Enable centering of 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 viewfinder.

Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point

in the sky to another.

Aligning for the First Time

Anytime you have removed and reinstalled the StarLock

or OTA, you should select “One Star Alignment” in the

Autostar’s Setup/Align Menu. Once you do this at the

end of each observing session you will need only to

park your scope and your telescope will keep this

alignment until the telescope axes are unlocked or the

mount is moved. When you turn the telescope back

on after parking, it will be aligned and ready to use. If

you forget to park the scope, select Easy Alignment so

long as the tripod and OTAs have not been adjusted.

Finding True North/Aligning on Polaris

To ensure maximum pointing accuracy and tracking

it is import that your telescope’s mount and OTA be

aligned Polaris, or if Polaris is not visible, true north.

Begin aligning the telescope by locating Polaris.

Finding Polaris is simple. Most people recognize the

“Big Dipper. The Big Dipper has two stars that point the

way. Polaris is the last star in the “handle” of the Little

Dipper (Fig. 33A).

Once you have located Polaris in the sky, orient your

telescope so that the control panel faces south (away

from Polaris). You may need to rotate the telescope

mount on its tripod to achieve this orientation (loosen

the two Azimuth Lock Knobs [page 7, fig. 1, 16], rotate

and re-tighten the lock knobs). The telescope mount

and its OTA are now pointing very near to the celestial

north. Loosen the three (3) DEC locks (page7 , fig. 1,

23), rotate the OTA so that it is parallel with the mount

(pointing towards Polaris) and then re-lock the DEC. If

you were to have performed this maneuver perfectly,

you would be able to see Polaris through the finder

scope (make sure that you aligned the finderscope to

the OTA). If you cannot, rotate the entire telescope/

OTA assembly until you can.

Getting Started

22

Fig 33A:

Locating Polaris

Meade LX850-ACF User Manual - Page 22

Slew Speeds, Aligning for the First Time, Finding True North/Aligning on Polaris

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