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MEADE
STARFINDER
Instruction Manual
Meade Model 4504
4.5" (114mm) Equatorial Reflecting Telescope
With Starfinder Electronic Hand Controller
Meade Instruments Corporation
GO TO GO TO
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WARNING ® NEVER USE A MEADE 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. How This Manual is Organized This manual is di
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE: The Basics Lesson 1: Unpacking and Assembly ....................................................................5 How to Assemble Your Telescope......................................................................8 Lesson 2: Balancing the Telescope ....................................................................10 Lesson 3: Aligning the Viewfinder ......................................................................10 Lesson 4: Observing by Moving the Telescope
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1 2 3 7 4 5 8 6 10 11 9 12 15 13 14 16 Fig. 1: Parts included in the Meade Model 4504 Giftbox. page 4
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PART ONE: The Basics LESSON 1: Unpacking and Assembly As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The bolded numbers in parentheses on this page refer to the photos on page 4. Telescope Assembly • Equatorial mount (1) with a pre-attached heavy duty, continuously adjustable aluminum tripod with leg braces • 3 tripod leg lock knobs (7) • Complete optical tube assembly (2) including a 4.5" (114mm) diameter primary mirror with dust cover and a 0.965" rack-and-pinion focuser wi
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7 6 8 5 4 3 2 9 15 10 1 14 11 16 12 13 Fig. 2a: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. Key to Figures 2a, 2b, and 2c 1. Equatorial mount 16. Latitude adjustment knob 2. Optical tube assembly 17. Focuser, Focus knobs 3. Cradle rings 18. Eyepiece thumbscrew 4. Viewfinder bracket 19. Eyepiece 5. Viewfinder rubber eyepiece 20. Cradle ring lock knobs 6. 5 x 24 viewfinder 21. Optical tube saddle plate 7. Viewfinder bracket thumbscrews 22. Dec motor drive assembly 8. Telescope fron
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19 NOTE: The coiled cord that 18 connects to the two motor drives has been omitted from the illustration for the sake of clarity. 20 21 17 20 27 26 22 23 25 24 Fig. 2b: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. 28 28 29 30 29 Fig. 2c: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. page 7
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How to Assemble Your Telescope The giftbox contains the optical tube assembly and the tripod with the equatorial Leg lock knob mount. The accessories are located within compartments custom-cut into the styro- foam block inserts. Refer to Figures 1, 2a, 2b, and 2c for images of the parts and the Threaded overall assembly of the 4504 telescope. hole 1. Remove the components from the giftbox: Remove and identify the telescope’s Sliding standard equipment. For a listing of parts that are included i
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8. Tilt the assembly: Unlock the R.A. lock (26, Fig. 2b) and the Dec lock (27, Fig. 2b) so that the telescope turns freely on both axes. Tilting these axes makes it 1 2 1 easier for you to perform the following steps. Turn the latitude adjustment knob 3 (16, Fig. 2a) until approximately 1 1/2 inches of thread is showing. This will adjust the equatorial mount (1, Fig. 2a) to a comfortable angle for tube attachment. 9. Attach the cradle rings to the saddle plate: Remove the attachment screws fro
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LESSON 2: Balancing the Telescope In order for the telescope to be stable on the tripod and also for it to move smoothly, it must be balanced. To balance the telescope, you will unlock the Right Ascension or R.A. lock (26, Fig. 2b and Fig. 9a). When this axis is unlocked, the telescope pivots Dec more or less horizontally on the mount. This is called the R.A. axis. Later in the pro- Lock cedure, you will also unlock the Declination or Dec lock (27, Fig. 2b and Fig. 9a). When unlocked, the teles
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NEVER point the telescope directly at or near the Sun at any time! Observing the Sun, even for the smallest fraction of a second, will result in instant and irreversible eye damage, as well as physical damage to the telescope itself. 5. Check this alignment on a celestial object, such as a bright star or the Moon, and make any necessary refinements, using the method outlined above in steps 3 and 4. With this alignment performed, objects first located in the wide-field viewfinder will also be ce
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13 12 9 11 10 4 5 6 1 2 3 7 8 Fig. 11: Motor drive system assembly. Key to Figure 11 7. LED 1. R.A. Worm Shaft 2. (R.A. Axis) Plastic Adapter 8. R.A. Motor Drive 3. Aluminum Shaft 9. Handbox (HBX) Port 10. Dec Motor Drive 4. Set Screw 5. Circular Housing containing 11. R.A. Lock 12. Dec Worm Shaft notched plastic shaft 6. Battery Pack Connector 13. Set Screws page 12
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Observe the World Around You Practice observing during the day, when it is easier to become familiar with the con- trols of your telescope. 1. Loosen the telescope’s R.A. lock (26, Fig. 2b) and Dec lock (27, Fig. 2b). 2. Move your telescope to observe distant street signs, mountains, trees, and other structures. Use your viewfinder to to help site-in an object. 3. When the object is centered in the viewfinder’s crosshairs, remember to re-tighten the R.A. and Dec locks. 4. Center the object in
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Activate the Arrow Keys This procedure describes how to activate 1 Starfinder's Arrow keys: NOTE: 1. After Starfinder's cord is plugged in and the 4 Press and hold the 2 batteries are installed, a copyright message Up Arrow key to lights on the Starfinder LCD display (1, Fig. speed up the scroll 13). 3 speed of the display 5 or press and hold the 2. A message warning not to look at the Sun Down Arrow key to scrolls across the display. Press the key 8 slow down the scroll prompted by Starfinder
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Speed 1: Fastest speed to move the telescope from one point in the sky to another. Speeds 2 or 3: Best used for the rough centering of an object in the eyepiece. Speeds 4 or 5: Enables the centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece such as the standard H 25mm Speeds 6 or 7: Best used for the fine centering of an object in the field of view of a high-power eyepiece such as the standard SR 4mm. Observe the Moon Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not v
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Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature In this example, Starfinder's Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then Starfinder's tracking capability automatically keeps the star centered in your telescope's eyepiece. 1. If you have just completed Lesson 5, Starfinder's display now reads "Align: One Star." Go to Step 2. If you have not used Starfinder yet or have just plugged it into the HBX port, perform the procedure described in "ACTIVATE THE ARROW KEYS," page 14. Then go to Step 2
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Initializing Starfinder This exercise describes how to initialize Starfinder. Initialization is a procedure that enables Starfinder to operate correctly. When you first use Starfinder, it doesn't yet "know" the location of the observing site or the time or date of the observation session. During the Initialization procedure, you will enter this information. Starfinder then uses the information to calculate the location of celestial objects (such as stars and planets) and to move your telescope
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ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTER 7. Starfinder then prompts you to enter the status of Daylight Savings Time. Press one of the Scroll keys to toggle 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. 8. If you have previously entered the Country/State and City of your observing site (as described in "ACTIVATE THE ARROW KEYS," page 14), go to step 9. If you have not enter
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> Training the Drive Next, train the drive using Starfinder. Perform this procedure the first time you use Starfinder with your telescope, after a Reset, or if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Training the drive gives your telescope a higher degree of point- ing accuracy. NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. It is best to perform this procedure during the daytime. Complete this exercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain
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Align Your Telescope Using Starfinder After completing the "Train the Drive" procedure, align your telescope using Starfinder. The fastest and easiest way to start observing with Starfinder's Go To capabilities is to align your telescope using One-Star (Polar) Alignment. An alternate method, Two-Star alignment, is described later in this manual. 1. With "Train Drive: Dec Train" displayed (or scroll to this menu, if necessary), keep pressing MODE until "Select Item: Setup" is displayed. Press EN
