Summary of the content on the page No. 1
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:18 PM Page 1
MEADE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
70mm | 2.8" Altazimuth Refracting Telescope
NG-70SM
www.meade.com
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:18 PM Page 2 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 at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:18 PM Page 3 INTRODUCTION Your telescope is an excellent beginner’s Setting up your telescope involves these 1 instrument, and is designed to observe simple steps: objects in the sky and also on land. It can be • Assemble your tripod your personal window on the universe or • Adjusting the tripod allows you to intimately study the behavior of • Attach the optical tube to the mount nesting birds on a distant hillside. • Attach the red dot viewfinder • Attach
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 4 Inset A Figure 1: Meade NG-70SM Altazimuth Refracting Telescope FIGURE 1 Inset A: Red Dot Viewfinder Assembly 2 Inset B: Altazimuth or Azimuth Mount Inset C: Tripod Legs and Accessory Tray 1. Eyepiece 2. Red dot viewfinder (see Inset A) 3. Red dot viewfinder alignment screws (see Inset A) 4. Optical tube assembly 5. Vertical slow motion control Inset B 6. Base/tripod head 7. Tripod legs 8. Leg brace supports (See Inset C) 9. Leg brace (See Inset
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 5 ASSEMBLE YOUR TRIPOD ADJUSTING THE TRIPOD ATTACH THE RED DOT VIEWFINDER The tripod is the basic support for your Now that the tripod has been assembled, An eyepiece (1) has a narrow field Fig. 3 3 telescope and is shipped with the tripod head the tripod height can be adjusted so that you of view. A and legs unattached. can view comfortably. viewfinder N No ot te e: : N Nu um mb be er r i in n b br ra ac ck ke et ts s, , e eg g. ., , [ [3 3]
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 6 Fig. 4 3. Slide the MH 25mm eyepiece (1) into (3) until the red dot is precisely over the diagonal mirror (13). same object as you centered in the 4 eyepiece. 4. Tighten the diagonal mirror thumbscrew to hold the eyepiece 4. Check this alignment at night on a securely. celestial object, such as the Moon or a bright star, and use the viewfinder’s BALANCING THE OPTICAL TUBE alignment screws to make any necessary refinements. The telescope is desi
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 7 different ways. S SU UN N W WA AR RN NI IN NG G OBSERVING 1. To move the telescope to an object, simply NEVER USE YOUR TELESCOPE 5 move the telescope tube in the horizontal TO LOOK AT THE SUN! Observe during the daytime: Try out and/or vertical plane until it is centered in your telescope during the daytime at LOOKING AT OR NEAR THE SUN WILL CAUSE the red dot viewfinder. The object will now first. It is easier to learn how it operates and INSTA
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 8 object using the viewfinder rather than Practice using the slow motion controls locating with the eyepiece. Line up the Use a neutral density filter (often called a (5,12) to move the telescope. These can 6 object with the viewfinder's red dot. “moon filter”) when observing the Moon. come in very handy, especially when you Neutral density filters are available from wish to move the telescope in very small Look through the eyepiece: Once you have
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 9 Fig. 5 moons appear in different positions planetoids and other debris left over from around the Jovian sky. This is the birth of our sun. Recently astronomers sometimes called the Galilean dance. 7 have found large objects in this area and On any given night, you might be able they may increase the number of planets in to see the shadow of a moon on the face of our solar system. Jupiter, see one moon eclipse another or even see a moon emerge fro
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 10 held a small lead over Saturn. Most of cannot be seen from Earth at all—the that they burn at. these moons are very small and can Voyager spacecraft discovered the ring after only be seen with very large telescopes. 8 it passed Jupiter and looked back at it. It Other stars to look for are multiple stars. turns out, only with the sunlight shining Very often, you can find double (or binary) Probably the most memorable sight you will through them,
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 11 Moon and planets. If the image become exercise for drawing is to observe the moons You will also be able to see some nebulas fuzzy, switch back down to a lower of Jupiter every night or so. Try to make with your scope. Nebula means cloud. Most power. Changing eyepieces changes the 9 Jupiter and the moons approximately the nebulas are clouds of gas. The two easiest to power or magnification of your same size as they look in your eyepiece. You see
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 12 telescopic field of view. This movement Viewing through windows: Avoid setting up of the field and, without touching the is caused by the rotation of the Earth the telescope inside a room and observing telescope, watch it drift through the field to 10 and makes an object move through the through an opened or closed window pane. the other side before repositioning the telescope’s field of view. To keep Images may appear blurred or distorted due
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 13 SPECIFICATIONS the ratio, the faster exposure time is Know your observing site: If possible, know needed when a camera is hooked up to Optical tube focal length . . . . . . . . . 700mm the location where you will be observing. Pay 11 the telescope. Your telescope has Objective lens diameter . . . . . . 70mm (2.8") attention to holes in the ground and other slower focal ratio at f/10. Focal ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 14 USE THE SPECIFICATIONS TO Focal Length of the Telescope TAKING CARE OF YOUR TELESCOPE CALCULATE THE MAGNIFICATION OF ÷ Your telescope is a precision optical 12 YOUR EYEPIECE Focal Length of the Eyepiece instrument designed for a lifetime of = The power of a telescope is how much rewarding viewing. It will rarely, if ever, Magnification it magnifies objects. Your 25mm eyepiece require factory servicing or maintenance. magnifies an object 28 times
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 15 biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint F Fi ig g. . 7 7. Check the amount of tension by Horizontal of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues moving the bracket up and down before adjustment nut and make short, gentle strokes. Change 13 reattaching the optical tube. tissues often. CAUTION: Do not use scented or lotioned OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES tissues or damage could result to the optics. #928 45° Erecting Prism (1.25 O.D.): DO NOT use a comme
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 16 most cases. issues can be resolved by telephone, 3233. Each returned part or product must avoiding return of the telescope to the include a written statement detailing the 14 Additional Eyepieces (1.25" barrel factory. nature of the claimed defect, as well as the diameter): For higher or lower owner’s name, address, and phone number. magnifications with the telescopes that MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY This warranty is not valid in cases where the acco
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 17 which cannot be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other rights 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. ©2009 MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION Looking at or near the Sun will caus
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 18 OBSERVATION LOG OBSERVER: OBJECT NAME: DATE & TIME OBSERVED: CONSTELLATION: EYEPIECE SIZE: SEEING CONDITIONS: EXCELLENT GOOD POOR NOTES: DRAWING OF IMAGE
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 19 OBSERVATION LOG OBSERVER: OBJECT NAME: DATE & TIME OBSERVED: CONSTELLATION: EYEPIECE SIZE: SEEING CONDITIONS: EXCELLENT GOOD POOR NOTES: DRAWING OF IMAGE
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
NG-70SM_Manual_2008.qxd 3/20/09 4:19 PM Page 20 OBSERVATION LOG OBSERVER: OBJECT NAME: DATE & TIME OBSERVED: CONSTELLATION: EYEPIECE SIZE: SEEING CONDITIONS: EXCELLENT GOOD POOR NOTES: DRAWING OF IMAGE
