Meade114EQAR

3/28/07

9:52 AM

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www.meade.com

MEADE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
114mm | 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope

114EQ-AR

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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 at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or SmartFinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

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INTRODUCTION Your telescope is an excellent beginners instrument, and is designed to observe objects in the sky. It can be your personal window on the universe. The telescope is shipped with the following parts: Optical tube Aluminum tripod with an accessory tray Two 1.25" eyepieces: MA25mm (28X), MH9mm (78X) Red dot viewfinder with bracket Telescope mount Hardware used in the assembly: The tube has a focal length of 900mm, and its reflective mirror has a diameter of 114mm. 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 focal length information will help later on to calculate magnification. Setting up your telescope involves these simple steps: Assemble your tripod Attach the accessory tray Attach the red dot viewfinder Attach the eyepiece Attach the counterweight Prepare mount Attach the optical tube to the mount
Study the the picture on the next page and become acquainted with the parts of your telescope. Then proceed to Assemble your Tripod.

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

FIGURE 1

Tripod legs Equatorial Mount Right ascension control cable Declination control cable Counterweights Counterweight shaft Counterweight lock knobs Counterweight safety washer Latitude adjustment lock Polar axis (see Fig. 5) Latitude adjustment knob Main optical tube (OTA) Optical tube saddle plate (see Fig. 5) Cradle rings Cradle ring lock knobs Red dot viewfinder bracket mounting thumbscrews (see Inset B) Focuser Focuser thumbscrew Eyepiece Red dot viewfinder bracket (see Inset B) Declination axis (see Fig. 5) Right Ascension lock (see Fig. 5) Declination lock (see Fig. 5) Red dot viewfinder Telescope front dust cover 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.
Figure 1: Meade 114EQ-AR Equatorial Reflecting Telescope Inset A: Accessory Tray Inset B: Red Dot Viewfinder Assembly. Inset C: Tripod Leg
Eyepiece holder slots (see Inset A) Right Ascension setting circle Declination setting circle (see Fig. 5) Latitude dial (see Fig. 5) Azimuth adjustment lock Focus knobs Optional motor drive gear (see Fig. 5) Azimuth base (see Fig. 5) Red dot viewfinder alignment screws (see Inset B) Azimuth circle (see Fig. 5) Cradle ring attachment lockknob (see Fig. 6) Cradle ring attachment Tripod leg Phillips-head fastener screws (see Fig. 5) Tripod-to-mount wingnuts Accessory tray (see Inset A) Leg brace support (see Inset A) Sliding leg extension lock (see Inset C) Sliding leg extension (see Inset C)

Inset A

Inset B

Inset C

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ASSEMBLE YOUR TRIPOD The tripod is the basic support for your telescope. Its height may be adjusted so that N you can view comfortably.Note: Number in brackets, e.g., (3), refer to Fig. 1 unless noted otherwise. 1. Make sure that as you attach the legs (1) to the mount that the leg braces (41) are facing inward.

Fig. 2

Fig. 3
2. Attach the triangular accessory tray to the leg brace supports using the 3 supplied one-half inch bolts and screwdriver tool (See Fig. 3). 3. Thread the supplied nut over the end of the bolt. 4. Finger tighten the bolt and nut using the screwdriver tool. 5. Repeat with the other two leg braces.

Fig. 4

wingnut
2. Line up the holes at the top of one of the legs with the holes in the mount. 3. Thread one of the 2-inch bolts through the holes. 4. Thread a wingnut over the bolt and handtighten to a firm feel (See Fig. 2). 5. Attach the remaining two legs to the mount in the same manner.
6. Spread the legs out evenly apart. 7. Set the height of your tripod: a. Rotate and loosen the leg lock thumbscrew (42) to unlock the leg lock. b. Slide the inner portion of the leg in or out to the desired length. Repeat for the other two legs. c. Rotate and tighten the leg 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 accessories, such as the Barlow lens. 1. Remove the plastic covers on the leg brace supports (41, See Fig. 3).
ATTACH THE RED DOT VIEWFINDER An eyepiece (19) has a narrow field of view. A viewfinder (24) has a wider field of view, which makes it easier to locate objects. The red dot viewfinder has a red dot to make it easier to line up more precisely with a target.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.

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1. Note the two thumbscrews (16, Fig. 4) thread onto two bolts 4 on the optical tube. Remove the thumbscrews from the tube. 2. Line up the two holes on the red dot viewfinder bracket over the two bolts. Slide the bracket over the bolts. 3. Replace the thumbscrews on to the bolts and tighten to a firm feel. INSERT THE EYEPIECE 1. Slide the MA25mm eyepiece (19) into eyepiece holder on the focuser (17). 2. Tighten the focuser thumbscrew to hold the eyepiece securely. ATTACH THE COUNTERWEIGHT 1. Hold the counterweights (5) firmly in one hand, (one by one) slide the counterweights onto the counterweight shaft (6). 2. Threading the shaft into the base of the declination axis (Fig. 5). Be sure to support the counterweight with one hand while performing this step. 3. Slide the counterweight to a
position about 2" from the bottom of the shaft. 4. Secure in place by tightening the counterweight lock (7). Note: Make sure the safety washer and screw (8) always remain in place on the shaft. This safety feature prevents the counterweight from accidently slipping. BALANCING THE TELESCOPE In order for the telescope to move smoothly on its mechanical axes, it must first be balanced as follows: Note: If the counterweight is positioned as recommended previously then the telescope is already approximately balanced. 1. Loosen the right ascension lock (22). The telescope mount will turn freely about the polar axis. Rotate the telescope about the polar axis so that the counterweight shaft (6) is parallel to the ground (horizontal). 2. Loosen the counterweight's locking

Fig. 5

(on reverse side)
(see p. 2 for feature names)

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thumbscrew (7) and slide the counterweights (5) along the shaft until the telescope remains in any given position without tending to drift up or down around the polar axis. Retighten the counterweight lock (31).The telescope is now balanced. PREPARE MOUNT 1. Attach the flexible cables (3) and (4). These cables are secured in place with a firm tightening of the thumbscrews located at the attachment ends of each cable. 2. Tilt the polar axis of the telescope to roughly a 45 angle with the horizon: Loosen the latitude adjustment lock (9) so you can move the mount to the desired position. 3. Re-tighten the latitude adjustment lock to secure the mount in place. ATTACH THE OPTICAL TUBE TO THE MOUNT 1. Lay the optical tube (12) with cradle rings (14) onto the saddle plate (13).
SUN WARNING! NEVER USE YOUR 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. 2. Tighten the cradle ring attachment lock knob (36) to a firm feel. ALIGN THE RED DOT VIEWFINDER Perform the first part of this procedure during the daytime and the last step at night. 1. Point the telescope at an easy-to-find land object such as the top of a telephone pole or a distant mountain or tower. Look through the eyepiece and turn the focuser

Fig. 6

knob (31) until the image is sharply focused. Center the object precisely in the eyepieces field of view. 2. Look through the red dot viewfinder. Turn one or more of the viewfinders alignment screws (34, Inset B) until the red dot is precisely over the same object as you centered in the eyepiece. 3. Check this alignment at night on a celestial object, such as the Moon or a bright star, and use the viewfinders alignment screws to make any necessary refinements.

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UNDERSTANDING CELESTIAL MOVEMENTS AND COORDINATES
Understanding where to locate celestial objects and how those objets move across the sky is the key to enjoying the hobby of astronomy. Most amateur astronomers practice "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 technique for locating objects is to use the setting circles that are provided on your telescope. UNDERSTANDING HOW CELESTIAL OBJECTS MOVE Due to the Earth's rotation, celestial bodies appear to move from East to West in a curved path through the skies. All stars and celestial objects are mapped onto an imaginary sphere surrounding the Earth. This mapping system is similar to the system of latitude and longitude on Earth surface maps.

In mapping the surface of the Earth, lines of longitude are drawn between the North and South Poles and lines of latitude are drawn in an East-West direction, parallel to the Earth's equator. Similarly, imaginary lines have been drawn to form a latitude and longitude on the celestial sphere. These lines are known as Right Ascension and Declination. The celestial map also contains two poles and an equator just like a map of the Earth. The celestial poles are defined as those two points where the Earth's North and South poles, if extended to infinity, would cross the celestial sphere. Thus, the North Celestial Pole is that point in the sky where the North Pole crosses the celestial sphere. The North Star, Polaris, is located very near the North Celestial Pole. So just as an object's position on the Earth's surface can be located by its latitude and longitude, celestial objects may also be located using Right Ascension and Declination. For example: You can locate Los Angeles, California, by its latitude (+34) and longitude (118). Similarly, you
can locate the Ring Nebula (also known as "M57") by its Right Ascension (18hr) and its Declination (+33). RIGHT ASCENSION (R.A.): This Celestial version of longitude is measured in units of hours (hr), minutes (min), and seconds (sec) on a 24 hour "clock" (similar to how Earth's time zones ar determined by longitude lines). The "zero" line was chosen to pass through the constellation Pegasus, a sort of cosmic Greenwich meridian. R.A. coordinates range from 0hr 0min 0sec to 23hr 59min 59sec.

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There are 24 primary lines of R.A., located at 15-degree intervals along the celestial equator. Objects located further and further East of the zero R.A. grid line (0hr 0min 0sec) carry higher R.A. coordinates. Declination (Dec.): This celestial version of latitude is measured in degrees, arcminutes, and arc-seconds (e.g., 15 27' 33"). Dec. locations North of the celestial

Fig. 7

North Celestial Pole (Vicinity of Polaris) Celestial Equator
equator are indicated with a plus (+) sign (e.g., the Dec. of the North celestial pole is +90). Any point on the celestial equator (such as thee constellations of Orion, Virgo, and Aquarius) is said to have a Declination of zero, shown as 0 0' 0". All celestial objects therefore may be located with their celestial coordinates of Right Ascension and Declination. LINING UP WITH THE CELESTIAL POLE

+90 Dc. Star

Rotation of the Earth

Right Ascension

Objects in the sky appear to revolve around the celestial pole. (Actually, celestial objects are essentially "fixed" and their apparent motion is caused by Earth's rotation). During any 24 hour period, stars make one complete revolution about the pole, circling with the pole at the center. By lining up the telescope's polar axis with the North Celestial Pole (or for observers located in Earth's Southern Hemisphere with the South Celestial Pole), astronomical objects may be followed, or "tracked," by moving the telescope about one axis, the polar axis. If the telescope is reasonably well aligned with the pole very little use of the

telescope's Declination flexible cable control is necessary. Virtually all of 7 the required telescope tracking will be in Right Ascension. For the purposes of casual visual telescopic observations, lining up the telescope's polar axis to within a degree or two of the pole is more than sufficient: with this level of pointing accuracy, the telescope can track accurately by slowly turning the telescope's R.A. flexible cable control and keep objects in the telescopic field of view for perhaps 20 to 30 minutes. POLAR ALIGNMENT OF THE EQUATORIAL MOUNT To line up the Meade 114 EQ-AR with the pole, follow this procedure: THE MEADE 4M COMMUNITY
You havent just bought a telescope, you have embarked on an astronomy adventure that never ends. Share the journey with others by accepting your free membership in the 4M community of astronomers. Go to www.Meade4M.com to activate your membership today.

ation clin De

South Celestial Pole

-90 Dec.

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1. Release the Azimuth lock (30)of the Azimuth base, so that the entire 8 telescope-with-mounting may be rotated in 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 necessary, by adjusting the heights of the three tripod legs. 3. Determine the latitude of your observing location by checking a road map or atlas. Release the latitude lock (9) and tilt the telescope mount so that the star "Polaris" is centered in the telescope's viewfinder eyepiece, then re-tighten the latitude lock. 4. If the above steps (1-3) were performed with reasonable accuracy, your tele-scope is now sufficiently wellaligned to the North Celestial Pole for visual observations. Once the mount has been polar-aligned as described above, the latitude angle need not be adjusted again, unless you move to
a different geographical location (i.e. a different latitude). The only polar alignment procedure that you need to perform each time you use the telescope is to point the polar axis due North, as described in step 1 above. THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE We have one very important rule that you should always follow when using your telescope:

Fig. 8

Little Dipper

Polaris

Big Dipper

Cassiopeia

Have Fun!
TOO MUCH POWER? Can you ever have too much power? If the type of power youre referring to is eyepiece magnification, yes you can! The most common mistake of the beginning observer is to overpower a telescope by using high magnifications which the telescopes aperture and atmospheric conditions cannot reasonably support. Keep in mind that a smaller, but bright and well-resolved image is far superior to one that is larger, but dim and poorly resolved. Powers above 400x should be employed only under the steadiest atmospheric conditions.

Have a good time when youre observing. You may not know everything that there is to know about a telescope or what all the sights in the universe are, but thats OK. Just point and observe at first. You will enjoy your telescope even more as you learn more about it. But dont be scared off by difficult terms or complicated procedures. Dont panic! Just relax and enjoy your scope. You will begin to grow and learn more about astronomy the more you observe. Go to the library and read some books about the stars and planets. Read about astronomers of old. Many of them had telescope no bigger than the one you are using right now. Galileo,

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who is one of the first astronomers to use a telescope, discovered four of the moons of Jupiter with a telescope about the same size as yours (and his didnt even focus very well!). OBSERVING Observe during the daytime: Try out your telescope during the daytime at first. It is easier to learn how it operates and how to observe when it is light. Pick out an easy object to observe: A distant mountain, a large tree, a lighthouse or skyscraper make excellent targets. Point the optical tube so it lines up with your object. Objects will appear upside down and backwards in this model telescope. Unlock the lock knobs: To move the telescope, you will need to unlock the Right Ascension (22, Fig. 5) and Declination (23, Fig. 5) lock knobs (just rotate to unlock or lock; when locking, only tighten to a firm feel, do not overtighten). Use the red dot viewfinder: If you have not done so, align the viewfinder (24) with the telescopes eyepiece (19) as described earlier. Look through the red dot viewfinder
until you can see the object. It will be easier to locate an object using the red dot viewfinder rather than locating with the eyepiece. Line up the object using the viewfinders red dot. Look through the eyepiece: Once you have the object lined up in the viewfinder, look through the optical tubes eyepiece. If you have aligned your viewfinder, you will you see the object in your eyepiece. Focus: Look through the eyepiece and practice focusing on the object you have chosen. Try out the slow-motion flexible cable control: Practice using the right ascension control cable (3) and declination control cable (4) to move the telescope. These can come in very handy, especially when you wish to move the telescope in very small (fine control) steps. Observe the Moon: When you feel comfortable with the viewfinder, the eyepieces, the locks and the adjustment controls, you will be ready to try out the telescope at night. The Moon is the best object to observe the first time you go out at night. Pick a night when the Moon
is a crescent. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, making it appear flat and uninteresting.
Look for different features on the Moon. The most obvious features are craters. In fact you can see craters within craters. Some craters have bright lines about them. These are called rays and are the result of material thrown out of the crater when it was struck by a colliding object. The dark areas on the Moon are called maria and are composed of lava from the period when the Moon still had volcanic activity. You can also see mountain ranges and fault lines on the Moon.

When you become an advanced observer you can look for other types of objects such as asteroids, planetary nebula and globular clusters. And if youre lucky, every so often a bright comet appears in the sky, presenting an unforgettable sight. The more you learn about objects in the sky, the more you will learn to appreciate the sights you see in your telescope. Start a notebook and write down the observations you make each night. Note the time and the date. Use a compass to make a circle, or trace around the lid of a jar. Draw what you see in your eyepiece inside the circle. The best exercise for drawing is to observe the moons of Jupiter every night or so. Try to make Jupiter and the moons approximately the same size as they look in your eyepiece. You will see that the moons are in a different position every night. As you get better at drawing, try more challenging sights, like a crater system on the moon or even a nebula. Go your library or check out the internet for more information about astronomy. Learn about the basics: light years, orbits, star
colors, how stars and planets are formed, red shift, the big bang, what are the different kinds of nebula, what are comets, asteroids and meteors and what is a black hole. The more you learn about astronomy, the more fun, and the more rewarding your telescope will become. SOME OBSERVING TIPS Eyepieces: Always begin your observations using the 25mm low-power eyepiece. The 25mm eyepiece delivers a bright, wide field of view and is the best to use for most viewing conditions. Use the high-power 9mm eyepiece to view details when observing the

Fig. 10

eyepiece barlow

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Moon and planets. If the image become fuzzy, switch back down to a lower power. Changing eyepieces changes the power or magnification of your telescope. By the way, you might have noticed something strange when you looked through your eyepiece. The image is upside down and reversed. That means reading words can be a problem. But it has no affect on astronomical objects. Optional Accessory Barlow lens: You can also change magnification by using a Barlow lens. The Barlow lens doubles the power of your telescope (See Fig. 10). Meade offers a complete line of eyepieces for your telescope. Most astronomers have four or five low-power and high power eyepieces to view different objects and to cope with different viewing conditions. Objects move in the eyepiece: If you are observing an astronomical object (the Moon, a planet, star, etc.) you will notice that the object will begin to move slowly through the telescopic field of view. This movement is caused by the rotation of the Earth and makes an object move through the tele-

scopes field of view. To keep astronomical objects centered in the field, simply move the telescope on one or both of its axes vertically and/or horizontally as neededtry using the telescopes coarse and fine adjustment controls. At higher powers, astronomical objects will seem to move through the field of view of the eyepiece more rapidly. Place the object to be viewed at the edge of the field and, without touching the telescope, watch it drift through the field to the other side before repositioning the telescope so that the object to be viewed is again placed at the edge of the field, ready to be further observed. Vibrations: Avoid touching the eyepiece while observing through the telescope. Vibrations resulting from such contact will cause the image to move. Avoid observing sites where vibrations cause image movement (for example, near railroad tracks). Viewing from the upper floors of a building may also cause image movement. Let your eyes dark-adapt: Allow five or ten minutes for your eyes to become dark
adapted before observing. Use a redfiltered flashlight to protect your night 13 vision when reading star maps, or inspecting the telescope. Do not use use a regular flash-light or turn on other lights when observing with a group of other astronomers. You can make your own red filtered flashlight by taping red cellophane over a flashlight lens. Viewing through windows: Avoid setting up the telescope inside a room and observing through an opened or closed window pane. Images may appear blurred or distorted due to temperature differences between inside
STAR CHARTS Star charts and planispheres are useful for a variety of reasons. In particular, they are a great aid in planning a night of celestial viewing. A wide variety of star charts are available in books, in magazines, on the internet and on CD Roms. Meade offers AutoStar SuiteTM software. Contact your local Meade dealer or Meades Customer Service department for more information.
Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines print star charts each month for up-to-the-minute maps of the heavens.

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and outside air. Also, it is a good idea to allow your telescope to reach the 14 ambient (surrounding) outside temperature before starting an observing session. When to observe: Planets and other objects viewed low on the horizon often lack sharp-nessthe 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 a bright, clear, but smaller image is more interesting than a larger, dimmer,

fuzzy one. Using too high a power eyepiece is one of the most common mistakes made by new astronomers. Dress Warm: Even on summer nights, the air can feel cool or cold as the night wears on. It is important to dress warm or to have a sweater, jacket, gloves, etc., nearby. Know your observing site: If possible, know the location where you will be observing. Pay attention to holes in the ground and other obstacles. Is it a location where wild animals, such as skunks, snakes, etc., may appear? Are there viewing obstructions such as tall trees, street lights, headlights and so forth? The best locations are dark locations, the darker the better. Deep space objects are easiest to see under dark skies. But it is still possible to observe even in a city. Surf the Web and visit your local library: The internet contains a huge amount of astronomical information, both for children and adults. Check out astronomy books from your library. Look for star chartsthese are available on a monthly basis in Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines.
HAVE A GOOD TIME, ASTRONOMY IS FUN!
SPECIFICATIONS Optical tube focal length. 900mm Primary mirror diameter. 114mm (4.5") Focal ratio. f/8 Mounting type. Equatorial What do the specifications mean? Optical tube focal length is simply a measurement of the length of the optical
JOIN AN ASTRONOMY CLUB, ATTEND A STAR PARTY One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/ store to find out if theres a club in your area. Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky and Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star Parties around the United States and Canada.

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tube. In other words, this is the distance light travels in the telescope before being brought to focus in you eyepiece. Your tube is 900mm long. Primary diameter is how big the mirror is on your scope. Telescopes are always described by how large their primary mirror is. Your telescope is 114mm or 4.5 inches. Other telescopes are 90mm, 8 inches, 16 inches, or even 3 feet in diameter. The Hubble Telescopes objective mirror has a diameter of 2.4 meters (thats 7.8 feet across!). The focal ratio helps determine how fast the photographic speed of a telescope is. The
ASTRONOMY RESOURCES The Meade 4M Community 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618 Astronomical League Executive Secretary 5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012 The Astronomical Society of the Pacific 390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112 The Planetary Society 65 North Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106 International Dark-Sky Association, Inc. 3225 N. First Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719-2103

lower the focal ratio number, the faster the exposure. f/5 is faster than f/10. The faster the ratio, the faster exposure time is needed when a camera is hooked up to the telescope. Your telescope has slower focal ratio at f/8. Sometimes, astronomers use focal reducers to make slow exposure telescopes have faster focal ratios. USE THE SPECIFICATIONS TO CALCULATE THE MAGNIFICATION OF YOUR EYEPIECE The power of a telescope is how much it magnifies objects. Your 25mm eyepiece magnifies an object 28 times. Your 9mm eyepiece magnifies objects 78 times.But if you obtain other eyepieces, you can calculate how much magnification they have with your telescope. 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 that the focal length of your scope is 900mm.
Lets say that you have obtained a 13mm eyepiece. You can tell that what the focal length of your eyepiece is as it 15 is always printed on the side of an eyepiece. Divide: 900 13, which equals 69.2. Round this off to the nearest whole number and your new eyepiece magnifies objects 69 times. If you use a Barlow lens with one of your eyepieces, it doubles the magnification of your eyepiece. Other types of Barlows can triple or further increase the power of an eyepiece. To find out how much your magnification is when you use a Barlow, multiply your eyepieces magnification by two. Your 25mm low-power eyepiece magnifies an object 28 times. Multiply 28 by 2 and you get 56 times magnification with a Barlow. Eyepieces magnification x 2 = Magnification with a 2X Barlow lens Its worth repeating: Keep in mind that a bright, clear, but smaller image is more

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interesting than a larger, dimmer, fuzzy one. Using too 16 high a power eyepiece is one of the most common mistakes made by new astronomers. So dont think that higher magnification is necessarily betterquite often the best view is with lower magnification value! TAKING CARE OF YOUR TELESCOPE

Fig. 11

dishwashing soap per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often. CAUTION: Do not use scented or lotioned tissues or damage could result to the optics. DO NOT use a commercial photographic lens cleaner. COLLIMATION (ALIGNMENT) OF OPTICS

Monture Diagonale

Miroir Diagonal

Miroir Primaire

Image Focalise
Vis D'inclinaison du Miroir Primaire
The Newtonian Reflecting Telescope
Your telescope is a precision optical instrument designed for a lifetime of rewarding viewing. It will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing or maintenance. Follow these guidelines to keep your telescope in the best condition: As with any quality instrument, lens or mirror surfaces should be cleaned as infrequently as possible. Front surface aluminized mirrors, in particular, should be cleaned only when absolutely necessary. In all cases avoid touching any mirror surface. A little dust on the surface of a mirror or lens causes negligible loss of performance and should not be considered reason to clean

the surface. When lens or mirror cleaning does become necessary, use a camel's hair 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 on the lens or mirror may be removed with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1 drop of biodegradable
All Meade 114 EQ-AR telescopes are optically aligned at the factory prior to shipment. It is unlikely that you Fig. 12 will need to align, or collimate, the optics after receipt of the instrument. However, if the telescope received unusually rough handling in shipment, it is possible that the optics must be re aligned for best optical 2 performance. In any case this alignment procedure is simple, and requires only a few minutes the very first time the telescope Diagonal Assembly is used. Take the time to

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Fig. 13

Fig. 14

Fig. 15
(3, Fig. 14), the spider vanes (4, Fig. 14), and your eye (5, Fig. 14). Properly aligned, all of these reflections will appear concentric (i.e., centered) as illustrated in Fig. 14.

Correct Collimation

Diagonal Mirror Misalignment
Any deviation from the concentric reflections will require adjustments to the diagonal assembly and/or the primary mirror cell (Fig. 11). B. DIAGONAL HOLDER ADJUSTMENTS If the diagonal mirror (1, Fig. 15) is centered in the drawtube (2, Fig. 15), but the primary mirror is only partially visible in the reflection (3, Fig. 15), the 3 Phillips-head diagonal tilt screws (To adjust these screws you must first remove an adhesive backing)

Fig. 17

Fig. 16

Primary Mirror Cell

familiarize yourself with the following collimation procedure, so that you will recognize a properly collimated instrument and can adjust the collimation yourself, if necessary. A. CORRECT COLLIMATION The properly collimated (aligned) mirror system in the Meade 114 EQ-AR assures the sharpest images possible. This occurs when the primary mirror and diagonal mirror are tilted so that the focused image falls directly through the center of the focuser drawtube. These mirror tilt adjustments are made with the diagonal
Primary Mirror Misalignment
assembly and the primary mirror cell (Fig. 11) and will be discussed later. To inspect the view of the mirror collimation, look down the focuser drawtube with the eyepiece removed. The edge of the focuser drawtube (1, Fig. 14), will frame the reflections of the primary mirror with the 3 mirror clips (2, Fig. 14), the diagonal mirror

Collimation

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must be unthreaded slightly to the point of where you can tilt the diagonal 18 holder from side-to-side by grasping the diagonal holder with your hand and tilt until you see the primary mirror become as centered in the reflection of the diagonal mirror as possible. Once you are at the best position, thread in the 3 Phillips-head diagonal tilt screws to lock the rotational position. Then, if necessary, make adjustments to these 3 Phillips-head screws to refine the tilt-angle of the diagonal mirror until the entire primary mirror can be seen centered within the diagonal mirror reflecting. When the diagonal mirror is correctly aligned, it will look like Fig. 14 (Note: The primary mirror is shown out of alignment). C. PRIMARY MIRROR ADJUSTMENTS If the diagonal mirror (1, Fig. 16) and the reflection of the primary mirror (2, Fig. 16) appear centered within the drawtube (3, Fig. 16), but the reflection of your eye and the reflection of the diagonal mirror (4, Fig. 16) appear off center, you will need to adjust the primary mirror tilt Phillips-head screws of

the primary mirror cell (3, Fig. 13). These primary tilt screws are located behind the primary mirror, at the lower end of the main tube. To adjust the primary mirror tilt screws, first unscrew several turns, the 3 hex-head primary mirror cell locking screws (2, Fig. 13) that are next to each primary mirror tilt Phillips-head screw. Then by trialand-error, turn the primary mirror tilt Phillips-head screws (3, Fig. 13) until you develop a feel for which way to turn each screw to center the reflection of your eye. Once centered, as in Fig. 14, turn the 3 hexhead primary mirror cell locking screws (2, Fig. 13) to relock the tilt-angle adjustment. D. STAR TESTING THE COLLIMATION With the collimation performed, you will want to test the accuracy of the alignment on a star. Use the 25mm eyepiece and point the telescope at a moderately bright (second or third magnitude) star, then center the star image in the telescope's field-of-view. With the star centered follow the method below: Bring the star image slowly out of focus until one or more rings are visible around the central disc. If the collimation was
performed correctly, the central star disk and rings will be concentric circles, with a dark spot dead center within the out-offocus star disk (this is the shadow of the secondary mirror), as shown in Fig. 17C. (An improperly aligned telescope will reveal elongated circles (Fig. 17A), with an off-center dark shadow.) If the out-of-focus star disk appears elongated (Fig. 17A), you will need to adjust the primary mirror Phillips-head tilt screws of the primary mirror cell (3, Fig. 13) To adjust the primary mirror tilt screws (3, Fig. 13), first unscrew several turns the 3 hex-head primary mirror cell locking screws (2, Fig. 13), to allow free turning movement of the tilt knobs. Using the flexible cable controls move the telescope until the star image is at the edge of the field-of-view in the eyepiece, as in Fig. 17B. As you make adjustments to the primary mirror tilt screws (3, Fig. 13), you will notice that the out-of-focus star disk

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image will move across the eyepiece field. Choose one of the 3 primary mirror tilt screws and slightly move the shadow to the center of the disk. Then slightly move the telescope using the flexible cable controls to center the star disk image in the center of the eyepiece. If any further adjustments are necessary, repeat this process as many times as needed until the out-of-focus star disk appears as in Fig. 17C, when the star disk image is in the center of the eyepiece field. With the star testing of the collimation complete, tighten the 3 hex-head primary mirror locking screws (2, Fig. 13) OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES Additional Eyepieces (1.25" barrel diameter): For higher or lower magnifications with the telescopes that accommodate 1.25" eyepieces, Meade Series 4000 Super Plssl eyepieces, available in a wide variety of sizes, provide a high level of image resolution and color correction at an economical price. Contact your Meade

Dealer or see the Meade catalog for more information. Visit us on the web at www.meade.com.

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MEADE CONSUMER SOLUTIONS If you have a question concerning your 20 telescope, call Meade Instruments Consumer Solutions Department at (800) 626-3233. Consumer Solutions Department hours are 8:00AM to 5:00PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Write or call the Meade Consumer Solutions Department first, before returning the telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as to the nature of the problem, as well as your name, address, and daytime telephone number. The great majority of servicing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding return of the telescope to the factory. MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY Every Telestar telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (Meade) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to
Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only and is nontransferable. Meade products purchased outside North America are not included in this warranty, but are covered under separate warranties issued by Meade international distributors. RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number must be obtained from Meade by writing, or by calling (800) 626-3233. Each returned part or product must include a written statement detailing the nature of the claimed defect, as well as the owners name, address, and phone number. This warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized repairs have been attempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-and-tear. Meade specifically disclaims special, indirect, or consequential damages or lost profit which may result from a breach of this warranty. Any implied warranties
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.
2007 MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION

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OBSERVATION LOG OBSERVER: OBJECT NAME: DATE & TIME OBSERVED: CONSTELLATION: EYEPIECE SIZE: SEEING CONDITIONS: NOTES: EXCELLENT GOOD POOR

DRAWING OF IMAGE

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626-3233

114EQ-AR (114mm Equatorial Reflector)

REFLECTING TELESCOPE

Red Dot Finder
Electronic Red Dot finder scope makes locating objects quick and easy.
Reflectors are a favorite of Amateur Astronomers providing the most
light-gathering for the investment. Perfect for observing the Moon and planets like Saturn and Jupiter in detail. You can also view deep space objects like the Great Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy.
Large 114mm Diameter Reflective Mirror
Captures more light for brighter images and greater detail (This telescope gathers 361% more light than a 60mm telescope)
Two Premium 1.25" Eyepieces
For superior eye relief and a wide visual field
AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition
Amazing planetarium software and Instructional Video will teach you the night sky and how to use your telescope

BONUS!

AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition Software on DVD
AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition software will help you learn the night sky. It displays more than 10,000 celestial objects including planets, stars, galaxies and nebulas. You can print out star charts and even plan your observing sessions. It operates on any Windows based PC.

Deluxe Equatorial Mount

This telescope's mount facilitates the smooth tracking between sky objects with precision gears and spring-steel cable controls
Includes Red-dot projection viewfinder
For easy acquisition of guide stars while star-hopping between celestial targets A first look at the rings of Saturn or the craters of the Moon can inspire a lifetime of exploration. Go to any star party anywhere in the world and youll see more Meade telescopes than any other.
Also includes an Instructional DVD. Youll be up and running in no time. The universe is waiting.

MEADE.COM

(800) 626-3233

Meade 114EQ-AR

MA 25mm MH 9mm 2x Barlow

Model: 114EQ-AR

Premium size 1.25" Eyepieces For Low to High Power Observing
New Red Dot Viewfinder Makes Locating Objects Quick And Easy

SPECIFICATIONS

Model / Part# Optical Design Optical Diameter Focal Length; f/ratio Mounting Type Viewfinder Tripod Eyepieces (1.25") Software UPC 114EQ-AR / 04067 Equatorial Reflector 114mm (4.5") mirror 900mm; f/8 Equatorial mount, with deluxe slow-motion controls Red Dot Aluminum; full-length; adjustable with accessory tray MH 9mm, MA 25mm and 2x Barlow Lens AutoStar Suite, PC-compatible DVD 21679 0

Meade Premium Optics

Serious astronomers for years have flocked to Meade telescopes for their premium quality optical systems and patented technology. Consumers know that Meade Optics Inside means that what they see through our telescopes will be views that are detailed, crisp and full of contrast. Look through a Meade this evening and see what you've been missing.

Jupiter Saturn

More Power Than Youll Ever Need.
Any astronomer will tell you that light gathering not power is what matters. A small, crisp image is better than a large hazy one. Meades 1.25" diameter eyepieces provide wider fields of view, allowing you to see more of the sky at greater magnifications. Additional eyepieces and other accessories for this telescope are available at www.meade.com/accessories

MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
6001 Oak Canyon Irvine, California 92618 USA (800) 626-3233 www.meade.com
Copyright 2006 Meade Instruments Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved. 40-05063.