DS-2090AT-TC (90mm Altazimuth Refractor)

REFRACTING TELESCOPE

BONUS!
The DS-2090AT-TC is a fully GoTo telescope. Its onboard computer knows the night sky. After a short alignment procedure, your telescope will be ready to take you on a tour of the universe. You will see more objects in one night than Galileo saw in a lifetime. See planets like Saturn and Jupiter, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and more. Large 90mm diameter refractive lens
Captures more light for brighter images and greater detail
5-Piece Eyepiece Set & Carrycase
5-piece premium 1.25" eyepiece set with carry case
For superior long eye relief and an expansive wide visual field
Includes Red-dot projection viewfinder
For easy acquisition of guide stars while star-hopping between celestial targets
AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition
Amazing planetarium software and Instructional Video will teach you the night sky and how to use your telescope
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.

Assembles in minutes

Includes everything you need to explore your universe
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 DS-2090AT-TC

DS-2090AT-TC
5-Piece eyepiece set with carrying-case
Red Dot Viewfinder and #497 AutoStar Computer Controller

SPECIFICATIONS

Model / Part# Optical Design Optical Diameter Focal Length; f/ratio Mounting Type Viewfinder Tripod Eyepieces (1.25") Software UPC DS-2090AT-TC / TBD Refractor 90mm (3.5") 800mm; f/8.8 Altazimuth, DS-2000 mount Red Dot Aluminum; full-length; adjustable with accessory tray MA6mm, MA12mm, MA17mm, MA20mm, MA25mm AutoStar Suite, PC-compatible DVD TBD

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.
#497 AutoStar Computer Controller
The AutoStar computer controller helps you quickly find and GoTo over 30,000 objects in the night sky. View planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae, comets and more all at the push of a button. Dont know what you want to view this evening? Then go to the Tonights Best tour in your AutoStar. It automatically selects the best objects in the sky for that particular time and location. The AutoStar controller can be updated over the internet. Just log on to meade.com/autostarupdate to download software upgrades, guided tours, and timely objects like cometsFREE. Keep your AutoStar up-to-date and your telescope will grow with you for years to come.
Solar System Planets. 8 Moon. 1 Asteroids. 26 Comets. 15 Constellations. 88 Stars Named Stars. 79 Double Stars. 395 Variable Stars. 189 SAO Stars. 16,800
Deep-Sky Named Objects. 66 Galaxies. 74 Diffuse Nebulae. 31 Planetary Nebulae. 19 Quasars. 11 Caldwell Objects. 109 Messier Objects. 110 Earth Satellites. 50 Total Objects. 31,499
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

Saturn

Nature

Copyright 2006 Meade Instruments Corporation. US Patent No. 6,392,799 and other patents pending. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved. XX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Instruction Manual

DS-2000 Series Reflecting and Refracting Telescopes

MEADE.COM

Refracting Telescopes use a large objective lens as their primary light-collecting element. Meade refractors, in all models and apertures, include achromatic (2-element) objective lenses in order to reduce or virtually eliminate the false color (chromatic aberration) that results in the telescopic image when light passes through a lens. Reflecting Telescopes use a concave primary mirror to collect light and form an image. In the Newtonian type of reflector, light is reflected by a small, flat secondary mirror to the side of the main tube for observation of the image.

Eyepiece

F 2-Element Objective Lens

Refracting Telescope

In the refracting telescope, light is collected by a 2-element objective lens and brought to a focus at F.

Secondary Mirror

Concave Mirror

Reflecting Telescope

In contrast, the reflecting telescope uses a concave mirror for this purpose.

CONTENTS

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.
CAUTION: Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backward or mix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are not followed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries void your Meade warranty. Quick-Start Guide... 4 Telescope Features.. 7 Autostar Features... 9 Getting Started..11 Packing List..11 How to Assemble Your Telescope..11 Red Dot Viewfinder..12 Choosing an Eyepiece..13 The Barlow Lens..13 Observing...14 Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually..14 Terrestrial Observing..14 Observing Using Autostar's Arrow Keys.14 Slew Speeds..15 Observe the Moon..15 Astronomical Observing..15 To Track an Object Automatically..15 Alt/az Home Position..16 Moving Through Autostars Menus..16 Initializing Autostar...16 Observe a Star Using Automatic Tracking..17 Easy Two-Star Alignment..17 Two-Star Alignment..19 One-Star Alignment..19 Go To Saturn..19 Take a Guided Tour..19 Basic Autostar Operation..20 Autostar Navigation Exercise.20 Entering Numbers and Text into Autostar.21 Navigating Autostar..21 Adjusting the Speed of a Scrolling Message.21 Menus and Menu Options...22 Complete Autostar Menu Structure.22 Object Menu..22 Event Menu..23 Glossary Menu...24 Utilities Menu..24 Setup Menu..25 Optional Accessories..28 Caring for Your Telescope...29 Collimation...29 Meade Customer Service..31 Specifications..32 Appendix A: Celestial Coordinates..34 Locating the Celestial Pole..34 Appendix B: To Find Objects Not in the Database.35 Appendix C: Observing Satellites..36 Appendix D: Training the Drive..37 Appendix E: Battery Replacement..38 Appendix F: How to Manually Set the Time and Date.38 Appendix G: Electronic Controller (DS-2000EC Users Only).39 Optional #494 Autostar for DS-2000EC Users.40 Basic Astronomy..41
If you are anxious to use your DS Astro Telescope for the first time, before a thorough reading of this instruction manual, see the QUICK-START GUIDE on page 4. IMPORTANT NOTE: DS-2000EC users, see APPENDIX E, page 39, for information about your supplied Electronic Controller. Autostar information does not apply. DS-2000EC users may obtain the #494 Autostar handbox as an optional accessory. See page 40 for more information.

The name Meade, AutoStar, and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. LPI and Tonights Best are trademarks of Meade Instruments Corporation. Patents: US 6,392,799 Other Patent Pending 2005 Meade Instruments Corporation.

QUICK-START GUIDE

1 4&5
Open the tripod: Remove the tripod from the giftbox and stand vertically. Gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. Turn the center tripod lock knob to secure and stabilize the tripod. Tighten to a firm feel. Caution: Make sure you loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing the tripod at the end of your viewing session.
Remove 4 screws from the mounting arm shaft: Locate the four screws on the mounting shaft. Remove the screws using a "+" (Phillips head) screwdriver. Attach the cradle to the mounting arm: Line up the cradle with the mounting arm shaft. The cradle contains a molded "key" that fits into a slot on the shaft. Line up the key and the slot, and slide the cradle onto the shaft. This automatically lines up the mating threads on the cradle with the ones on the shaft. Replace the four screws you removed in step #4 into the mating threads as depicted in the diagram above.
Attach the mounting arm assembly: Place the mounting arm assembly into the tripod base. Reach underneath and thread the mounting knob through the tripod base and into the mounting arm assembly. Tighten to a firm feel only, do not overtighten. While observing, you may wish to slightly loosen this knob and rotate the mounting arm assembly with attached optical tube (see step #6 below) around the horizontal axis.
Attach and balance the optical tube: Replace the optical tube into the cradle ring. Tighten the cradle rings lock knob so that it holds the optical tube loosely; do not tighten the cradle ring lock knob at this point. Slide the tube back and forth until you find a position where the tube remains horizontal (i.e., without tipping up and down). Tighten the cradle rings lock knob to a firm feel.
3. Remove the optical tube assembly from the cradle rings: The optical tube assembly is shipped with the cradle rings attached. The rings need to be removed so they can be attached to the mounting arm. Loosen the cradle lock knob until you can open the cradle rings. Remove the optical tube assembly from the cradle rings.

F B C E

7a. Attach the 90 diagonal prism (refractor models only, see inside front cover): Pull out to remove the plastic dust cover from the eyepiece holder (A). Slide the tube of the diagonal prism (B) into the telescopes eyepiece-holder and tighten the thumbscrews (C) to a firm feel only to secure. 7b. Insert the eyepiece: Remove the supplied 25mm or 26mm eyepiece (D) from its container and place it in the diagonal prism (refractor models only; see Fig. 7a) or directly into the eyepiece holder (reflector models only; see Fig. 7b). Tighten the thumbscrews (F) to a firm feel only. Remove the dust cover from the end of optical tube assembly. Use the focus knobs (E) to bring objects into focus. 9. Connect Autostar: Be certain that the power switch (H) on the computer control panel is in the OFF position. Plug the coil cord of the Autostar Controller into the HBX port (I). Turn on the computer panel; the red LED lights when power is supplied to the panel.
Slew Speed: Fast. Medium. Slow
10. Change Speeds: Press the key prompted by Autostar to accept the Sun warning. You can now use the Arrow keys (J) to move the telescope up, down, right, or left. To change one of the telescope's nine slew speeds, briefly press the SPEED/? key (K). Each press decreases the slew speed down one level, and then will cycle back to the fastest speed.
Insert batteries: Open the battery compartment by lifting the cover and pulling it away from the drive base. Remove the battery holder from the compartment and carefully lift the 9v connector out from the compartment. Whenever you replace the batteries, to safeguard the wires, disconnect the 9v connector (G) from the battery holder before removing the batteries. 11. Sight along the tube: Sight along the side of the telescope's main tube to locate an object. Practice using the Autostar Arrow keys to center an object in the telescope's field of view. If you wish to attach the red dot viewfinder, see page 12. If you wish to initialize Autostar, see page 16. If you wish to align the telescope, go to page 17. If you wish to use Autostar to GO TO Saturn, go to page 19.
Insert eight AA-size batteries into the battery holder, oriented as shown on the diagram on the battery slots of the battery holder. Connect the 9v connector plug to the battery holder. Carefully replace the battery holder back into the battery compartment. Replace the cover.
Features of the DS-2000 Series telescopes are virtually identical. Certain features of your telescope may look different than, or be positioned slightly different than the one pictured here, but the functionality of the features is the same.

(not visible) 11

Fig. 1d (Inset): Compass/Bubble Level. Fig. 1b (Inset): (E) Altitude Setting Circle; (F) Altitude Lock.
1. Focus Knob 2. Eyepiece Holder 3. 90 Diagonal Prism (refractors only) 4. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew 5. Eyepiece 6. Focus Lock Knob 7. Red Dot Viewfinder/Bracket 8. Red Dot Viewfinder Alignment Screws 9. Compass/Bubble Level 10. Altitude Setting Circle and Lock 11. Dew Shield 12. Dust Cap 13. Optical Tube 14. Cradle Ring Lock Knob 15. Cradle Ring 16. Mounting Arm and Shaft 17. Computer Control Panel 18. Accessory Tray Attachment Bolts 19. Accessory Tray 20. Tripod Lock Knob 21. Tripod Leg Locks 22. Tripod Legs 23. Tripod Base 24. Azimuth Setting Circle 25. Battery Compartment 26. Base Lock Knob 27. Inner Support Struts

A B C D

Fig. 1: DS-2000 Series Telescope.
Fig. 1c (Inset): Computer Control Panel. (A) Handbox port; (B) Power indicator light, (C) ON switch; (D) Auxiliary port.

TELESCOPE FEATURES

Take the time to become acquainted with all of these controls before attempting observations through the telescope.
Focus Knob: Moves the telescopes focus drawtube in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects. Eyepiece Holder: Holds the eyepiece in place. On refractor models, also holds the 90 diagonal prism in place. 90 Diagonal Prism (refractor models only): Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing. Results in an upright, but reversed viewing of land objects. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew: Tightens the eyepiece in place. Tighten to a firm feel only. Eyepiece: Place the supplied eyepiece into the eyepiece holder (reflector models only) or the 90 Diagonal Prism (refractor models only, 3, Fig. 1) and tighten in place with thumbscrew (4, Fig.1). Focus Lock Knob: Designed to prevent the focuser drawtube from moving when a heavy accessory, such as a camera, is attached to the focuser assembly. For normal observing with an eyepiece and diagonal prism, it is not necessary to use the lock knob. Red Dot Viewfinder and Mounting Bracket: Provides an easier way to initially sight objects than the main telescope eyepiece which has a narrower field of view. Slide the switch on the side of the red dot viewfinder to turn on the device and to change the intensity of the red dot. Red Dot Viewfinder Alignment Screws: Adjust these screws to align the viewfinder. See page 12 for more information. Compass/Bubble Level: Compass will assist you in finding North. Bubble level can be used to level the optical tube when setting the Home Position. Altitude Setting Circle and Lock A) Altitude Setting Circle: Displays Altitude (vertical) coordinates (A, Fig. Ib). B) Altitude Lock: Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the Altitude lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely tilted by hand on the vertical axis. Turning the Altitude lock clockwise (to a firm feel only) prevents the telescope from being moved manually and engages the vertical motor drive clutch for Autostar operation (B, Fig. Ib). Dew Shield: Reduces dew formation on the telescope's primary lens (refractor models only). Dust Cap: Pull to remove the dust cap from the front lens of the telescope. Note: The dust cap should be replaced and the power turned off to the telescope after each observing session. Verify that any dew that might have collected during the observing session has evaporated before replacing the dust cap.

Optical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for observation with the eyepiece. Cradle Ring Lock Knob: Tighten to a firm feel to hold the optical tube securely in place. Cradle Ring: Holds optical tube in place. Attaches to the mounting arm shaft (16, Fig. 1) Mounting Arm and Shaft: Holds the optical tube assembly. Attaches to the tripod base (23, Fig. 1). Computer Control Panel (Fig. Ic) A. Handbox (HBX) Port: Plug the #494 Autostar handbox (AT models) or the Electronic Controller (EC models) into this port. B. LED: The red power indicator light illuminates when power is supplied to the connected handbox and to the telescopes motor drive. C. ON Switch: Press to turn the Computer Control Panel and Autostar ON or OFF. Note: Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used for a long period of time. D. Auxiliary (AUX) Port:Provides connection for current and future Meade accessories. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 28.
Accessory Tray Attachment Bolts - Attach to wing nuts to fasten tray to the tripod. See page 11 for more information. Note: It is not necessary to remove the tray each time you collapse the tripod. The tray is designed to be collapsed with the legs.
Accessory Tray - Conveniently holds extra eyepieces, Autostar handbox, and other accessories. Tripod Lock Knob - Tighten to a firm feel to secure tripod legs. Caution: Loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing tripod at the end of a viewing session.
Tripod Legs Locks (3) - Lift the lock up to loosen inner section of a tripod leg and extend the inner leg to desired height. Press the lock down to lock the leg in place. Tripod Legs - Spread the legs out as far as they will open for a secure viewing platform. Tripod Base - Holds the mounting arm assembly (16, Fig. 1) in place. Azimuth Setting Circle - Displays Azimuth (horizontal) coordinates. Battery Compartment - Install eight user-supplied AA batteries in this compartment. See page 12 for more information. Base Lock Knob (not visible in photo) - Attaches mounting arm assembly to tripod base. Loosen before moving the optical tube on the horizontal axis. See page 11 for more information. Inner Support Struts (3) - Make the tripod more secure and stable.
1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 2. ENTER Key 3. MODE Key 4. GOTO Key 5. Arrow Keys 6, 7. Scroll Keys 8. Speed/? Key 9. Coil Cord

Tip: When a message is scrolling across the display, press and hold the Up Scroll key to increase the scrolling speed or press and hold the Down Scroll key to decrease the scrolling speed.
Speed/? Key - Pressing the Speed/? key cycles through the nine slew speeds that move the telescope. Each time the Speed/? key is pressed briefly, the current slew speed is shown for about two seconds on the display. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 15. The Speed/? key also accesses the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on how to accomplish whatever task is currently active. NOTE: Pressing the Speed/? key very briefly changes the slew speed. Holding down the Speed/? key longer (one to two seconds) accesses the Help function. If you have a question about an Autostar operation, e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT, etc., hold down the Speed/? key and follow the directions that scroll on the second line of the LCD screen. When a word appears in [brackets], press ENTER to access the Autostar Glossary. A definition or more detailed information is displayed. Press MODE to return to the scrolling Autostar Help display. When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the original screen and continue with the chosen procedure.
Fig. 4: Secure the tripod: turn the tripod lock knob.
Coil Cord (not shown) - Plug the Autostar coil cord into the HBX port (A, Fig. 1c) of the telescope computer control panel.
Fig. 5: Attach the mounting arm to the tripod base.

GETTING STARTED

Packing List
Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the parts listed on your giftbox.
How to Assemble Your Telescope
The telescope attaches directly to the tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an Altazimuth (Altitude-Azimuth, or vertical-horizontal) format. The telescope in this configuration moves up and down and from side to side.
Fig. 6: Attach cradle to mounting arm.
Open the tripod: After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand the tripod vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. Attach the tray to the tripod: Place the tray (19, Fig. 1) over the inner support strut that contains two bolt holes. Line up the bolts holes on the tray with the bolt holes on the strut. Slide the two included bolts through the top of bolt holes (18, Fig. 1) and tighten the bolts with the included wing nuts on the bottom side of the tray (Fig. 3). Tighten to a firm feel only. Note: The tray does not have to be removed when you collapse the tripod at the end of a viewing session just loosen the trays center lock knob.
Secure the tripod: Turn the center tripod lock knob (Fig. 4) to help stabilize and secure the tripod. Caution: Make sure that you loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing the tripod. Attach the mounting arm assembly to the tripod base: There are three pads in the tripod base (23, Fig. 1) and three pads on the mounting arm assembly (16, Fig. 1). These pads allow the mounting arm assembly to move more easily inside the base. Place the mounting arm assembly into the tripod base and continue to hold onto the arm assembly. With your other hand, reach underneath the base and thread the mounting lock knob (26, Fig. 1) through the tripod base and into the mounting arm assembly. Tighten to a firm feel only; do not overtighten. While observing, you may wish to loosen this knob and rotate the mounting arm assembly and optical tube (see step #8) on the horizontal axis.

It is recommended that you perform steps 1 through 4 of this procedure during the daytime and step 5 at night. 1. 2. Loosen the tripod base lock knob (26, Fig. 1) and the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1), so that the telescope can move freely. If you have not already done so, place a low-power (e.g., 25mm) eyepiece in the diagonal prism of the main telescope (3, Fig. 1) and point the telescope at an easy-to-find land object (e.g., the top of a telephone pole or sign). Turn the focuser knob (1, Fig. 1) to focus the image in the eyepiece. Center the object precisely. Re-tighten the tripod base lock knob (26, Fig. 1) and the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1) so that the telescope does not move during the procedure. Slide the intensity slider to the right to turn the red dot viewfinder On (by changing the sliders position, you can change the intensity of the red dot; see Fig. 13). Looking through the viewfinder. Turn the viewfinders two alignment screws (8, Fig. 1) until the viewfinders red dot points precisely at the same object as centered in the eyepiece. The red dot viewfinder is now aligned to the main telescope.
Fig. 12: Connect Autostar to the HBX port.

Intensity Slider

Check this alignment on a celestial object, such as the Moon or a bright star, and make any necessary refinements.

Choosing an Eyepiece

A telescopes eyepiece magnifies the light gathered by the optical tube. Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters, or mm. The smaller the focal length, the higher the magnification. For example, an eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has a higher magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 25mm.
Fig. 13: Red Dot Viewfinder intensity slider. Slide the switch to the right to turn on the viewfinder. The switch provides two levels of intensity for the red dot.
Your telescope comes supplied with a low-powered 25mm or 26mm eyepiece which gives a wide, comfortable field of view with high image resolution. Always begin your observations with this eyepiece. Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions. After an object is located and centered in the eyepiece, try switching to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image.

NOTE: Viewing conditions vary from night-to-night and from site-to-site. Turbulence in
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.
the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, return to a lower power eyepiece for a more well-resolved image. The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of the telescope and the focal length of the eyepiece being used. To calculate eyepiece power, divide the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. For example, you may wish to use a 25mm eyepiece with the DS-2000 model DS-2114S. Look up the focal length of the DS-2114S under SPECIFICATIONS: DS-2114S, page 32. The focal length is listed as 1000mm. Telescope focal length divided by Eyepiece focal length = Eyepiece power = 40 The eyepiece power, or magnification is therefore 40X (approximately).

DS-2000 TIPS

Too Much Power?
Can you ever have too much power? If youre referring to eyepiece power (magnification), yes, you can! The most common beginners mistake is to overpower a telescope by using too high of a magnification, 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 (see below). Powers above 200X should be employed only under the steadiest atmospheric conditions. Autostar can calculate the best eyepiece for you to use. Try out the Eyepiece Calc feature in the Utilities menu. Most observers should have three or four additional eyepieces to achieve the full range of reasonable magnifications possible with the DS-2000 telescopes. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 28.

The Barlow Lens

Some Meade telescopes include a power multiplier called a Barlow lens. Consisting of a lens mounted in a 4"-long (10cm) tube, the Barlow doubles or triples the power obtained when an eyepiece is used alone. In the example above, a 25mm eyepiece results in 40X magnification with the DS2114S telescope; when this same eyepiece is used in conjunction with a 2x Barlow lens, power is doubled to 80X. To use the Barlow, insert it into the diagonal prism (refractor models only) or eyepiece holder, followed by the eyepiece.

Terrestrial Observing

DS-2000 refracting telescopes are excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescopes (reflecting telescopes are designed primarily for astronomical observations). Viewing terrestrial objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat waves often cause degradation of image quality. Lower power eyepieces, such as a 25mm eyepiece, magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. Therefore, lower power eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image. If the image is fuzzy or ill-defined, reduce to a lower power eyepiece, where the heat waves do not have such an effect on image quality. Observing in early morning hours, before the ground has built up internal heat, produces better viewing conditions than during late afternoon hours.
Observing Using Autostar's Arrow Keys
You may observe land and astronomical objects using Autostar's Arrow keys to move the telescope. 1. 2. 3. Tighten the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1) and tripod base lock knob (26, Fig. 1). Make sure the telescope power switch is in the OFF position. Plug Autostar into the HBX port of the Control Panel. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position. Autostar is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by a short beep. Then Autostar takes a few moments to start up the system. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by Autostar to signify that the message has been read and understood. The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. Press the SPEED/? key (8, Fig. 2) to change the telescopes slew speed. Each time you press this key, the speed will change. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 15, for more information. Use the red dot viewfinder (7, Fig. 1) to locate an object and practice using the Autostars Arrow keys to center the object in the telescope eyepiece's field of view. Use the telescopes focus knob (1, Fig. 1) to bring the object into focus.
NOTE: Do not look through the telescope's eyepiece or viewfinder while it is rapidly moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

Slew Speeds

Autostar has nine slew speeds that are directly proportional to the sidereal rate (this is the speed at which stars move) and have been calculated to accomplish specific functions. Pressing the SPEED/? key changes the slew speed, which is then shown for about two seconds on Autostars display. The nine available speeds are:

Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Messier Etc. Star Named SAO Catalog Double Variable Etc. Satellite Select Add Delete Edit User Objects Select Add Delete Edit Landmarks Select Add Delete Identify

Select Item: Event

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset Moon Phases Next Full Moon Next New Moon Next 1st Qtr Next 3rd Qtr Meteor Showers Quadrantids Lyrids Eta Aquarids Delta Aquarids Perseids Orionids Taurids Leonids Geminids Ursids Solar Eclipses Lunar Eclipses Autumn Equinox Vernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice

Select Item: Guided Tour

Tour Objects Tonight's Best How Far is Far A Star's Life Downloaded Tours User-created Tours
A. Accretion Disk Etc. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

Select Item: Utilities

Timer Set Start & Stop Alarm Set On & Off Eyepiece Calc. Field of View Magnification Suggest Display Options Sun Warning Getting Started Brightness Adj. Contrast Adj. Beep Sleep Scope Park Scope Cord Wrap

Select Item: Setup

Align Easy One Star Two Star Date Time Daylight Saving Telescope Telescope Model Focal Length Az/RA Ratio Alt/Dec Ratio Mount Az/RA Percent Alt/Dec Percent Train Drive Tracking Rate Reverse L/R Reverse Up/Dn Quiet Slew Max Elevation Min AOS Calibrate Motor High Precision Targets Astronomical Terrestrial Site Select Add Delete Edit Download Statistics Reset
Fig. 22: The Complete Autostar Menu Structure.
Landmarks stores the location of terrestrial points of interest in the permanent Autostar database. IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function, the telescope must be located and aligned exactly as when the landmark was added to the database.
Select: To select a Landmark already in the database (see ADD below), choose the "Select" option and scroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object. Add: To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate and center the Landmark in the eyepiece, then press ENTER.
Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar Arrow keys to move about in the sky. Then follow this procedure:

3. 4. 5.

To GO TO a user-entered object: In this procedure, you will choose an object from the User Object list and GO TO the object. 1. 2. 3. 4. With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Up key once. "User Object: Select" displays. Press ENTER. Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to the desired object. Press ENTER. The name of the object and the Right Ascension and Declination coordinates display. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

APPENDIX C

Observing Satellites
In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Go to the "Object: Satellite" menu option and press ENTER. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of satellites. Select a satellite from the list and press ENTER. "Calculating." and then "Tracking." displays. If the satellite is going to make a pass, "Located" displays. Use the Scroll keys to display data about the pass: aos acquisition of signal and los loss of signal. If you subtract the aos from the los, you can calculate how long the satellite will be visible. Location information also displays. "Alarm" displays after the location information. Press ENTER and Autostar automatically sets the alarm to sound a minute before the satellite's scheduled appearance. You may return to regular observations until the alarm goes off. When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite menu and press a Scroll key until the desired satellite is on the top line of the display. Press GO TO. Autostar slews the telescope to where the satellite should appear. The motor drive stops and a countdown is displayed. NOTE: If the scheduled appearance position of the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by a building, tree, or hill), press ENTER and Autostar starts to move the telescope along the expected satellite track. When the track clears the obstruction, press ENTER again to pause the telescope, then continue with this procedure. 9. With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the telescope viewfinder for the satellite to enter the field of view.

10. When the satellite enters the viewfinder field of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts to track with the satellite. 11. Use the Autostar Arrow keys to center the object in the viewfinder, then look through the eyepiece to view the object. Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade website (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information and instructions on how to download this data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more than one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at the time predicted by Autostar. Downloading requires the optional #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 28. NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit, travelling at approximately 17,500 mph. When visible, they move quickly across the sky and are only in the field of view for a few minutes, requiring Autostar to slew the telescope rapidly. Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunset when the sky is still dark. Viewing in the middle of the night can be problematic because the satellite may pass overhead, but not be visible as it is in the Earth's shadow.

APPENDIX D

Training the Drive
Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 32 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure.
NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this
exercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy.
Verify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete. Press MODE until Select Item is displayed.
Press > until it is centered
This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies, a few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up some of these topics in the Autostar glossary. Also below is a small sampling of books, magazines, and organizations that you might find helpful. Topics 1. 2. How is a star born? How does a solar system form? How is the distance to a star measured? What is a light year? What is red shift and blue shift? 3. How are the craters on our Moon formed? How old is the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun? 4. What is a black hole? A neutron star? 5. What are stars made of? Why are stars different colors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant? Have we ever seen the surface of a star besides our own Sun? 6. What is a nova? A supernova? 7. What are comets? Minor planets? Meteors? Meteor showers? Where do they come from? 8. What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster? 9. What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expanding or contracting, or does it always remain the same? What is dark matter? 10. What is an extrasolar planet? What is an accretion (or protoplanetary) disk? 11. What is the difference between an elliptical, a spiral, and an irregular galaxy? Books 1. The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack Newton and Philip Teece The Sky: A Users Guide by David Levy Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael Covington Sky & Telescope Box 9111, Belmont, MA 02178 Astronomy Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187 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 Meade 4M Community check out www.meade4M.org

BASIC ASTRONOMY

In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller than your DS-2000 model, turned it skyward instead of looking at the distant trees and mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, has forever changed the way mankind thinks about the universe. Imagine what it must have been like being the first human to see moons revolve around the planet Jupiter or to see the changing phases of Venus! Because of his observations, Galileo correctly realized Earth's movement and position around the Sun, and in doing so, gave birth to modern astronomy. Yet Galileo's telescope was so crude, he could not clearly make out the rings of Saturn. Galileo's discoveries laid the foundation for understanding the motion and nature of the planets, stars, and galaxies. Building on his foundation, Henrietta Leavitt determined how to measure the distance to stars, Edwin Hubble gave us a glimpse into the possible origin of the universe, Albert Einstein unraveled the crucial relationship of time and light, and 21st-century astronomers are currently discovering planets around stars outside our solar system. Almost daily, using sophisticated successors to Galileo's telescope, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Telescope, more and more mysteries of the universe are being probed and understood. We are living in the golden age of astronomy. Unlike other sciences, astronomy welcomes contributions from amateurs. Much of the knowledge we have on subjects such as comets, meteor showers, variable stars, the Moon, and our solar system comes from observations made by amateur astronomers. So as you look through your Meade DS-2000 telescope, keep in mind Galileo. To him, a telescope was not merely a machine made of glass and metal, but something far morea window through which the beating heart of the universe might be observed. Autostar Glossary Be sure to make use of Autostars Glossary feature. The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions of common astronomical terms. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar. See GLOSSARY MENU, page 24, for more information. Objects in Space Listed below are some of the many astronomical objects that can be seen with the DS-2000 Series Telescope: The Moon The Moon is, on average, a distance of 239,000 miles (380,000km) from Earth and is best observed during its crescent or half phase when Sunlight strikes the Moons surface at an angle. It casts shadows and adds a sense of depth to the view (Fig. 34). No shadows are seen during a full Moon, causing the overly bright Moon to appear flat and rather uninteresting through the telescope. Be sure to use a neutral Moon filter when observing the Moon. Not only does it protect your eyes from the bright glare of the Moon, but it also helps enhance contrast, providing a more dramatic image.
Fig. 34: The Moon. Note the deep shadows in the craters.