Meade MEADE 226W User manual

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OPERATING

INSTRUCTIONS

MEADE®

MODEL

226W

2.4"

(60MM)

ALTAZIMUTH

REFRACTING

TELESCOPE

Meade

Instruments

Corporation

1675

Toronto

Way

•

Costa

Mesa,

California

•

92626

•

(714)

556-2291

I

WARNING:

NEVER

POINTTHETELESCOPE

DIRECTLY

ATOR

NEAR

THE

SUN

AT

ANY

TIME!

OBSERVING

THE

SUN,

EVEN

FOR

THE

SMALLEST

FRACTION

OF

A

SECOND

MAY

RESULT

IN

INSTANT

AND

IRREVERSIBLE

EYE

DAMAGE,

AS

WELL

AS

PHYSICAL

DAMAGE

TO

THE

TELESCOPE

ITSELF.

2

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

Introduction

5

Standard

Equipment

5

Unpacking

and

Assembly

5

Aligning

the

Viewfinder

6

Using

the

Telescope

6

Calculating

Power

7

Maintenance

7

Specifications

7

Optional

Accessories

8

3

(Meade

Model

226W

similar

to

illustration

above)

FIG.

1:

Meade

Model

226W

2.4"

Altazimuth

Refracting

Telescope

1.

Eyepiece

10.

Altazimuth

mount

2.

Viewfinder

11.

Tripod

attachment

bolts

3.

Viewfinder

collimation

screws

12.

Focusing

knob

4.

Optical

tube

assembly

13.

Diagonal

mirror

5.

Vertical

lock

knobs

14.

Objective

lens

cell

6.

Horizontal

lock

knob

15.

Focuser

drawtube

7.

Tripod

leg

16.

Altitude

rod

slow

motion

fine

adjustment

control

8.

Accessory

tray

supports

17.

Altitude

rod

coarse

adjustment

lock

knob

control

9.

Accessory

Tray

4

INTRODUCTION

This

manual

details

the

set-up,

operation,

specifications

and

optional

accessories

of

the

Meade

Model

226W

2.4”

(60mm)

Altazimuth

Refracting

Telescope.

The

Model

226W

is

an

easy

to

operate,

high

performance

telescope

designed

for

both

astronomical

and

terrestrial

observing.

In

order

that

you

may

achieve

maximum

utilization

of

the

instalment,

we

urge

that

you

take

a

few

minutes

to

read

all

of

this

manual

before

making

first

observations

through

the

telescope.

As

you

read

through

this

manual,

the

technical

terms

associated

with

telescopes

will

be

made

clear.

STANDARD

EQUIPMENT:

(Refer

to

Fig.

1)

•

Complete

optical

tube

assembly

(objective

lens

diameter

=

60mm

(2.4");

focal

length

=

700mm)

•

Full-length

fully

adjustable

hardwood

tripod

and

accessory

tray.

•

Kellner

25mm

(28X),

and

9mm

kellner

(77x)

Eyepieces

(.965"

O.D.

“Outside

Diameter")

•

Diagonal

mirror

(.965"

O.D.)

•

5x24mm

viewfinder

with

bracket

•

Altazimuth

mount

with

altitude

slow-motion

control.

•

Hardware

package:

3

bolts

(3"

long)

with

wing

nuts

and

washers

3

screws

(1/2"

long)

with

wing

nuts

All

other

necessary

hardware

provided

in

place.

UNPACKING

AND

ASSEMBLY

(Note:

Numbers

in

()

refer

to

Fig.

1)

Note

that

although

the

telescope

is

unassembled,

all

of

the

more

difficult

or

complicated

sections

of

the

instrument

are

already

factory

pre-assembled;

first

time

assembly

of

the

telescope

should

not

require

more

than

about

15

minutes.

To

set

up

the

telescope,

follow

this

procedure:

1.

Remove

and

identify

the

telescope’s

components,

using

the

listing

above.

2.

The

optical

tube

may

need

to

be

adjusted

to

a

more

horizontal

position

for

easier

assembly:

loosen

the

altitude

lock

knob

(17)

and

reposition

the

optical

tube

so

as

to

provide

easy

access

to

the

mount

for

attachment

of

the

tripod

legs

(7).

3.

Attach

the

3

hardwood

tripod

legs

(7)

to

the

base

of

the

altazimuth

mount

(10)

with

the

3

hinged

accessory

tray

supports

(8)

facing

inward.

Three

bolts

(11),

each

about

3"

long,

with

washers

and

wing

nuts,

are

provided

for

this

purpose

at

the

end

of

the

legs

that

attach

to

the

mount.

4.

Attach

the

accessory

tray

(9)

to

the

tray

supports

with

the

short

screws

and

wing

nuts

provided.

5.

Adjust

the

sliding

tripod

legs

to

the

desired

height

by

loosening

the

thumb

screw

at

the

bottom

of

the

unextended

leg;

then

reposition

the

sliding

center

portion

of

the

leg

to

desired

height

and

firmly

retighten

the

thumb

screw

to

secure

the

leg(s).

6.

Attach

the

viewfinder

bracket

(2)

to

the

telescope

using

the

2

thumbscrews

provided.

(During

shipment,

these

thumbscrews

may

be

pre-threaded

into

the

main

telescope

tube

at

the

viewfinder

location).

The

thumbscrews

fit

through

2

holes

located

at

the

base

of

the

viewfinder

bracket

and

thread

into

the

main

tube.

7.

insert

the

diagonal

prism

(13)

into

the

focuser

drawtube

(15)

and

the

Ke25mm

eyepiece

(1)

into

the

diagonal

mirror.

Secure

each

in

place

with

a

moderate

tightening

of

the

respective

thumbscrews.

It

is

the

eyepiece

that

determines

the

power

at

which

the

telescope

is

operating.

Higher

or

lower

power

eyepieces

are

available

to

suit

particular

observing

situations.

The

Ke25mm

eyepiece,

included

as

standard

equipment,

yields

28

power

(written

as

28X)

with

the

Model

226W.

8.

The

telescope

is

now

completely

assembled.

To

move

the

telescope

and

point

it

from

one

object

to

another,

first

slightly

loosen

one

of

the

chrome-look

(star

shaped)

knobs

(5)

which

serves

as

a

vertical

lock,

as

well

as

the

azimuth

(horizonal)

lock

(6).

Also

loosen

the

altitude

coarse

adjustment

lock

knob

(17).

Loosening

these

locks

allows

the

telescope

to

be

turned

freely

(vertically

and/or

horizontally)

in

any

direction

so

that

the

telescope

can

be

moved

to

locate

and

point

at

an

object.

Once

a

sky

object

is

found

the

altitude

coarse

adjustment

lock

knob

(17)

can

be

tightened

and

the

altitude

slow

motion

fine

adjustment

control

knob

(16)

can

then

be

used

to

effect

very

smooth

and

accurate

tracking

in

the

vertical

axis.

5

ALIGNING

THE

VIEWFINDER

The

5x24mm

viewfinder

permits

easy

object

sighting

prior

to

observation

in

the

higher-power

main

telescope.

To

align

the

viewfinder,

follow

this

procedure:

1.

With

the

Kellner

25mm

eyepiece

in

place

in

the

diagonal

prism,

as

described

in

paragraph

6,

point

the

main

telescope

at

some

well

defined

land

target

(e.g.

the

top

of

a

telephone

pole)

at

least

200

yards

distant.

2.

Look

through

the

viewfinder

and

tighten

or

loosen,

as

appropriate,

the

viewfinder’s

3

collimation

(alignment)

screws

located

on

the

back

of

the

finderscope

bracket

(3),

until

the

cross

hairs

of

the

viewfinder

are

precisely

centered

on

the

same

object

already

centered

in

the

main

instrument’s

field

of

view.

3.

With

this

alignment

accomplished,

objects

located

first

in

the

wide-field

viewfinder

will

then

be

centered

in

the

main

telescope’s

field

of

view.

(Note:

The

viewfinder

presents

an

image

which

is

upside-down

and

reversed;

this

is

customary

in

all

astronomical

viewfinders).

Focusing

the

viewfinder’s

image

is

accomplished

by

turning

the

threaded

eyepiece

of

the

viewfinder.

USING

THE

TELESCOPE

With

the

telescope

assembled

as

described

above,

you

are

ready

to

begin

observations.

1.

First

decide

on

an

easy

to

find

object.

Land

objects

during

the

daytime

are

a

good

way

to

become

accustomed

to

the

functions

and

operations

of

the

telescope.

At

night,

try

observing

the

Moon

first,

if

it

is

visible,

or

a

bright

star.

2.

To

center

an

object

in

the

main

telescope,

use

the

viewfinder

to

first

sight

in

the

object

you

wish

to

observe.

Always

use

the

lower

power

Kellner

25mm

(28X)

eyepiece

to

find

and

center

an

object.

Then

switch

to

a

higher

power

eyepiece

such

as

the

Kellner

9mm

(77X)

provided

as

standard

equipment.

(For

other

eyepieces,

see

OPTIONAL

ACCESORIES,

page

7).

The

Kellner

25mm

eyepiece

included

with

the

Model

226W

presents

a

wide

field

of

view,

ideal

for

terrestrial

observing

or

for

the

observation

of

star

fields

and

star

clusters.

3.

If

you

are

observing

an

astronomical

object

(the

Moon,

a

planet,

star,

etc.)

you

will

immediately

notice

that

the

object

is

in

rather

slow

but

continuous

motion

through

the

telescopic

field

of

view.

This

motion

is

caused

by

the

rotation

of

the

Earth

on

its

axis

which

results

in

an

apparent

motion

of

the

object

in

the

telescope’s

field

of

view;

i.e.

although

the

Moon,

planets

and

stars

are,

for

practical

purposes,

fixed

in

their

positions

during

any

2

or

3

hour

observing

session,

the

platform

on

which

the

telescope

is

sitting

(the

Earth)

rotates

once

every

24

hours

underneath

these

fixed

objects.

To

keep

astronomical

objects

centered

in

the

field,

simply

move

the

telescope

on

one

or

both

of

its

axes

(vertical

and/or

horizontal)

as

appropriate.

The

altitude

slow

motion

fine

adjustment

control

will

allow

for

very

smooth

incremental

verticle

movements;

be

sure

the

altitude

coarse

adjustment

lock

knob

has

been

tightened

before

using

the

fine

adjustment

control

knob.

You

will

notice

at

higher

powers,

astronomical

objects

will

seem

to

move

through

the

field

more

rapidly.

4.

Avoid

touching

the

eyepiece

while

observing

through

the

telescope.

Vibrations

resulting

from

such

contact

will

cause

the

image

to

move.

5.

Allow

a

few

minutes

for

your

eye

to

become

“dark

adapted”

before

attempting

serious

astronomical

observations.

6.

Avoid

setting

up

the

telescope

inside

a

room

and

observing

through

an

open

window

(or

worse

yet,

a

closed

window).

Images

viewed

in

such

a

manner

may

appear

blurred

or

distorted

due

to

temperature

differences

between

inside

and

outside

air.

7.

We

repeat

the

warning

stated

at

the

outset

of

this

manual:

NEVER

POINT

THE

TELESCOPE

DIRECTLY

AT

OR

NEAR

THE

SUN

AT

ANY

TIME!

OBSERVING

THE

SUN,

EVEN

FOR

THE

SMALLEST

FRACTION

OF

A

SECOND,

MAY

RESULT

IN

INSTANT

AND

IRREVERSIBLE

EYE

DAMAGE,

AS

WELL

AS

PHYSICAL

DAMAGE

TO

THE

TELESCOPE

ITSELF.

7

8.

The

Meade

Model

226W

may

be

used

for

a

lifetime

of

rewarding

astronomical

and

terrestrial

observing,

but

basic

to

your

enjoyment

of

the

telescope

is

a

good

understanding

of

the

instrument.

Read

the

above

instructions

carefully

until

you

understand

all

of

the

telescope’s

parts

and

functions.

One

or

two

observing

sessions

will

serve

to

clarify

these

points

forever

in

your

mind.

9.

The

number

of

fascinating

objects

visible

through

your

Meade

refractor

is

limited

only

by

your

own

motivation.

Obtain

a

good

star

atlas

(see

‘‘Meade

Star

Charts”

in

OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES,

page

8)

and

read

the

listings

of

objects

visible

through

60mm

(2.4")

telescopes.

These

objects

include:

•

Cloud

belts

across

the

surface

of

the

planet

Jupiter.

•

The

4

major

moon’s

of

Jupiter,

visible

around

the

planet

.changing

position

each

night.

•

Saturn

and

its

famous

ring

system.

•

The

Moon:

a

veritable

treasury

of

craters,

mountain

ranges

and

fault

lines.

•

Deep-Space:

Nebulae,

galaxies,

multiple

star

systems,

star

clusters—hundreds

of

such

objects

are

visible

through

the

Model

226W.

•

Terrestrial

objects:

Your

Meade

telescope

may

also

be

used

for

high

resolution

land

viewing.

In

this

case,

note

that

the

diagonal

prism

results

in

an

image

which

is

reversed

left-for-right,

but

which

is

correctly

oriented

up-and-down.

For

a

fully

corrected

image,

the

#927

45°

Erect

Image

Roof

Prism

(.965”

O.D.)

is

required.

See

“OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES”,

page

7.

Terrestrial

observations

should

almost

always

be

made

using

a

low

power

eyepiece

(50X

or

less)

for

bright,

sharp

images.

Land

objects

will

not

normally

accept

higher

powers

well

because

the

telescope

is

being

pointed

through

the

thickest

part

of

the

Earth’s

atmosphere,

unlike

astronomical

observations

made

by

pointing

the

telescope

up

and

through

the

atmosphere.

CALCULATING

POWER

The

power,

or

magnification,

at

which

a

telescope

is

operating

is

determined

by

two

factors:

the

optical,

or

focal

length

of

the

telescope's

main

(objective)

lens

and

the

focal

length

of

the

eyepiece

being

used.

The

focal

length

of

the

Model

226W’s

objective

lens

is

700mm.

To

compute

power,

divide

the

focal

length

of

the

eyepiece

into

the

focal

length

of

the

objective

lens.

The

resulting

quotient

is

the

magnifying

power

of

the

telescope

when

used

with

the

eyepiece

in

question.

For

example,

the

Kellner

25mm

eyepiece

yields

with

the

Model

226W,

a

power

of:

Power

=

700mm

+

25mm

=

28

Similarly,

if

the

Kellner

9mm

eyepiece

is

used,

the

resulting

power

will

be

700mm

9mm

=

77X.

The

letter

“Ke”

refers

to

the

“Kellner”

optical

design

(3-element)

which

yields

very

well

corrected

images

with

refracting

telescopes

and

is

generally

preferred

over

the

more

common

Huygens,

“H”,

(2-element)

because

of

its

higher

quality

and

better

eyerelief

for

more

comfortable

viewing.

The

optical

design

of

the

eyepiece

has

no

bearing

on

power,

however.

The

Meade

Series

2

Orthoscopic

eyepieces

(4-element)

described

in

“OPTIONAL

ACCESSORES”

on

page

7

of

this

manual

present

extremely

sharp,

well

resolved

images

through

the

Model

226W

throughout

a

wide

range

of

magnifications.

A

few

words

of

wisdom

about

power.

Why

not

1000

power

or

more?

Meade

is

a

serious

telescope

manufacture

known

for

quality

and

honest

marketing.

The

theoretical

power

or

magnification

with

a

telescope

is

virtually

limitless.

However,

there

are

practical

limits

imposed

by

the

earth’s

atmosphere

and

optical

resolution

as

to

what

can

be

seen

well

at

a

given

power.

The

most

often

useful

higher

magnification

with

any

60mm

diameter

telescope

is

in

the

range

of

90

to

120

power.

The

general

rule

to

use

with

any

telescope,

regardless

of

size:

Only

use

as

much

power

as

a

good

image

supports:

this

often

varies

with

the

stability

of

the

air

being

viewed

through

and

is

one

reason

why

having

various

eyepieces

is

useful.

Higher

powers

are

no

guaranty

of

better

images,

in

fact

the

opposite

is

often

true.

Meade

has

attempted

to

maximize

the

performance

of

your

telescope

for

the

most

useful

power

range

to

provide

the

greatest

possible

utility

and

enjoyment.

8

MAINTENANCE

As

with

any

quality

optical

instrument,

lens

surfaces

should

be

cleaned

as

infrequently

as

possible.

A

little

dust

on

the

surface

of

the

objective

lens

causes

negligible

degradation

of

image

quality

and

should

not

be

considered

reason

to

“clean"

the

lens.

When

lens

cleaning

does

become

necessary,

use

a

camel's

hair

brush

or

compressed

air

to

gently

remove

dust.

Wipe

only

with

a

soft,

clean

cloth,

applying

as

little

pressure

as

possible

to

avoid

scratching

glass

surfaces.

SPECIFICATIONS

700mm

60mm

(2.4”)

f/11.7

Altazimuth

Objective

(main)

lens

focal

length

Objective

lens

diameter

Focal

ratio

Mounting

type

OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES

See

your

Meade

dealer

for

further

details

on

any

of

these

accessories.

#927

45°

Erect-Image

Roof

Prism

(.965"

O.D.):

Correctly

orients

the

telescopic

image

during

terrestrial

observing

and

yields

an

image

position

at

a

45°

angle

to

the

main

telescope

tube,

resulting

in

a

more

comfortable

observing

position

in

most

cases.

Additional

Eyepieces

(.965"

O.D.):

The

Meade

Series

2

eyepieces

listed

below

present

extremely

sharp,

highly

resolved

images

in

the

Model

226W

throughout

a

wide

range

of

magnifications.

Each

eyepiece

is

shown

with

its

optical

type

(OR

=

Orthoscopic;

MA(Ke)

=

Modified

Achromatic(Kellner)

and

the

power

obtained

when

used

with

the

Model

226W

telescope:

Eyepiece

Power

When

Used

wi

OR4mm

175X

OR6mm

117X

OR9mm

78X

OR18mm

39X

OR25mm

28X

MA40mm*

18X

Model

226W

‘The

MA40mm

eyepiece

is

an

excellent

low-power,

wide

field

ocular,

highly

recommended

for

terrestrial

applications

or

for

observing

large

star

fields.

Meade

Star

Charts:

Bound

12"

x

14"

charts

printed

on

heavy,

coated

paper,

suitable

for

field

use.

Includes

listings

and

mapped

locations

of

hundreds

of

interesting

deep

space

objects

for

observation

through

the

telescope.

CALL

FOR

FREE

FULL-LINE

MEADE

CATALOG

714-556-2291

8:30AM-4:00PM

PACIFIC

TIME

9