Meade 4504 Instruction Manual

Instruction ManualMeade Model 4504 4.5" (114mm) Equatorial Reflecting TelescopeWith Starfinder Electronic Hand ControllerENTERGO TOMODEMEADEENTE

page 10LESSON 2: Balancing the TelescopeIn order for the telescope to be stable on the tripod and also for it to move smoothly,it must be balanced. To

page 11NEVER point the telescope directly at or near the Sun at any time!Observing the Sun, even for the smallest fraction of a second, willresult in

page 1212654783101112913Fig. 11: Motor drive system assembly.1. R.A. Worm Shaft2. (R.A. Axis) Plastic Adapter3. Aluminum Shaft4. Set Screw5. Circular

page 13Observe the World Around YouPractice observing during the day, when it is easier to become familiar with the con-trols of your telescope.1. Loo

page 14Activate the Arrow KeysThis procedure describes how to activateStarfinder's Arrow keys: 1. After Starfinder's cord is plugged in and

page 15Speed 1: Fastest speed to move the telescope from one point in the sky to another.Speeds 2 or 3: Best used for the rough centering of an object

page 16Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking FeatureIn this example, Starfinder's Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then Starfinder&a

page 17Initializing StarfinderThis exercise describes how to initialize Starfinder. Initialization is a procedure that enables Starfinder to operate c

page 187. Starfinder then prompts you to enter the status of Daylight Savings Time. Pressone of the Scroll keys to toggle between the YES/NO settings

page 19Training the DriveNext, train the drive using Starfinder. Perform this procedure the first time you useStarfinder with your telescope, after a

WARNINGNEVER USE A MEADE®TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN!LOOKING AT OR NEAR THE SUN WILL CAUSE INSTANT ANDIRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO YOUR EYE. EYE DAMAGE IS

page 20Align Your Telescope Using StarfinderAfter completing the "Train the Drive" procedure, align your telescope using Starfinder.The fast

page 21Which One’s the Alignment Star?If Starfinder has chosen an alignment star that you are unfamiliar with, how can yoube sure if the star in your

page 22You have now completed all the Lessons for the basic operation of your 4504telescope. All of Starfinder's features perform in the same way

page 23PART TWO: Starfinder Controls and MenusThis section describes how Starfinder operates, including:• Starfinder's controls • How to move thr

page 24MODE Key: Returns to the previous menu or data level in the Starfinder databaseuntil the top level, “Select Item," is reached. The MODE ke

page 25Speed/? Key: Briefly pressing the Speed/? key cycles through the seven slewspeeds that move the telescope (see “Slew Speeds,” page 14). NOTE:

page 26How Starfinder's Menus WorkIt is important to understand that Starfinder's menu selections are set in a loop. Thismeans that pressing

page 27NOTE: To perform an accurate calculation, Starfinder must be properlyinitialized with the current date, time, and location of the observing sit

page 28Starfinder MenusObject MenuAlmost all observing with Starfinder is performed using the Object menu. (Note:Exceptions include Guided Tour and La

page 291. When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, press MODE until the "SelectItem: Object" menu is displayed. 2. Scroll through

page 3TABLE OF CONTENTSPART ONE: The BasicsLesson 1: Unpacking and Assembly ...5How t

page 30To access a hypertext word directly from the Glossary menu, use the Scroll keys toscroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on the desired lette

page 31Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing ses-sions. Align the telescope one time, then use this function to p

page 32• Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have a problem, use thisoption to retest the motors before doing a Reset. This option is a

page 33PART 3: Caring for Your TelescopeCleaningThe lens or mirror surfaces should be cleaned as infrequently as possible. Front sur-face aluminized m

page 34Collimation (Alignment) of the OpticsYour telescope is optically aligned at the factory prior to shipment. It is unlikely that youwill need to

page 35refine the tilt-angle of the diagonal mirror until the entire primary mirror can be seencentered within the diagonal mirror reflection. When th

page 36Star testing the collimationWith the collimation performed, you will want to test the accuracy of the alignment ona star. Use the H 25mm eyepie

page 37MODEL 4504 TELESCOPE SPECIFICATIONSOptical design ...Newtonian ReflectorClear aper

page 38APPENDIX A: Calculating Eyepiece PowerThe power, or magnification of the telescope depends on two optical characteristics:the focal length of t

page 39APPENDIX B: Terrestrial Viewing, Celestial Movement,and Polar AlignmentTerrestrial ViewingThe 4504 is an excellent, high-resolution terrestrial

page 412345789610111213141516Fig. 1: Parts included in the Meade Model 4504 Giftbox.

page 40On the surface of the Earth,“lines of longitude” are drawnbetween the North and SouthPoles. Similarly, “lines of latitude”are drawn in an East-

page 41Using Setting CirclesThe setting circles of the Polar aligned equatorial mount can be used to locate faintcelestial objects not easily found by

APPENDIX C: Using Starfinder to Enter CelestialCoordinates Although Starfinder's database contains more than 1400 objects (stars, nebulae,planets

page 43APPENDIX D: Helpful ChartsLatitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldTo aid in the Polar Alignment procedure (see "TO POLAR ALIGN THE TEL

page 44In the early 17th century, an Italian Scientist named Galileo, using a crude telescopeconsiderably smaller than your 4504, turned it to look to

page 45PlanetsPlanets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planetson a given day or month, consult a monthly astron

page 46A Roadmap to the StarsThe night sky is filled with wonder andintrigue. You too can enjoy exploringthe universe simply by following a fewpointer

Meade Limited WarrantyEvery Meade telescope, spotting scope, and binocular is warranted by Meade Instruments Corp. (MIC) tobe free of defects in mater

0600 14-7010-04ADVANCED PRODUCTS DIVISIONMeade Instruments CorporationWorld’s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical Telescopes for the Serious Amateur6

page 5PART ONE: The BasicsLESSON 1: Unpacking and AssemblyAs you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The bolded numbersin paren

page 612654783161011129141315Fig. 2a: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope.1. Equatorial mount2. Optical tube assembly3. Cra

page 72318212227251920202426172829302829NOTE: The coiled cord thatconnects to the two motordrives has been omittedfrom the illustration for thesake of

page 8How to Assemble Your TelescopeThe giftbox contains the optical tube assembly and the tripod with the equatorialmount. The accessories are locate

page 98. Tilt the assembly: Unlock the R.A. lock (26, Fig. 2b) and the Dec lock (27, Fig.2b) so that the telescope turns freely on both axes. Tilting