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Instruction Manual
Polaris 60EQ-D: 2.4" (60mm) Equatorial Refracting Telescope
Meade Instruments Corporation
©2000
6001 OAK CANYON, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618-5200 U.S.A.
Rev. A
(949) 451-1450 FAX: (949) 451-1460 www.meade.com 6/02
POLARIS
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– 2 – WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT TO OBSERVE THE SUN THROUGH YOUR TELESCOPE! OBSERVING THE SUN, EVEN FOR THE SHORTEST FRACTION OF A SECOND, WILL CAUSE INSTANT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE TELESCOPE ITSELF. WHEN OBSERVING DURING THE DAYTIME, DO NOT POINT THE TELESCOPE EVEN CLOSE TO THE SUN. Limited Warranty Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“Meade”) to be free of defects in materials and workm
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– 3 – TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Standard Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Unpacking and Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Aligning the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Balancing the Telescope . . . . . . . . . . .
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– 4 – 21 13 10 33 12 15 17 22 28 14 20 24 29 19 35 23 27 18 4 34 11 8 7 9 15 16 6 30 17 30 36 5 32 25 26 3 31 2 31 1 Figure 1: Polaris 60EQ-D 2.4" Equatorial Refracting Telescope 1. Accessory tray 19. Counterweight safety washer 2. Tripod legs 20. Counterweight lock 3. Leg brace/accessory tray supports 21. Declination axis 4. Tripod-to-mount base attachment point 22. Object lens cell 5. Diagonal mirror 23. Azimuth adjustment lock 6. Eyepiece 24. Latitude adjustment lock 7. Viewfinder bracket 25
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– 5 – INTRODUCTION This manual details the set-up, operation, specifications and optional accessories of the Polaris 60EQ-D 2.4" (60mm) Equatorial Refracting Telescope. STANDARD EQUIPMENT • Complete optical tube assembly (objective lens diameter = 60mm; focal length = 900mm) • Full-length, fully adjustable, aluminum tripod and accessory tray • SR4mm (225x), H12.5mm (72x), and H25mm (36x) Eyepieces (.965" O.D. “Outside Diameter”) • 3X Barlow lens (.965" O.D.) • Diagonal mirror (.965" O.D.) • 5x24
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– 6 – 9. Attach the viewfinder bracket (7) to the telescope using the 2 thumbscrews provided. These thumbscrews are pre-threaded into the telescope at the viewfinder location. The thumbscrews fit through the 2 holes at the base of the viewfinder bracket and thread into the main optical tube. 10. Insert the diagonal mirror (5) into the focuser drawtube (25) and the 25mm eyepiece (6) into the diagonal mirror. Secure each in place with a moderate tightening of the respective thumbscrews. The tel
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n o i t a n i l c e D – 7 – Right Ascension (R.A.). The angle of this path they follow is known as their line of Declination (Dec.). Right Ascension and Declination is analogous to the Earth-based coordinate system of latitude and longitude. Understanding celestial coordinates: Celestial objects are mapped according to the R.A. and Dec. coordinate system on the “celestial sphere,” the imaginary sphere on which all stars appear to be placed. +90° Dec. North Celestial Pole (Vicinity of Polaris)
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– 8 – LINING UP WITH THE CELESTIAL POLE Objects in the sky appear to revolve around the celestial pole. In northern latitudes the North Star (Polaris) approximates the pole. (Actually, celestial objects are essentially “fixed,” and their apparent motion is caused by the Earth's axial rotation). During any 24 hour period, stars make one complete revolution about the pole, making concentric circles with the pole at the center. By lining up the telescope's polar axis with the North Celestial Po
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– 9 – eyepiece, precisely center the object in the main telescope’s field of view, and sharply focus the image by turning the focus knob (26). The 25mm eyepiece included as standard equipment is the best eyepiece to use for the initial finding and centering of any object. The 25mm eyepiece presents a bright, wide field of view, ideal for terrestrial and general astronomical observing of star fields, clusters of stars, nebulae, and galaxies. For lunar and planetary viewing, switch to a higher
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– 10 – The number of fascinating objects visible through your Infinity refractor is limited only by your own motivation. Astronomical software, or a good star atlas (see “Meade Star Charts” in OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 11) will assist you in locating many interesting celestial objects. These objects include: • Cloud belts across the surface of the planet Jupiter. • The 4 major satellites of Jupiter, visible in revolution about the planet, with the satellite positions changing each night. • Sa
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– 11 – SPECIFICATIONS Focal Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .900mm Aperture (Diameter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60mm (2.4”) f/ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .f/15 Mounting Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Equatorial OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES See your Infinity or full-service Meade dealer for further details on any of these accessories. Additional Eyepieces (.965"): Meade recomm
