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Instruction Manual
™
10", 12", 14” RCX400 Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien Telescopes
®
with AutoStar II Hand Controller and Digital Front Focus
MEADE.COM
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Focusing the Telescope As you look over your new RCX telescope, one of the first things you will notice is that it has no Focus Knob! Because this design is of key importance, we are presenting this information on how to focus your telescope on the inside front cover so that it is immediately accessible. The Focus Key All focusing of the RCX400 is performed digitally, using AutoStar II’s Focus key (number key 4). The Focus key functions as a toggle key: J Press the Focus key the first time to
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CONTENTS Focusing your Telescope.........................Inside front cover Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4 WARNING! Telescope Features ...................................................... 8 Autostar II Features ........................................................13 ® Never use a Meade RCX400 Telescope to Getting Started ..............................................................16 look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun Parts Listin
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QUICK-START GUIDE Assemble Your Tripod STEP 1: Attach the legs of the tripod to the base: Slide each leg (1) into a leg receptacle (2) . c B STEP 2: Rotate the leg: Rotate the leg until the trigger release pin (3) is next to the thruster bar latch (4). d e STEP 3: “Hook” the Release Pin: e Slide thruster bar hook into the slot in the trigger release pin.1 Take note of the trigger release lever (5) on the base; you will use the release lever in Step 5 below. The trigger release consists of a leve
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Attach the Mount to the Tripod STEP 6: Position the mount over the tripod: Take note of the T-handle/rod (8) that goes through the tripod base. The T-handle/rod is spring-mounted into position. Note also that there is a hole (7) on the bottom side of the mount base. Lift the mount and position the mount base over the tripod base. Line up the hole on the mount base over the T-handle rod. When they are lined up, the rod will “pop up” into the hole. Caution for 12” and 14” model users: Due to the w
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QUICK-START GUIDE {CONTINUED} Insert the Telescope Diagonal Mirror and Eyepiece STEP 10: Attach the visual back and diagonal mirror: 1% 1. Thread the ring of the visual back (16) over the rear cell (15) and rotate the ring, tightening to a firm feel. Slide the diag- 1& onal (18) into the visual back and secure it in place using the visual back thumbscrew (17). 1* 1^ STEP 11: Insert the eyepiece and remove dust cover: 1( Remove the UltraWide 24mm eyepiece (19) from its container and place it in
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Point, Focus and Observe STEP 14: Tighten the R.A. and Dec. Locks: 2& Move the R.A. lock (27) and tighten to a firm feel. Rotate the Dec. Lock (28) and tighten to a firm feel, also. 2* STEP 15: Focus: To change the focus speed: Press the Focus key (2() once. “Focuser: Fast (or the current speed)” displays. Use one of the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of 4 available focus speeds: Fast, Medium, Slow, Fine. Scroll through the list until the speed you desire displays (choose a focus speed w
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TELESCOPE FEATURES viewfinder optical tube fan 1( 2) 2! dust cover 1* eyepiece B Dec. lock 1& Dec. slow diagonal c motion control mirror 1^ rear cell and 2” visual back d OTA control right fork arm e panel 1% handles f AutoStar II left fork arm handbox and g 1$ tiltable holder battery h compartments R.A. lock 1# R.A. slow motion control i Base control panel mounting base j 1@ GPS 1) Receiver Dec Setting Circle 1! on the left fork arm Fig. 1a: The RCX400 Telescope; Dec. Setting Circle (inset). 8
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viewfinder adjustment locking ring 2# objective lens 2$ screws 2@ 2% viewfinder eyepiece/focuser viewfinder bracket 2^ and dovetail mount Fig. 1b: The Viewfinder close up. tripod base with T-handle 2& leg receptacles 3@ leg attachment 2* lock sliding leg trigger 2( release tripod legs 3) locking latch and thruster bar 3! mechanism Fig. 1c: The Tripod. H J K USB Ports Serial port Autoguider port C åA 12vDC Out Off/On Smart accessory port 12vDC In USB Port AUX port HBX port Reticle port HBX por
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RCX400: YOUR PERSONAL WINDOW TO THE UNIVERSE Caution: The Meade RCX400 models are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes. With Using products other than high-precision optics, pushbutton controls, precise GPS alignment, true-level and standard Meade accessories North electronic sensors, automatic tracking of celestial objects, periodic error may cause damage to the correction for both axes, and a library of 145,000+ objects in the AutoStar II data base, telescope’s internal electron- t
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1#) in the unlocked position. Set the R.A. Lock to a "partially locked" position to create Definitions a comfortable drag for the R.A. Slow Motion Control. Throughout this manual, Caution: Do not operate the R.A. Slow Motion Control with the R.A. Lock you will notice the terms in the fully locked position, as such operation may result in damage to the "Alt/Az," "Right internal gear system and also cause you to lose alignment. Ascension," and "Declination." Alt/Az or j Optical Tube Assembly (OTA)
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only) prevents the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the verti- cal motor drive for AutoStar II operation. 1* Dust Cover: Gently pry the dust cover from the front lens of the telescope. Note: The dust cover should be replaced after each observing session and the power turned off to the telescope. 1( Optical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination through the eyepiece. The tube contains the primar
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AUTOSTAR II FEATURES K 1 4 2 3 8 5 9 6 7 J Fig. 2: The Autostar II Handbox. Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of the RCX400 telescope models is through the operation of the standard Autostar II system. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar II’s buttons. Want to learn more about Because the Autostar II system uses flash (rewritable) memory, your system will be downloading the latest able to grow when new features and enhance
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The Autostar II system provides control of virtually every telescope function. The Autostar II handbox has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with red LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for easy view- ing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential menu structure make Autostar II extremely user friendly. B 2-Line LCD Display: This screen displays Autostar II's menus and information about the telescope. • Top line: Lists t
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4 FOCUS: Toggles between two functions. The first press allows you to change the focus and focus speed. The next press allows you to create FOCUS 4 presets that tell the telescope where to focus. Want to learn more about the Focus 5 SS: Press to display the Solar System library. menu? See page 19. 6 STAR: Press to display the Star library. 7 RET (Reticle): Press to display the Reticle Control menu. 8 IC: Press to display the Index Catalog library. RET 9 NGC (New General Catalog): Press to disp
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GETTING STARTED Parts Listing c Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: J RCX400 Telescope with fork mount system and GPS Receiver J AutoStar II handbox and interface coil cord; handbox holder J 8 x 50mm viewfinder assembly J 2" diagonal mirror and 2” visual back barrel J Series 5000 UltraWide 24mm eyepiece B J Variable height tripod Fig. 7: Attach leg (1) to leg J USB cable and softw
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Caution: Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards 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. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used for a long period of time. To attach AutoStar II and connect the handbox holder 1$ 1% h 1
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2. Insert eyepiece: Remove the UltraWide 24mm eyepiece from its container and slide it in the diagonal mirror. Tighten the thumbscrew (Fig. 20) located on the diagonal mirror to a firm feel only. 3. Remove dust cover: Remove the dust cover (18, Fig. 1a) from the optical tube assembly by gently prying it off. Mounting and Focusing the Viewfinder for the First Time The first time you mount and focus the viewfinder, follow the these steps: 1. Slide the track on the bottom of the viewfinder bracket
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OBSERVING Important Note: Choosing an Eyepiece Objects appear upside-down A telescope’s eyepiece magnifies the image formed by the telescope’s main optics. and reversed left-for-right when observed in the Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters, or “mm.” The smaller the viewfinder. Objects viewed focal length, the higher the magnification. For example: An eyepiece with a focal through the telescope eye- length of 9mm has a higher magnification than an eyepiece with a focal len
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Sync On Preset menu if you do not park your telescope (this menu will reset all your focus presets after you turn off and turn on your scope again ). To define a preset: 1. Point the telescope at a distant object, press FOCUS and use the Up and Down Arrow keys to focus the telescope until the object is sharply focused as previously explained. 2. Press the Focus key again (FOCUS toggles between the Focus menu and the Preset menu). “Focuser Preset: Go To” displays. Use a Scroll key and scroll down
