The Meade LX200 series of telescopes was introduced in 1992 and represented a giant step forward in technology for amateur astronomers - computer control. The LX200 series telescopes were an instant success and have outsold all other astronomical telescopes put together. Steady development has continued to the present day, and LX200s are available in a range of apertures from 8-inch through the giant 16-inch, which is widely installed in university astronomy departments and the smaller public observatories. For anyone considering buying a high-end Meade telescope, the book offers an experienced user's guide to what can actually be achieved with it.So You Want a Meade LX Telescope also provides detailed discussions about some of the many software packages available to aid optimizing and actually using the scope. The typical results are discussed so readers can know what to expect. Also reviewed are essential accessories such as CCD cameras and the latest Active Optics units.These extraordinary telescopes are capable of amazing results, but using them and setting them up can be a chore. That's why this book is essential reading for anyone who has bought or upgraded to an LX200 or its top-of-the-range companion, the RCS400 (later re-designated the LX400ACF).

Christian Tyler, for many years a staff writer on The Financial Times where he was three-times nominated for British Press Awards and once for a Pulitzer Prize. He is now a freelance writer and book reviewer living in Dorset. The author of Wild West China: the taming of Xinjiang published to acclaim in 2003, he has had a lifelong interest in music and is an amateur classical pianist.

Introduction	p. 1
Computers and Astronomy	p. 1
Look Before You Leap!	p. 1
Advancing from Binoculars	p. 2
Telescope Types	p. 3
Small Refractors	p. 3
Refractor Accessories	p. 4
Reflectors	p. 6
Moving On Up	p. 6
Telescope Suppliers' Web Sites	p. 7
Enter the Goto Handbox	p. 8
Star and Polar Alignment	p. 8
Mid-range Scopes	p. 9
Wedges for Imaging	p. 10
The Importance of a Balancing System	p. 11
Equatorial Head	p. 11
Autoguiding Accessories for Imaging	p. 12
Your Ideal Scope	p. 12
Time/Date Latitude/Longitude Entry	p. 12
Focusing	p. 12
Collimation	p. 13
Polar Alignment	p. 13
Drive Accuracy	p. 13
Periodic Error Correction	p. 14
Telescope Mounts	p. 14
The Final Telescope Upgrade!	p. 15
Meade LX200GPS/LX400 Series Telescopes	p. 17
Getting Started	p. 17
What's in a Name?	p. 17
Meade LX200GPS and LX400	p. 18
What You Get in the Box	p. 19
LX200GPS and LX400 Connector Panels	p. 21
The Equatorial Wedge	p. 23
Field Derotator	p. 24
Power Considerations	p. 25
Sun Warning!	p. 26
GPS Receivers	p. 26
First Visual Observing Sessions: Finder Adjustment, Focusing, Collimation	p. 27
Focusing	p. 28
Hartmann or Bahtinov Mask	p. 29
Changing Speed	p. 29
LX400 (and LX200GPS with Care) Handbox Removal	p. 30
Collimation	p. 30
LX400 Collimation	p. 32
AutoStar Suite Operations	p. 32
AutoStar Suite Updates	p. 34
Connection to AutoStar Suite	p. 34
Telescope Control	p. 35
Menu Tree	p. 36
Updating ASU and Firmware	p. 37
Upgrading Firmware	p. 38
Use the Latest Firmware	p. 38
Restoring a Corrupted Handbox	p. 38
Free User Software	p. 39
Telescope Alignment	p. 39
Goto Synchronization	p. 40
Training the Drive	p. 40
Smart Mount	p. 41
Testing SMT	p. 42
Caution, Static!	p. 42
Daytime Planetary Viewing	p. 42
Yahoo Telescope Groups	p. 43
Commercial Servicing Facilities	p. 44
Summary	p. 44
Accessories, Great and Small	p. 47
Replacement Screws	p. 47
An Equatorial Wedge?	p. 47
Astro-Engineering UK	p. 50
Telescope House	p. 50
Milburn Wedge	p. 50
Balance Rails and Weights	p. 51
Dew Heaters	p. 51
Dew Shields	p. 52
Autoguiding Telescopes	p. 52
Focal Reducers	p. 53
Barlow (Extender) Units	p. 54
CCD Cameras: Main and Guide	p. 55
Filters	p. 57
Software	p. 57
Adaptive Optics Units	p. 58
Observatories	p. 58
Dehumidifiers	p. 62
Hartmann Mask	p. 63
Bahtinov Mask	p. 63
Balancing and Polar Alignment	p. 65
Equatorial Wedges	p. 65
Setting Up Your 'Scope	p. 67
Getting an Approximate Polar Alignment	p. 68
Balancing in Declination	p. 69
Declination Axis Balance	p. 69
Vertical Balance	p. 70
Horizontal Balance	p. 73
Right Ascension Axis Balance	p. 74
Precise Polar Alignment	p. 74
Visual and CCD Monitoring of Polar Alignment Adjustments Demonstrating East to West, North to South	p. 75
Misalignment Errors	p. 75
Manual Adjustment of the Polar Axis	p. 76
Azimuth Adjustment	p. 76
Reiterative Adjustments	p. 77
Adjusting the Elevation	p. 78
Software Aid in Polar Alignment	p. 78
Next Stage	p. 79
Essential Software for Basic Operations	p. 81
Supplied Control Software	p. 81
The ASCOM Initiative	p. 82
Initial Connection to your Hardware	p. 84
Using MaxIm DL	p. 84
Operations with MaxIm DL	p. 85
Camera Control	p. 87
Configuring the Scope: Taking Control	p. 88
Guide Camera Focusing	p. 90
MaxIm DL Telescope Header Settings	p. 90
Synchronizing the Telescope with the Sky	p. 91
Solving an Image	p. 92
Camera Orientation	p. 93
Synchronization	p. 94
Field Calibration	p. 95
Image Processing	p. 95
Camera Cooling	p. 96
Flat Images	p. 96
Bias Images	p. 97
Dark Images	p. 98
Try Some Gotos	p. 99
Software Adjustment of Periodic Error and Polar Alignment	p. 101
Measuring Periodic Error	p. 101
What Is PE and Why Do You Need to Fix It?	p. 102
Essential Previous Checks	p. 102
Out-of-the-Box Images	p. 103
How Long Can You Expose?	p. 105
Measuring and Correcting Your PE	p. 105
PEC Settings	p. 106
The Details	p. 107
Consequences of the PEC Table Adjustment	p. 108
Periodic Error Management by Software	p. 109
Finding a Suitable Star	p. 110
Using the Simulated Handbox	p. 112
Handbox Settings	p. 113
Collecting Raw Data: A Caution	p. 113
Analyzing Your Data	p. 115
Uploading the New PE Correction Curve	p. 117
Check the Result	p. 117
Refining Your Curve	p. 118
What a Good PEC Means	p. 121
Adjusting the Sidereal Drive	p. 121
Polar Alignment: The Importance of Being Accurate	p. 122
Software Polar Alignment	p. 123
Further References	p. 125
Autoguiding	p. 127
Principles of Autoguiding	p. 127
Backlash	p. 129
Autoguiding Error Magnitudes	p. 129
Getting Good Guide Stars: Choose Your Guide 'Scope Carefully	p. 130
Flexure	p. 130
Bright Guide Star	p. 131
Guide Camera Exposure	p. 131
Gusts and Mirror Flop	p. 132
Correction Commands	p. 132
MaxIm DL Guide Settings	p. 133
The Importance of the Aggressiveness Setting	p. 134
The Maximum Move Setting	p. 134
The Minimum Move Setting	p. 134
DEC Compensation Setting	p. 135
LX200GPS and LX400 Series PEC	p. 135
A Mini Review	p. 135
Guide Log Graphs	p. 136
Sample Guide Settings	p. 136
Configuring the Autoguider	p. 137
Focusing and Centering the Autoguider	p. 137
Guide Star Dark Calibration	p. 140
Calibration of Autoguider	p. 140
Autoguiding Test	p. 142
Mind Where You Walk!	p. 145
What Follows is a Cautionary Tale!	p. 145
References	p. 145
Using Advanced Software	p. 147
A Day (Night?) in the Life	p. 148
Astrometrica	p. 148
Asteroid, Comet, and Supernova Detection	p. 152
CCD-Inspector	p. 155
PoleAlignMax/FocusMax	p. 158
Astro Art	p. 159
MaxIm DL	p. 159
ACP Observatory Control Software Suite	p. 161
Multitasking!	p. 169
Summary	p. 170
CCDCommander	p. 170
MPO Connections	p. 171
CCDAutoPilot4	p. 172
PHD Guiding	p. 173
Additional Software	p. 173
GPS Control2	p. 173
SkyTools2	p. 175
TheSky (v6)	p. 175
CCD-Navigator	p. 175
CCD-Stack	p. 175
Adaptive Optics	p. 177
Limitations of Guide Scope Use	p. 177
Active and Adaptive Optics: The Principles	p. 178
One Guide Camera	p. 179
Professional Application	p. 179
Amateur Equivalents	p. 179
Starlight Xpress "Active Optics" Unit (SX AO)	p. 181
Telescope Focal Ratio	p. 183
CCD Guide Camera	p. 183
Assembling the Unit	p. 183
Cable Configuration	p. 184
Software Connection	p. 184
Focusing the SX AO Guide Camera	p. 185
Dark Frame Calibration of the Autoguider	p. 186
Full Calibration of the Adaptive Optics Unit	p. 186
Bump Calibration	p. 188
Calibrate SX AO	p. 189
First Test	p. 189
Results and Summary	p. 189
Messier 92	p. 190
Ready for M27	p. 191
Background SX AO Settings	p. 192
Conclusions	p. 193
A Guide to Weather Satellites	p. 195
A Brief History of Weather Satellites	p. 196
The Cold War Agreement	p. 198
Weather Satellite Orbits	p. 198
What Do the Images Show?	p. 200
Visible Light, Infrared, and Water Vapor Images	p. 200
Polar Orbiting Weather Satellites	p. 203
NOAA Polar Orbiters	p. 204
Receiving and Decoding NOAA Weather Satellite Images	p. 205
Hardware and Software	p. 207
Websites with Current a.p.t. Imagery	p. 207
Geostationary Weather Satellites: Image Formats	p. 208
GEONETCast: A Worldwide System	p. 210
Animating Geostationary Weather Satellite Images	p. 212
Some Features Seen in Satellite Imagery	p. 212
Some LX200 and LX400 Projects	p. 215
Lunar Impact Studies	p. 215
Searching for Extrasolar Planets	p. 217
Comet Imaging	p. 218
Astrometry	p. 221
Deep Sky Pictures	p. 222
Andrey Batchvarov	p. 222
George Hall	p. 222
Hilary Jones	p. 223
Bill Norby	p. 224
Richard Robinson	p. 225
Stuart Thompson	p. 227
Charles Trump	p. 227
Merope and Its Nebulosity	p. 227
Twilight Flats	p. 227
Processing	p. 228
Author's Note	p. 230
Index	p. 231
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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