Meade 4500 User Manual

Instruction Manual

Model 4500: 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope

MEADE

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A D V A N C E D P R O D U C T S D I V I S I O N

Meade Instruments Corporation

World’s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical Telescopes for the Serious Amateur

	6001	Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ [phone]	© 1995
	FAX:	[phone] ■ www.meade.com
			Rev. B
			4/95

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WARNING

NEVER ATTEMPT TO OBSERVE THE SUN THROUGH YOUR MEADE TELESCOPE! OBSERVING THE SUN, EVEN FOR THE SHORTEST FRACTION OF A SECOND, WILL CAUSE INSTANT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE. WHEN OBSERVING DURING THE DAYTIME, DO NOT POINT THE TELESCOPE EVEN CLOSE TO THE SUN.

Meade Limited Warranty

Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and binocular is warranted by Meade Instruments Corp. (MIC) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from date of original retail purchase in the U.S.A. MIC will repair or replace the product, or part thereof, found upon inspection by MIC to be defective, provided the defective part or product is returned to MIC, freight prepaid, with proof of purchase. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only and is non-transferable. Meade products purchased outside

North America are not included in this warranty, but are covered under separate warranties issued by Meade International Distributors.

RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number must be obtained by writing to MIC or calling 949-451-1450. Each returned part or product must include a written statement detailing the nature of the claimed defect, as well as the owner’s name, address, phone number, and a copy of the original sales invoice.

This warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized repairs have been attempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-and-tear. MIC specifically disclaims special, indirect, or consequential damages or lost profit, which may result from a breach of this warranty. Any implied warranties which can not be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of purchase by the original retail purchaser.

This warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other rights which vary from state to state.

MIC reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without prior notice.

This warranty supersedes all previous Meade product warranties.

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	TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Introducing the Meade Model 4500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		.6
1. This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		.6
2.	Standard Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	.6
B. Unpacking and Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		.6
1.	Balancing the Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	.7
2. Alignment of the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		.7
C. Understanding Celestial Movements and Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . .		.8
D. Lining Up with the Celestial Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		.9
E. Using the Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		.9
F. Using Setting Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		11
G. Calculating Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		11
H. Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		12
1.	Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12
2.	Mount and Tripod Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12
3.	Collimation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12
	a. Correct Collimation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12
	b. Spider Vane Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
	c. Diagonal Holder Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
	d. Primary Mirror Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
	e. Star Testing the Collimation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
I. Specifications: Model 4500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		15
J. Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		15

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Key to Fig. 1

1. Tripod legs			23.	Dec. lock
2.	Equatorial mount		24.	6 x 30 viewfinder
3.	R.A. flexible cable control		25.	Telescope front dust cover
4.	Dec. flexible cable control		26.	Viewfinder bracket thumbscrews
5.	Counterweight		27.	R.A. setting circle
6.	Counterweight shaft		28.	Dec. setting circle
7.	Counterweight lock		29.	Latitude dial
8.	Safety washer/thumbscrew		30.	Azimuth lock
9.	Latitude lock		31.	Focus knobs
10.		Polar axis	32.	Polar shaft acorn cap nut
11. Latitude adjustment knob			33.	Azimuth base
12.		Optical tube assembly	34.	Azimuth shaft bolt
13.		Optical tube saddle plate	35.	R.A. worm block assembly
14.		Cradle rings	36.	Dec. worm block assembly
15.		Cradle ring lock knobs	37.	Cradle ring attachment knobs
16.		Viewfinder bracket mounting bolts	38.	Tripod leg Phillips-head fastener screws
17.		Focuser	39.	Tripod-to-mount attachment points
18.		Focuser thumbscrew	40.	Accessory shelf
19.		Eyepiece	41.	Accessory shelf central mounting knob
20.		Viewfinder bracket	42.	Tripod leg brace supports
21.		Declination axis	43.	Tripod leg lock knobs
22.		R.A. lock

	18	19
17	31

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MEADE

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28

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	32
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	24	30
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20		34
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90

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Fig. 1: Meade Model 4500: 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope