Meade 4500 User Manual
© 1995
Rev. B
4/95
Instruction Manual
Model 4500: 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope
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MEADE
ADVANCED PRODUCTS DIVISION
Meade Instruments Corporation
World’s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical Telescopes for the Serious Amateur
6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450
FAX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www.meade.com
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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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1. Tripod legs
2. Equatorial mount
3. R.A. flexible cable control
4. Dec. flexible cable control
5. Counterweight
6. Counterweight shaft
7. Counterweight lock
8. Safety washer/thumbscrew
9. Latitude lock
10. Polar axis
11. Latitude adjustment knob
12. Optical tube assembly
13. Optical tube saddle plate
14. Cradle rings
15. Cradle ring lock knobs
16. Viewfinder bracket mounting bolts
17. Focuser
18. Focuser thumbscrew
19. Eyepiece
20. Viewfinder bracket
21. Declination axis
22. R.A. lock
23. Dec. lock
24. 6 x 30 viewfinder
25. Telescope front dust cover
26. Viewfinder bracket thumbscrews
27. R.A. setting circle
28. Dec. setting circle
29. Latitude dial
30. Azimuth lock
31. Focus knobs
32. Polar shaft acorn cap nut
33. Azimuth base
34. Azimuth shaft bolt
35. R.A. worm block assembly
36. Dec. worm block assembly
37. Cradle ring attachment knobs
38. Tripod leg Phillips-head fastener screws
39. Tripod-to-mount attachment points
40. Accessory shelf
41. Accessory shelf central mounting knob
42. Tripod leg brace supports
43. Tripod leg lock knobs
Key to Fig. 1
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Fig. 1: Meade Model 4500: 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope
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