Meade Digital Electronic Series Refracting & Reflecting Telescopes Menu

The most important advancement in beginning and intermediate telescopes in 100 years.

For almost as long as amateur astronomy has been in existence as a field of study, refracting telescopes of 60mm (2.4") aperture and larger, and reflecting telescopes of about 114mm (4.5") and larger, have been considered ideal telescopes for the serious beginning or intermediate observer. But never before in their long history have microprocessor technology and the very latest in electro-mechanical design been applied to telescopes of this class. It is no exaggeration to state that Meade Digital Electronic Series (DS) telescopes are the most important advance in beginning-to-intermediate telescopes in 100 years

Features

Altazimuth Mountings

Completely re-engineered and redesigned, Meade DS telescopes provide smoother motions in altitude and azimuth than previously available. Even when operated manually without the electronic controls discussed below, DS models are a revelation of mechanical precision and low-backlash motion that greatly facilitate quick object-location and tracking. Oversize bearings on both telescope axes of all models negate the imprecision found universally, virtually without exception, on competing models.

Electronic Controller (EC)

Included as standard equipment with most DS telescopes the Meade handheld Electronic Controller (see photo at left) allows for 4-speed pushbutton operation of the telescope. Use the

	Fast 6?/second speed to slew (move) the telescope rapidly across the sky from one object to another
	0.75?/second speed to center objects in the viewfinder
	slow speed 8 arcmins/second to center or track objects in the main telescope at lower powers
	very slow speed 2 arcmins/second to center or track objects at higher powers

Buttons:

Speed: Instantly change speed with the push of the speed button. The current selected speed is indicated by a red LED light on the hand controller.

FOCUS: This button allows for operation of the optional #1240 Electric Focuser.

Autostar Computer Controller

Automatically locate 1,500 astronomical objects stored in the Autostar database, or the automatic location of any object in the sky of known celestial coordinates. The revolutionary Autostar controller, available optionally for DS telescopes.

The Autostar hand-held controller plugs into the telescope?s control panel in place of the Electronic Controller of any EC-equipped DS model

Optical Systems

Meade Digital Electronic Series refracting telescope models include 2-element achromatic (color-corrected) objective lenses, precision polished from crown and flint optical glass components, and yield sharp, round, pinpoint stellar images. Multi-coatings on DS lenses increase light transmission through the optical system and increase image contrast.

Newtonian reflecting telescopes models, DS-114EC and DS-127EC, include high-resolution primary and secondary mirrors free of the optical zones and irregularities often found on optics of lesser quality.

All Meade DS telescopes resolve to the theoretical limits of their respective apertures.

Object Tracking * * * * *

Because the Earth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours, celestial objects appear to move rapidly through the telescopic field of view; at moderate powers objects transit the entire field of view in about 10 to 15 seconds. Part of the task of the observer, therefore, is to follow, or track, the object in the field as it is being observed.

The Electronic Controller, provided as standard equipment on most DS models and available optionally for other models, greatly facilitates this tracking procedure, since, at the push of a button and without touching the telescope, the observer can (a) select a tracking speed appropriate to the eyepiece magnification being employed and (b) follow any celestial object placed in the telescopic field

Meade StarNavigatorTM Software * * * * *

Included with all Meade DS telescopes, StarNavigator software displays more than 10,000 celestial objects.

Galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets, this software enabls even the beginner to locate and identify objects to observe with the telescope or to print out star charts for use in observing sessions.

StarNavigator operates with any Windows?-based personal computer.

Electronic Control Panel of Meade DS Telescopes: Supplied with the #492 Dual-Motor Electronic Control System and #493 Autostar Computer Control System, this control panel serves as the central electronic distribution point for the Meade Electronic Controller, or, Autostar-equipped DS telescopes.

DC power (12 volts) is supplied from the battery pack to the connector at far left; the EC or Autostar hand-held controller connects to the HBX port; and the telescope?s control motors in Azimuth (horizontal) and Altitude (vertical) plug in to the AZ and ALT ports, respectively. The AUX port allows for powering of the optional #1240 Electric Focuser.