Meade Instruments Infinity 50mm
Contents
1. Objective lens diameter 50mm 2 0 Focal ratio 1 12 Mounting type Alt azimuth Tripod Aluminum 2014 Meade Instruments Corp All rights MEADE reserved Specifications subject to change 6001 Oak Canyon Irvine California 92618 without notice 800 626 3233 Il www meade com2. diagonal mirror 15 Fig 1 and 1 5X erecting eyepiece together or the image will not fully corrected Terrestrial observations should almost always be made using the 20mm low power eyepiece for bright sharp images Observing horizontally through the Earth s atmosphere distorts images in higher power eyepieces such as 12mm CALCULATING POWER The power or magnification at which a telescope is operating is determined by two factors the focal length of the telescope s main objective lens and the focal length of the eyepiece being used The focal length of the Meade Infinity 50 s objective lens is 600mm To figure out the power you are using divide the the focal length of the objective lens by the focal length of the eyepiece shown on the eyepiece For example if you are using the H 20mm eyepiece with the Meade Infinity 50 the resulting power will be Power 600mm 20mm 30X Similarly if you are using the H 12mm eyepiece the resulting power will be 600mm 12mm 50X Note The letter H refers to the Huygens optical design which yields well corrected images with refracting telescopes With the 2X Barlow lens an eyepiece s power is multiplied 2 times For example the H 20mm 30X eyepiece when used in conjunction with the 2x Barlow lens produces a magnification of 60X The H 12mm 50X eyepiece produces a magnification of 100X when used with the Barlow lens S Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversab
3. mounting plate 2 5 x 24 Viewfinder 13 Focusing knob 3 Viewfinder bracket 14 Optical tube to mount locking knob 4 Viewfinder collimation screws 15 Diagonal mirror 5 Optical tube assembly 16 Objective lens and lens cell inside tube 6 Viewfinder bracket attaching nuts 17 Eyepiece holder and thumbscrew 7 Diagonal Mirror thumbscrew 18 Tripod leg lock latch 8 Tripod legs 19 Adjustable sliding leg extension 9 Leg brace supports 20 Dew shield lens shade 10 Accessory tray 21 Front lens cap not shown 11 Alt azimuth mount 4 e Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage lo your eye Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun Do not look through the telescope as it is moving INTRODUCTION Before you begin your visual journey we urge you to take a few minutes to completely read this manual so that you can get the best use of the equipment This manual details the setup operation specifications and optional accessories of the Meade Infinity 50 Alt azimuth Refracting Telescope The Meade Infinity 50 is designed for both astronomical and terrestrial observing Whether you are observing objects a few meters away or light years distant the Meade Infinity 50 s precision optics and sturdy mount are the tools with which you can learn basic telescope skills that can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment and discovery STANDARD EQUIPMENT Refer to Fig 1 Optical tube assembly with 50mm diameter lens dew shield a
4. s H 20mm eyepiece When finished tighten the viewfinder s three collimation Screws to a firm feel so that it remains in alignment It is often easier to tighten one collimation screw while simultaneously loosening another This will keep the viewfinder tight in its holder 3 Objects located in the 5 x 24mm viewfinder will now be centered in the telescope eyepiece USING THE TELESCOPE With the telescope assembled you are ready to begin observations 1 First pick out an easy to find object Observing land objects during the daytime is a good way to become accustomed to the operation of the telescope At night try observing the Moon at first if it is visible or a bright star 2 Tocenter an object in the main telescope first use the aligned viewfinder to find the object you wish to observe If necessary slightly loosen the optical tube to mount locking knob 14 Fig 1 to re position the telescope so that the desired object can be centered in the viewfinder When the object is centered in the viewfinder it should then also be somewhere in the main telescope s field of view Next using the 20mm eyepiece center the object in the main telescope s field of view and sharply focus the image by turning the focus knob 13 Fig 1 The H 20mm eyepiece included as standard equipment is the best eyepiece to use for the initial finding and centering of an object The low power H 20mm eyepiece presents a bright wide field of view ideal for terre
5. the telescope over the two protruding threaded studs Then replace the two viewfinder bracket attaching nuts to secure the bracket to the optical tube 5 Insert the diagonal mirror 15 Fig 1 into the eyepiece holder 17 Fig 1 and the H 20mm eyepiece 1 Fig 1 into the diagonal mirror Secure each in place with a moderate tightening of their respective thumbscrews 7 amp 17 Fig 1 6 Extend the sliding leg extension 19 Fig 1 portion of the tripod to the desired length on all three legs by opening the tripod leg lock latch 18 Fig 1 and extending the leg When you achieve the desired height lock the tripod leg by closing the locking latch ALT AZIMUTH MOUNT MOVEMENTS AND LOCK The telescope can tilt just over 90 in altitude the up and down movement and rotate 360 in azimuth the side to side movement hence the telescope mount is called Alt azimuth The Alt azimuth mount can be locked only in altitude by tightening the optical tube to mount locking knob 14 Fig 1 the azimuth movement is always free S Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage to your eye Do not point this telescope 5 UN at or near the Sun Do not look through the telescope as it is moving To move the telescope on the mount slightly loosen the mount locking knob 14 Fig 1 Move the telescope in altitude and or azimuth to the desired target When finished tighten the mount lock knob 14 Fig 1 Tip By keeping the mount lock kn
6. 00 626 3233 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 and phone number 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 Meade specifically disclaims special indirect or consequential damages or lost profit which may result from a breach of this warranty Any implied warranties which cannot be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase This warranty gives you specific rights You may have other rights which vary from state to state Meade reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without notice This warranty supersedes all previous Meade product warranties TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 5 Standard Equipment 5 Unpacking and Assembly 5 Alt Azimuth Mount Movements and Lock 5 Viewfinder Focusing and Alignment 6 Using the Telescope 6 Calculating Power 7 A Few Words About Power 8 Maintenance 8 Specifications 8 S Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage to your eye Do not point this telescope UN at or near the Sun Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Fig 1 Meade 50AZ P 2 Alt azimuth Refracting Telescope 1 Eyepiece 12 Optical tube
7. Meade Infinity 50 50mm 2 Alt azimuth Refracting Telescope Instructional Manual o MEADE 6001 Oak Canyon Irvine California 92618 800 626 3233 Hl www meade com WARNING Never use the telescope to look at the Sun Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye Eye damage is often painless so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving Children should always have adult supervision while observing Limited Warranty Every telescope and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corp Meade to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of TWO YEARS from the date of original purchase in the U S A Meade will repair or replace a product or part thereof found by Meade to be defective provided the defective part is returned to Meade 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 from Meade by writing or by calling 8
8. le damage to your eye Do not point this telescope 7 UN at or near the Sun Do not look through the telescope as it is moving To use the 2x Barlow lens remove the diagonal mirror from the eyepiece holder 17 Fig 1 Insert the 2x Barlow lens and secure with the thumbscrew Next insert the diagonal mirror 15 Fig 1 and eyepiece 1 Fig 1 Refocus until the image is sharp A FEW WORDS ABOUT POWER The useful higher magnification with any 50mm diameter telescope is in the range of 50 to 100 power The general rule to follow with any telescope regarding power Only use as much magnification as a steady well defined image supports The stability of the air varies and is one reason why having various eyepieces is desirable Higher powers are no guaranty of better images in fact the opposite is often true MAINTENANCE As with any quality optical instrument lens surfaces should be cleaned as infrequently as possible A little dust on the surface of the objective lens causes negligible degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens When lens cleaning does become necessary use a camel s hair brush or compressed air to gently remove dust Wipe only with a soft clean cloth applying as little pressure as possible to avoid scratching glass surfaces Note Remove the dew shield lens shade 20 Fig 1 to access the objective lens 16 Fig 1 SPECIFICATIONS Objective main lens focal length 600mm
9. nd rack and pinion focuser Alt azimuth mount with pre attached aluminum tripod Accessories Three 1 25 Eyepieces H 20mm 30X H 12mm 50X SR 4mm 150X 2x Barlow Lens 1 5x Erecting Eyepiece Diagonal Mirror 965 to 1 25 built in 5x24 Viewfinder 965 to 1 25 Adapter Accessory Tray Autostar Suite Astronomy Software DVD UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLY Note that although the telescope is partially unassembled all of the more difficult or complicated sections of the instrument are already pre assembled at our factory first time assembly of the telescope should not require more than about 10 minutes To set up the telescope follow this procedure 1 Remove and identify the telescope s components using the Standard Equipment list shown above 2 Spread the three tripod legs 8 Fig 1 evenly apart and attach the accessory tray 10 Fig 1 in the hole at the center of the leg brace supports 9 Fig 1 using the provided attaching screw 3 Attach the optical tube to the mount by placing the optical tube mounting plate 12 Fig 1 over the top of the mount until the mounting holes line up Place the optical tube to mount lock knob 14 Fig 1 through the mounting holes and tighten until snug 4 Attach the viewfinder 2 Fig 1 and viewfinder bracket 3 Fig 1 by un threading the two viewfinder bracket attaching nuts 6 Fig 1 and placing the viewfinder bracket with the eyepiece end of the viewfinder facing the focuser of
10. ob slightly tight the telescope can still be moved in altitude without running the risk of having the telescope flip in the up or down movement VIEWFINDER FOCUSING AND ALIGNMENT The 5 x 24mm viewfinder 2 Fig 1 is a low power wide field sighting device that once aligned will allow you to point the telescope with greater precision Take note that when you look through the viewfinder you will see a cross hair with images that will be upside down this is normal To work properly the viewfinder must first be aligned to the telescope s main optical tube To align the viewfinder follow these steps 1 Remove the lens cap 21 Fig 1 of the optical tube assembly Place the H 20mm eyepiece in the diagonal mirror and point the optical tube assembly 5 Fig 1 at some well defined distant land object e g the top of a distant telephone pole Note Images are either backwards or upside down depending on the rotation angle of the diagonal mirror this is normal It is recommended that you choose an object that is as distant as possible so that the viewfinder alignment will be accurate enough to point the telescope at individual planets and stars during astronomical observations 2 Look through the viewfinder 2 Fig 1 and tighten or loosen as appropriate the viewfinder bracket s three collimation screws 4 Fig 1 until the cross hairs of the viewfinder are precisely centered on the same object already centered in the telescope
11. one 9 Astronomical software or a good star atlas will assist you in locating many interesting celestial objects These objects include The Moon covered with craters mountain ranges and fault lines The Moon is best observed during its crescent or half phase when Sunlight strikes the Moon s surface at an angle It casts shadows and adds a sense of depth to the view No shadows are seen during a full Moon causing the bright Moon to appear flat and uninteresting Cloud belts across the surface of the planet Jupiter The 4 major moons of Jupiter visible in a straight line around the planet changing position each night e Saturn and its famous ring system e Deep Space Nebulae galaxies multiple star systems star clusters hundreds of such objects are visible through the Meade Infinity 50 Terrestrial objects Your Meade telescope may also be used for high resolution land viewing Important Note Using that the diagonal mirror results in an image which is reversed left for right but which is correctly oriented up and down For a fully corrected image use the included 1 5X erecting eyepiece To use the 1 5X erecting eyepiece remove the diagonal mirror and place the 1 5X erecting eyepiece directly into the eyepiece holder 17 Fig 1 and secure with its thumbscrew Next attach the included 965 to 1 25 adapter to the erecting eyepiece and secure with the thumbscrew Lastly attach the H20 eyepiece and secure Do not use the
12. strial and general astronomical observing of star fields clusters of stars nebulae and galaxies For lunar and planetary viewing switch to a higher power eyepiece such as the H 12mm if you have good viewing conditions If the image starts to become fuzzy as magnification is increased back down to a lower power The atmosphere is not steady enough to support higher powers Note Changing eyepieces changes power The larger the focal length number shown on the eyepiece the lower the power and wider the eyepiece field of view 3 f you are observing an astronomical object the Moon a planet star etc you will notice that the object will begin to move slowly through the telescopic field of view This movement is caused by the rotation of the Earth and makes an object appear to be moving in the telescope s field of view To keep astronomical objects centered in the field simply move the telescope up or down or side to side vertical and or horizontal as appropriate At higher powers astronomical objects will seem to move through the field more rapidly 4 Avoid touching the eyepiece while observing through the telescope Vibrations resulting from such contact will cause the image to move Avoid observing sites where vibrations may introduce image movement Viewing from the upper floors of a building may also introduce image movement 5 Allow 10 15 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted by avoiding bright lights prior to attempting an
13. y serious observations Use a red filtered flashlight you can make your own by taping red cellophane over a flashlight lens to protect your night vision when reading star maps or inspecting components of the telescope O NS Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage to your eye Do not point this telescope SN at or near the Sun Do not look through the telescope as it is moving 6 Avoid setting up the telescope inside a room and observing through a closed window pane Images may appear blurred or distorted due to temperature differences between inside and outside air Also it is a good idea to allow your telescope a chance to reach the ambient surrounding outside temperature before starting an observing session 7 We repeat the warning stated at the outset of this manual NEVER POINT THE TELESCOPE DIRECTLY AT OR NEAR THE SUN AT ANY TIME OBSERVING THE SUN EVEN FOR THE SMALLEST FRACTION OF A SECOND WILL RESULT IN INSTANT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE AS WELL AS PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE TELESCOPE ITSELF 8 Planets and other objects viewed low on the horizon often lack sharpness the same object when observed higher in the sky will appear sharper and have greater contrast Turbulent air in the atmosphere can cause images to shimmer in the eyepiece Try reducing power change your eyepiece until the image steadies Keep in mind that a bright clear but smaller image is more interesting than a larger dimmer fuzzy
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