INSTRUCTION MANUAL
6”, 8”, 10”, & 12.5” Starfinder
Dobsonian Telescopes
Meade Instruments Corporation
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Captions for Fig. 1
Focuser assembly
Eyepiece
Viewfinder bracket
Viewfinder
Optical tube assembly
Mirror cell
Side board
Ground plate
Base plate
Contents
6", 8" 10", and 12.5 Starfinder
Dobsonian Telescopes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Parts Listing and Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Assembling the Mount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Optical Tube Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Attaching the Focuser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Attaching the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installing the Primary Mirror. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Balancing the Telescope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Aligning the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Using the Viewfinder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Collimation of the Optical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Correct Collimation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Spider Vane Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Secondary Mirror Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Primary Mirror Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Star Testing the Collimation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Tips on Using a Dobsonian Telescope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Seeing Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Observing Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Care of Optics and Main Tube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Meade Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Specifications and Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
10. Front board
11. Altitude bearing
® The name ‘Meade’ and the Meade logo are trademarks
registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal
countries throughout the world.
© 1999 Meade Instruments Corporation
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4. Firmly press the screw cover caps (2, Fig. 2) into the
heads of the wood screws on the side boards. You may
have to lightly tap the screw cover caps to properly seat
them into the screw heads.
INTRODUCTION
The Starfinder Dobsonian telescope will open up the skies for
a breathtaking array of visual observations. Galaxies, nebulae,
star clusters — in all their variations of form, color, and extent
— as well as the Moon, planets, comets and other objects
within the solar system, may be studied in great detail.
5. Install the two handles (1, Fig. 2) onto the side boards
utilizing the supplied screws. Firmly tighten the screws.
This manual is designed for the 6", 8", 10", and 12.5" Starfinder
Dobsonian Telescopes. With the exception of a few assembly
operations and features, the four telescopes are almost
identical operationally. When differences in procedures occur,
they are clearly noted. Most standard and optional accessories
are interchangeable between the four telescopes. For optimal
enjoyment of the telescope, please take a few minutes to read
this manual and become familiar with all of the instrument’s
capabilities.
6. To install the center pivot bearing, first insert the nylon
center bearing bushing (8, Fig. 2) into the center hole of
the ground plate (10, Fig. 2) from the top side. You may
have to lightly tap the bushing to fully seat it into the hole.
7. Place the four (six on the 12.5" model) nylon washers
(9, Fig. 2) onto the nylon center bearing bushing. Then,
from the bottom, insert the 2 1/4" x 5/16" hex pivot bolt
(12, Fig. 2), with a flat washer (13, Fig. 2) up through the
center of the ground plate. This bolt should then be
inserted through the center hole of the base plate
(7,Fig. 2). Secure this assembly with the other flat washer
and the 5/16" locking nut (6, Fig. 2).
PARTS LISTING AND ASSEMBLY
When first opening the packing boxes, note carefully the
following parts included with the Starfinder Dobsonian
Telescope (use Figure 1 and 2 to aid in the identification
process):
NOTE: Do not overtighten the nut or the base plate will not
easily rotate upon the ground plate. Only tighten the pivot
bolt and nut sufficiently to maintain a very light pressure
between the ground plate and base plate. The two parts
should easily turn in a “Lazy Susan” fashion.
Carton #1: The Telescope
— Optical tube assembly
— Primary mirror mounted in its cell
— Focuser
This completes assembly of your Meade Starfinder Dobsonian
Mount.
— Modified Achromat (MA) 25mm eyepiece
— 5 x 24mm viewfinder
— Hardware kit.
Carton #2: The Mount
— 2 Side boards
— Front board
— Ground plate
— Base plate
— 2 Handles
— Hardware kit
Assembling the Mount
Assembly of your Meade Starfinder Dobsonian telescope
should only take a few minutes. A phillips screwdriver, pliers,
and an adjustable wrench are the only tools you will need.
1. Attach the self-adhesive rubber feet (11, Fig. 2) to the
underside of the ground plate (10, Fig. 2), the round piece
with the Teflon pads. The feet should be mounted directly
under the already installed Teflon pads.
Two extra rubber feet have been supplied for use as
“bumpers” where the telescope tube hits the front board
(5, Fig 2.) at the travel limits. Place one in the center of the
top ledge, and one in the center on the inside near the
bottom (see Fig. 2). The exact position for these two
bumpers will be obvious with the telescope mounted on
the base.
2. Attach the front board (5, Fig. 2) loosely to the two side
boards (4, Fig. 2) using the supplied wood screws
(3,Fig.2), and the predrilled holes. Do not fully tighten the
screws yet.
3. Attach the front board/side board assembly to the base
plate (7, Fig 2) using the supplied Wood Screws, and the
predrilled holes. Snugly tighten all screws, including those
previously installed.
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Optical Tube Assembly
The optical tube has been pre-drilled at the Meade factory to
accept all standard accessories.
BALANCING THE TELESCOPE
Dobsonian telescopes are designed to move easily, but at the
same time remain in the position they are placed. This is
achieved by carefully balancing the telescope at the Meade
factory. The telescope is balanced for standard accessories.
1. Attaching the Focuser: Lay the tube flat on the floor.
Align the holes in the focuser assembly (1, Fig. 1) with the
four pre-drilled holes in the optical tube. From the
provided hardware, place the four Phillips-head screws
through the holes. Then, carefully reach into the optical
tube and attach a nut and washer to each screw. Tighten
the screws, but do not overtighten; tightening to a firm feel
is sufficient.
However, should anything attached to the telescope change,
for example using a larger or smaller eyepiece, or even moving
the primary mirror during collimation, slight imperfections in
balance may occur.
You may find as you change eyepieces or accessories, that the
telescope is out-of-balance. This is a relatively easy problem to
correct. With a little ingenuity, counterweights can be fashioned
by the telescope owner, using fishing sinkers or washers.
2. Attaching the Viewfinder: With the optical tube lying flat
on the floor, align the two holes in the viewfinder bracket
(3, Fig.1) with the pre-drilled holes in the optical tube.
From the supplied hardware, place a screw through each
of the holes. Carefully reach into the optical tube and
attach a nut to each screw. As with the focuser, tightening
to a firm feel is sufficient. Overtightening may result in
damage to the tube's finish. Aligning the viewfinder is
discussed later in this manual.
THE VIEWFINDER
The Starfinder telescope, as with almost all astronomical
telescopes, presents a fairly narrow field of view to the
observer. As a result, it is sometimes difficult to locate and
center objects in the telescope’s field of view.
The viewfinder, by contrast, is a low-powered, wide-field
sighting scope with crosshairs that enables the easy centering
of objects in the main telescope’s field of view. Standard
equipment with the Starfinder telescope is a viewfinder of 5-
power and 24 mm aperture, called an “5 x 24mm viewfinder.”
Your Meade Starfinder telescope was fully assembled, aligned,
and tested at the Meade factory. To ensure safe shipping, the
primary mirror was then removed from the telescope. Locate
the primary mirror cell assembly (Fig 3). Again, take extreme
care not to touch or bump the primary mirror.
Aligning the Viewfinder
3. Installing the Primary Mirror: (Refer to Figure 3) You will
note that there is a colored marker on the rear of the
telescope tube. There is a corresponding colored marker
(3, Fig. 3) on the mirror cell. Carefully slide the mirror cell
into the rear of the tube, ensuring that the two colored
markers line up. Secure the cell to the tube with the four
provided large-headed screws (1, Fig. 3). Again, do not
overtighten the screws. A firm feel is sufficient.
In order for the viewfinder to be useful, it must first be aligned
with the main telescope, so that both the viewfinder and the
main telescope are pointing at precisely the same place. To
align the viewfinder, follow this procedure:
1. The viewfinder bracket includes six alignment screws.
Turn the three rear-most alignment screws so that the
viewfinder tube is roughly centered within the viewfinder
bracket, as viewed from the eyepiece-end of the
telescope.
4. Carefully place the assembled optical tube into the
previously assembled base as illustrated in Figure 1. Note
that the two large bearings on the side of the tube
(11, Fig.1) rest in the cutouts of the mount . Also note the
orientation of the tube to the mount; the focuser (1, Fig. 1)
should be on the opposite side from the mount’s Front
Board (10, Fig. 1).
2. Using the standard equipment 25mm eyepiece, point the
main telescope at some easy-to-find, well-defined land
object, such as the top of a telephone pole. Center the
object precisely in the main telescope’s field.
3. While looking through the viewfinder, gently turn one or
more of the three front-most viewfinder alignment screws
until the crosshairs of the viewfinder point at precisely the
same position as the main telescope. During this
procedure, occasionally look through the main telescope
to make sure the object is still centered.
When the object is centered in the viewfinder, confirm that the
viewfinder’s crosshairs and the main telescope are now
pointing at precisely the same object. The viewfinder is now
aligned to the main telescope. Unless the alignment screws are
disturbed, the viewfinder will remain aligned indefinitely.
Using the Viewfinder
Now, to locate any object, terrestrial or astronomical, first
center the object on the crosshairs of the viewfinder; the object
will then be centered in the field of the main telescope.
Note: If you intend to use higher observing magnifications, first
locate, center, and focus the object using a low-power eyepiece
(e.g., the 25mm eyepiece). Objects are easier to locate and
center at low powers; higher power eyepieces may then be
employed by changing eyepieces.
COLLIMATION OF THE OPTICAL SYSTEM
Precise collimation, or alignment, of your telescope’s optical
system is essential for good performance. All Meade
telescopes are accurately collimated at the factory prior to
shipment, so collimation adjustments will probably not be
necessary. Nevertheless, take the time now to familiarize
yourself with the following collimation procedure so that you
may recognize a properly collimated instrument and adjust the
collimation yourself, if necessary.
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(3, Fig. 4) and secondary mirror (2, Fig. 4) are tilted so that the
focused image (6, Fig. 4) falls directly through the center of the
focuser drawtube (5, Fig. 4).
Face-on view
Edge-on view
To inspect the view of the mirror collimation, remove the
eyepiece and look down the focuser drawtube. The round edge
of the focuser drawtube (1, Fig. 6) will frame the reflections of
the primary mirror with the secondary mirror (2, Fig. 6) the
spider vanes (3, Fig. 6) and your eye (4, Fig. 6). Properly
aligned, all of these reflections will appear concentric (i.e.
centered) as illustrated in Fig. 6. Any deviation from the
concentric reflections will require adjustments to the secondary
mirror assembly (Fig. 5), and/or the primary mirror cell.
Spider Vane Adjustments
Looking down the open end of the telescope tube, check to see
if the secondary mirror system is centered in the optical tube. If
the assembly is off-center, loosen one of the spider vane
adjustment/lock knobs while unscrewing the opposite knob.
Only make adjustments to 2 knobs at a time until the secondary
mirror is centered in the drawtube. When the spider vane is
correctly positioned, the view through the drawtube will look like
Correct Collimation
A properly collimated (aligned) mirror system in your Starfinder
Dobsonian telescope assures the sharpest images possible.
Your Starfinder is properly aligned when the primary mirror
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Fig. 8. (Note that the secondary mirror is misaligned.)
cleaning solutions as this may damage the bearings or the
painted surfaces of the telescope.
Secondary Mirror Adjustments
3. You will notice that your telescope will move in altitude by
raising and lowering the tube, and in azimuth by rotating
the base. As you observe objects in the night sky they will
appear to drift out of the field of view due to the Earth’s
rotation. To keep an object centered in the field of view,
just lightly nudge the telescope in the proper direction.
This may take a little practice at first, but you’ll soon get
the hang of it.
If the secondary mirror (1, Fig. 8) is centered in the drawtube
(2, Fig. 8) but the primary mirror is only partially visible in the
reflection (3, Fig. 8) the 3 hex screws located on the secondary
mirror assembly (2, Fig. 5) must be unthreaded slightly to refine
the tilt-angle of the secondary mirror until the entire primary
mirror can be seen centered within the secondary mirror
reflection. When the secondary mirror is correctly aligned, it will
look like Fig. 9. (Note that the primary mirror is misaligned.)
4. Be sure the Mount is placed on a relatively level surface
to allow proper operation. Each of the three feet should be
in firm contact and not wobble. If you are in an area with
particularly rough or soft ground, it may be helpful to place
the Mount on a thick piece of plywood.
Primary Mirror Adjustments
If the secondary mirror and the reflection of the primary mirror
(1, Fig. 9) appear centered within the drawtube (2, Fig. 9) but
the reflection of your eye (3, Fig. 9) appears off-center, you will
need to adjust one or more of the three primary mirror hex
screws of the primary mirror cell. These primary hex screws are
located behind the primary mirror, at the lower end of the main
tube. Adjust the primary mirror alignment by slightly turning one
hex screw at a time, looking through the focuser after each
adjustment to determine if the mirror is moving in the correct
direction.
5. Part of the fun of using a Dobsonian type of telescope is
the challenge of hunting for objects in the night sky. Invest
is some simple star charts and books that tell you how to
locate objects using a technique called “star hopping.”
Once you begin learning the star patterns and
constellations, you’re well on you way to finding many
amazing sights.
Star Testing the Collimation
MAGNIFICATION
With the collimation performed, the next step is to test the
accuracy of the alignment on a star. Use the 25mm eyepiece
and point the telescope at a moderately bright (second or third
magnitude) star, then center the star image in the telescope’s
field-of-view. With the star centered, follow the method below:
The magnification, or power, at which a telescope is operating
is determined by two factors: the focal length of the eyepiece
employed and the focal length of the telescope. The Meade
Starfinder Dobsonian telescope is supplied with one eyepiece
as standard equipment. The focal length of the eyepiece,
25mm, is printed on its side.
1. Bring the star image slowly out of focus until one or more
rings are visible around the central disc. If the collimation
was performed correctly, the central star disk and rings will
be concentric circles, with a dark spot dead center within
the out-of-focus star disk (this is the shadow of the
secondary mirror), as shown in Fig. 10A. (An improperly
aligned telescope will reveal elongated circles, Fig. 10B,
with an off-center dark shadow.)
Telescope focal length is, roughly speaking, the distance that
light travels inside the telescope before reaching a focus.
The focal length of the Dobsonian 6" f/8 = 1220mm.
The focal length of the Dobsonian 8" f/6 = 1220mm.
The focal length of the Dobsonian 10" f/4.5 = 1140mm
The focal length of the Dobsonian 12.5" f/4.8= 1525mm
2. If the out-of-focus star disk appears elongated (Fig. 10B),
you will need to adjust the primary mirror tilt hex screws of
the primary mirror cell. Adjust the hex screw on the mirror
cell until the circles are concentric on either side of focus.
On a given telescope, such as the Starfinder Dobsonian,
different eyepiece focal lengths are used to achieve different
magnifications, from low to high.
To calculate the magnification obtained with a given eyepiece,
use this formula:
Power = Telescope Focal Length
___________________
Eyepiece Focal Length
Example: Using the 25mm eyepiece supplied with the 8" f/6,
the power is:
Power = 1220mm
________ = 49x
25mm
The type of eyepiece, whether Modified Achromatic, Plössl, or
Super Plössl, has no effect on magnification, but does have a
bearing on such optical characteristics as field of view, flatness
of field, and color correction.
TIPS ON USING A
DOBSONIAN TELESCOPE
1. Never lubricate the Teflon pads on the ground plate. The
Meade Starfinder Dobsonian has been designed with
some inherent friction. You want the telescope to move
easily when you position it, but you also want it to stay in
the position you place it. Using any kind of oil, silicone
spray, wax, or grease will ruin the performance by causing
the telescope to move too easily. Just keep these bearing
surfaces clean; that’s all the maintenance required.
Maximum practical magnification is about 50X per inch of
aperture. Generally, however, lower powers will produce higher
image resolution. When unsteady air conditions prevail (as
witnessed by rapid “twinkling” of the stars), extremely high
powers result in “empty” magnification, where the object detail
observed is actually diminished by the excessive power.
When beginning observations on a particular object, start with
a low power eyepiece; get the object well-centered in the field
of view and sharply focused. Then try the next step up in
magnification. If the image starts to become fuzzy as you work
up into higher magnifications, then back down to a lower
power: the atmospheric steadiness is not sufficient to support
high powers at the time you are observing. Keep in mind that a
bright, clearly resolved, but smaller, image will show far more
2. The altitude bearing surfaces (11, Fig 1) of the telescope
are lightly lubricated at the factory for optimum
performance. Over a period of time, these surfaces may
become dry or dirty. Simply clean off the bearing surfaces
with a dry cloth or paper towel and reapply a thin coating
of silicone grease or spray to the surfaces to maintain
peak performance. Do not use solvents or alcohol-based
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detail than a dimmer, poorly resolved, larger image.
As you use your telescope more and more, you will find that
you are seeing more and finer detail: observing through a
large-aperture telescope is an acquired skill. Celestial
observing will become increasingly rewarding as your eye
becomes better trained to the detection of subtle nuances of
resolution.
Because of certain characteristics of the human eye (in
particular, eye pupil diameter) and because of optical
considerations inherent in the design of the telescope, there
exist minimum practical power levels also. Generally speaking
the lowest usable power is approximately 4X per inch of
telescope aperture.
CARE OF OPTICS AND MAIN TUBE
With the reasonable care due any fine instrument, your Meade
telescope will last a lifetime. If the eyepieces become dirty, try
cleaning them with a camel’s hair brush or compressed air. If
you must wipe the surface of the lenses, do so gently with a soft
cloth so as not to scratch the protective coatings.
SEEING CONDITIONS
Even in normal city conditions, with all of the related air and
light pollution, there are many interesting celestial objects to
observe. But, to be sure, there is no substitute for the clear,
dark, steady skies generally found only away from urban
environments, or on mountaintops: objects previously viewed
only in the city take on added detail or are seen in wider
extension, or even become visible at all for the first time.
The aluminum coating on the primary and secondary mirrors
may last more than ten years without significant deterioration.
(The coatings will last a shorter period if regularly exposed to
salty or polluted air.) Minor blemishes, scratches, or streaks will
NOT impair the telescope’s performance. Re-coating, when
necessary, is relatively inexpensive. Contact your local Meade
dealer for information on mirror re-coating services.
The amateur astronomer is faced typically with two broadly
defined problems when viewing astronomical objects through
the Earth’s atmosphere: first is the clarity, or transparency, of
the air, and secondly the steadiness of the air. This latter
characteristic is often referred to as the quality of “seeing.”
Amateur astronomers talk almost constantly about the “seeing
conditions,” since, perhaps ironically, even the clearest, darkest
skies may be almost worthless for serious observations if the
air is not steady. This steadiness of the atmosphere is most
readily gauged by observing the “twinkling” of the stars: rapid
twinkling implies air motion in the Earth’s atmosphere, and
under these conditions, resolution of fine detail (on the surface
of Jupiter, for instance) will generally be limited. When the air is
steady, stars appear to the naked eye as untwinkling points of
unchanging brightness, and it is in such a situation that the full
potential of the telescope may be realized: higher powers may
be used to advantage, closer double stars resolved as distinct
points, and fine detail observed on the Moon and planets.
The most common error is to clean the optics too often. If
cleaning does become necessary, clean as follows:
1. Using distilled water and cotton, gently swab the surface
of the mirror to remove any dust or dirt. Use the cotton to
make one pass over the mirror and then use new cotton.
This will keep the dirt previously removed from contacting
the mirror surface and scratching the coatings.
2. Dip a wad of cotton in a mild detergent solution (1/2
teaspoon to 1 pint of water) and gently swab the entire
surface. This will remove any oily deposits or fingerprints.
3. Swab the entire surface. Do not turn over the cotton wads
or dissolved skin oils may deposit on the mirror’s surface.
Immediately take a dry swab and continue wiping the
entire surface gently. Keep changing wads until the mirror
surface is completely dry and free of streaks.
OBSERVING GUIDELINES
Several basic guidelines should be followed for best results in
using your telescope:
When cleaning the outside of the Starfinder optical tube (1),
use a mild detergent, (Pine-Sol, Formula 409, Fantastic, or oil
soap). Oil soap is preferred as it also acts as a preservative for
the paint. Solvent or alcohol-based cleaning solutions will
diminish the original luster of the paint.
1. Try not to touch the eyepiece while observing. Any
vibrations resulting from such contact will immediately
cause the image to move.
2. Allow your eyes to become “dark-adapted” prior to making
serious observations. Night adaptation generally requires
about 10-15 minutes for most people.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is
available for the Starfinder telescopes.
3. Let the telescope “cool down” to the outside
environmental temperature before making observations.
Differences in temperature between a warm house and
the cold outside air require about 30 minutes for the
telescope’s optics to regain their true correct figures.
During this period the telescope will not perform well.
Dust Covers: Snug-fitting vinyl dust covers protect optics from
outside dust during storage of the telescope.
Eyepieces: Many additional eyepieces are available for higher
and lower magnifications. All Meade Starfinder Equatorial
telescopes accept standard 1.25" O.D. eyepieces as well as 2"
O.D. eyepieces.
4. If you wear glasses and do not suffer from astigmatism,
take your glasses off when observing through the
telescope. You can re-focus the image to suit your own
eyes. Observers with astigmatism, however, should keep
their glasses on, especially with lower powered
eyepieces. The effects of astigmatism are reduced with
higher power eyepieces, so eyeglasses may be removed
to improve eye relief.
Meade Super Plössl (SP),
Super Wide Angle (SWA),
and Ultra Wide Angle (UWA)
Eyepieces in the standard
American-size (1.25") barrel
diameter permit a wide range
of magnifying powers with the
telescope. Powers obtained
with each eyepiece are as
follows:
5. Avoid setting up the telescope inside a room and
observing through an open window (or, worse yet, through
a
closed window!). The air currents caused by
inside/outside temperature differences will make quality
observing impossible.
6. Perhaps most important of all, avoid “overpowering” your
telescope. The maximum usable magnification at any
given time is governed by the seeing conditions. If the
telescopic image starts to become fuzzy as you increase
in power, drop down to a reduced magnification. A smaller,
but brighter and sharper, image is far more preferable to a
larger, but fuzzy, indistinct one.
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Eyepiece
6" f/8
Power
8" f/6
Power
10" f/4.5 12.5" f/4.8
Viewfinders: In addition to the standard-equipment 5x24mm
viewfinder supplied with all Starfinder telescopes, the higher
power/larger aperture 6x30 and 8x50mm viewfinder are
available to substitute or retrofit.
Power
Power
SP 6.4mm
SP 9.7mm
SP 12.4mm
SP 15mm
SP 20mm
SP 26mm
SP 32mm
SP 40mm
191X
126X
98X
81X
61X
47X
38X
31X
191X
126X
98X
81X
61X
47X
38X
31X
178X
118X
92X
76X
57X
44X
36X
*
238X
157X
123X
102X
76X
59X
48X
*
MEADE CUSTOMER SERVICE
If you have a question concerning your Meade Starfinder
Dobsonian telescope, call Meade Instruments/Customer
Service Department at (949) 451-1450, or fax at (949) 451-
1460. Customer Service hours are 8:30AM - 4:00PM, Pacific
Time, Monday through Friday. In the unlikely event that your
Dobsonian telescope requires factory servicing or repairs, write
or call the Meade Customer Service Department first, before
returning the telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as
to the nature of the problem, as well as your name, address,
and daytime telephone number. The great majority of Starfinder
servicing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding return
of the telescope to the factory.
SWA 13.8mm 88X
SWA 18mm 68X
SWA 24.5mm 50X
SWA 32mm
SWA 40mm
88X
68X
50X
38X
31X
83X
63X
47X
36X
*
111X
85X
62X
48X
*
38X
31X
UWA 4.7mm 260X**
UWA 6.7mm 182X
UWA 8.8mm 139X
260X**
182X
139X
87X
243X
170X
130X
81X
324X**
228X
173X
109X
UWA 14mm
87X
*
Not recommended for 10" and 12.5" models.
** Should be used only under extremely steady
atmospheric conditions.
Meade Super Plössl and Super Wide Angle Eyepieces are
ideal for general-purpose astronomical or terrestrial observing.
The typical Starfinder Dobsonian user may wish to add 2 or 3
of these eyepieces to his or her telescope. An introductory
selection might include the SP9.7mm and SP15mm. The more
advanced observer will perhaps select the SP 9.7mm, SP
12.4mm, and SWA 18mm. The Super Wide Angle Eyepiece
series yields extremely wide fields of view, perfect for the
examination of star fields, diffuse nebulae, or for terrestrial
applications. Under very steady seeing conditions Meade UWA
4.7mm and 6.7mm eyepieces present the widest fields of view
obtainable at high powers and are excellent eyepieces for the
Moon and planets.
Filters: Thirteen color filters are
available for significantly increased
contrast and resolution of detail on
the Moon and planets. For
example, the #80A (blue) filter
effectively enhances the reddish-
colored detail on the surface of
Jupiter. These filters thread into the barrels of all standard 1.25"
O.D. eyepieces and may also be used for eyepiece projection
photography.
Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece: Permits
easy visibility of guiding crosslines even
against the darkest skies. The standard
#702A double-crossline, phosphorescent-
enhanced reticle allows for variable
illumination from faint to very bright.
Magellan I: The Magellan I accessory will
permit you to add a powerful pointing tool
to your Starfinder Dobsonian telescope.
Encoders supplied with this product for the
R.A. and Dec. axis can be easily installed
in factory machined mounting features.
Once installed, the Magellan I will allow the
electronic selection and pointing of the
telescope at a large number of catalogued
objects in the sky.
#140 2x Barlow Lens: The Barlow
Lens, or Telenegative Amplifier, is a
convenient accessory used to
increase the effective magnification
of any given eyepiece. The Barlow
Lens is inserted into the focuser and
accepts all standard 1.25" O.D. eyepieces.
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Specifications and Features: Meade Starfinder™ Dobsonian Telescopes
TELESCOPE:
Starfinder
Starfinder
Starfinder
Starfinder
Dobsonian 6
Dobsonian 8
Dobsonian 10
Dobsonian 12.5
Optical Design
Newtonian Reflector
152mm (6")
Newtonian Reflector
203mm (8")
Newtonian Reflector
254mm (10")
Newtonian Reflector
318mm (12.5")
Diameter/Clear Aperture
Primary &
Secondary Mirrors
Grade-A Pyrex® glass,
fine annealed
Grade-A Pyrex® glass,
fine annealed
Grade-A Pyrex® glass,
fine annealed
Grade-A Pyrex® glass,
fine annealed
Secondary Mirror Support
Focal Length
4-vane; steel
1220mm
f/8
4-vane; steel
1220mm
f/6
4-vane; steel
1140mm
f/4.5
4-vane; steel
1525mm
f/4.8
Focal Ratio
Resolving Power (arc secs.)
Limiting Visual Magnitude
0.74
0.56
0.45
0.36
13.5
14.0
14.5
15.0
Limiting Photographic Magnitude
Image Scale
16.0
1.18°/inch
16.5
17.0
17.4
1.18°/inch
500X
1.26°/inch
600X
0.95°/inch
600X
Maximum Practical Visual Power
35mm Angular Film Coverage
Optical Tube
400X
1.11° x 1.58°
1.11° x 1.58°
9.6" dia. x 48" long-
1.19° x 1.70°
0.89° x 1.27°
7.6" dia. x 48" long-
12.7" dia. x 45" long
15.1" x 58" long
spiral-wound Sonotube spiral-wound Sonotube
spiral-wound Sonotube
spiral-wound Sonotube
Secondary Mirror Minor Axis
Secondary Mirror Obstruction
1.18"
3.9%
1.83"
3.6%
2.37"
5.6%
2.60"
4.3%
Dobsonian Mounting
Base Diameter
13.75"
17.1"
22.2"
26.75"
Mount Dimensions (approx.) 12" square x 19" high
16" square x 17" high
21" square x 20" high
25" square x 22 " high
Materials-- ----------------All models: thermally-fused Melamine® with industrial particle board core.---------------
Bearings: Altitude
Azimuth
Nylon
Teflon
Nylon
Teflon
Nylon
Teflon
Nylon
Teflon
Net Weights: Optical Tube
Mounting
20 lbs.
14 lbs.
26 lbs.
18 lbs.
30 lbs.
32 lbs.
55 lbs.
41 lbs.
Shipping Weight (approx.)
38 lbs.
49 lbs.
68 lbs.
106 lbs
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- 11 -
t
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Meade Instruments Corporation
World’s leading manufacturer of astronomical telescopes for the serious amateur.
6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92620 (949) 451-1450
Ver. 0499
Part no. 14-0218-00
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