Meade Instruments Polaris Series - Manual (Page 3)

INTRODUCTION
Your telescope is an excellent beginner’s
instrument, and is designed to observe
objects in the sky. It can be your personal
window to the universe allowing you to see
bright galaxies, planets, stars and more.
The telescope is shipped with the following
parts:
• Optical tube
• German equatorial mount
• Stainless-steel tripod with accessory tray
• Three 1.25” eyepieces:
MA25mm, MA9mm, MA6.3mm
• Red dot viewfinder with bracket
• Slow-motion control cables
• 90 degree erect-image diagonal prism
(Refractors only)
The Polaris Series of telescope includes
optical tubes of different sizes and design.
Some optical tubes use lenses to focus the
incoming light and are called refractors. Other
optical tubes use mirrors to bring the incoming
light to focus and are called reflectors.
The lens or mirror diameter of the telescope
is one of the most important pieces of
information about the telescope. The size of
the lens or mirror, also known as “aperture”,
determines how much detail you will be able
to see in your telescope. The optical tubes
focal length information is also important
and will help later on to calculate the viewing
magnification.
Setting up your telescope involves these
simple steps:
•Setup your tripod
•Attach the accessory tray
•Attach the mount
•Attach the counterweight shaft and
counterweight
•Prepare the mount
•Attach the optical tube to the mount
•Attach the red dot viewfinder
•Attach the eyepiece
1
Study the picture on the next page(s)
and become acquainted with the parts
of your telescope. Figure 1A shows
a typical reflector telescope whereas
Figure 1B shows a refractor. Then
proceed to “Setup your Tripod.”