I need help with my Meade telescope?

Question

My kids were given a used Meade Infinity 114/900 EQ1-B, with no product manual... I've already been to the Meade website and found nothing on this particular model. I would love to learn how to use it, so that my kids can actually view something rather than it just collect dust. If any one could be of any assistance, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I found a manual on the Meade site for a model "Jupiter 114 EQ-D". I suspect this is similar to your "Infinity 114/900 EQ1-B". Look at the manual in the first source below and see if yours looks like the one in the picture. Even it it isn't exactly the same, it may be similar enough to be of help. If not, the second source is Meade's index of manuals. Try other similar looking model numbers to see if there is one that would help.

OK, google found a Spanish manual on line. It is in the 3rd source. It does look a lot like the "Jupiter 114 EQ-D" and I suspect that manual would be fine. Or if you read Spanish, see the 3rd source.

Answer 2

Meade Infinity Telescope

Answer 3

I've found a photo of this telescope, and though I can't tell if it's a Newtonian or a Schmidt Newtonian, it doesn't really matter.

If it's like the photo, this telescope comes on a German Equatorial Mount. These mounts are ideal for astrophotography as their movement is designed to follow the sky..that is, if you do a little thing called polar aligning the telescope, then point it at an object, you should only have to move the telescope in one direction to follow the object across the sky, as opposed to alt azimuth mounts which only move up/down and side to side so you must move it in two directions.

You don't have to polar align the telescope to use it though. It's only for astrophotography or to use the coordinate system to find objects.

The mount should have two locking "valves" on it. Losening these will allow you to move the scope quickly to an object (then lock them again). It should also have two slow motion knobs which can be used to make minute adjustments when viewing.

So here's what you do.

1. Put in a low powered eyepeice such as a 25mm.
2. Point the telescope at largeish distant stationary object until you have it centered in view.
3. Look through the view finder and use the adjustment screws on it to position it so the object is centered in the view finder as well.
4. Repeat on a smaller distant stationary object.
5. Point the telescope in the direction of the moon and use your newly adjusted view finder to center the image.
6. Looking through the eyepeice, slowly turn the focuser up and down until you see a sharp image of the moon.

7. Try the same exact thing with a bright planet or star

That's pretty much how to do it. The rest is knowing where to find things and acustoming one's self to using the telescope. It also helps to have a 2x barlow lens, a pair of binoculars, and a star chart program.

If you can't get your images to focus very well...for example, your stars don't focus to a round point (more or less anyway) then the telescope may need to be collimated. This is a processes of aligning the primary mirror, with the secondary mirror, with the eyepeice and, quite frankly, it's a pain so before you go turning any adjsustment screws on anything other than the view finder, hold off for a while and learn how to find things in the telescope.

A few objects which are easily visible in this telescope with a 25mm and 2x barlow are, Mars, Jupiter + it's moons, Saturn, the Andromda Galaxy (M31), the ring nebula, and the Orion Nebula.

I recommend a star chart program such as Sky Map or Starry Night to help you find things. This takes practise so just be patient.

Answer 4

It would be good to know if the telescope is newtonian (reflector, uses mirrors) or a refractor (a typical telescope). I couldn't find that particular model on the net either, but it seems to me to be a newtonian, with an equatorial mount.

1. the equatorial mount should be set to match the latitude of your city, this way, the telescope has the same angle with the horizon that the polar star has

2. the cylinder of the telescope should be balanced. it should stay put at whatever angle you set it.

3. to move, the mount should have two levers, one that moves the telescope up and down (declination) and one that moves it sideways (right ascension). using this, you can center objects on you telescope

4. It should have a viewfinder, a small telescope with crosshairs. this should be aligned with the telescope. to do this, first center an antenna or tree that's more than 300 feet away, and have it right in the middle of the field of your telescope. then, using the tiny screws of the viewfinder, adjust it until whatever object you see trough your telescope is smack in the center of the crosshairs. that way, whatever celestial object you center in the viewfinder will be centered in your telescope

5. Always start with the lowest magnification, you'll have a wider field, and have neater images

6. start with the moon, and remember that the planets are also easy to find, they are the brightest "stars". Jupiter is visible right now, around 9 pm (central time), towards the east

7. get a celestial map, get familiar with the constelations. After you've mastered the planets, follow with messier objects. Orion's nebula is easy to find, bright and amazing.

This site might help http://www.meade.com/starterscopes/eq_series.html.
It has a video about the meade EQ series, to which your telecope belongs. Good luck, and clear skies!

Answer 5

That is a good telescope but the type of mount it has can be a bit difficult for new users. The EQ in the part number stands for an Equatorial mount telescope. This is a good thing once ya'll get familiar with it. An equatorial mount allows the user to track stars and objects by only rotating the scope in one plane. So basically you can track stuff as the earth turns without making major adjustments to the scope. It will also make astrophotography much easier if that is something your kids are interested in. First and foremost it requires alignment for best use. Try this link: http://www.astronomyboy.com/eq/
It is a clean site and very useful I think this can be a very exciting hobby for you and your kids as the sky is different every night.

Answer 6

It seems that Meade makes two basic models of 4.5'' reflector scopes - a long tube and short tube version -- so your Meade model will be similar to one of two possibilities -- this might help:

http://www.meade.com/manuals/TelescopeManuals/Reflectors/Meade114EQAR.pdf

http://www.meade.com/manuals/TelescopeManuals/Reflectors/Meade%20114%20EQ-ASB%20manual.pdf#search=%22Meade%20Infinity%20114%22

Once you've figured out if you've got the long-tube or short-tube model, you should be able to work off the appropriate manual for a similar model -- they differ only in the fine details of the mount and the accessories on the scope.

Answer 7

Even if you have a manual, the best way to begin using a telescope is to join an astronomy club in your local area. Usually, clubs love new, family oriented people & will go to great enthusiastic lengths to help you. I tried to do amateur astronomy twice on my own & lost interest. But joining a club is the best way to generate & keep your interest. You meet knowledgeable people who really work to help people understand the universe.

Answer 8

im not good with this sorry!