Meade LIGHTBRIDGE mini series User manual

MEADE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
LightBridge Mini Telescope Series LIGHTBRIDGE MINI
www.meade.com
Reproduction of part or all of the contents of this
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1219 - EN - Meade Lightbridge Mini

WARNING!
Never use a Meade®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 at or near the Sun. Children should always
have adult supervision while observing.
(c) nimax GmbH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
Parts of the telescope..............................................................................................................................................................................................................3-4
About the telescope....................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Attaching the red dot viewfinder.............................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Inserting the eyepiece.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Balancing the telescope..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
Aligning the red dot viewfinder.................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Using the telescope:
Understanding celestial movements and coordinates............................................................................................................................................................................7
The motions of the stars & planets.........................................................................................................................................................................................................8
The most important rule..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Observing................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Some observing tips..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................13
Specifications........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
Calculating the magnification of your eyepiece......................................................................................................................................................................................16
Taking care of your telescope................................................................................................................................................................................................................17
Adjusting the azimuth tension................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Optional accessories.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Collimation (alignment) of the optics......................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Changing the viewfinder battery............................................................................................................................................................................................................22
Recyling information..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
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(c) nimax GmbH

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on getting a Meade
LightBridge Mini Telescope! The
Meade LightBridge Mini Telescope is
an excellent beginner’s instrument, and is
designed to observe objects in the night sky. It
can be your personal window to the universe
allowing you to see bright galaxies, planets,
stars and more. The telescope is already pre-
assembled for you at our factory, so you will
only have to attach the accessories to start
viewing objects in the night sky.
The telescope is shipped with the following
parts:
82mm Mini Dobsonian
• Optical tube
• Dobsonian Mount
• Two Eyepieces
• Barlow lens
• Red dot finder
• Software dvd
2
114mm Mini Dobsonian
• Optical tube
• Dobsonian Mount
• Two Eyepieces
• Red dot finder
• Software dvd
130mm Mini Dobsonian
• Optical tube
• Dobsonian Mount
• Two Eyepieces
• Red dot finder
• Software dvd
In order to get started observing night sky
object, you will need to do the following:
• Attach the red dot viewfinder
• Insert the eyepiece
• Align the red-dot viewfinder
• Balance the telescope
(114mm & 130mm models only)
Study the pictures on the following pages
and become acquainted with the parts
of your telescope. Figure 1A shows the
LightBridge Mini 82mm and Figure 1B shows
the LightBridge Mini 114mm & 130mm.
When you’re comfortable with the telescope
part locations, proceed to “ABOUT THE
TELESCOPE” on page 5.
(c) nimax GmbH

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FIGURE 1A Figure 1A: Meade LightBridge 82mm Mini Reflecting Telescope
1. Mount Feet
2. Dobsonian Mount
3. Azimuth Tension Nut
4. Optical Tube Assembly (OTA)
5. Front Dust Cover (not shown)
6. Secondary Mirror Collimation Adjustments
(not visible)
7. Red Dot Viewfinder (See inset B)
8. Red Dot Viewfinder Bracket Mounting
Thumbscrews (See inset A)
9. Focuser
10. Focuser Drawtube
11. Focuser Knob
12. Eyepiece
13. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrews
14. Vertical Lock Knob (See inset A)
15. Red Dot Viewfinder Power Switch (See
inset B)
16. Red Dot VIewfinder Adjustment Knobs
(See inset B)
Inset A
Inset B
(c) nimax GmbH

Inset A
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FIGURE 1B Figure 1B: Meade LightBridge 114mm & 130mm Mini Reflecting Telescope
1. Mount Feet
2. Dobsonian Mount
3. Azimuth Tension Nut
4. Optical Tube Assembly (OTA)
5. Front Dust Cover (not shown)
6. Secondary Mirror Collimation Adjustments
(not visible)
7. Red Dot Viewfinder (See inset B)
8. Red Dot Viewfinder Bracket Mounting
Thumbscrews (See inset A)
9. Focuser
10. Focuser Drawtube
11. Focuser Knob
12. Eyepiece
13. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrews
14. Vertical Lock Knob
15. Red Dot Viewfinder Power Switch (See
inset B)
16. Red Dot VIewfinder Adjustment Knobs
(See inset B)
17. Primary Collimation Adjustement Knobs
18. Dovetail Locking Knob (See inset A)
19. OTA Dovetail (not visible)
20. Dovetail Receiver (not visible)
Inset B
(c) nimax GmbH

used to locate and place objects more
easily in the telescopes eyepiece.
1. Note the two thumbscrews (Fig 2,
8) thread onto two bolts on the optical
tube. Remove the thumbscrews from
the tube.
2. Slide the bracket over the bolts with the
viewfinder lens forward, towards the front of
the telescope.
3. Replace the thumbscrews (Fig 1, 8) on to
the bolts and tighten to a firm feel.
INSERTING THE EYEPIECE
1. Slide the 26mm eyepiece (Fig 1, 12)
directly into the focuser draw tube (Fig 1, 10).
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ABOUT THE TELESCOPE
The telescope mount is the basic support
for your telescope. Named after it’s inventor
John Dobson, this mount style allows for both
horizontal and vertical motions. Its height
is fixed so using the telescope is best done
on a table top or stable elevated surface
so that you can view through the eyepiece
comfortably. A small table works best so it’s
easy to move all the way around and you
are not limited to where you point and view
through the telescope.
The LightBridge Mini Series of telescopes
includes several models with optical tubes
of different sizes. These optical tubes, called
reflectors, use mirrors to bring the incoming
light to focus. You’ll notice inside the telescope
there are two mirrors used to reflect the light
and bring it to focus. The primary mirror is
the large mirror at the bottom of the tube,
and secondary mirror is near the top of the
tube. The large primary mirror collects light
from the object you’re looking at and bounces
it forward to the secondary mirror which
redirects it out the side of the tube.
The primary mirror diameter of the telescope
is one of the most important pieces of
information about the telescope. The size
of the mirror, also known as “aperture”,
determines how much detail you will be able
to see in your telescope. The LightBridge
Mini Telescope Series includes apertures of
82mm, 114mm, and 130mm sized primary
mirrors.
The optical tube’s focal length information
is also important and will help later on to
calculate the viewing magnification. The focal
length is the distance it takes for the mirrors
to focus the light. Each telescope has a
different focal length specifically designed to
give the best viewing experience.
ATTACHING THE RED DOT VIEWFINDER
An eyepiece (Fig 1, 12) has a narrow field of
view. The red dot viewfinder (Fig 1, 7) has a
wider field of view, which makes it easier to
locate objects. Once the red dot viewfinder is
aligned to the optical tube, the red dot can be
Fig. 2
(c) nimax GmbH

2. Tighten the focuser thumbscrew(s)
(Fig 1, 13) to hold the eyepiece securely.
3. When locating objects it is always
best to start with the low power (26mm)
eyepiece. The 26mm has a wide viewing field
that will allow objects to be more easily found.
Once located and centered, you can switch
to a higher power eyepiece such as a 9mm
to increase the viewing power. The higher
power will present a larger, dimmer image,
with smaller field of view.
BALANCING THE TELESCOPE
(114mm & 130mm models only)
Sometimes when using heavy eyepieces or
accessories, the optical tube can become
out of balance. It is important to balance
the optical tube so when you release the
vertical lock (Fig 1, 14), the telescope will
not swing quickly or move uncontrollably. A
balanced telescope also allows for smooth
motion when using the telescope. To balance
the optical tube, first attach all the desired
accessories, then follow these steps:
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1. Support the optical tube with one hand and
loosen the vertical lock knob (Fig 3b, 14) on
the side of the mount. The optical tube will
turn freely about this axis. If the optical tube
tends to move or drift when your supporting
hand is moved, it is necessary to balance the
optical tube.
2. If the front of the telescope tube wants
to rotate downward, the optical tube is too
heavy in the front and needs to be adjusted
toward the back.
If the back of the telescope wants to rotate
downward, the
optical tube is too
heavy in the back
and should be
adjusted forward.
3. Loosen the
dovetail locking
knob (Fig 3b,
18) slightly and
slide the optical
tube (Fig 3b,
4) along the
dovetail receiver
(Fig 3b, 20) until
the telescope remains in any given position
without tending to drift up or down in the
vertical axis (Fig 3a).
NOTE: Do not overloosen the dovetail
locking knob or the optical tube could come
completely off of the mount.
4. Relock the dovetail locking knob (Fig
3b, 18) until firm. When the telescope is
Fig. 3b
Fig. 3a
(c) nimax GmbH

use the viewfinder’s alignment screws
to make any necessary refinements.
5. When finished, turn off the red dot
viewfinder by rotating the on/off switch (Fig 1,
15) counter-clockwise.
Once they are aligned and pointing at the
same location, use the red-dot viewfinder to
locate objects by placing the red dot over the
object. Then use the 26mm eyepiece to view
the object.
If the red-dot viewfinder is properly aligned
with the telescope, the object should be
somewhere in the 26mm eyepiece.
USING THE TELESCOPE:
UNDERSTANDING CELESTIAL
MOVEMENTS AND COORDINATES
Understanding where to locate celestial
objects and how those objects move across
the sky is the key to enjoying the hobby
of astronomy. Most amateur astronomers
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balanced, proceed to “Aligning the red dot
viewfinder”.
ALIGNING THE RED DOT VIEWFINDER
The eyepiece has a small field of view. The
red-dot viewfinder has a much larger field
of view making it an ideal accessory to help
point the telescope accurately. The below
procedure will walk you through adjusting the
red-dot viewfinder so it points at the same
location as the telescope.
Performing the first part of this procedure
during the daytime may be the easiest.
1. Point the telescope at an easy-to-find land
object such as the top of a telephone pole or
a distant mountain or tower.
NOTE: NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN!
Look through the 26mm eyepiece and turn
the focuser knob (Fig 1, 11) until the image is
sharply focused. Center the object precisely
in the eyepiece’s field of view.
2. Turn on the red dot viewfinder by turning
the on/off switch (Fig 1, 15) clockwise.
3. Look through the red dot viewfinder. Turn
one or both of the viewfinder’s alignment
screws (Fig 1, 16) until the red dot is precisely
over the same object as you centered in the
eyepiece.
The side alignment screw controls the
horizontal, while the rear alignment controls
the vertical.
4. Check this alignment at night on a celestial
object, such as the Moon or a bright star, and
Fig. 4
(c) nimax GmbH

practice “star-hopping” to locate
celestial objects. They use star charts,
astronomical software, or cellphone
apps to identify bright stars and star
patterns as “landmarks” in their search for
astronomical objects.
THE MOTIONS OF THE STARS & PLANETS
Objects in the sky appear to revolve around
the celestial pole. (Actually, celestial objects
are essentially “fixed” and their apparent
motion is caused by Earth’s rotation). During
any 24 hour period, stars make one complete
revolution about the pole, from East to West,
circling with the pole at the center.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE
We have one very important rule that you
should always follow when using your
telescope: Have Fun!
Have a good time when you’re observing.
You may not know everything that there is to
know about a telescope or what all the sights
in the universe are, but that’s OK. Just point
THE MEADE 4M COMMUNITY
You haven’t just bought a telescope, you have em-
barked on an astronomy adventure that never ends.
Share the journey with others by accepting your free
membership in the 4M community of astronomers.
Go to www.Meade4M.com to activate your membership
today.
8
and observe at first.
You will enjoy your telescope even more
as you learn more about it. But don’t be
scared off by difficult terms or complicated
procedures. Don’t panic! Just relax and enjoy
your scope.
You will begin to grow and learn more about
astronomy the more you observe. Go on
the internet or to the library and read some
books about the stars and planets. Read
about astronomers of old. Many of them
had telescope no bigger than the one you
are using right now. Galileo, who is one of
the first astronomers to use a telescope,
discovered four of the moons of Jupiter with a
telescope about the same size as yours (and
his didn’t even focus very well!).
OBSERVING
Observe during the daytime: Try out your
telescope during the daytime at first. It is
easier to learn how it operates and how
to observe when it is light. NOTE: If using
the LightBridge Mini Series telescope in
the daytime, you’ll notice the image may
be upside down or reversed. due to the
position of the eyepiece. This is normal for
reflecting (mirrored) telescopes. Reflecting
telescopes are meant for night time where
image orientation is not important. There is
no “this side up” in space.
(c) nimax GmbH

when the Moon is a crescent. No shadows
are seen during a full Moon, making it appear
flat and uninteresting.
Look for different features on the Moon. The
most obvious features are craters. In fact
you can see craters within craters. Some
craters have bright lines about them. These
are called rays and are the result of material
thrown out of the crater when it was struck
by a colliding object. The dark areas on the
Moon are called maria and are composed of
lava from the period when the Moon still had
volcanic activity. You can also see mountain
ranges and fault lines on the Moon.
TOO MUCH POWER?
Can you ever have too much power? If the type of
power you’re referring to is eyepiece magnification,
yes you can! The most common mistake of the
beginning observer is to “overpower” a telescope
by using high magnifications which the telescope’s
aperture and atmospheric conditions cannot
reasonably support. Keep in mind that a smaller,
but bright and well-resolved image is far superior
to one that is larger, but dim and poorly resolved.
Powers above 400x should be employed only under
the steadiest atmospheric conditions.
Fig. 5
Polaris
Little Dipper
Big Dipper
Cassiopeia
9
Pick out an easy object to observe: A
distant mountain, a large tree, a lighthouse or
skyscraper make excellent targets. Point the
optical tube so it lines up with your objects.
Try using the red-dot viewfinder to locate
objects too.
Unlock the lock knobs: To move the
telescope, you will need to unlock the Vertical
lock knob (Fig 1, 14) (just rotate to unlock
or lock; when locking, only tighten to a “firm
feel,” do not over tighten).
Use the red dot viewfinder: If you have
not done so, align the viewfinder (Fig 1, 7)
with the telescope’s eyepiece (Fig 1, 12) as
described earlier. Look through the red dot
viewfinder until you can see the object. It
will be easier to locate an object using the
red dot viewfinder rather than locating with
the eyepiece. Line up the object using the
viewfinders red dot.
Look through the eyepiece: Once you
have the object lined up in the viewfinder,
look through the optical tube’s eyepiece. If
you have aligned your viewfinder, you will you
see the object in your eyepiece.
Focus: Look through the eyepiece and
practice focusing on the object you have
chosen.
Observe the Moon: When you feel
comfortable with the viewfinder, the eyepieces,
the locks and the adjustment controls, you
will be ready to try out the telescope at night.
The Moon is the best object to observe the
first time you go out at night. Pick a night
(c) nimax GmbH

Use a neutral density filter (often
called a “moon filter”) when observing
the Moon. Neutral density filters are
available from Meade as an optional
accessory and enhance contrast to improve
your observation of lunar features.
Spend several nights observing the Moon.
Some nights, the Moon is so bright that it
makes other objects in the sky difficult to see.
These are nights that are excellent for lunar
observation.
Observe the Solar System: After observing
the Moon, you are ready to step up to the
next level of observation, the planets.
There are four planets that you can easily
observe in your telescope: Venus, Mars,
Jupiter and Saturn.
Nine planets (maybe more!) travel in a fairly
circular pattern around our Sun. Any system
of planets orbiting one or more stars is called
a solar system. Our Sun, by the way, is a
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single, yellow dwarf star. It is average as far
as stars go and is a middle aged star.
Beyond the planets are clouds of comets, icy
planetoids and other debris left over from the
birth of our sun. Recently astronomers have
found large objects in this area and they may
increase the number of planets in our solar
system.
The four planets closest to the Sun are rocky
and are called the inner planets. Mercury,
Venus, Earth and Mars comprise the inner
planets. Venus and Mars can be easily seen
in your telescope.
Venus is seen before dawn or after sunset,
because it is close to the Sun. You can
observe Venus going through crescent
phases. But you cannot see any surface
detail on Venus because it has a very thick
atmosphere of gas.
When Mars is close to the Earth, you can see
some details on Mars, and sometimes even
Mars’ polar caps. But quite often, Mars is
further away and just appears as a bright red
star or very small disk and may show some
dark lines crisscrossing it.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
comprise the outer planets. These planets,
except for Pluto, are made mostly of gases
and are sometimes called gas giants. If they
had grown much bigger, they may have
become stars. Pluto is made mostly of ice.
Jupiter is quite interesting to observe. You
can see bands across the face of Jupiter. The
more time you spend observing these bands,
(c) nimax GmbH

Probably the most memorable sight
you will see in your telescope is Saturn.
Although you may not see many
features on the surface of Saturn, its
ring structure will steal your breath away. On
nights of very steady seeing you may be able
to see a black opening in the rings, known as
the Cassini band.
Saturn is not the only planet that has rings,
but it is the only set of rings that can be seen
with a small telescope. Jupiter’s rings cannot
be seen from Earth at all—the Voyager
spacecraft discovered the ring after it passed
Jupiter and looked back at it. It turns out, only
with the sunlight shining through them, can
the rings be seen. Uranus and Neptune also
have faint rings.
Optional color filters help bring out detail and
contrast of the planets. Meade offers a line of
inexpensive color filters.
What’s Next? Beyond the Solar System:
Once you have observed our own system
11
the more details you will be able to see.
One of the most fascinating sights of Jupiter
are its moons. The four largest moons
are called the Galilean moons, after the
astronomer Galileo, who observed them for
the first time. If you’ve never watched the
Galilean moons in your telescope before,
you’re missing a real treat! Each night, the
moons appear in different positions around
the Jovian sky. This is sometimes called
the Galilean dance. On any given night,
you might be able to see the shadow of a
moon on the face of Jupiter, see one moon
eclipse another or even see a moon emerge
from behind Jupiter’s giant disk. Drawing
the positions of the moons each night is an
excellent exercise for novice astronomers.
Any small telescope can see the four Galilean
moons of Jupiter (Fig. 6), plus a few others,
but how many moons does Jupiter actually
have? No one knows for sure! Nor are we
sure how many Saturn has either. At last
count, Jupiter had over 60 moons, and held a
small lead over Saturn. Most of these moons
are very small and can only be seen with very
large telescopes.
Fig. 6
Jupiter and it’s Galilean Moons
(c) nimax GmbH

of planets, it’s time to really travel far
from home and look at stars and other
objects.
You can observe thousands of stars
with your telescope. At first, you may think
stars are just pinpoints of light and aren’t very
interesting. But look again. There is much
information that is revealed in stars.
The first thing you will notice is that not all
stars are the same colors. See if you can find
blue, orange, yellow, white and red stars. The
color of stars sometimes can tell you about
the age of a star and the temperature that
they burn at.
Other stars to look for are multiple stars. Very
often, you can find double (or binary) stars,
stars that are very close together. These
stars orbit each other. What do you notice
about these stars? Are they different colors?
Does one seem brighter than the other?
Almost all the stars you can see in the
sky are part of our galaxy. A galaxy is a
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large grouping of stars, containing millions
or even billions of stars. Some galaxies form
a spiral (like our galaxy, the Milky Way) and
other galaxies look more like a large football
and are called elliptical galaxies. There are
many galaxies that are irregularly shaped
and are thought to have been pulled apart
because they passed too close to—or even
through—a larger galaxy.
You may be able to see the Andromeda
galaxy and several others in your telescope.
They will appear as small, fuzzy clouds.
Only very large telescope will reveal spiral or
elliptical details.
You will also be able to see some nebulas
with your scope. Nebula means cloud. Most
nebulas are clouds of gas. The two easiest
to see in the Northern Hemisphere are the
Orion nebula during the winter and the Triffid
nebula during the summer. These are large
clouds of gas in which new stars are being
born. Some nebulas are the remains of
stars exploding. These explosions are called
supernovas.
When you become an advanced observer
you can look for other types of objects such
as asteroids, planetary nebula and globular
clusters. And if you’re lucky, every so often a
bright comet appears in the sky, presenting
an unforgettable sight.
The more you learn about objects in the
sky, the more you will learn to appreciate
the sights you see in your telescope. Start
a notebook and write down the observations
you make each night. Note the time and the
date.
SURF THE WEB
• The Meade 4M Community:
http://www.meade4m.com
• Sky & Telescope:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com
• Astronomy:
http://www.astronomy.com
• Astronomy Picture of the Day:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.goc/apod
• Photographic Atlas of the Moon:
http://www.lpi.ursa.edu/research/lunar_orbiter
• Hubble Space Telescope Public Pictures:
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pictures.html
(c) nimax GmbH

Use a compass to make a circle, or trace
around the lid of a jar. Draw what you see
in your eyepiece inside the circle. Or, use
the observing logs located in the back of this
manual. The best exercise for drawing is
to observe the moons of Jupiter every night
or so. Try to make Jupiter and the moons
approximately the same size as they look in
your eyepiece. You will see that the moons
are in a different position every night. As you
get better at drawing, try more challenging
sights, like a crater system on the moon or
even a nebula.
Go your library or check out the internet for
more information about astronomy. Learn
about the basics: light years, orbits, star
colors, how stars and planets are formed, red
shift, the big bang, what the different kinds
of nebula are, what are comets, asteroids
and meteors and what a black hole is. The
more you learn about astronomy, the more
fun, and the more rewarding your telescope
will become.
SOME OBSERVING TIPS
Eyepieces: Always begin your observations
using the 26mm low-power eyepiece. The
26mm eyepiece delivers a bright, wide field
of view and is the best to use for most
viewing conditions. Use the high-power 9mm
eyepiece to view details when observing
the Moon and planets. If the image become
fuzzy, switch back down to a lower power.
Changing eyepieces changes the power or
magnification of your telescope.
By the way, users of reflecting (mirrored)
telescopes may have noticed something
strange when looking through your eyepiece.
The image is upside down and reversed. That
means reading words can be a problem. But
it has no effect on astronomical objects.
Optional Accessory Barlow lens: You can
also change magnification by using a Barlow
lens. The Barlow lens doubles the power of
your telescope (See Fig. 7).
Meade offers a complete line of
eyepieces for your telescope. Most
astronomers have four or five low-power
and high power eyepieces to view
different objects and to cope with different
viewing conditions.
Objects move in the eyepiece: If 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 move through the telescope’s field of
view. To keep astronomical objects centered
in the field, simply move the telescope on
STAR CHARTS
Star charts and planispheres are useful for a variety of
reasons. In particular, they are a great aid in planning a
night of celestial viewing.
A wide variety of star charts are available in books,
in magazines, on the internet and on CD Roms.
Meade offers AutoStar SuiteTM software. Contact your
local Meade dealer or Meade’s Customer Service
department for more information.
Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines print
star charts each month for up-to-the-minute maps of
the heavens.
13
(c) nimax GmbH

one or both of its axes—vertically and/
or horizontally as needed. At higher
powers, astronomical objects will seem
to move through the field of view of the
eyepiece more rapidly.
Place the object to be viewed at the edge of
the field and, without touching the telescope,
watch it drift through the field to the other
side before repositioning the telescope so
that the object to be viewed is again placed
at the edge of the field, ready to be further
observed.
Vibrations: 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 cause image movement
(for example, near railroad tracks). Viewing
from the upper floors of a building may also
cause image movement.
Let your eyes “dark-adapt”: Allow five or
ten minutes for your eyes to become “dark
adapted” before observing. Use a red-
filtered flashlight to protect your night vision
14
when reading star maps, or inspecting the
telescope. Stay away from bright lights too.
Do not use a regular flash-light or turn on
other lights when observing with a group of
other astronomers. You can make your own
red filtered flashlight by taping red cellophane
over a flashlight lens.
Viewing through windows: Avoid setting
up the telescope inside a room and observing
through an opened or 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 to reach the ambient
(surrounding) outside temperature before
starting an observing session.
When to observe: Planets and other objects
viewed low on the horizon often lack sharp-
ness—the same object, when observed
higher in the sky, will appear sharper and
have greater contrast. Try reducing power
(change your eyepiece) if your image is fuzzy
or shimmers. Keep in mind that a bright, clear,
but smaller image is more interesting than a
larger, dimmer, fuzzy one. Using too high a
power eyepiece is one of the most common
mistakes made by new astronomers.
Dress Warm: Even on summer nights, the
air can feel cool or cold as the night wears
on. It is important to dress warm or to have a
sweater, jacket, gloves, etc., nearby.
Know your observing site: If possible, know
the location where you will be observing. Pay
attention to holes in the ground and other
obstacles. Is it a location where wild animals,
such as skunks, snakes, etc., may appear?
Are there viewing obstructions such as tall
trees, street lights, headlights and so forth?
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LightBridge 130mm
•Optical tube design…..................…Reflector
•Optical tube focal length…….......…..650mm
•Primary mirror diameter..…..130mm (5.1 in.)
•Focal ratio..............…………………………f/5
•Viewfinder…………......…………….. Red dot
•Eyepieces……......….Two(2) 1.25” MA26mm
MA9mm
•2X Barlow……………….Optional Accessory
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The best locations are dark locations, the
darker the better. Deep space objects are
easiest to see under dark skies. But it is still
possible to observe even in a city.
Surf the Web and visit your local library:
The internet contains a huge amount of
astronomical information, both for children
and adults. Check out astronomy books from
your library. Look for star charts—these are
available on a monthly basis in Astronomy
and Sky and Telescope magazines.
HAVE A GOOD TIME,
ASTRONOMY IS FUN!
SPECIFICATIONS
LightBridge 82mm
•Optical tube design…………………Reflector
•Optical tube focal length……………..300mm
•Primary mirror diameter……..82mm (3.2 in.)
•Focal ratio…………………………………f/3.7
•Viewfinder…………...………………..Red dot
•Eyepieces……Two(2) 1.25” H26mm, H9mm
•2X Barlow….…………………………Included
LightBridge 114mm
•Optical tube design…………………Reflector
•Optical tube focal length……………..450mm
•Primary mirror diameter…….114mm (4.5 in.)
•Focal ratio………………………...…………f/4
•Viewfinder……………………...……..Red dot
•Eyepieces.................Two(2) 1.25” MA26mm
MA9mm
•2X Barlow……………….Optional Accessory
JOIN AN ASTRONOMY CLUB, ATTEND A STAR
PARTY
One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of
astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your
local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/
store to find out if there’s a club in your area.
Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties
at which you can check out and observe with many
different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical
equipment. Magazines such as Sky and Telescope
and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star
Parties around the United States and Canada.
(c) nimax GmbH

Optical tube focal length is simply a
measurement of the length of the optical
tube. In other words, this is the distance
light travels in the telescope before
being brought to focus in you eyepiece. For
example, the LightBridge Mini 130 focal
length is 650mm long.
Primary mirror diameter (reflectors) or
Objective lens diameter (refractors) is how
big the mirror or lens is on your scope.
Telescopes are always described by how
large their primary mirror/lens is. For example,
the objective lens on the LightBridge Mini
130 is 130mm or 5.1 inches. Telescopes
come in many different sizes. They can be
70mm, 8 inches, 16 inches, or even 3 feet
in diameter. The Hubble Space Telescope’s
primary mirror has a diameter of 2.4 meters
(that’s 7.8 feet across!).
The focal ratio helps determine how fast the
photographic speed of a telescope is. The
lower the focal ratio number, the faster the
exposure. F/5 is faster than f/10. The slower
the focal ratio, the longer the exposure time
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is needed when a camera is hooked up to the
telescope. For example, the Lighbridge Mini
130mm Reflector has fast focal ratio at f/5.
CALCULATING THE MAGNIFICATION OF
YOUR EYEPIECE
The power of a telescope is how much it
magnifies objects. Each telescope has its
own set of focal lengths and, therefore,
different magnifications when used with
various eyepieces. For example, the
Lighbridge Mini 130mm used with the 26mm
eyepiece magnifies an object 25 times. The
9mm eyepiece used with the Lighbridge Mini
130mm will magnify objects 72 times.
You can calculate how much magnification
an eyepiece will have with your specific
telescope. Just divide the telescope focal
length by the focal length of the eyepiece.
Focal Length of the Telescope
÷
Focal Length of the Eyepiece
=
Magnification
Fig. 7
eyepiece
barlow
ASTRONOMY RESOURCES
• The Meade 4M Community
27 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
• Astronomical League
Executive Secretary
5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012
• The Astronomical Society of the Pacific
390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112
• The Planetary Society
65 North Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
• International Dark-Sky Association, Inc.
3225 N. First Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719-2103
(c) nimax GmbH

only when absolutely necessary. In
all cases avoid touching any mirror
surface. A little dust on the surface of a
mirror or lens causes negligible loss of
performance and should not be considered
reason to clean the surface. When lens or
mirror cleaning does become necessary, use
a camel’s hair brush or compressed air gently
to remove dust. If the telescope’s dust cover
is replaced after each observing session,
cleaning of the optics will rarely be required.
•Fingerprints and organic materials on
the lens or mirror may be removed with a
solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part
isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1 drop
of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint
of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and
make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues
often.
CAUTION: Do not use scented or lotioned
tissues or damage could result to the optics.
DO NOT use a commercial photographic
lens cleaner.
Eyepiece’s magnification x 2
=
Magnification with a 2X Barlow lens
It’s worth repeating: Keep in mind that a
bright, clear, but smaller image is more
interesting than a larger, dimmer, fuzzy one.
Using too high a power eyepiece is one
of the most common mistakes made by
new astronomers. So don’t think that higher
magnification is necessarily better—quite
often the best view is with lower magnification
value!
TAKING CARE OF YOUR TELESCOPE
Your telescope is a precision optical instrument
designed for a lifetime of rewarding viewing.
It will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing
or maintenance. Follow these guidelines to
keep your telescope in the best condition:
•As with any quality instrument, lens or mirror
surfaces should be cleaned as infrequently as
possible. Telescope optics should be cleaned
17
Look at the specifications. For example,
you will see that the focal length of the
Lighbridge Mini 130mm is 650mm. Let’s say
that you have obtained a 6.3mm eyepiece.
You can tell what the focal length of your
eyepiece is as it is always printed on the side
of the eyepiece. Divide: 650mm ÷ 6.3mm,
which equals 103.17. Round this off to the
nearest whole number and you find the
6.3mm eyepiece used with the Lighbridge
Mini 130mm magnifies objects 103 times.
If you use a Barlow lens with one of your
eyepieces, it doubles the magnification of
your eyepiece. Other types of Barlows
can triple or further increase the power of
an eyepiece. To find out how much your
magnification is when you use a 2x Barlow,
multiply your eyepiece’s magnification by
two.
For example, the 9mm low-power eyepiece
used with the Lighbridge Mini 130mm
magnifies an object 72 times. Multiply 72 by
2 and you get 144 times magnification with
a Barlow.
(c) nimax GmbH

ADJUSTING THE AZIMUTH TENSION
The LightBridge Series Telescopes can
move in both the horizontal and vertical
motions. The tightness of the vertical
motion is controlled by adjusting the vertical
lock knob(Fig 1, 14).
The tension for the horizontal motion
is adjusted at the Meade factory. If the
adjustment is not to your liking, it is easy to
adjust by tightening/loosening one screw (Fig
1, 14).
Two wrenches are needed to make the
adjustment. One wrench is needed to hold
the screw head located at the bottom side of
the mount base. The other wrench is placed
on the Azimuth Tension Nut ( Fig 1, 3) and
adjusted as desired.
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OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
For an up to date list of compatible Meade
accessories, contact your Meade Dealer
or see the Meade online catalog for more
information. Visit us on the web at www.
meade.com.
Additional Eyepieces (1.25” barrel
diameter only): For higher or lower viewing
magnifications, Meade’s eyepieces are
available in a wide variety of focal lengths
and provide a high level of image resolution
and color correction at economical prices.
Available as individual eyepieces or in sets
with carry case!
Color/Moon(Neutral Density) Filters:
Meade Color filters permit observation of
planetary/lunar surface detail that is often
virtually invisible without filtration. Choose the
filter or filter set that best meet your needs
and see what you have been missing!
Barlow Lens: The Meade 2x or 3x Barlow
doubles or triples the magnification of your
1.25” eyepieces. The 2x is our most popular
Barlow due to its excellent quality, value, and
usefulness on nearly every model telescope
sold.
Laser Collimator: Easily and quickly align
your telescope optics! May be used on any
standard Newtonian reflector telescope
where the optical system contains two
independently adjustable mirrors. Features
adjustable brightness. Powered from a single
CR2032 type battery (included).
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