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If you own a Telescope, whether brand new or a classic, or maybe you're looking to purchase your first, then there's probably something here for you!
Contained here are resource links for the Meade LX200 (GPS & Classic), LX90, LX50, LXD55, Starfinder, and ETX telescopes; and Pictor CCD cameras and imaging software
Click on each item for additional information. If you have a suggestion for an interesting link, book or other item you don't see here, please let me know and I’ll try to include it.
NEW AND PERSONALLY RECOMMENDED:
   Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects
by David H. Levy (Foreword), Stephen James O'Meara; Hardcover.
The galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae cataloged by the famous comet hunter in the late 1700s are still the most widely observed celestial wonders in the heavens. They are the favorite targets of amateur astronomers, with such rich variety and detail that they never cease to fascinate. This book provides new and experienced observers with a fresh perspective on the Messier objects. There are new drawings, improved finder charts, and new astronomical data on each object, including findings from the Hubble Space Telescope. Expand your universe and test your viewing acumen with this truly modern Messier Guide. It is a must for budding night watchers.
 Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects
by Patrick Moore (Foreword), Stephen James O'Meara; Hardcover.
For more than two centuries, amateur astronomers have earned their stripes by observing the 109 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies cataloged by French comet hunter Charles Messier. Sir Patrick Moore has compiled a new list of 109 deep-sky delights, the Caldwell Catalog, which covers the entire celestial sphere. Stephen James O'Meara has observed all 109 Caldwell objects and Deep Sky Companions presents his beautiful sketches and detailed visual descriptions and discusses each object's rich history and astrophysical significance.
 Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System
by Robert Burnham, Herbert A. Luft; Paperback.
Burnham is a "given" among amateur astronomers. Until quite recently there was no work other than this that contained so much useful information in one place. It's also much more than just a reference. Despite his twenty years at Lowell Observatory, Burnham seems to have remained an "amateur" in the highest sense. His love of the night sky is plainly communicated not only in his entertaining digressions into myth and poetry but also by the obvious effort he put in before the days of PC's and word processors.
 Sky Atlas 2000.0: Deluxe
by Robert Burnham, Herbert A. Luft; Spiral-bound. Also available in a Hardcover and Paperback Editions
With a generous scale of 8.2 millimeters per degree, the deluxe version of this popular atlas has plenty of room for a life's worth of pencil markings. Twenty-six fold-out charts show 81,312 stars in black (magnitude 8.5 or brighter) as well as 2,700 color-coded deep-sky objects. The Milky Way is portrayed with four shades of blue that represent approximate brightness levels. In addition, two charts provide close-ups of such areas as the celestial poles and the Virgo-Coma galaxy region. A transparent overlay with grids is included.
 Cosmos
by Carl Sagan; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover and DVD Editions
Cosmos is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew up together. The book also explores spacecraft missions of discovery of the nearby planets, the research in the Library of ancient Alexandria, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, the origin of life, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies and the origins of matter, suns and worlds.Sagan retraces the fifteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into life and consciousness, enabling the Cosmos to wonder about itself. He considers the latest findings on life elsewhere and how we might communicate with the beings of other worlds.
 The Planet Observer's Handbook
by Fred W. Price (Author); Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
Fred Price has produced a wonderful guide to the inquisitive amateur astronomer who wants to undertake solar system observations. The book provides a very thorough and useful discussion of the solar system and "celestial sphere," and progresses into a fairly standard, but very informative, discussion about telescopes and atmospheric conditions. The meat of the book assigns one chapter to each planet.
OWNERS MANUALS:
Manual for LX200
Instruction Manual for 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain, 8", 10", and 12" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes.
Meade 1206 Focuser
For use with all LX3, LX5, LX6, LX100 and LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes.
Meade LX200 Field Tripods
For use with the 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain, 8", 10", and 12" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain, and ED APO Telescopes.
Meade 18-volt DC Power Supply
For use with Meade LX200 Model Telescopes.
Orion Balance System
Celestron and Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Models (almost same as Losmandy)
Telrad Reflex Sights
Using the Telrad Reflex Sight
Meade 277 Telescope
Operating Instructions for the Meade Model 277 "Cometseeker" Telescope
Meade 4000 f6.3 Focal Reducer
For use with Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes using the standard 2-24 (2" dia., 24 threads per inch) rear cell thread.
Meade LX200 Serial Cable
Instructions for constructing a serial data cable to connect a computer serial port to an LX200 Telescope.
MAINTENANCE, OPERATING TIPS AND OBSERVATORIES:
Small Astronomical Observatories
by Patrick Moore (Editor); Paperback, Includes CD
Almost every serious amateur astronomer knows the benefit of having a fixed observatory of some sort - it saves a vast amount of time and effort during every observing session - and this book provides the necessary help. More Small Astronomical Observatories details the methods and techniques employed by non-professional astronomers from all over the world, providing a wonderful resource for anyone wishing to build a small observatory of almost any kind.
Meade LX200 Hard Case
How I modified a military computer case to hold my 10" LX200 and a bunch of accessories.
REFERENCES:
Sky Atlas 2000.0: Deluxe
by Robert Burnham, Herbert A. Luft; Spiral-bound. Also available in a Hardcover and Paperback Editions
With a generous scale of 8.2 millimeters per degree, the deluxe version of this popular atlas has plenty of room for a life's worth of pencil markings. Twenty-six fold-out charts show 81,312 stars in black (magnitude 8.5 or brighter) as well as 2,700 color-coded deep-sky objects. The Milky Way is portrayed with four shades of blue that represent approximate brightness levels. In addition, two charts provide close-ups of such areas as the celestial poles and the Virgo-Coma galaxy region. A transparent overlay with grids is included.
THE MOON
The Clementine Atlas of the Moon
by Ben Bussey, Paul Spudis; Paperback
The highly successful Clementine mission to the Moon in 1994 gave scientists their first global look at the Moon, and both the near and far side were mapped. This atlas is based on the data collected by the Clementine mission. It covers the entire Moon in 144 Lunar Aeronautical Charts (LACs), and represents the most complete lunar nomenclature database in existence, listing virtually all named craters and other features. This is the first atlas to show the entire lunar surface in uniform scale and format. A section of color plates shows lunar composition and physical properties.
The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas
by Jeremy Cook; Paperback
The importance of a good reference is incalculable for those who do any serious lunar observing, or for those who need to know exactly what they're looking at (or at least what they should be seeing). The Hatfield Atlas is by far the best lunar reference available.
Atlas of the Moon
by by Antonin Rukl, Thomas W. Rackham; Hardcover.
This is a great book for telescope users and a fine one for ordinary browsers. It is an up-to-date atlas of the observable part of the moon. Maps of the moon compose the bulk of the book's 224 pages. The introduction discusses history, terminology, phases of the moon, and the moon's surface. This is followed by maps of 76 sections of the near side of the moon, each accompanied by a small locator map. Facing pages include place-names and their derivations as well as map coordinates. Following the maps are photographs of interesting lunar formations (craters, ring mountains, walled plains), advice on setting up and using a telescope, descriptions of eclipses, and a glossary.
Considered the definitive lunar atlas, this reference book has unfortunately gone out-of-print. If you can find a copy I high recommend you purchase it! You will not be disappointed!
PLANETS
In Search of Planet Vulcan: The Ghost in Newton's Clockwork Universe
by Richard Baum, William Sheehan; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
About the search for a planet supposedly causing perturbations of Mercury's orbit. A nicely detailed account of the predictions of Le Verrier and the attempt by his followers to find this elusive planet. The hundred year search is a study in personalities, factions, fabrication and stubborn refusal to give up the futile search. There is a large section on W. Watson an astronomer with connections to the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin who was a diligent searcher for Vulcan..
Pluto and Charon: Ice Worlds on the Ragged Edge of the Solar System
by S. Alan Stern, Jacqueline Mitton; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
An account of the discovery and investigation of the outermost planet in our solar system and its context in the outer solar system, covering the earliest search for the planet, its discovery in 1930, and what has been learned about it since then through space missions and the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Planet Observer's Handbook
by Fred W. Price (Author); Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
Fred Price has produced a wonderful guide to the inquisitive amateur astronomer who wants to undertake solar system observations. The book provides a very thorough and useful discussion of the solar system and "celestial sphere," and progresses into a fairly standard, but very informative, discussion about telescopes and atmospheric conditions. The meat of the book assigns one chapter to each planet.
DEEP SPACE
Before the Beginning: Our Universe and Others
by Martin J. Rees; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
Sophisticated instruments and spacecraft expeditions probing deeper into space have all increased our knowlege of the universe and its place in the grand scheme of things. From the theoretical insights to experimental confirmations, this book describes the universe and our quest to understand it.
Einstein's Greatest Blunder?: The Cosmological Constant and Other Fudge Factors in the Physics of the Universe
by Donald Goldsmith; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
How can the universe be filled with stars older than itself, and where has all the 'missing matter' gone? Goldsmith provides an intriguing, fun examination of the key questions of astronomy, including many photos and strong surveys of science discoveries.
Blind Watchers of the Sky: The People and Ideas That Shaped Our View of the Universe
by Rocky Kolb, Edward W. Kolb; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
Have you ever wonder how new stars were found, and how scientist came up with the alignment of the planets? Discover how the scientist came up with their theories, and the basic history of cosmology. The book flows very well and is interesting. Learn more about the thought of the scientist that have spent most of their lives studying the sky.
Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System
by Robert Burnham, Herbert A. Luft; Paperback.
Burnham is a "given" among amateur astronomers. Until quite recently there was no work other than this that contained so much useful information in one place. It's also much more than just a reference. Despite his twenty years at Lowell Observatory, Burnham seems to have remained an "amateur" in the highest sense. His love of the night sky is plainly communicated not only in his entertaining digressions into myth and poetry but also by the obvious effort he put in before the days of PC's and word processors.
Edwin Hubble: Mariner of the Nebulae
by Gale E. Christianson; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
Prior to Hubble, the universe was known to consist solely of the stars in the Milky Way and believed to be relatively stable in size. But because of Hubble's discoveries, we now know that the universe consists of an unimaginably large number of galaxies (containing Carl Sagan's beloved "billions and billions . . ." of stars) and that this unimaginably large universe is continually expanding. In this first serious biography of Hubble, Christianson deals both with the enormous importance of these discoveries and, paradoxically, the apparent unimaginably small-spirited and petty nature of the man himself. Highly Recommended.
Cosmos
by Carl Sagan; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover and DVD Editions
The best-selling science book ever published in the England language, COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past, present, and future of science. Brilliant and provocative, it traces today's knowledge and scientific methods to their historical roots, blending science and philosophy in a wholly energetic and irresistible way.
Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space
by Carl Sagan; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover and Audio Cassette Editions
Future generations will look back on our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier--space. In Pale Blue Dot Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race.
MODEL SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
The Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Wars: Astrophysics Meets Astropolitics in the Two-Billion-Dollar Struggle over the Hubble Space Telescope
by Eric J. Chaisson; Paperback. Also available in a Hardcover Edition
The saga of the building of the Hubble telescope has a very different flavor from most other books about the history and building of great astronomical instruments. In this book the innards of Astro-politics is reveled in almost more detail than you might want to know. Of especial interest is the exposition of the infighting among individual astronomers and astronomical groups about the who, what and why of the design, about the construction and particularly about the use of this unique instrument.
MEAD LX200
LX-200 Tips & Tricks
Information, tips, tricks and tweaks related to the Meade LX-200 computer controlled telescopes.
Meade bright starnumbers and simple polar alignment method
Simple spreadsheet with some brigt stars from the LX200 database and a polar alignment method (thanks to MAPUG)
Object Database
Very nice database. Including MEADE star numbers and so on. But you will have to import in Excel to get it working. It is a text file that can be imported in Excel.
Sorted Database
Spreadsheet with sorted categories (Cadwell, NGC, IC, Messier, etc.)
MESSAGE BOARDS AND SUPPORT FORUMS:
Meade LX-200
Support group for LX200 users to discuss ideas and issues regarding operation of Meade telescopes.
MAPUG
Users group for Meade advanced products, like the LX200, LX50, ETX, etc.
PHOTOS AND PERSONAL HOMEPAGES:
Doc G's Info Site
Dr. Greiner's Telescope Page.
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