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FOCUSING TELESCOPE:
1. After selecting the desired eyepiece, aim main telescope tube at a land-based target at least
200 yards away (e.g. A telephone pole or building). Fully extend focusing tube by turning
Rack & Pinion Focusing Mechanism (1)
2. While looking through selected eyepiece (in this case the 25 mm), slowly retract focusing
tube by turning Rack & Pinion Focusing Mechanism (1) until object comes into focus.
ALIGNING FINDERSCOPE:
1. Look through low-power 1.25" format eyepiece (18) and establish a well-defined target (see
focusing telescope section). Tighten all lock knobs (Declination, Latitude, Right Ascension,
Horizontal Axis and Cradle) so that telescope’s aim is not disturbed.
2. Looking through Finderscope (2), alternate tightening each Finderscope Adjustment Screw
surrounding the Finderscope (2) in the Finderscope Mount until crosshairs of Finderscope (2)
are precisely centered on the same object already centered in Main Telescope Tube's field of
view as seen through the 1.25" Format Eyepiece (18).
3. Now, objects located first with the Finderscope (2) will be centered in the field of view of the
main telescope as seen through the 1.25" Format Eyepiece (18).
UNDERSTANDING THE EQUATORIAL MOUNT
The Equatorial Mount is designed to move in any direction. It can be set to
allow manual controls to track the movements of celestial bodies across the
sky. This is referred to as diurnal movement; movement of celestial bodies in
the direction opposite to that of the earth’s rotation and is around the earth’s
axis.
By aligning the telescope’s polar axis (also referred to as the Right Ascension
Axis (4)) with celestial North, you will place the telescope in parallel with the
earth’s axis and thus be able to locate stars in the sky based on star atlas
information. To compensate for your position on earth, the polar axis is set in
one of three ways:
• Set up the telescope at night. Loosen the Declination Axis (15) and rotate
the telescope around the declination axis until the arrow on the
declination scale points to 90 degrees. Tighten the Declination Axis (15). The telescope is now
roughly in parallel with the polar axis.
• Loosen the Right Ascension Axis (4) and turn the telescope until the objective end faces due
north. The objective end for reflector telescopes is nearest the Rack and Pinion Focusing
Mechanism (1). This can be done by approximating the location of the pole star (Polaris or
North Star) or by the use of a compass. True North is then found by directing the telescope at
Polaris, as magnetic North is slightly away from true North.
• Look up the latitude of your area in any geographical atlas. Adjust the Latitude Adjustment
Screw (13) and set the Latitude Scale (14) to the correct latitude for your area. Aim the
Finderscope (2) at Polaris. You will probably notice that Polaris is not dead center in the
Finderscope's (2) field of view. This is probably because your telescope is not absolutely level
with the ground. Loosen the thumb screw located directly under the equatorial mount. This
can be found in the center of the underside of the mount very close to the position where the
Aluminum Tripod Legs (8) attach to the mount. Turn the telescope so that it is directly
aimed at Polaris. Tighten both the thumb screw and Latitude Adjustment Screw (13). Polaris
is 1 degree from the North celestial pole. Therefore, the sighting of stars will have to be
slightly adjusted as you locate them in the heavens.