Carson Optical RP-300 Telescope User Manual


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Balancing the Telescope:
Balancing the Mount in R.A.:
To reduce stress on the mount, the telescope should be balanced on the polar
axis(SeeFig.2).Instructionsonhowtodosoareasfollows:
•LoosentheR.A.lockknob(Fig.3-22)andpositionthetelescope
offtoonesideofthemount(youmayneedtoremovetheR.A.slow
motioncable(Fig.1-8)temporarily).Thecounterweightbar
(Fig.2-11)shouldbeparalleltotheground.
•Releasethetelescopegraduallyandseewhichsideitfallstowards.
To avoid accidental damage, do not let go of the telescope completely.
•Loosenthecounterweight(Fig.2-12)andpositiontheweightsothat
thetelescopeandcounterweightremainstationary(paralleltothe
oor)ontheirown.
•Tightenthecounterweightintoplace.
Balancing the Mount in Dec.:
TopreventsuddenmovementwhentheDec.lock(Fig.3-15)isloosened,the
telescopemustbebalancedonthedeclinationaxis(SeeFig.2).Instructions
on how to do so are as follows:
•LoosentheR.A.lockknob(Fig.3-22)andpositionthetelescope
offtoonesideofthemount(youmayneedtoremovetheR.A.slow
motioncable(Fig.1-8)temporarily).Thecounterweightbarshould
be parallel to the ground.
•TightentheR.A.lockknob(Fig.3-22)toholdthetelescopeinplace.
•LoosentheDec.lockknob(Fig.3-15)androtatethetelescopeuntil
the tube is parallel with the ground.
•Releasethetelescopegraduallyandseewhichwayitwillrotate.To
avoid accidental damage, do not let go of the telescope completely.
•Loosenthecradlerings(Fig.1-6)andslidetheopticaltubeforward
or backward as needed until it remains stationary and parallel to the
ground on its own.
•Tightenthecradleringssecurelyaroundtheopticaltube.
•LoosentheR.A.lockknob,returnthetelescopetoitsupright
position and retighten.
Aligning the Finder Scope:
Thelowpowerandwideeldofviewprovidedbythe6x30mmnderscope
(Fig.5-1)providesaquickandeasywaytosightanobjectpriortolooking
throughthehigh-powertelescope.Thenderscopemustrstbeproperly
aligned with the telescope in order to work properly. This alignment is best
performedduringthedaylight.Followthestepsbelowtoalignyournder
scope properly:
•PlacetheKellner20mmeyepiece(Fig.4-3)intothefocuser
(Fig.4-2)ofthetelescope.
•LoosenboththeR.A.lock(Fig.3-22)andtheDec.lock(Fig.3-15)
so that the telescope swings freely along both axes.
•Pointthemaintelescopeataspeciclandobject200yardsormore
away.LockdowntheR.A.andDec.axes.Turntheslowmotion
cables(Fig.1–7,8)untiltheobjectiscenteredinthetelescopeeld.
•Nowlookthroughthenderscopeandloosenortightenthender
scopebracketscrews(Fig.5-24)untilthecrosshairsarecenteredon
thesameobject.Focusbyturningthenderscopefocusknob
(Fig.5-25)untiltheimageinthenderscopeissharpandclear.
•Checkthealignmentatnighttimebyrepeatingthisprocesswitha
brightstarorthemoon.Makeanynecessaryadjustments.
Nowthatyournderscopeisproperlyaligned,anyobjectcenteredinyour
nderscopeshouldalsobecenteredinyourtelescope.
Calculating Power:
Themagnicationofatelescopedependsonboththefocallengthofyour
telescope as well as the eyepiece you use. There is a simple formula you can
usetodeterminethemagnicationyouareusingatanygiventime.Simply
divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece.
For example, if you are using the 20mm eyepiece with your TP-300 telescope
the power would be:
Power = 900mm / 20mm = 45x
Usinganeyepiecewithasmallerfocallengthwillincreasethemagnication
ofyourtelescope.Itisalwaysbesttostartatthelowestmagnicationcon-
guration.Thewidereldofviewmakesiteasiertospotfarawayobjects.
Onceanobjectiscenteredinyoureldofviewyoucanswitchtothehigher
powercongurations.
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