Meade 70AZ-T Telescope User Manual


 
If using the instrument primarily for land observing, reverse the
direction of the optical tube on the tripod attachment base (12) for
better balance.
TO SIGHT IN ON AN OBJECT AND ACHIEVE A SHARP FOCUS:
1. Place the telescope on a stable surface.
2. View objects that are at least 30 feet away.
3. Rotate the altitude control knob
(14) counterclockwise to move the
optical tube (10) up and clockwise to move the tube down. If
necessary, you may also loosen the vertical lock knob (18) and
adjust the tube up or down. Remember to relock the knob to a firm
feel when you are finished.
4. Rotate the horizontal control knob counterclockwise
(19) to move
the optical tube to the right and clockwise to move the tube left.
5. Look through the eyepiece
(1) and rotate the focus knob (4). Turn
the knob with a slow and gentle motion until the object is in sharp
focus.
ALIGN THE VIEWFINDER:
Perform this procedure during the daytime.
1. Pick out a well-defined land object, such as a light post or street sign.
Focus and center it in your optical tube’s eyepiece
(1).
2. Adjust the viewfinder position by loosening or tightening one or more
of the adjustment screws (7) until the crosshair in the viewfinder’s
eyepiece is centered on the same object centered in the eyepiece.
Now the viewfinder will point to the same position as the optical tube
eyepiece. As the viewfinder has a wider field of view than the optical
tube eyepiece, it is easier to first locate objects using the viewfinder
than locating them in the telescope’s eyepiece.
USING THE TELESCOPE
When the telescope is assembled, you are ready to begin observations.
1. Observing land objects during the daytime is a good way to become
accustomed to the functions and operations of the telescope. At
night, try observing the Moon first (if it is visible) or a bright star.
2. Use the MA17.5mm eyepiece and center an object in the
telescope’s field of view. The included MA17.5mm eyepiece is the
best eyepiece to use for the initial finding and centering of an
object. The low power MA17.5mm eyepiece presents a bright, wide
field of view, ideal for terrestrial and general astronomical observing.
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