T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 5
How to Use This Manual ................................................................................................................................ 6
A Word of Caution .......................................................................................................................................... 6
The Newtonian Optical System ...................................................................................................................... 7
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ASSEMBLING YOUR NEWTONIAN ................................................................................................................. 8
Unpacking Your Telescope ............................................................................................................................ 8
Setting Up the Tripod ................................................................................................................................... 11
Adjusting the Tripod Height ........................................................................................................................ 11
Attaching the Accessory Tray ....................................................................................................................... 12
Attaching the Equatorial Mount .................................................................................................................. 13
Attaching the R.A. Slow Motion Knob .......................................................................................... 14
Attaching the Declination Slow Motion Knob .............................................................................. 15
Installing the Counterweight Bar & Counterweights .................................................................... 16
Attaching the Telescope to the Mount ......................................................................................................... 17
Balancing the Telescope in R.A. .................................................................................................... 19
Balancing the Telescope in DEC ................................................................................................... 20
Adjusting the Mount in Altitude .................................................................................................................. 21
Adjusting the Mount in Azimuth ................................................................................................................. 21
Disassembling and Transporting Your G-8N ................................................................................................ 22
Storing Your Telescope ................................................................................................................................ 22
Installing the Finderscope ............................................................................................................................ 23
Installing the Eyepiece ................................................................................................................................. 24
Technical Specifications .............................................................................................................................. 25
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TELESCOPE BASICS ........................................................................................................................................ 26
Image Orientation ......................................................................................................................................... 26
Focusing ........................................................................................................................................................ 27
Aligning the Finder ....................................................................................................................................... 28
Your First Look ............................................................................................................................................. 29
Daytime Observing ......................................................................................................................... 29
Nighttime Observing ...................................................................................................................... 30
Calculating Magnification (Power) .............................................................................................................. 31
Determining the Field of View ..................................................................................................................... 31
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ASTRONOMY BASICS ....................................................................................................................................... 32
The Celestial Coordinate System ................................................................................................................. 32
Motion of the Stars ....................................................................................................................................... 33
Polar Alignment ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Finding the Pole ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Latitude Scales .............................................................................................................................................. 36
Pointing at Polaris ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Declination Drift ........................................................................................................................................... 38
Polar Axis Finder .......................................................................................................................................... 39
Aligning the R.A. Setting Circle .................................................................................................................. 39
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CELESTIAL OBSERVING ................................................................................................................................ 40
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