11
Packing List
Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first
opening the packing box, note carefully the parts listed on your giftbox.
How to Assemble Your Telescope
The telescope attaches directly to the tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an
“Altazimuth” (“Altitude-Azimuth,” or “vertical-horizontal”) format. The telescope in this configuration
moves along the vertical and horizontal axes, corresponding respectively to the Altitude (vertical)
and Azimuth (horizontal) axes in the astronomical observing mode.
1.
Open the tripod
: After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand the tripod
vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Gently pull the
legs apart to a fully open position.
2.
Attach the tray to the tripod:
Place the tray (
22, Fig. 1
) over the inner support strut that
contains two bolt holes. Line up the bolts holes on the tray with the bolt holes on the strut.
Slide the two included bolts through the top of bolt holes (
23, Fig. 1
) and tighten the bolts
with the included wing nuts on the bottom side of the tray (
Fig. 3
). Tighten to a firm feel
only.
Note:
The tray does not have to be removed when you collapse the tripod at the
end of a viewing session.
3.
Secure the tripod:
Turn the center tripod lock knob (
Fig. 4
) to help stabilize and secure
the tripod.
Caution:
Make sure that you loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing the
tripod.
4.
Attach the mounting arm assembly to the tripod base:
First note the three pads in the
tripod base (
15, Fig. 1
) and three pads on the mounting arm assembly (
12, Fig. 1
). These
pads allow the mounting arm assembly to move more easily inside the base.
Place the mounting arm assembly into the tripod base and continue to hold onto the arm
assembly. With your other hand, reach underneath the base and thread the mounting lock
knob (
16, Fig. 1
) through the tripod base and into the mounting arm assembly. See
Fig. 5
.
Tighten to a firm feel only; do not overtighten. While observing, you may wish to loosen this
knob and rotate the mounting arm assembly and optical tube on the horizontal axis.
5.
Attach the Mounting Plate:
If your telescope did not come with the mounting plate already
attached, remove 4 screws from the mounting arm shaft. Remove the screws using a "+"
(Phillips head) screwdriver. Loosen the Altitude Lock (B
Fig. 1a
) and rotate the mounting
arm shaft counter-clockwise until it stops. Retighten the Altitude lock.
Next, attach the mounting plate to the mounting arm.
Line up the mounting plate with
the mounting arm shaft. Replace the four screws you removed into the mating threads. See
Fig. 6
.
6.
Attach the optical tube:
Place the base of the optical tube (
A, Fig. 7
) over the slot on the
mounting plate (
B, Fig. 7
). Thread the two lock knobs (
C, Fig. 7
) through the slot on the
mounting plate and into the screw holes in the base of the optical tube, so that they hold
the optical tube loosely; do not tighten the lock knobs at this point. Slide the tube back and
forth until you find a position where the tube remains horizontal (
i.e., without tipping up and
down). Then tighten the lock knobs to a firm feel.
7.
Insert the eyepiece:
Remove the supplied 26mm eyepiece from its container and place it
in the eyepiece holder (
2, Fig. 1d
). Tighten the thumbscrew (
3, Fig. 1d
) to a firm feel only.
Use the focus knob (
1, Fig. 1d
) to bring objects into focus.
8.
Attach the red dot viewfinder:
Slide the viewfinder into the bracket . Tighten the thumbscrew
to secure the viewfinder in place. See
Figs. 8 and 9
.
9.
Insert batteries
: The telescope’s battery compartment (
1, Fig. 11
) is located on top of the
drive base. Open the battery compartment by lifting the cover and pulling it away from the
drive base.
GETTING STARTED
Looking at or near the
Sun
will cause
irreversable
damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the
Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.
Fig. 6: Attach the
mounting plate.
Fig. 9: Tighten the thumb-
screw to secure the
viewfinder in the bracket.
Fig. 8a: Slide viewfinder
into the bracket.
Fig. 7: Secure optical
tube to the mounting
plate using the mounting
lock knobs.
thumbscrew
