5
onto the bracket. Retighten the thumbscrews to secure
the EZ Finder II in place.
12. Insert the 25mm Explorer II eyepiece into the focuser
drawtube and secure it in place with the thumbscrews.
4. Getting Started
Balancing the Telescope
To insure smooth movement of the telescope on both axes of
the equatorial mount, it is imperative that the optical tube be
properly balanced. We will first balance the telescope with
respect to the R.A. axis, then the Dec. axis.
1. Keeping one hand on the telescope optical tube, loosen
the R.A. lock knob. Make sure the Dec. lock knob is
locked, for now. The telescope should now be able to
rotate freely about the R.A. axis. Rotate it until the coun-
terweight shaft is parallel to the ground (i.e., horizontal).
2. Now loosen the counterweight lock knob and slide the
weight along the shaft until it exactly counterbalances the
telescope (Figure 3a). That’s the point at which the shaft
remains horizontal even when you let go of the telescope
with both hands (Figure 3b).
3. Retighten the counterweight lock knob. The telescope is
now balanced on the R.A. axis.
4. To balance the telescope on the Dec. axis, first tighten
the R.A. lock knob, with the counterweight shaft still in the
horizontal position.
5. With one hand on the telescope optical tube, loosen the
Dec. lock knob. The telescope should now be able to
rotate freely about the Dec. axis. Loosen the tube ring
clamps a few turns, until you can slide the telescope tube
forward and back inside the rings (this can be aided by
using a slight twisting motion on the optical tube while
you push or pull on it) (Figure 3c).
6. Position the telescope so it remains horizontal when you
carefully let go with both hands. This is the balance point
(Figure 3d). Before clamping the rings tight again, rotate
the telescope so the eyepiece is at a convenient angle for
viewing. When you are actually observing with the tele-
Figure 3a.
Proper orientation of the equatorial mount requires
that the telescope tube be balanced on both the R.A. and Dec.
axes. With the R.A. lock knob released, slide the counterweight
along the counterweight shaft until it just counterbalances the tube.
Figure 3b.
When you let go with both hands, the tube should not
drift up or down.
Figure 3c.
With the Dec. lock knob released, loosen the tube
ring lock clamps a few turns and slide the telescope forward or back
in the tube rings.
Figure 3d.
When the tube is balanced about the Dec. axis, it will
not move when you let go.
Summary of Contents for ShortTube 4.5 EQ 9849
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