34
FAQ
S
FOR YOUR
ZHUMELL DOBSONIAN TELESCOPE
CAN I TAKE THE OPTICAL TUBE OFF OF THE MOUNT WHEN I MOVE THE SCOPE?
The optical tube on Zhumell Dobsonian telescopes can easily be taken off of its
base. Removing the optical tube assembly from the base makes moving your
Dobsonian much easier and will help prevent damage to the mount or optical
tube during transport. To remove the optical tube from the mount, simply lift the
tube out of the cradle mount by grasping the silver side bearings.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED TO COLLIMATE MY TELESCOPE?
When the optics of a telescope are out of alignment, image clarity will be lost. In
extreme cases, you may not even be able to focus an image. If you notice that
you are having problems achieving focus, try collimating your telescope.
It is recommended that reflector telescopes be collimated every time they
are used.
THE IMAGE I SEE IN MY FINDERSCOPE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE IMAGE I SEE
THROUGH MY TELESCOPE. WHAT IS WRONG?
In order for the finderscope to show the same part of the sky which your
telescope should see, the finderscope must be aligned. Since the finderscope
has less magnification and a wider field of view than the telescope, it will help
you zero in on stars once it is properly aligned with the optical tube.
CAN I TAKE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHS THROUGH MY DOBSONIAN?
Astrophotography generally requires long exposure times in order to
compensate for the limited amount of light available for shots of stars and
planets. Since long exposures are required, your Dobsonian telescope will
not work well for astrophotography. Due to the rotation of the Earth and the
apparent movement of the stars, a tracking motor or go-to system is best-
suited for astrophotography. If you are considering trying astrophotography,
we recommend looking into purchasing an equatorial (EQ) mount with a motor
drive or go-to system.
