The telescope can now turn freely on its axes. Also unlock the Azimuth lock 24, Fig. Unlock each axis separately and practice moving your telescope. Then practice with two or more unlocked axes at the same time. It is very important to practice this step to understand how your telescope moves, as the movement of an equatorial mount is not intuitive. For example , an eyepiece with a focal length of 4mm has a higher magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 25mm.
Low-power magnification eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and relief of eye strain during long observing sessions. To observe an object with a telescope, always start with a low power eyepiece such as the H 25mm supplied with the When the object is centered and focused in the eyepiece, switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practical for prevailing viewing conditions.
NOTE: Viewing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and site-to-site. Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, back off to a low-power eyepiece for a more well-resolved image.
Notice that when observing astronomical objects, the field of view begins to slowly drift across the eyepiece field. This motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis. Objects appear to move through the field more rapidly at higher powers. Lesson 6 will explain how you can counteract the drift in the field of view. Practice observing during the day, when it is easier to become familiar with the controls of your telescope.
Move your telescope to observe distant street signs, mountains, trees, and other structures. Use your viewfinder to to help site-in an object. Center the object in your eyepiece. Practice focusing with your eyepieces. Once you get a feel for how your telescope moves and focuses, try to view something more challenging, like a bird or a distant moving train. Before you can observe using Starfinder's Arrow keys, the motor drive assemblies and the Starfinder handbox must be attached to the telescope.
To attach the Electronic Motor Drive System to the telescope, follow this procedure:. Locate the plastic adapter 2, Fig.
Note the aluminum shaft 3, Fig. Locate the components of the R. Note the notched plastic shaft 6, Fig. Also note the four small recesses 5, Fig. Attach the R. Orient the R. Rotate the R. Tighten the set screws : Tighten the two set screws 4, Fig. The set screws come attached to the motor drive. Repeat the process to attach the Dec electronic motor drive to the Dec axis 10, Fig.
Orient the Dec motor drive box as depicted in 10, Fig. Install batteries: Install ten user-supplied AA-size batteries into the separate battery pack and plug the battery pack into the connector 16, Fig. The battery pack case has a strip of adhesive attached to it. Remove the protective covering from the adhesive and attach the case to the tripod, if so desired.
Press and hold the Up Arrow key to speed up the scroll speed of the display or press and hold the Down Arrow key to slow down the scroll speed. When the display is scrolling at a speed that is comfortable for reading, release the key. NOTE: Starfinder only prompts you to enter Country or State and City as described in steps 3, 4, and 5, the first time it is activated. However, if you need to enter this information e. You can change the location information by using the Site option of the Setup menu.
See "SITE," page 32, for detailed information. After Starfinder's cord is plugged in and the batteries are installed, a copyright message lights on the Starfinder LCD display 1, Fig.
A message warning not to look at the Sun scrolls across the display. Press the key prompted by Starfinder to acknowledge that the Sun warning has been read and understood. Ignore the prompts requesting Date and Time — these functions will be explained in Lesson 7, but are not necessary for the current lesson. Use the Scroll keys 6 and 7, Fig. Starfinder then prompts you to enter the nearest city listed alphabetically to the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of cities. The display then reads "Align: One Star. Press the Arrow keys 5, Fig. You can slew move the telescope at different speeds. Starfinder has seven slew move speeds. Each speed has been calculated to accomplish specific functions. Each press decreases the slew speed down one level and then cycles back to the fastest speed.
Speed 1: Fastest speed to move the telescope from one point in the sky to another. Speeds 4 or 5: Enables the centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece such as the standard H 25mm. Speeds 6 or 7: Best used for the fine centering of an object in the field of view of a high-power eyepiece such as the standard SR 4mm. Point your telescope at the Moon note that the Moon is not visible every night and practice using the Arrow keys and the slew speeds to view different features.
The Moon contains many interesting features, including craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view the Moon is during its crescent or half phase.
Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during these periods and adds a depth to the view. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, causing the overly bright surface to appear flat and rather uninteresting. Consider the use a neutral density Moon filter when observing the Moon. Not only does it cut down the Moon's bright glare, but it also enhances contrast, providing a more dramatic image.
NOTE: Do not look through the telescope's eyepiece or viewfinder while it is rapidly moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate.
You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it automatically tracks the stars and other objects in the night sky. To automatically track objects, you must first Polar align the telescope and then select "Targets: Astronomical" from the Starfinder Setup menu. Level the mount, if necessary, by adjusting the length of the three tripod legs. Release the Azimuth lock 24, Fig. Rotate the telescope until it points due North.
Then re-tighten the lock. Use a compass or locate Polaris, the North Star see Fig. Determine the latitude of your observing location. Release the latitude lock 23 , Fig. Re-tighten the latitude lock 23, Fig. If steps 1 through 4 above were performed with reasonable accuracy, your telescope is now sufficiently well-aligned to Polaris, the North Star, for you to begin.
Once the mount has been Polar-aligned as described above, the latitude angle need not be adjusted again, unless you move to a different geographical location i. LED 8. Center the object in your eyepiece. Practice focusing with your eyepieces. Once you get a feel for how your telescope moves and focuses, try to view something more challenging, like a bird or a distant moving train.
Press the Arrow keys 5, Fig. You can slew move the telescope at different speeds. Page Observe The Moon Speed 1: Fastest speed to move the telescope from one point in the sky to another.
Speeds 2 or 3: Best used for the rough centering of an object in the eyepiece. Speeds 4 or 5: Enables the centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power Press one of the Scroll keys once 6 or 7, Fig. If you have not already done so, Polar align your telescope as described on page 6.
Use the Arrow keys 5, Fig. Use the viewfinder to help line up on the star. Make sure that the telescope is assembled correctly, and that the batteries and the motor drives are installed as described previously. Plug Starfinder's cord into the HBX port, as previously described, or if Starfinder is already plugged in, unplug it briefly and then plug it back in again. Page 18 Site option of the Setup menu. See "SITE," page 32, for detailed information.
Continue to page Enter Time Page Training The Drive Center your target object using the Arrow keys. Press the Right Arrow key until the target is centered again. Page Align Your Telescope Using Starfinder Check Mount It is possible for the telescope to move in such a way that the telescope tube might interfere with the mount while slewing. Starfinder has a feature called "Check Mount" to alert you of this possibility.
Page Go To Saturn After performing the Train the Drive and the One-Star alignment procedures, the motor drive begins operating and the telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars. Page Some Observation Tips This condition is caused by air turbulence in the upper atmosphere. You have now completed all the Lessons for the basic operation of your telescope. All of Starfinder's features perform in the same way as the features covered in Part 1.
This sometimes occurs during an alignment procedure. Page Starfinder Menus GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Lesson 3: Aligning the Viewfinder. How to align the viewfinder and insert the eyepiece into the focuser.
Lesson 4: Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually. How to focus an eyepiece. How to move your telescope manually to make. Lesson 5: Observing using Starfinder's Arrow keys.
How to install the motor drives. To observe an object with a telescope, always start with a low power eyepiece such as the H 25mm supplied with the When the object is centered and focused in the eyepiece, switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practical for prevailing viewing conditions. NOTE: Viewing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and site-to-site. Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images.
If an image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, back off to a low-power eyepiece for a more well-resolved image. The Barlow lens included with your telescope triples the eyepiece magnification. Once centered, an object can be focused by turning one of the knobs of the focusing mechanism 17, Fig. Notice that when observing astronomical objects, the field of view begins to slowly drift across the eyepiece field.
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