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Eyepiece
Barlow
1.25"
adapter
Figure 19. The Shorty 2x Barlow is installed in the
focuser's 1.25" adapter and accepts any 1.25" eyepiece,
doubling its magnification.
Carrying/Transporting the Telescope
Moving the SkyQuest XT PLUS is easy to do. We recommend
detaching the telescope tube from the base and carrying the two
pieces separately, as in Figure 17. We DO NOT recommend
carrying the entire telescope – with the tube still attached to the
base – by the handle on the base's front panel! If you do, the
telescope tube could swing downward and contact the ground
(Figure 18).
CAUTION – When removing the altitude axis coupling knobs,
make sure that the black bushings do not fall out and get lost!
Either remove them along with the knobs and keep them all
together, or leave the bushings in the holes – but make sure
they do not fall out.
When transporting the XT PLUS in a vehicle, be sure to isolate
the optical tube assembly so that it cannot slide or roll, which
could dent the tube. We recommend transporting and storing
the tube assembly in a padded case for protection.
Finally, keep the dust cover on the front of the telescope when
the telescope is not in use. Doing so will keep dust from accu-
mulating on the primary mirror.
Using the Shorty 2x Barlow Lens
The Shorty 2x Barlow included with your SkyQuest XT PLUS
will double the magnification of any 1.25" eyepiece it is used
with. It effectively increases the number of available magnifica-
tion options at your disposal, depending on how many 1.25"
eyepieces you have.
You just insert the Barlow into the 1.25" adapter and secure
it with the thumbscrew. Then insert a 1.25" eyepiece into
the Barlow and secure it with the thumbscrew on the Barlow
Figure 20. The included Safety Film Solar Filter snaps onto
the front of the telescope for safe viewing of our Sun through
the telescope eyepiece. DO NOT look through the EZ Finder
II to center the Sun in the telescope's field of view!
(Figure 19). Finally, adjust the focus as necessary using the
telescope's focus wheels to achieve a sharp image.
Using the Safety Film Solar Filter
Also included with your XT PLUS is a Safety Film Solar Filter
that permits daytime viewing of our nearest star, the Sun
(Figure 20). The white-light filter uses high-quality Baader
Astro Solar safety film, which reduces the transmission of the
Sun's radiation to a safe level, allowing great views of sunspots,
solar eclipses, and planetary transits of our Sun. Through the
filter the Sun appears in its natural color – a neutral white
color, without any orange or blue tinting seen with some other
types of solar filter material. Don't worry if the material appears
"wrinkled" or wavy; this is normal and does not adversely affect
the image seen through the filter!
DO NOT try to center the Sun's disk in the main telescope
by viewing through the EZ Finder II! Only a finder scope
equipped with a proper solar filter, or a special solar aiming
device, should be used. A good way to "find" the Sun in your
telescope is to point the scope (with solar filter in place!) in the
general direction of the Sun, then with a wide-field eyepiece in
the focuser slowly sweep the area until you glimpse the Sun's
disk in the eyepiece. It's best to focus the telescope on a dis-
tant object before attaching the solar filter, because with the
solar filter in place you will not see anything except the Sun's
disk – and if you're way out of focus you may not even see that!
DO keep the solar filter in its box when not in use to protect it
from damage. If you notice even the smallest tear or breach
in the solar film material, DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THE
TELESCOPE! Permanent eye damage could result. Call Orion
Customer Support for assistance.
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