Astronomy Technologies Astro-Tech AT6RC Quick Start Manual

astro-tech
A T 6 RC
Thank you for choosing this Astro-Tech AT6RC
Ritchey-Chrétien reflector, selected as a Sky & Telescope
Hot Product for 2009.
Your AT6RC is designed primarily as an astrograph for
exceptional coma-free imaging using webcams, Deep Sky
Imager-type cameras, and DSLRs.
Visual observing is also possible with your AT6RC,
however. The scope's 2" Crayford focuser will accept both
PARTS OF THE AT6RC
Fine
focus
Lock knob for focuser drawtube; a
knob
drawtube tension knob is hidden
behind the coarse focus knob
Right coarse
focus knob
Optional thread-on
extension rings
Astro-Tech AT 6RC Ritchey-Chrétien Reflector Specifications
Aperture .................................................... 152mm (6")
Focal Length .................................................. 1370mm
Focal Ratio ............................................................... f/9
Optical Type .............................. dual hyperbolic mirror
Mirrors .......................... BK7 optical glass, coated with
enhanced aluminum and overcoated with quartz
Secondary Mirror Holder Obstruction ............. 76mm
Field Stops ................. eight internal knife-edge baffles
Focuser Travel .......... 1.34" (34mm) with dual inch and
millimeter scales on drawtube for repeatable focus
Your Astro-Tech AT6RC 6" f/9 true Ritchey-Chrétien reflector is
designed primarily for exceptional astronomical imaging. It provides
you with the coma-free photographic field astrophotographers crave,
but can't get, from conventional reflectors and Schmidt-Cassegrains.
Visual observing is also possible, although with somewhat reduced
contrast compared to conventional reflectors. There is a 2" compres-
sion ring accessory holder on the focuser drawtube, plus a separate
1.25" compression ring accessory holder, so you can use either 1.25"
or 2" star diagonals and eyepieces.
Back Focus and the Focusing System: The back focus of the
AT6RC is 150mm from the face of the focuser's 2" accessory holder.
Mounting shoe for optional finder
Locking collar for 360° rotatable focuser
true Ritchey-Chrétien reflector
(50% by diameter, 25% by area)
from Astronomy Technologies
1.25" and 2" star diagonals.
This instruction sheet will provide you with information
on how to get the most out of your new Ritchey-Chrétien
reflector, and how to properly maintain your telescope
so it can give you a lifetime of observing and imaging
enjoyment.
Please familiarize yourself with your scope's parts and
functions before operating it for the first time.
Vixen-style equatorial
mount dovetail
Left coarse
focus knob
1.25" accessory
lock knob
1.25" accessory
Focuser ....................... thread-on dual-speed Crayford
2" and 1.25" compression ring accessory holders;
Back Focus ...................................................... 150mm
(from 2" accessory holder, without 1.25" adapter)
Tube Diameter ................................. 7.5" (190mm) o. d.
Tube Length ......................................... 19.6" (498mm)
Tube Weight ...................................... 12.1 lbs. (5.5 kg)
Mounting System ..... 12.75" long Vixen-style dovetail;
Finder ........ none; mounting shoe provided for optional
Astro-Tech multiple reticle finder or similar finder
Adding the 1.25" adapter reduces the back focus by 10mm. When
using the AT6RC visually, you may have to add an optional Astro-Tech
2" compression ring extension tube (available in 35mm, 50mm, and
80mm lengths) between the focuser and 1.25" star diagonal, or in
your 2" diagonal eyepiece holder, to reach focus with your eyepieces.
To minimize drawtube flexure under heavy loads during imaging,
the drawtube travel of the thread-on focuser is kept short, at 34mm.
Depending on your camera and imaging accessories, you will have to
add one or more optional thread-on metal extension rings between
the focuser and the AT6RC rear cell to move the focuser out from the
scope body to hold your camera at the telescope focal plane. These
Dust cap
2" accessory
adapter lock knob
with 10:1 reduction ratio fine focus;
360° rotating camera angle adjuster
Focusing
scales on
focuser
drawtube
Fine
focus
knob
Right
coarse
focus
knob