Field Tripod - Meade 2080 Instruction Manual

-17-
eyepiece is ever removed from the finder, be careful not
to touch in any way the crosshairs of the eyepiece, which
are exposed at the barrel-end of the eyepiece!
Collimation, or alignment, of the Model 2120's viewfinder
is accomplished in the same way as described above for the
Model 2080, except. that no ..hexwrench is required: simply
turn the 6 nylon thumbscrews to achi~ve correct alignment.
Once attached, the viewfinder may be left permanently mount-
ed onto the telescope's rear-cell: the viewfinder need not
be removed when storing the telescope in its carrying case,
if the procedure described above (see "Assembly and Set-up.
of the Model 2l20~')1s employed.
THE FIELD TRIPOD
.\ .
The.Field Tr'ipods for the Meade Models 2080 and 2120 tele-
scopes are supplied as completely assembled units, except for
6 lock-knobs (2 knobs for each of the 3 tripod legs) used to
adjust the h~igbt'of the tripod. These knobs are packed
separately 'forsa:fety in shipment.
.
Note that, except for ,6 additional threaded holes located
on the top surface of the Model 2120's Field Tripod, the
Field Tripods for Models 2080 and 2120 are identical. These
threaded holes serve as additional mounting points when the
Equatorial Wedge of the Model 2120 is attached to the Field
Tripod. This function will be made clear below.
For terrestrial observations the base of the Model 2080's
fork mount may be attached to the Field Tripod, using the
optional Altazimuth Adapter. (Because of the additional
weight of the Model 2120, we do not normally recommend use
of the Model 2120 with the Altazimuth Adapter.) The Model
2080 telescope in .this way is mounted in an "altazimuth"
("a1titude-azimuth,"or "vertical-horizontal") format, ideal
for non-astronomical applications. The tele.scope in this
set-up moves along.vertical and horizontal axes, correspond-
ing respectively to the Declination and Right Ascension axes
in.an astronomical observing mode. _~he telescope may of
course be used for.' a s.tronomicalobservations when set-up in
the altazimuth mode, but.the electric motor drive will in
this case be non-functional from a practical point of view.
Alternately, the Field Tripod of the Model 2080 or 2120 is
normally used in conjunction with the appropriate Equatorial
Wedge (see next. .section) .for serious astronomical applica-
tions. The:"Equatorial Wedge permits alignment of the tele-
scope's Polar Axis with -th~Celestial Pole, so that the
electric motor. drive becomes operational.