ASTRO-PHYSICS 400QMD Quick Start Manual

MODEL 400QMD PARTS LIST
1 400QMD Equatorial Head with stepper motors on right ascension and declination axes
1 Stainless counterweight shaft with washer stop and black plastic knob (5/16-18 threaded rod)
1 Dual axis quartz micro-drive control box
1 "Y" connector cable
1 D.C. power cord (cigarette lighter adapter)
3 Black plastic knobs with ¼-20 threaded rod
1ea. Hex keys 3/16" and 5/16"
2 Red caplugs
1 Piece of Velcro (to attach hand controller to surface of your choice)
In order to fully assemble and use your mount, you will need the following items sold separately: cradle plate, pier or
tripod, portable rechargeable battery pack and counterweights. Several sized and types are available for your
selection. Many of these items will be discussed throughout these instructions.
Several additional options will help to enhance your observing experience: polar axis telescope with illuminator; high
resolution mounted encoders and JMI computerized digital setting circles, Santa Barbara Instrument Group CCD
imaging camera/autoguider.
INTRODUCTION
If you were to take a long exposure photograph with
Polaris (often called the North Star) in the center of the
field, you would discover that all stars seem to revolve
around Polaris. This effect is due to the rotation of the
earth on its axis. Motor driven equatorial mounts were
designed to compensate for the earth's rotation by
moving the telescope at the same rate and opposite to
the earth's rotation. When the polar axis of the
telescope is pointed at the celestial pole (polar aligned)
as shown in the diagram on the right, the mount will
follow (track) the motions of the sun, moon, planets,
and stars. As a result, the object that you are
observing will appear motionless as you observe
through the eyepiece or take astrophotos.
For visual observation, a rough sighting of Polaris
through the hole in the polar axis is fine. However if
astrophotography is your goal, accurate polar
alignment is critical.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the
assembly and basic operation of the mount indoors.
The temperature will be comfortable, the mosquitoes at
bay, and you'll have enough light to see the illustrations
and read the manual. Please take particular note of
counterbalancing, use of the clutches and operation of
the hand controller.
ASTRO-PHYSICS
400QMD GERMAN EQUATORIAL MOUNT WITH
DUAL AXIS QUARTZ MICRO-DRIVE (400QMD)