Celestron Firstscope 80 AZ Instruction Manual page 9

focuser of the 35mm camera may "black out." This is common with all long
focal length lenses. If this happens, use the ground glass portion of your focus¬
ing screen. To achieve a very sharp focus, you may consider using a focusing
magnifier. These are readily available from your local camera store.
The Star Pointer
Finderscope (80mm
Model Only)
If you wear corrective lenses (specifically glasses), you may want to remove
them when observing with an eyepiece attached to the telescope. However,
when using a camera, you should always wear corrective lenses to ensuie
the sharpest possible focus. If you have astigmatism/corrective lenses
■
must be worn at all times.
The Star Pointer is the quickest and easiest way to point your telescope exactly at a
desired object in the sky. It's like having a laser pointer that you can shine directly
onto the night sky. The Star Pointer is a zero magnification pointing tool that uses a
coated glass window to superimpose the image of a small red dot onto the night sky.
While keeping both eyes open when looking through the Star Pointer, simply move
your telescope until the red dot, seen through the Star Pointer, merges with the object
as seen with your unaided eye. The red dot is produced by a light-emitting diode
(LED); it is not a laser beam and will not damage the glass window or your eye. The
Star Pointer comes equipped with a variable brightness control, two axes alignment
control and a quick-release dovetail mounting brackets. Before the Stai Pointer is
ready to be used, it must be attached to the telescope tube and properly aligned:
Installing the Star Pointer
The Star Pointer comes attached to a bracket that installs to the focuser end of the telescope
tube. Orient the Star Pointer on the telescope tube so that the glass window is facing
towards the objective lens end of the tube.
To attach the Star Pointer Finderscope on the F80:
1. Slide the Star Pointer bracket into the dovetail mounting platform on top of the
focuser assembly.
2. Orient the Star Pointer so that the glass window is facing towards the front of
the tube.
3 . Secure the Star Pointer bracket by tightening the thumb screw on the
mounting platform.
The Star Pointer is powered by a long life 3-volt lithium battery (#CR2032) located
underneath the front portion of the Star Pointer. Like all finderscopes, the Star
Pointer must be properly aligned with the main telescope before it can be used. This
is a simple process using the azimuth and altitude control knobs located on the side
and bottom of the Star Pointer. The alignment procedure is best done at night since
the LED dot will be difficult to see during the day.
1. To turn on the Star Pointer, rotate the variable brightness control clockwise until you
here a "click". To increase the brightness level of the red dot, continue rotating the
control knob about 180° until it stops.
2. Locate a bright star or planet and center it in a low power eyepiece in the main
telescope.
3. With both eyes open, look through the glass window at the alignment star.
4. If the Star Pointer is perfectly aligned, you will see the red LED dot overlap the
alignment star. If the Star Pointer is not aligned, take notice of where the red dot is
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