INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................3
ASSEMBLY .................................................................................................................................................6
Setting up the Tripod ................................................................................................................................6
Balancing the Mount in R.A...................................................................................................................10
Balancing the Mount in Dec. ..................................................................................................................10
TELESCOPE BASICS ...............................................................................................................................12
Image Orientation ...................................................................................................................................13
Focusing .................................................................................................................................................13
Aligning the Finderscope........................................................................................................................13
Calculating Magnification ......................................................................................................................14
Determining Field of View.....................................................................................................................15
General Observing Hints ........................................................................................................................15
ASTRONOMY BASICS ............................................................................................................................16
Motion of the Stars .................................................................................................................................16
Pointing at Polaris...................................................................................................................................18
Aligning the Setting Circles ...................................................................................................................22
Motor Drive ............................................................................................................................................23
CELESTIAL OBSERVING .......................................................................................................................24
Observing the Moon ...............................................................................................................................24
Observing the Planets .............................................................................................................................24
Observing the Sun ..................................................................................................................................24
Observing Deep-Sky Objects .................................................................................................................25
Seeing Conditions...................................................................................................................................25
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................26
Piggyback Photography..........................................................................................................................26
Terrestrial Photography ..........................................................................................................................26
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................................27
Collimation of a Newtonian ...................................................................................................................27
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ...................................................................................................................30
AstroMaster Specifications.....................................................................................................................31
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