Astro-Tech AT 16D Manual

astro-tech A T 16 D
16" Do bsonian
Thank you for choosing this Astro-Tech AT16D ad-
vanced truss-tube Dobsonian reflector.
If the faintest sights from the far reaches of the Uni-
verse intrigue you, and you have a dark sky observing
site, you will see wonders through your 16" Astro-Tech.
Color becomes visible to the eye in many nebulas. Orion
is a glowing blue-green mass of filaments, often tinged
with red and yellow for the keen-eyed observer from a
dark sky site. Globular clusters can be resolved to their
cores, with each cluster becoming a vivid ball of tiny
starpoints instead of a hazy blur. Knottings and struc-
ture in the arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy become clear.
Small details in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn
and on the surface of Mars reveal themselves at high
powers (given suitably good seeing and a filter to cut
The Parts of Your Telescope
Optical Tube Assembly
1. Eyepiece
2. Focuser
3. Upper cage
4. Secondary mirror spider
5. Top truss lock knobs (2 of 6)
6. Trusses (3)
7. Bottom truss lock knobs (2 of 6)
8. Altitude bearing assembly and clutch knob
9. Lower cage
Rocker Box Assembly
10. Side panels (1 of 2)
11. Front panel
12. Lift handle (1 of 2)
13. Circular base (top)
14. Circular ground board (bottom)
15. Feet (3 under ground board)
Lower Cage Close-Up
25. Fan
26. Fan battery pack
connection jack
27. Black collimation adjustment
knob (1 of 3)
28. White collimation lock
knob (1 of 3)
29. Lower cage foot (1 of 3)
Assembling Your Astro -Tech 16" Truss-Tube Dobsonian
PLEASE NOTE: The assembly sequence pictures in this
instruction sheet were taken using a white prototype
telescope, rather than a black production model, to make
it easier for you to see the assembly details. However,
the assembly steps shown are identical to those used to
assemble the current black production model AT16D.
Also, please note that there may be cosmetic differ-
ences between the finderscope and other details in these
early prototype pictures and the current production
model telescope you received. Your telescope represents
the latest and most advanced version of the AT16D.
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Lower Cage Close-Up
from Astronomy Technologies
down the immense brightness of a telescope with 3150
times the light-gathering capacity your eye).
Simply-made, but with high precision optics and an
advanced easily-assembled truss-tube design that makes
it exceptionally light and portable for a 16" telescope,
this Astro-Tech Dobsonian will reward you with thou-
sands of truly superb deep space images and years of
trouble-free observing enjoyment.
This instruction sheet will provide you with informa-
tion on how to assemble your new reflector, and how to
properly maintain your telescope so it can give you a
lifetime of observing enjoyment.
Please familiarize yourself with your telescope's parts
and functions before assembling it or operating it for
the first time.
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26
29
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You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver to assemble
a few components of your AT16D. The hex head wrench
needed to assemble the majority of the scope compo-
nents is included with your telescope.
FIRST, ASSEMBLE THE ROCKER BOX
STEP 1: The rocker box supports the optical tube as-
sembly and allows you to move the optical tube up and
down (in altitude) and from side to side (in azimuth) so
you can manually find and track objects as they move
across the sky.
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Focuser Close-Up
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Focuser Close-Up
16. Coarse focus knob
(1 of 2)
17. Fine focus knob
18. Focus lock & tension
adjustment knobs
19. 2" eyepiece holder
20. Thumbscrew
21. 2" eyepiece
22. Finderscope
23. Finder collimating
screws (1 of 3)
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