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Telescope should be balanced before each observing session. Balancing reduces stress on telescope mount
and allows precise control of micro-adjustement. A balanced telescope is specially critical when using the
optional clock drive for astrophotography.
The telescope should be balanced after all acessories (eyepiece, camera, etc.) have been attached. Before
balancing your telescope, make sure that your tripod is balanced and on a stable surface. For photography,
point the telescope in the direction you will be taking photos before preforming the balancing steps.
R.A. Balancing
1) Adjust altitude of the mount to between 15º and 30º by
using the altitude adjustment T-bolt.
2) Slowly unlock the R.A. and Dec thumbscrews. Rotate
the telescope unitl both the optical tube and counterweight
rod is horizontal to the ground, and the telescope tube is
to the side of the mount (Fig.b).
3) Tighten the Dec. thumbscrew.
4) Move counterweight along counterweight rod until tele-
scope is balanced and remains stationary when released.
5) Tighten set screws to hold counterweights in their new
position.
Dec. Balancing
All accessories should be attached to the telescope before commencing with balancing the declination axis.
The R.A. axis should be balanced before proceeding with dec. balancing.
1) Adjust altitude of the mount to between 60º and 75º.
2) Release the R.A. thumbscrew and rotate R.A. axis so that the counterweight rod is in horizontal position.
Tighten the R.A. thumbscrew.
3) Unlock the Dec. thumbscrew and rotate telescope tube until it is paralled to the ground.
4) Slowly release telescope and determine which direction the telescope rotates. Loosen telescope tube
clamps and slide telescope tube forward or backward in the clamps to balance dec. axis.
5) Once telescope no longer rotates from its parallel starting position, re-tighten tube clamps and the Dec.
thumbscrew. Reset altitude axis to your local latitude.
For best telescope performance, the equatorial mount should be properly
leveled. A level tripod allows easier fine adjustment of controls and better
weight distribution.
This equatorial mount includes a small leveling bubble near its base (Fig.c).
Adjust the height of each tripod leg until the bubble appears in the center
of the circle. Note that the tripod legs may not be at same length when the
equatorial mount is level.
OPERATING YOUR TELESCOPE
Fig.a
1) Focus the telescope eyepiece on a distant object.
2) Once the object has been centered in the tele-
scope view, ensure all the lock knobs on the
mount are tightened.
3) Use the alignment screws to center the finder-
scope crosshairs on the object seen in the
telescope view (Fig.a).
Depending on telescope design, the object may appear
inverted in the telescope view.
Do not over-tighten the alignment screws.
Fig.b
Fig.c
5
N
Leveling bubble
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