User manual ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS EQTABLETOP MOUNT

[. . . ] Slow-Motion Control Cable Azimuth Lock Knob Tripod Leg Latitude Adjustment T-Bolt Figure 1. In the unlikely event that you need to return the mount, you must use the original packaging. You will need the small provided crescent wrench and a Phillips head screwdriver. Attach the tripod legs, one at a time, by threading them into the holes at the base of the mount. [. . . ] It lies within 1° of the north celestial pole (NCP), which is an extension of the Earth's rotational axis out into space. To find Polaris in the sky, look north and locate the pattern of the Big Dipper (Figure 6). The two stars at the end of the "bowl" of the Big Dipper point right to Polaris. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere aren't so fortunate to have a bright star so near the south celestial pole (SCP). The star Sigma Octantis lies about 1° from the SCP, but it is barely visible with the naked eye (magnitude 5. 5). Turn the latitude adjustment T-bolt and tilt the mount until the pointer on the latitude scale is set at the latitude of your observing site. If you don't know your latitude, consult a geographical atlas to find it. Aligning and Using the Equatorial Mount When you look at the night sky, you no doubt have noticed that the stars appear to move slowly from east to west over 4 De c. Ax is Dec. Lock Knob Latitude Scale Latitude Adjustment T-Bolt Figure 5: The equatorial mount ple, if your latitude is 35° North, set the pointer to 35. The latitude setting should not have to be adjusted again unless you move to a different viewing location some distance away. lock knob and rotate the telescope optical tube until it is parallel with the R. A. Loosen the azimuth lock knob at the base of the equatorial mount and rotate the mount so the telescope tube (and R. A. If you cannot see Polaris directly from your observing site, consult a compass and rotate the mount so the telescope points North. From this point on in your observing session, you should not make any further adjustments in the azimuth or the latitude of the mount, nor should you move the tripod. slow-motion control cables allow fine adjustment of the telescope's position to center objects within Latitude Lock T-bolt Little Dipper (in Ursa Minor) Figure 6. Extend an imaginary line from the two "Pointer Stars" in the bowl of the Big Dipper. Go about five times the distance between those stars and you'll reach Polaris, which lies within 1° of the north celestial pole (NCP). Big Dipper (in Ursa Major) N. C. P. Polaris Cassiopeia tars ter S Poin 5 the field of view. Before you can use the cables, you must manually "slew" the mount to point the telescope in the vicinity of the desired target. Once the telescope is pointed somewhere close to the object to be viewed, retighten the mount's R. A. The object should now be visible somewhere in the telescope's finder scope. If it isn't, use the slow-motion controls to scan the surrounding area of sky. When the object is visible in the finder scope, use the slow-motion controls to center it. [. . . ] and Dec. , not in azimuth or latitude (altitude), and b) the counterweight and shaft will not always appear as it does in Figure 3. scaled in 2. 5° increments. One-Year Limited Warranty This Orion Tabletop Equatorial Mount is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion's option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. [. . . ]