The World’s Easiest Equatorial MountInstruction Manual for Reflector Telescopes

Before you get started, you’ll need to know that your telescope is a Reflector telescope.That means that everything you see will be upside down and backwards. No exceptions.If you are looking for a telescope to use on land based objects then you should use aRefractor telescope as it can erect an image and in many cases correct the right to leftviewing.

Without getting fancy or technical, equatorial mounts are basically star finders. Most allof the visible stars in the sky have an address in a book called a Star Atlas (roadmap ofstars) that is expressed in terms of its Right Ascension and then its Declination.Basically it’s outer space longitude and then latitude. It will look something like this:

23hr 42min 03sec, 78.3deg N

When using an equatorial mount, you can move your telescope to these settings and findthe star that corresponds to that address.

You will need to have a Star Atlas to use the equatorial mount. You can purchase one atjust about any bookstore on earth.

As well, you will need to be able to identify 2 stars in the sky. The first star will be theNorth Star. Coincidentally this star is perfectly north EVERY night you go out. It isgenerally around 25 to 45 degrees up from the horizon in North America.

The second star you will need to be able to identify in the sky is a little bit harder. Thesecond star can really be any star in the sky other than our sun and the North Star. Youcan pick a star from a constellation that is in the sky and use a particular star in it. Youwill not only have to be able to identify it, but in Step 5 you will need to be able to centerit in the telescope. Unfortunately, there is no other alternative. If you want to use yourequatorial mount, you’ll need to be able to do this.

In most Star Atlas books there is a section that gives suggestions on which stars to use forthe second star, I recommend using it. Also, there is a section that has the latitude settingfor the North Star in certain areas. You will need this when going through Step 4.

Finally, you will need to set your telescope up to be able to use a Star Atlas. Thefollowing instructions in steps 1-7 will show you how to do this. Good Luck and HaveFun!!!!!

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Table of Contents

Page 1 ….... IntroductionPage 2 ….... Table of ContentsPage 3 ….... Listing of all the Telescope SectionsPage 4 ….... Fine Adjustment CablesPage 5 ….... The Telescope’s Axis’sPage 6 ….... The Barlow Lens and EyepiecesPage 7 ….... Figuring the MagnificationPage 8 ….... Aligning the FinderscopePage 9 ….... Aligning the Finderscope cont.Page 10 ….. Aligning the Finderscope cont.Page 11 ….. Step 1 – Getting the Mount at Right AnglesPage 12 ….. Step 2 – Facing the Telescope NorthPage 13 ….. Step 3 – Putting in the EyepiecePage 14 ….. Step 4 – Finding the North StarPage 15 ….. Step 5 – Setting the Declination Dial to 90 degreesPage 16 ….. Step 6 – Finding the Second Star – Its Declination AddressPage 17 ..… Step 7 – Finding the Second Star – Its Right Ascension AddressPage 18 ….. Keeping the Telescope Aligned

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NEVER AdjustThese Screws asthey are presetfrom the factory.

Open End That FacesWhat You AreLooking At.Generally there are 2lens caps on this side.They normallyshould be both takenoff. They look likethis. Never look atthe sun.

DeclinationLock Knob

DeclinationSetting Right

AscensionLockKnob

RightAscension

Setting

LatitudeAdjustmentLock Knob

LatitudeAdjustmentKnob

Finderscope Focusing Tube That you putthe eyepieces into and bringthe image into focus byturning either of the twoFocusing Knobs on the sides.

Counter WeightMakes Sure theTelescope Doesn’tFall Because OfUneven Weight

Counterweight Shaft

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Horizontal AxisSetting – If there arenumbers on this justignore them. Onlyin step 2 will youever turn thetelescope here.

Telescope Tube

HorizontalAxis LockKnob

Cap #1 Cap #2

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Fine Adjustment Cables

The fine adjustment cables move the declination and right ascension settings in verysmall increments. When you are aligning the finderscope or centering a star or planet inthe telescope there will be a time when only small adjustments will be necessary. That iswhen you’ll use these knobs. They look like the diagram below. Notice one is long andthe other is short. It really doesn’t matter which one goes on the declination and whichone goes on the right ascension. Generally though, they go on just like the belowdiagram. They connect to the telescope mount only one way so I won’t cover theirattachment procedure.

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If your equatorial mount is set up correctly,you can move just the Right Ascension FineAdjustment Knob ONLY to follow any staracross the sky!

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DeclinationFine

Adjustment

RightAscension

FineAdjustment

Telescope Axis’s

This instruction manual refers to 3axis’s in which the telescope willturn. This diagram illustrates theseaxis’s where the telescope can move.

When using your fineadjustment cables, you’llbe moving these twoaxis’s.

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The Barlow Lens and Eyepieces

Here are a few things you’ll need to know and know how to do before getting started.

You should receive several different lenses for your telescope. Some you’ll use a lot andsome you’ll hardly ever use. The following explains what the pieces are and in whatorder they should go into the telescope.

This the Barlow lens. It multiplies the magnification of the image. Generally it will saysomething like 2X or 3X on the side of it, meaning that it multiplies the magnification bythat much. Sometimes it’ll just say “Barlow Lens”. Regardless it still does the samething.

Next will be the eyepieces. There are generally 2 different ones with a new telescope.The eyepiece along with the focal length of the telescope determines the magnification.Most the time they are 20mm and 4mm.

The eyepieces can fit directly into the focusing tube as well as into the Barlow Lens.Regardless, you must have an eyepiece in to see anything through the telescope.

3X

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Figuring the Magnification

To figure the magnification you must first know the focal length of your telescope. Manytimes the focal length will be 700mm to 900mm. Here is the formula to figure themagnification.

Focal Length in mmMagnification = X Barlow Lens (ie 2X or 3X) Eyepiece in mm

3X

Eyepiece

Barlow Lens

FocusingTube on thetelescope.

Eyepiece

FocusingTube on thetelescope.

Assuming theeyepiece is 20mmand the focal lengthis 900mm, here arethe magnificationsof each set up.

45 Power

135 Power

900÷20 = 45

(900÷20)X3=135)

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Aligning the Finderscope

You will need to line up the Finderscope with your telescope. A finderscope acts kindof like a riflescope in that it helps you aim. To get started you should always use thehighest number eyepiece (lowest power) without the Barlow lens. If you use toopowerful of an eyepiece (low number) then it may be very hard to find an object or it willbe too dark to see anything as higher powers cause light loss. Below is an example ofwhy aligning the finderscope is important.

Without an aligned finderscope you might think you are aimingdirectly at a star or planet but you could actually be way off!

But with an aligned finderscope, you can find objects inthe sky a lot faster and easier!

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Start with a large object about 200yards away. You do not have to beabsolutely accurate with the distance asit will not help you or hinder you if youare not exact. In this example I’ll use ahouse as the object

To get started, put the20mm eyepiece in thefocusing tube withoutthe Barlow lens.

Since the finderscope has a slight magnification toit, put it on so that when viewing through it yousee the magnification. If you put it in backwards,everything will appear small and far away.

(open end of the telescope)

Note: It is recommended for best viewing to not look through a window when aligning the finderscopeor even when viewing things through the telescope. Ideally you should be outside with the telescope. Iffogging occurs let the telescope sit outside for approximately 30 minutes to allow it to clear up.

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Next, find the object in the telescope and center it in the viewing area.

Finally, get the object centered in the finderscope.If the finderscope is not the crosshair type butinstead the dot kind, get the dot directly in themiddle of the object then tighten the finderscopebest as possible. Note: The finderscope just likethe telescope turns the image upside down also.

Know that finderscopes sometimes have a red dot in them as opposed to crosshairs. Sometimes they adjust with thumbscrews on theoutside of the mounting bracket and sometimes they have actual fine adjustment knobs on the finderscope itself. Regardless, you will

need to determine how to adjust them yourself using common sense and if you have it, the instruction manual.

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Get everything at right angles.If you’re not sure, just make itlook like this picture. As well,on level ground make sure thetripod legs are fully extended orat least even as far as length.

(Open End)

You can generallyleave theCounterweight allthe way down andtighten the screwso it won’t move.

Note: It is recommended for best viewing to not look through a window when aligning the finderscopeor even when viewing things through the telescope. Ideally you should be outside with the telescope. Iffogging occurs let the telescope sit outside for approximately 30 minutes to allow it to clear up.

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With everything at 90-degree angles, turnthe telescope scope north along itsHorizontal Axis using a compass asreference to be completely accurate. Oncefacing north, tighten the Horizontal AxisLock Knob and know that you will nothave to touch this setting again for the restof the evening.

N

S

Once again,ignore thesenumbers.

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Put the 20 mm eyepieceinto the Focusing Tube.If you do not have a20mm eyepiece, use thehighest number eyepieceyou do have. Theeyepiece looks like this.

(It will say 20mm on thetop of the eyepiece.)

Many models havethumbscrews around theFocusing Tube to tighten theeyepiece down. Even if therearen’t any, they are probablynot needed.

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Next, you will need toelevate the telescope up tothe North Star. Do this byturning the LatitudeAdjustment Knob to thenumber on the Star Atlas thatcorresponds to your location.Looking through theeyepiece, find the North Starthen tighten the LatitudeLock Knob. Note: whenthis is done you will not haveto touch either of these knobsagain for the rest of the night.

(Has numbers on it)

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There will be numbers onthe Declination Settingand either an arrow or apointer. Turn the DIAL‘til the pointer or arrowis at 9 then tighten theDeclination Lock Knob.(9 stands for 90 degrees.)

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Once the DeclinationSetting is set you will NOThave to touch this again forthe rest of the night.

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Next, you will need to find thesecond star I talked about earlier.See the Star Atlas and it willshow you some fairly easy starsthat should be bright in the skyduring different times of theyear. When you have identifiedyour star, move theTELESCOPE TUBE along theDeclination Axis until thepointer is on the declinationaddress of the star according tothe Star Atlas.

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Finally, move the tube of thetelescope along the RightAscension Axis until the staryou have chosen as yoursecond star is visible in thetelescope. Then with yourfingers, move the dial on theRight Ascension Setting tomatch what the Star Atlas’sRight Ascension Settingsare for that star. Once again,there is a pointer/arrow thatyou’ll align the RightAscension number up with.You are done!

Even though itis not shown,the RightAscensionSetting hasnumbers on it.

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This is the 2nd star thatyou are aligning yourtelescope to. It is thesame star as in Step 7.

When you have centered the 2nd star,it should look something like this.

As the earth rotates, the star willappear to move like this.

Therefore, every fewminutes while you aresurfing the sky with yourtelescope you will needto repeat Step 7.

(Simulated views through your telescope)

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