FirstView 3 Reflector Telescope Owner s Manual

Transcription

1 FirstView 3 Reflector Telescope Owner s Manual 1. Horizontal Locking Auxiliary Screw 2. Main Mount 3. Pitching Auxiliary Knob 4. Pitching Shaft Screw 5. Rack and Pinion Focusing Knob 6. Thumb Nut for Finder Scope 7. Finder Scope Bracket 8. Finder Scope 9. Eyepiece 10. Focusing Tube 11. Pitching Clamp Handle Screw 12. Left and Right Blocks 13. Pitching Shaft 14. Main Tube 15. Mount Base 16. Tripod Leg 17. Accessory Tray *Not Pictured: Moon Filter, 2x Barlow Lens, eyepiece cleaning cloth 1

2 ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Remove the tripod legs (#16) from the box and separately extend them to suitable length from top to bottom. Tighten the locking knobs. 2. Connect each leg to the mount base (#15) with the long screw and wing nuts (Pg. 4, Fig. 2a), but do not tighten yet. Make sure the accessory tray brackets on each leg are on the inside. 3. Stretch out the tripod legs and position the accessory tray (#17). Connect each accessory tray bracket to the tray using the short screws and wing nuts (Pg. 4, Fig. 3). 4. Install the pitching shaft (#13) on the main tube (#14) with the pitching shaft screws (#4) (Pg. 4, Fig. 2b). 5. Loosen the left and right blocks (#12) on the main tube (#14), install the main tube on the main mount (#2). Tighten the right and left blocks (#12) (Pg. 4, Fig. 2c) and the pitching clamp handle screw (#11) (Pg. 4, Fig. 2d). 6. Remove the thumb nuts for finder scope (#6). Insert the two bolts in the finder scope bracket (#7). Tighten thumb nuts (#6) to mount bracket onto main tube (Pg. 4, Fig. 4a). 7. Place eyepiece in the focusing tube (#10) and tighten the thumb screw (Pg. 4, Fig. 4b). READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS A telescope is an optical and mechanical instrument of great precision. Handled with care and respect, it will provide many years of excellent service. This booklet is designed to furnish you with information on this telescope s structure, specifications and proper operating techniques. WHAT IS A TELESCOPE? A telescope is an optical system designed to magnify distant objects. The telescope you have purchased is called a REFLECTOR TELESCOPE, it consists of an open tube with curved mirror at the bottom. The open end of the tube is pointed at the object in the sky and the entering light rays strike the mirror at the bottom. The rays, reflected from the mirror, strike a secondary mirror called a diagonal mirror. As a result of the curvature of the main mirror, the light rays are bent to meet at a point. The purpose of the diagonal mirror, which is located a short distance before the focal point, is to reflect the light rays toward the side of the tube where an eyepiece magnifies the image for you. MAINTENANCE OF THE TELESCOPE As a precision optical and mechanical instrument, the telescope must be handled with utmost care. When not in use, store it in the box. Lenses and mirrors must be cleaned as carefully and rarely as possible to avoid accuracy and performance being affected. Optical elements must never be taken out of their mount by an inexperienced person. When it becomes necessary to clean the lenses or mirrors, a cleaning solution, no stronger than mild soap and water, in combination with a soft, lint-free cloth should be gently applied to the optical surface without rubbing. A thorough rinse in clear water should follow and the optical element is not rubbed dry, but allowed instead to air dry. The use of solvents such 2

3 as xylene and alcohol for cleaning purposes is not recommended. Eyepieces should be cared for and cleaned like any other optical element. Eyepieces are constructed so that they can be taken apart. The inexperienced person should not attempt this because the lenses of the eyepiece are carefully aligned during manufacturing and careless handling could lead to misalignment. Another maintenance problem peculiar to this reflector, involves the metallic coating of the mirror. With normal exposure and use, the metallic coating will eventually wear away. Recoating is a job for the professional, not for the amateur. CARE OF THE MIRRORS The main and diagonal mirrors should not be cleaned or touched by hands because they are highly aluminized to give brilliant reflectivity. If the telescope is always stored in the box when not in use, there should be no problem with dust collecting on the mirror surfaces. If for any reason they have to be cleaned, use a fine camel hair brush or a soft, lint-free cloth. With normal exposure and use, the metallic coating will eventually wear away. CAUTION: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN THROUGH THE SCOPE. DIRECT OBSERVATION OF THE SUN IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR EYES. 3

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5 Eyepiece & Magnification This telescope is supplied with three different eyepieces (4mm, 12.5mm, and 20mm). The power of each particular eyepiece is directly related to the focal length of the telescope which is 700mm (millimeters); However, the power of each eyepiece is related to the focal length of the objective mirror of the telescope. The formula is as follows: Focal length of the telescope FOCUSING THE TELESCOPE & ALIGNING THE CROSSHAIR FINDER SCOPE Focal length of eyepiece = Magnification 1. Focusing (see Pg. 5, Fig. 3) Leave the telescope in the same position as when assembling (terrestrial position). Loosen the set screw attached to eyepiece adaptor (#10) on the main telescope tube. Locate the lowest power eyepiece (20mm) and attach it to the eyepiece adapter, tightening the set screws. Aim the telescope at a distant object in the daytime, such as a stop sign, or corner of a building etc. Rack the focusing knob (#8) back and forth until the object is in sharp focus. ALIGNING THE CROSSHAIR FINDER SCOPE With the telescope in sharp focus, look into the finder scope (#4). If the finder scope (#4) is not in focus, turn the finder scope eyepiece (#6) around on its thread until the views are sharp and clear. If the object you see in the main telescope is not in the center of the finder scope cross hair, do the following: tighten and loosen the three screws (#25) in the bracket, causing the finder scope to move up or down, side to side, or diagonally. When the object is dead center in the cross hairs, your finder scope is adjusted. Repeat this process by replacing the lower power eyepiece with a higher power eyepiece. Once the image centered under highest magnification in the telescope is also centered in the finder scope, your finder scope is successfully aligned. It may now be used for rapid location of sky-bound objects you want to observe with the telescope. Occasionally, the focusing scope may have to be readjusted. For example, your 20mm eyepiece will show a magnification of: 700mm 20mm = 35x Magnification USING YOUR TELESCOPE ASTRONOMICALLY Before learning the technical details of this telescope, you will find that you can now enjoy observing the stars, planets and moon. THE MOON AND THE STARS If you are viewing at night, you will get the most fun out of looking at the moon and its cratered surface. Aim the finder scope so that the moon is in the center of the crosshairs. The main telescope is now directly aimed at the moon. The moon filter will allow you to view the moon more comfortably by lowering the brightness of the lunar surface. You can use the moon filter included with your telescope by simply attaching it to the male end of the eyepiece, then inserting the eyepiece into the focusing tube like usual. Focus the telescope as described previously. At this point, try the more powerful eyepieces to observe more detail of the moon. After looking at the moon, you will probably want to look at some of the more well-known constellations (i.e. the big dipper). The stars will appear as flickering dots of light. This is the case with even the more powerful telescopes. 5

6 For planetary viewing, try observing Venus first, as it is one of the brightest objects in the night sky at most times of the year. The planets will tend to appear like flat discs through your telescope, and you will probably be quite surprised by the rapidity with which they move across the sky. If you aim your telescope at a planet and walk away for five or ten minutes, you are likely to find that the planet has moved out of the telescope s field when you get back. Note1: Whenever locating an object, always use the finder scope first, as it has a wide field of the view and will speed up the process of observing celestial objects. Note2: Always start with the lowest power eyepiece (20mm) in the telescope tube and work up to the power you want making the necessary focusing adjustments as you change eyepieces. Note3: Do not be alarmed by the fact that the images you see are upside-down. This is normal with reflector telescopes. The image can be corrected to appear right-side up using an Erecting Eyepiece (not included). 6