FIRSTSCOPE 60 AZ REFRACTORS MODELS #21052 FIRSTSCOPE 70 AZ REFRACTOR MODEL #21071 INSTRUCTION MANUAL 2 INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the Celestron world of amateur astronomy. Some of the terms and parts described in these instructions may be new to you, so a few commonly used terms you'll want to be familiar with are defined below. Altazimuth mount - the simplest type of mount, with two motions: altitude (up and down) and azimuth (side-toside). "Mount" refers to the part of the telescope that support the tube, which carries all the telescope's optics. Altitude lock - allows the telescope tube to be locked into place once a focused image has been set up, by tightening the two screws on the outside of the altazimuth mount. Focal length - the distance from the optical center of the lens to the point where the incoming light rays converge, creating a clear, focused image. Objective lens - the front lens of the telescope. It gathers incoming light to create a sharply focused image. Refracting telescope - a long, thin tube where light passes in a straight line from the front objective lens directly to the eyepiece at the opposite end of the tube. First, you need to take the time to familiarize yourself with the parts of your Firstscope telescope, then assemble it, following the easy instructions provided. Next, read over the operating instructions and become familiar with how your telescope works, to prepare for hours of viewing enjoyment. CAUTION: READ THIS SECTION BEFORE USING YOUR TELESCOPE Your Firstscope telescope is designed to give you hours of fun and rewarding observing. However, there are a few things to be aware of before using your telescope that will ensure your safety and protect your equipment. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE OR WITH A TELESCOPE. NEVER POINT YOUR TELESCOPE AT THE SUN UNLESS YOU'RE USING THE PROPER SOLAR FILTER. PERMANENT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. NEVER USE YOUR TELESCOPE TO PROJECT AN IMAGE OF THE SUN ONTO ANY SURFACE, OR USE AN EYEPIECE SOLAR FILTER OR A HERSCHEL WEDGE. INTERNAL HEAT BUILD-UP CAN DAMAGE THE TELESCOPE AND/OR ANY ACCESSORIES THAT MAY BE ATTACHED TO IT. NEVER LEAVE YOUR TELESCOPE UNSUPERVISED, ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT. THIS ALSO HOLDS TRUE FOR ADULTS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE CORRECT OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR YOUR TELESCOPE. ALWAYS COVER THE FINDERSCOPE WHEN USING YOUR TELESCOPE WITH THE CORRECT SOLAR FILTER. ALTHOUGH SMALL IN APERTURE, THIS INSTRUMENT HAS ENOUGH LIGHT GATHERING POWER TO CAUSE PERMANENT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE. THE IMAGE PROJECTED BY THE FINDERSCOPE IS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN SKIN OR CLOTHING. 3 THE FIRSTSCOPE 60 REFRACTOR The Firstscope AZ is a classical, two element refracting telescope that comes on an altazimuth mount. This section instructs you on the proper assembly and use of your Firstscope telescope, which is shipped in one box, containing all the parts you need to assemble it. Unpack and lay out all of the parts in a large, clear area where you'll have room to work. Keeping track of the parts, use the list below and the telescope diagram to confirm you have, and can identify each part. · · · · · · · · · · · · Three tripod legs, with one accessory tray bracket mounted on each leg. (Firstscope 70 AZ comes with a collapsible center leg brace). Tripod accessory tray Altazimuth mount Telescope Optical Tube Lens shade; front and rear lens caps (pre-assembled) Rack and pinion focuser (pre-assembled) Altitude slow motion rod assembly (Firstscope 60 model) Star Pointer Finderscope with bracket. One 1¼" 90° diagonal 20mm 1¼" eyepieces 10mm 1¼ " eyepiece 1.5x Erecting eyepiece Setting Up The Tripod To set up the tripod, locate the altazimuth mount, the tripod legs and the tripod bolt pack. 1. Extend the center portion of each of the three tripod legs down 6-8". 2. Open the tripod adjustment bolt pack. Use the three wing nut screws to secure each of the extended legs by threading these screws through the holes in the brackets at the bottom of each leg. This is important. If you do not extend the legs now, you won't be able to once the tripod head is assembled. Fine tuning of tripod height can be done later, and the wing nuts can be adjusted to secure the telescope at a desirable height. 3. Orient the three tripod legs so the brackets that hold the accessory tray are on the inside. 4. Slide the two top portions of the tripod leg around the flange on the altazimuth mount, so the flange is secured between them. 5. Remove the wing nut and one washer from the screw. 6. Slide the screw through the tripod leg and flange, until the screw extends out the other side. 7. Slide the washer and wing nut over the screw and tighten. This can be left slightly loose, to allow for positioning the legs later, when attaching the accessory tray. 8. Repeat this process for the remaining two legs. Now the tripod will stand by itself. Attaching the Accessory Tray Start by locating the accessory tray and bolt pack for the accessory tray. 1. Remove the wing nut and one washer from each screw. 2. Slide one corner of the accessory tray over the bracket hanging from the tripod leg. Note: remove plastic tips from each bracket. Plastic tips serve only to protect the tripod leg from being scratched. Make sure the tray is placed over the tip of the bracket, so the bracket doesn't cover the holes cut into the accessory tray, allowing for full use. For the Firstscope 70 AZ, the accessory tray sits on top of the center leg brace and attaches with the provided winged bolts. 3. Insert a screw--with washer--down through the accessory tray and bracket. 4. Slide the washer and wing nut over the end of the screw. Tighten the screw completely. 5. Repeat this process for the remaining two corners of the accessory tray. 4 Installing the Telescope Onto the Mount 1. Slide the slow motion rod through the adjustment hole on the side of the telescope tube. 2. Place the telescope tube inside the altazimuth mount. 3. Insert the altitude adjustment screws (star shaped handles) through the mount and thread into the sides of the telescope. 4. Remove the lens cap from the telescope. Attaching the Star Pointer Finderscope 1. Remove the two (2) small, silver thumbscrews located at the back of the telescope tube. 2. Place the finderscope bracket over the two holes in the telescope tube, lining up the holes on the finderscope bracket with those in the telescope tube. Orient the Star Pointer finderscope so that the glass window is facing towards the front of the tube. 3. Insert the thumbscrews through the finderscope bracket and thread them into the telescope tube. Attaching the Eyepieces 1. Remove the caps from the focuser (at the end of the telescope tube) and the diagonal. The cap for the diagonal is at the center of the top cover. 2. Insert the chrome end of the diagonal into the focuser. 3. Lock into place by tightening the set screws on the focuser. 4. Remove caps from the eyepiece (ocular) and place it into the diagonal. Lock it into place with the set screw. 11/4" Eyepiece and star diagonal The Firstscope AZ comes with an erecting eyepiece, primarily for daytime terrestrial viewing. This eyepiece corrects the image you see in your telescope, so that it's both right side up and corrected from left to right. Without this eyepiece, the image you see is reversed from left to right, when using the standard diagonal. To use the erecting eyepiece, remove the diagonal and insert the erecting eyepiece directly into the focuser. Then use a low power eyepiece such as the 20mm, inserting it directly into the erecting eyepiece. Aligning the Star Pointer Finderscope The Star Pointer is the quickest and easiest way to point your telescope exactly at a desired object in the sky. It's like having a laser pointer that you can shine directly onto the night sky. The Star Pointer is a zero magnification pointing tool that uses a coated glass window to superimpose the image of a small red dot onto the night sky. While keeping both eyes open when looking through the Star Pointer, simply move your telescope until the red dot, seen through the Star Pointer, merges with the object as seen with your unaided eye. The red dot is produced by a light-emitting diode (LED); it is not a laser beam and will not damage the glass window or your eye. The star pointer is powered by a long life 3-volt lithium battery (#CR2032) located underneath the front portion of the Star Pointer. Like all finderscopes, the Star Pointer must be properly aligned with the main telescope before it can be used. This is a simple process using the azimuth and altitude control knobs located on 5 the side and bottom of the Star Pointer. The alignment procedure is best done at night since the LED dot will be difficult to see during the day. 1. 2. 3. To turn on the Star Pointer, rotate the variable brightness control clockwise until you here a "click". To increase the brightness level of the red dot, continue rotating the control knob about 180º until it stops. Locate a bright star or planet and center it in a low power eyepiece in the main telescope. With both eyes open, look through the glass window at the alignment star. If the Star Pointer is perfectly aligned, you will see the red LED dot overlap the alignment star. If the Star Pointer is not aligned, take notice of where the red dot is relative to the bright star. Without moving the main telescope, turn the Star Pointer's azimuth and altitude alignment controls until the red dot is directly over the alignment star. If the LED dot is brighter than the alignment star, it may make it difficult to see the star. Turn the variable brightness control counterclockwise, until the red dot is the same brightness as the alignment star. This will make it easier to get an accurate alignment. The Star Pointer is now ready to be used . Remember to always turn the power off after you have found an object. This will extend the life of both the battery and the LED. Finding Objects 1. Loosen the altitude locks on the sides of the telescope tube and the silver azimuth lock on the base of altazimuth mount, then move the telescope in the desired direction. 2. Look through the Star Pointer finderscope and pan the telescope until the object appears in the field of view. Once it's in the field, tighten the altitude and azimuth locks. 3. To center the object with the red dot in the Star Pointer, use the fine adjustment ring on the altitude slow motion rod assembly. Focusing 1. Once you have found an object in the telescope, turn the focusing knob until the image is sharp. 2. To focus on an object that is nearer than your current target, turn the focusing knob toward the eyepiece (i.e., so that the focusing tube moves away from the front of the telescope). For more distant objects, turn the focusing knob in the opposite direction. 3. To achieve a truly sharp focus, never look through glass windows or across objects that produce heat waves, such as asphalt parking lots. Image Orientation 1. When observing with a diagonal, the image will be right side up, but reversed from left to right. 2. When observing straight through, with the eyepiece inserted directly into the telescope, the image will be inverted. Also, the image in the finderscope is inverted. MAGNIFICATION The magnification (or power) of a telescope varies depending upon the focal length of the eyepiece being used and the focal length of the telescope. The Firstscope telescope has a focal length of 700mm and comes with a 20mm 1¼" eyepiece. To calculate magnification, use the following formula, in which FL = focal length: Magnification = FL (telescope) in mm FL (eyepiece) in mm 6 Therefore, if you use the 20mm eyepiece your magnification is 700/20 = 35x. The same formula can be applied to any of your eyepieces. Celestron offers numerous optional eyepieces to expand your range of magnification. Eyepieces come in barrel diameters of .96" and 1¼". In general, 1¼" eyepieces are of a higher optical quality and give you sharper images, along with a wider field of view and better eye relief. Magnification through the telescope has its limits. These limits are determined by the laws of optics and the nature of the human eye. The maximum usable power (with sharp images) is equal to 60 times the aperture of the telescope (in inches). So, with a 60mm telescope it has a maximum useful power of 144x (2.4" x 60) and with the 70mm the maximum is 165x (2.7559 x 60). Most of your viewing will be done in the range of 30x to 120x. Higher powers are used mainly for lunar and sometimes planetary observing where you can greatly enlarge the image. The images at extremely high powers like 675x magnify the image bur remember that the contrast will be very low and the image somewhat blurred due to the super power. For the brightest images with the most contrast, use the lower powers with a smaller image scale. TELESCOPE OPERATION ...