PowerSeeker 127 INSTRUCTION MANUAL #21049 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. Equatorial mount ­ a type of mounting that allows the telescope to be aligned with the earth's axis in order to track the motion of the sky. 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. Primary Mirror - It gathers incoming light to create a sharply focused image. Reflecting telescope ­ an optical design in which light is reflected off of a curved mirror that converges the light into a small disk that is then magnified using an eyepiece. First, you need to take the time to familiarize yourself with the parts of your PowerSeeker 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 PowerSeeker 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. 2 PowerSeeker 127 a b p c o n m l k f e d g j h i 127mm Newtonian Reflecting Telescope 3 THE POWERSEEKER 127 Reflector The PowerSeeker is a Newtonian reflecting telescope that comes on an equatorial mount. This section instructs you on the proper assembly and use of your PowerSeeker 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. Use the list below and the telescope diagram to confirm you have, and can identify each part. PowerSeeker 127 a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. Finderscope Tube Rings Optical Tube Collimation Screws Slow Motion Controls Equatorial Mount Latitude Adjustment Screw Tripod Leg i. j. k. l. m. n. o. p. Tripod Extension Screws Accessory Tray Counterweight Counterweight Bar Right Ascension Setting Circle Declination Setting Circle Focuser Eyepiece Assembling Your Telescope 1. To set up the tripod, spread the legs outward until they are fully extended. Extend the center portion of each of the three tripod legs down 6-8". Use the three tightening screws located at the bottom of each leg to secure the extended legs in place. Place the accessory tray on top of tripod's center leg brace. Thread the tray's threaded post into the threaded hole in the center of the leg brace. 2. Attaching the Equatorial Mount 1. Locate the equatorial mount and place the base of the mount through the hole in the center of the tripod mounting platform. From underneath the tripod mounting platform, thread the mounting bolt with washer into the threaded hole on the bottom of the equatorial mount. Thread the latitude adjustment screws into the equatorial mount until both screws are touching the inside of the mount and the mount can no longer pivot up and down. Locate the counterweight bar and counterweight. Thread the threaded end of the counterweight bar into the Dec axis of the equatorial mount. Remove the safety screw and washer from the other end of the counterweight bar. Loosen the counterweight locking bolt so that the screw is no longer obstructing the center hole of the counterweight. Slide the counterweight half way up the counterweight bar and tighten the locking screw to secure the counterweight in place. Thread the safety screw and washer on to the end of the counterweight bar. 2. 3. Before attaching the optical tube, the counterweight and slow motion controls should be added to the mount: 4. Slide the chrome end of the slow motion control cables onto the equatorial mount gear shaft. See Figure 1. The longer cable should attach to the Right Ascension axis and the shorter cable attaches to the Declination axis. Figure 1 4 Attaching the Optical Tube You are now ready to put the telescope optical tube (c) onto the equatorial mount (f). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Slightly loosen the screws that hold the mounting rings on the telescope in place. Slide the rings apart so that each is at the same distance as the holes in the mounting platform. Place the telescope tube on the mount so that the treaded post at the bottom of the tube rings go through the holes on the mounting platform. Thread a wing nut onto the end of the threaded posts and tighten to secure the tube to the mount. Tighten the screws that hold the mounting rings in place. This will keep the telescope from sliding back and forth in the mounting rings. Attaching the Accessories Your telescope comes with the following accessories: · · · · · 1. 2. 3. 20mm eyepiece 1¼" 4mm eyepiece 1¼ " 3x Barlow Lens 1¼" 5x24 finderscope The Sky® L1 Planetarium software Remove the caps from the focuser draw tube (o). Place the chrome barrel end of the eyepiece into the focuser. Lock it into place with the thumb screw on the side of the focuser. Your telescope also comes with a 3x Barlow lens which triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece (see Magnification section of the manual). To use the barlow lens, insert the barlow lens directly into the focuser. Then start by using the low power eyepiece such as the 20mm, and insert it directly into the barlow lens. . Attaching the Finderscope Remove the two small, silver thumbscrews located on top of the telescope tube. See Figure 2. 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. Insert the thumbscrews through the finderscope bracket and thread them into the telescope tube. 1. Using your Telescope Moving Your Telescope: To change the direction your telescope is pointing: 1. Figure 2 To move the telescope in declination (north/south) there are two options. For large and quick movements, loosen the declination knob (see figures 8) when moving the telescope and then tighten the knob when you are near the position you want. For very small movements and fine adjustments, use the declination cable. The declination cable has a range of about 30° and if you come to the stop at the end of its travel, do not try to force movement when the declination cable has reached the stop. Instead loosen the declination knob and manually move the telescope in declination until you pass the object in the opposite direction. Then tighten the knob and reverse the direction of the declination cable. 5 2. To move the telescope in right ascension (east/west) there are two options. For large and quick movements, loosen the right ascension knob when moving the telescope and then tighten the knob when you are near the position you want. For very small movements and fine adjustments, turn the right ascension cable. Unlike the declination cable, the right ascension cable has 360° of continuous motion. Balancing the Telescope in Right Ascension (R.A.): The telescope should be properly balanced in order for it to move smoothly in both axes. Proper balance is essential if using an optional motor drive for accurate tracking. 1. To balance the right ascension axis, move the counterweight shaft so it is parallel (horizontal) to the ground. (See figure 3). Slowly release the right ascension knob and see if the optical tube moves. If the optical tube moves, then slide the counterweight up or down the counterweight shaft until the optical tube remains stationary in the parallel position to the ground. When this happens, make sure the counterweight lock is tight. Balancing the Telescope in Declination (DEC): The telescope should also be balanced on the declination axis to prevent any sudden motions when the DEC clamp is released. To balance the telescope in DEC: 1. Release the R.A. clamp and rotate the telescope so that it is on one side of the mount (i.e., as described in the previous section on balancing the telescope in R.A.).Lock the R.A. clamp to hold the telescope in place. Release the DEC clamp and rotate the telescope until the tube is parallel to the ground (see figure 4). Release the tube -- GRADUALLY -- to see which way it rotates around the declination axis. DO NOT LET GO OF THE TELESCOPE TUBE COMPLETELY! Loosen the screws that hold the telescope tube inside the mounting rings and slide the telescope tube either forwards or backwards until it remains stationary when the DEC clamp is released. Tighten the tube ring screws firmly to hold the telescope in place. Figure 3 - Balancing in R.A. Figure 4 - Balancing in Declination Telescope Basics A telescope is an instrument that collects and focuses light. The nature of the optical design determines how the light is focused. Some telescopes, known as refractors, use lenses. Other telescopes, known as reflectors, use mirrors. A Newtonian reflector uses a single concave mirror as its primary. Light enters the tube traveling to the mirror at the back end. There light is bent forward in the tube to a single point, its focal point. Since putting your head in front of the telescope to look at the image with an eyepiece would keep the reflector from working, a flat mirror called a diagonal intercepts the light and points it out the side of the tube at right angles to the tube. The eyepiece is placed there for easy viewing. Newtonian Reflector telescopes replace heavy lenses with mirrors to collect and focus the light, providing much more light-gathering power for the dollar. Because the light path is intercepted and reflected out to the side, you can have 6 focal lengths up to 1000mm and still enjoy a telescope that is relatively compact and portable. A Newtonian Reflector telescope offers such impressive light-gathering characteristics you can take a serious interest in deep space astronomy even on a modest budget. Newtonian Reflector telescopes do require more care and maintenance because the primary mirror is exposed to air and dust. However, this small drawback does not hamper this type of telescope's popularity with those who want an economical telescope that can still resolve faint, distant objects. Figure 5 A cutaway view of the light path of the Newtonian optical design Newtonian reflectors produce a right-side-up image but the image will appear rotated based on the location of the eyepiece holder in relation to the ground. Newtonian reflectors are best for astronomical use where right-side-up does not matter. Image Orientation Actual image orientation as seen with the unaided eye Upside-down image, as viewed though a Newtonian telescope Figure 6 Focusing To focus your telescope, simply turn the focus knob located directly below the eyepiece holder. Turning the knob clockwise allows you to focus on an object that is farther than the one you are currently observing. Turning the knob counterclockwise from you allows you to focus on an object closer than the one you are currently observing. ·If you wear corrective lenses (specifically glasses), you may want to remove them when observing with an eyepiece attached to the telescope. However, when using a camera you should always wear corrective lenses to ensure the sharpest possible focus. If you have astigmatism, corrective lenses must be worn at all times. 7 The Celestial Coordinate System To help find objects in the sky, astronomers use a celestial coordinate system that is similar to our geographical coordinate system here on Earth. The celestial coordinate system has poles, lines of longitude and latitude, and an equator. For the most part, these remain fixed against the background stars. The celestial equator runs 360 degrees around the Earth and separates the northern celestial hemisphere from the southern. Like the Earth's equator, it bears a reading of zero degrees. On Earth this would be latitude. However, in the sky this is referred ...