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Reflectors (fig. 5b): Loosen the focuser thumbscrew and take off the plastic cap from the focuser tube. Insert the
selected eyepiece and secure it by retightening the thumbscrew. If a Barlow lens is needed, install it between the
focuser and the eyepiece.
Optical finderscope assembly and alignment
Unthread two screws in the back of the telescope tube. Place the finderscope base above the holes on the tube. Lock the
finderscope base into position by tightening the screws (fig. 6).
Optical finderscopes are very useful accessories. When they are correctly aligned with the telescope, objects can be quickly
located and brought to the center of the view. Turn the scope end in and out to adjust focus (fig. 8a).
To align the finderscope, choose a distant object that is at least 550 yards (500 meters) away and point the telescope at the
object. Adjust the telescope so that the object is in the center of the view in your eyepiece. Check the finderscope to see if
the object is also centered on the crosshairs. Use three adjustment screws to center the finderscope crosshairs on the
object (fig. 8b).
Focusing
Slowly rotate the focus knobs one way or the other until the image in the eyepiece is sharp. The image usually has to be
finely refocused over time due to small variations caused by temperature changes, flexures, etc. Refocusing is almost
always necessary when you change an eyepiece, add or remove a Barlow lens (refractor 7a, reflector 7b) .
Balancing the telescope
A telescope should be balanced before each observing session. Balancing reduces stress on the telescope mount and
allows precise slow-motion movements. A balanced telescope is especially crucial when using the optional clock drive for
astrophotography. The telescope should be balanced after all accessories (eyepiece, camera, etc.) have been attached.
Before balancing your telescope, make sure that your tripod is balanced and on a stable surface. For photography, point
the telescope in the direction you will be taking photos before performing the balancing steps.
R.A. Balancing
• For best results, adjust the altitude of the mount to between 15° and 30° if possible, by using the altitude adjustment
T-bolt. Slowly unlock the R.A. and Dec. lock knobs. Rotate the telescope until both the optical tube and the
counterweight rod are horizontal to the ground, and the telescope tube is to the side of the mount.
• Tighten the Dec. lock knob.
• Move the counterweights along the counterweight rod until the telescope is balanced and remains stationary when
released.
• Tighten the counterweight screws to secure the counterweights.
Dec. Balancing
All accessories should be attached to the telescope before R.A. balancing, and the R.A. balancing should be done before
proceeding with Dec. balancing. For best results, adjust the altitude of the mount to between 60° and 75° if possible.
• Release the R.A. lock knob and rotate around the R.A. axis so that the counterweight rod is in a horizontal position.
Tighten the R.A. lock knob.
• Unlock the Dec. lock knob and rotate the telescope tube until it is parallel to the ground.
• Slowly release the telescope and determine in which direction it rotates. Loosen the tube clamps or ring clamps and
slide the telescope tube forward or backward between the rings until it is balanced.
• Once the telescope no longer rotates from its parallel starting position, retighten the tube clamps or ring clamps and
the Dec. lock knob. Reset the altitude axis to your local latitude.
Operating the mount
The mount has controls for both conventional altitude (up-down) and azimuth (left-right) directions of motion. These two
adjustments are suggested for large direction changes and for terrestrial viewing. To adjust azimuth, loosen the big knob
under the mount base and rotate the mount head about the azimuth axis. Use the altitude adjustment T-bolts to set the
required altitude.
In addition, the equatorial mount has R.A. (hour angle) and Dec. controls for polar-aligned astronomical observing.
Loosen the lock knobs to make large direction changes. Use the slow-motion controls for fine adjustment after the lock
knobs have both been locked. An additional scale is included for the altitude axis. This allows polar alignment at your
local latitude (fig. 9).
Polar adjustment
In order for your telescope to track objects in the sky you have to align your mount. This means tilting the head over so
that it points to the North (or South) celestial pole. For people in the Northern Hemisphere this is rather easy as the
bright star Polaris is very near the North Celestial Pole. For casual observing, rough polar alignment is adequate. Make
sure your equatorial mount is leveled and the finderscope is aligned with the telescope before beginning.
Look up your latitude on a map, road maps are good for this purpose. Now look at the side of your mount head, there
you will see a scale running from 0 to 90°. Loosen the mount latch slightly rotating the lock handle counterclockwise. A
thumbscrew located underneath the mount head pushes the latch plate, thus changing the angle. Turn the screw until
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