Celestron CGEM DX, Instruction Manual

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6
imbalance is very slight . When taking astrophotographs, this
balance process can be done for the specific area at which the
telescope is pointing to further optimize tracking accuracy .
b
alanCinG thE
M
ount in
DEC
Although the telescope does not track in declination, the
telescope should also be balanced in this axis to prevent any
sudden motions when the DEC lock lever is loose . To balance
the telescope in DEC:
1 . Loosen the R .A . clutch lock lever 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 Mount in R .A .”) .
2 . Tighten the R .A . lock lever to hold the telescope in place .
3 . Loosen the DEC clutch lock lever and rotate the telescope
until the tube is parallel to the ground .
4 . Release the tube — GRADUALLY — to see which way it
rotates around the declination axis . DO NOT LET GO OF
THE TELESCOPE TUBE COMPLETELY!
5 . Slightly loosen the knobs that holds the telescope to the
mounting platform and slide the telescope either forward
or backward until it remains stationary when the DEC clutch
is loose . Do NOT let go of the telescope tube while the
knob on the mounting platform is loose . It may be necessary
to rotate the telescope so that the counterweight bar is
pointing down before loosening the mounting
platform screw .
6 . Tighten the knobs on the telescope mounting platform to
hold the telescope in place .
Like R .A . balance, these are general balance instructions
and will reduce undue stress on the mount . When taking
astrophotographs, this balance process should be done for the
specific area at which the telescope is pointing .
a
DjuStinG thE
M
ount
In order for a motor drive to track accurately, the telescope’s
axis of rotation must be parallel to the Earth’s axis of rotation, a
process known as polar alignment . Polar alignment is achieved
NOT by moving the telescope in R .A . or DEC, but by adjusting
the mount vertically, which is called altitude, and horizontally,
which is called azimuth . This section simply covers the correct
movement of the telescope during the polar alignment process .
The actual process of polar alignment, that is making the
telescope’s axis of rotation parallel to the Earth’s, is described
later in this manual in the section on “Polar Alignment . ”
Adjusting the Mount in Altitude
• To increase (raise) the latitude of the polar axis, turn the
rear latitude adjustment knob and loosen the front screw
(if necessary) .
• To decrease (lower) the latitude of the polar axis, turn the
rear latitude adjustment knob and tighten the front screw
(if necessary) .
The latitude adjustment on the mount has a range from
approximately 15° to 70° .
It is best to always make final adjustments in latitude by moving
the mount against gravity (i .e . using the rear latitude adjustment
screw to raise the mount) .
Adjusting the Mount in Azimuth
For rough adjustments in azimuth, simply pick up the telescope
and tripod and move it side to side until it is roughly pointing
towards north . For fine adjustments in azimuth:
1 . Turn the azimuth adjustment knobs located on either side of
the azimuth housing (see Fig 2-10) . While standing behind
the telescope, the knobs are on the front of the mount .
• Turning the right adjustment knob clockwise moves the mount
toward the right .
• Turning the left adjustment knob clockwise moves the mount
to the left .
Both screws push off of the peg on the tripod head, which
means you may have to loosen one screw while tightening the
other . The screw that holds the equatorial mount to the tripod
may have to be loosened slightly .
Keep in mind that adjusting the mount is done during the polar
alignment process only . Once polar aligned, the mount must
NOT be moved . Pointing the telescope is done by moving the
mount in right ascension and declination, as described earlier in
this manual .
p
oWErinG thE
M
ount
The telescope mount can be powered by the supplied car
battery adapter or optional 12v AC adapter . Use only adapters
supplied by Celestron . Using any other adapter may damage
the electronics or cause the telescope not to operate properly,
and will void your manufacturer’s warranty .
1 . To power the telescope with the car battery adapter (or 12v
AC adapter), simply plug the round post into the 12v outlet
on the electronic panel and plug the other end into your
cars cigarette lighter outlet or portable power supply (see
Optional Accessories ) .
2 . Turn on the power to the telescope by flipping the switch,
located on the electronics panel, to the “On” position .
H
and
C
onTrol
All Celestron computerized telescope come with a hand
control designed to give you instant access to all the functions
that your telescope has to offer . With automatic slewing to
over 40,000 objects, and common sense menu descriptions,
even a beginner can master its variety of features in just a few
observing sessions . Below is a brief description of the individual
components of the computerized hand controller:
1 .
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Window : Has a dual-line,
16 character display screen that is backlit for comfortable
viewing of telescope information and scrolling text .
F
igure
2-10
Rear
Latitude
Adjustment
Knob
Front
Latitude
Adjustment
Screw
Azimuth
Adjustment
Knob