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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 3
ASSEMBLY ............................................................................................................................................. 6
setting up the tripod .............................................................................................................................. 6
attaching the telescope tube to the mount............................................................................................. 7
moving the telescope manually ............................................................................................................ 8
installing the diagonal & eyepiece (refractor) – 60az & 70az .............................................................. 8
installing the diagonal & eyepiece (refractor) – 40az & 50az .............................................................. 8
installing the eyepiece on the newtonian .............................................................................................. 9
installing & using the barlow lens ........................................................................................................ 9
installing & using the 1.5x erecting eyepiece – 40az & 50az............................................................... 9
installing the finderscope (except 40az) ............................................................................................. 10
aligning the finderscope...................................................................................................................... 10
TELESCOPE BASICS ........................................................................................................................... 11
Image Orientation ............................................................................................................................... 12
Focusing.............................................................................................................................................. 12
Calculating Magnification .................................................................................................................. 12
Determining Field of View ................................................................................................................. 13
General Observing Hints .................................................................................................................... 13
ASTRONOMY BASICS ........................................................................................................................ 14
The Celestial Coordinate System........................................................................................................ 14
Motion of the Stars ............................................................................................................................. 15
CELESTIAL OBSERVING ................................................................................................................... 16
Observing the Moon ........................................................................................................................... 16
Observing the Planets ......................................................................................................................... 16
Observing the Sun............................................................................................................................... 16
Observing Deep-Sky Objects ............................................................................................................. 17
Seeing Conditions............................................................................................................................... 19
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................... 20
Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography ......................................................................................... 20
Planetary & Lunar Photography with Special Imagers ...................................................................... 20
CCD Imaging for Deep-Sky Objects.................................................................................................. 20
Terrestrial Photography ...................................................................................................................... 20
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE............................................................................................................ 21
Care and Cleaning of the Optics ......................................................................................................... 21
Collimation of a Newtonian................................................................................................................ 21
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
............................................................................................................... 24
POWERSEEKER SPECIFICATIONS
................................................................................................. 25