11
11. Attach the two slow-motion cables (8,9) to the R.A. and
Dec. worm gear shafts of the equatorial mount (5) by posi-
tioning the thumbscrew on the end of the cable over the
indented slot on the worm gear shaft and then tightening
the thumbscrew. We recommend that the shorter cable be
used on either end of the R.A. worm gear shaft and the
longer cable on the Dec. worm gear shaft.
12. Unthread the two knurled metal thumbnuts located on the
optical tube (1) and place the holes on the base of the EZ
Finder II mounting bracket (17) over the two threaded
shafts. Then thread the metal thumbnuts back on the
shafts to secure the mounting bracket to the optical tube.
13. Attach the EZ Finder II reflex sight (4) to the EZ Finder II
mounting bracket (17). Loosen the two securing thumb-
screws on the EZ Finder II (Figure 5) and slide it onto the
mounting bracket. Tighten the two securing thumbscrews.
You will align the EZ Finder II later, in the Getting Started
section.
14. Insert the chrome barrel of the 90° mirror star diagonal (2)
into the focuser drawtube (18). See Figure 2b. Secure the
star diagonal with the diagonal holder thumbscrews (20).
15. Insert the chrome barrel of the 25mm Explorer II eyepiece
(3) into the open end of the star diagonal (2). Secure the
eyepiece in the diagonal with the eyepiece holder thumb-
screws (21).
Your telescope is now fully assembled and should resemble
Figures 1-3.
4. Getting started
Balancing the telescope
To insure smooth movement of the telescope on both axes of
the equatorial mount, it is imperative that the optical tube be
properly balanced. We will first balance the telescope with
respect to the right ascension (R.A.) axis and then in the dec-
lination (Dec.) axis.
1. Keeping one hand on the telescope optical tube (1), loosen
the R.A. lock knob (23). Make sure the Dec. lock knob (25)
is locked. The telescope should now be able to rotate freely
about the R.A. axis. Rotate it until the counterweight shaft
(26) is parallel to the ground (i.e., horizontal).
2. Now loosen the counterweight lock knob (27) and slide the
weight along the shaft until it exactly counterbalances the
telescope (Figure 4a). That’s the point at which the shaft
remains horizontal even when you let go of the telescope
with both hands (Figure 4b).
3. Retighten the counterweight lock knob. The telescope is
now balanced on the R.A. axis.
4. To balance the telescope on the Dec. axis, first tighten the
R.A. lock knob (23), with the counterweight shaft (26) still
in the horizontal position.
5. With one hand on the telescope optical tube (1), loosen
the Dec. lock knob (25). The telescope should now be able
to move about freely on the Dec. axis. Loosen the knurled
Do You Wear Eyeglasses?
If you wear eyeglasses, you may be able to keep
them on while you observe. In order to do this, your
eyepiece must have enough “eye relief” to allow you
to see the entire field of view with glasses on. You can
try looking through the eyepiece first with your
glasses on and then with them off, to see if the
glasses restrict the view to only a portion of the full
field. If the glasses do restrict the field of view, you
may be able to observe with your glasses off by just
refocusing the telescope to your unaided vision.
If your eyes are astigmatic, images will probably
appear best with glasses on. This is because a
telescope’s focuser can accommodate for
nearsighted ness or farsightedness, but not
astigmatism. If you have to wear your glasses while
observing and cannot see the entire field of view, you
may want to purchase additional eyepieces that have
longer eye relief.
Short eye relief
restricts the field of
view for eyeglass
wearers.
Long eye relief
allows full field of
view to be seen
with or without
eyeglasses.
Figure 5.
The EZ Finder II reflex sight
Power
knob
Azimuth
adjustment
wheel
Altitude
adjustment
wheel
Thumbscrews
Battery
cover
