3
1
Soft carry case
1
Hex key (5mm)
Note: The following instructions describe the ShortTube
80-A. If you have purchased the ShortTube 80 Optical Tube
Assembly only, there will be many accessories described
that are not included with your telescope. All of the
described accessories are available from Orion Telescopes
& Binoculars. Contact our Customer Service Department at
800-676-1343 or visit our website at OrionTelescopes.com
for details.
Getting Started
The ShortTube 80-A comes nearly fully assembled from the
factory. The telescope’s optics have been installed and col-
limated, so you should not have to make any adjustments to
them. Open the box and inspect the contents to make sure
all of the items in the parts list are present.
Please keep the original shipping box. In the unlikely event
you should need to ship the telescope back to Orion for war-
ranty repair service, you should use the original packaging.
The box also makes a very good container for storing the
telescope when it is not in use.
Installing the Finder Scope
To place the finder scope in the finder scope bracket (Figure
2a.), first unthread the two black nylon thumbscrews until
the screw ends are flush with the inside diameter of the
bracket. Place the O-ring that comes on the base of the
bracket over the body of the finder scope until it seats into
the slot on the middle of the finder scope. Slide the eye-
piece end (narrow end) of the finder scope into the end of
the bracket’s cylinder opposite the adjustment screws while
pulling the chrome, spring-loaded tensioner on the bracket
with your fingers (Figure 2b.) Push the finder scope through
the bracket until the O-ring seats just inside the front open-
ing of the bracket’s cylinder. Now, release the tensioner and
tighten the two black nylon screws a couple of turns each to
secure the finder scope in place. Secure the bracket to the
dovetail mount on the optical tube with the knurled thumb-
screw on the dovetail mount.
Installing the Diagonal and Eyepiece
Insert the star diagonal into the focuser drawtube and
secure it with the knurled thumbscrew on the drawtube.
Then insert the 20mm Expanse
™
eyepiece into the diagonal
and secure it in place with the thumbscrews on the diagonal.
(Always loosen the thumbscrews before rotating or remov-
ing the diagonal or an eyepiece.)
Mounting the Telescope
The ShortTube 80-A can be mounted on Orion equatorial
mounts using the included tube rings and dovetail mounting
plate. Attach the tube rings to the dovetail mounting plate with
the included socket-head cap screws. Insert the socket-head
cap screws through the holes in the plate and thread them into
the base of the tube rings (Figure 2c). Place the optical tube
into the open rings. Close the rings, and use the silver clamp-
ing knob on each tube ring to secure the telescope. Now you
are ready to attach the telescope to the equatorial mount.
Figure 2a.
The 8x40 finder scope and bracket
Focus
lock ring
Alignment thumbscrews
Figure 2b.
Inserting the finder scope into the finder scope bracket.
Figure 2c.
Attaching the dovetail mounting plate.
Socket-head
cap screw
