2
Unpacking Your Telescope
Use care when unpacking the shipping carton. We recommend
keeping the box and all original packaging materials. In the
event that the telescope needs to be shipped to another loca-
tion, or returned for warranty repair, having the proper packag-
ing will ensure that your telescope will survive the journey intact.
Returns for refund or exchange will not be accepted without all
of the original packaging. Make sure that all the items listed in
the Parts List below are present.
Parts List
Part Quantity
Optical tube assembly
1
2
"
Extension ring
1
1
"
Extension rings
2
Quick collimation cap
1
Dust cover
1
The Focuser
Orion Classical Cassegrain telescopes come standard with a
machined, all-aluminum, dual-speed focuser. The CC6 features
a 2
"
Crayford focuser equipped with a removable 1.25
"
adapt-
er
(Figure 1A)
. The CC8 has a 2
"
linear-bearing Crayford
focuser, which has a stabilizing track on the underside of the
drawtube that provides extra rigidity for carrying heavy payloads
(Figure 2)
. Drawtube flexure is virtually eliminated by stabiliz-
ing the drawtube within the focuser housing. Both focusers have
a 10:1 fine focus adjustment. Every 10 turns of the small knob
equals a single turn of the large knob, to enable the micro-ad-
justment necessary for the sharpest images possible. Use the
coarse focus knob to adjust the telescope until your object is as
close to focus as possible, then make fine adjustments with the
black outside knob.
Each focuser is also equipped with both a tension adjustment
knob for the drawtube and a drawtube locking knob. For the
CC6 both knobs are on the underside of the focuser
(Figure
1B)
, whereas on the CC8 the tension adjustment knob is on the
underside of the focuser while the larger locking knob is on top
(Figure 2)
. We recommend keeping the tension adjustment
knob fairly tight at all times as this will minimize drawtube flex-
ure and slippage.
The focuser can be rotated to a desired angle prior to final focus-
ing for astrophotographic framing or to position the focus knobs
at a convenient orientation by slightly loosening the focuser
attachment collar (turning it counterclockwise), then rotating the
focuser to the desired position, then retightening the collar.
Extension Rings
Included with your telescope are three thread-on extension
rings
(Figure 3)
. These extension rings are provided to allow
multiple visual or photographic accessories to reach focus,
depending on their backfocus requirements. They are designed
for installation individually or in combination between the optical
tube and the focuser to take up unneeded backfocus. Refer to
the Specifications at the end of this manual for the native back-
focus distance of the CC6 and CC8.
If the focuser drawtube is fully extended and you are still unable
to achieve focus you will need to install one or more extension
rings. To do so you must first remove the focuser from the opti-
cal tube by rotating the focuser attachment collar counterclock-
wise. Once you have threaded the desired length of extension
rings onto the male threads on the telescope tube, re-attach
the focuser by aligning the silver attachment collar over the
exposed extension ring threads and tighten by turning clock-
wise
(Figure 4)
. It may be useful to experiment with different
combinations during the day before heading out into the field
at night. Choose a target over ½ mile away to ensure you are
simulating infinity focus. The goal is to reach focus with as little
extension of the focuser drawtube as possible, to avoid draw-
tube flexure.
Depending on what equipment you use to observe or image
with, you may need to add one or more of the included exten-
sion rings. For instance, for visual observation with a typical
1.25
"
star diagonal and 1.25
"
eyepiece, you will need 2
"
of
extension (two 1
"
rings or one 2
"
ring) between the tube and
the focuser. In our imaging tests with the CC6 and CC8, using
an Orion StarShoot Solar System camera and also using a star
diagonal, the same 2
"
of extension was required
(Figure 5)
. To
use the same camera without a star diagonal – directly inserted
Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion Classical Cassegrain telescope. These compact but long-focal-length telescopes
are designed for high-power viewing and imaging performance. Sporting an optical design comprising a parabolic primary mirror
and a hyperbolic secondary mirror – both made from thermally stable quartz glass – the Classical Cassegrains offer high-resolution
images with zero image shift, no front glass element to dew up, and a compact form factor that does not require a gigantic mount.
Particularly well suited for both visual observation and imaging of solar system subjects, but also of smaller deep-space objects,
the CC6 and CC8 provide a welcome alternative to the myriad low-power, wide-field optical systems so common today. Enjoy your
new telescope!
WARNING:
Never look directly at the Sun through
your telescope—even for an instant—without a
professionally made solar filter that completely
covers the front of the instrument, or permanent eye
damage could result. Young children should use
this telescope only with adult supervision.
