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16" STARFINDER REFLECTING TELESCOPE:
INTRODUCTION
The 16" Starfinder Equatorial telescope will open up the skies for a breathtaking array of visual observations. Galaxies, nebulae, star clusters — in all their variations of form, color, and extent — as well as the Moon, planets, comets and other objects within the solar system, may be studied in great detail. For those interested in photography, excellent results can be obtained using the optional Meade camera adapter and a 35mm camera body.
This manual is designed for the 16" Starfinder Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. We urge the Starfinder user to read this manual thoroughly, to become familiar with all of the Starfinder options, so that the telescope may be used to its full potential.
PARTS LISTING AND ASSEMBLY
When first opening the packing boxes, note carefully the following parts included with the Starfinder 16" Telescope:
Carton #1:
—Optical tube
—Mounting straps
—Secondary mirror assembly
Carton #2:
—Primary mirror mounted in its cell.
—Installation hardware
CAUTION: The primary mirror must be handled with special care. Never touch its reflective surface or place the mirror where it could be damaged. Save all original packing materials; if it is ever necessary to ship the telescope, these materials will help to assure that no shipping damage will occur.
Carton #3:
—Equatorial head with motor attached
—Strap mounting blocks
—Focuser
—8 x 50mm viewfinder
—Pier
—Three tripod legs
—25mm eyepiece
—All necessary hardware.
Carton #4:
— 25 lb counterweight
Carton #5:
— 40 lb counterweight
To assemble the telescope, follow these steps:
1.Tripod: Attach the tripod legs (16), Fig. 1, to the pier (13), Fig. 1, using the wing nuts provided.
2.Attaching the Equatorial Head: Remove the equatorial head from carton #3 and insert the lower portion of the pier cap (15), Fig. 1, into the top of the pier (13), Fig. 1. Use the three screws supplied in the pier cap to attach the pier to the pier cap of the equatorial head. Thread the declination lock knob (7), Fig. 1, into the machined housing located near the lower end of the declination housing (6), Fig. 1.
3.Adjusting the Latitude: Adjust the polar axis to your approximate latitude by loosening the latitude locking bolt (14), Fig.1. It will also be necessary to loosen the four hex set screws located on the pier cap near the latitude locking bolts. Rotate the mount about the lock bolt until the polar axis (5), Fig. 1, points to Polaris. See page 9.
4.Mounting the Counterweights: With a screwdriver, loosen the panhead screw at the end of the declination shaft (10),
Fig. 1, and remove the counterweight safety washer (11), Fig. 1. Slide the two counterweights (9), Fig 1, onto the declination shaft (10), Fig 1, and lock them in place about one quarter of the way up the shaft. It does not matter which counterweight goes on first if the two counterweights are placed next to each other on the shaft. If the two counterweights are separated along the shaft, the heavier counterweight should be placed on the shaft after the lighter counterweight.
CAUTION: Be sure to secure the counterweight safety washer (11), Fig 1, onto the end of the declination shaft by placing the washer at the end of the shaft and replacing the panhead screw. The counterweights should never be removed with the optical tube in place!
5.Attaching the Focuser Assembly: To install the focuser assembly, first lay the optical tube flat on a floor. Align the holes in the focuser assembly (3), Fig. 1, with the
6.Attaching the Viewfinder: With the optical tube lying flat on the floor, align the holes in the viewfinder bracket (1), Fig. 1, with the
7.Mounting the Primary Mirror Cell: Carefully remove the primary mirror cell (19), Fig. 1, from carton #2. With the tube lying flat on the floor, line up the colored mark on the mirror cell with the colored mark inside the optical tube. Slide the complete mirror cell into the rear of the telescope and secure the cell to the tube with the supplied hardware.
8.Mounting the Secondary Mirror: From carton #1, carefully remove the secondary mirror assembly from its separate box. With the optical tube assembly lying flat on the floor, grasp the secondary mirror assembly by the threaded rod and, reaching between the spider vanes of the optical tube, thread the threaded rod through the central hole in the spider vane. Use the provided washer and locking nut to secure the secondary mirror assembly in place. The slanted secondary mirror should be positioned so that it can be seen when looking through the focuser drawtube (24), Fig. 1. Collimating (aligning) the secondary mirror with the primary mirror is discussed later in this manual.
9.Attaching the Mounting Straps: Attach the strap mounting blocks (21), Fig, 1, to the saddle plate (22), Fig. 1, using the wing nuts supplied on the strap mounting blocks. From carton #1, remove the mounting straps (23), Fig. 1. Attach each strap to a strap mounting block, the felt side facing inside, with the two screws from the mounting block.
10.Mounting the Optical Tube: With the saddle plate (22), Fig. 1, rotated to a horizontal position, CAREFULLY set the optical tube assembly on the strap mounting blocks (21), Fig. 1, and wrap the mounting straps (23), Fig. 1, around the tube. Slide the stud of the mounting straps into the hole on the mounting blocks and lock into place with the wing nut provided. Tighten the wing nuts until the tube is secured firmly and does not slide.
CAUTION: Since the telescope has yet to be balanced, the tube may begin to move around either the declination axis or polar axis, or both. Firmly tighten the declination lock knob (7),