Meade 114EQ-ASTR instruction manual Alignment, Optics, Correct Collimation

Meade114EQASTR 3/28/07 9:33 AM Page 18

should not be considered			Fig. 10
reason to clean the surface.
16 When lens or mirror
cleaning does become
necessary, use a camel's hair	Monture
brush or compressed air		Miroir Diagonal	Miroir Primaire
	Diagonale
gently to remove dust. If the
telescope's dust cover is			Vis D'inclinaison
replaced after each observing
		Image Focalisée	du Miroir Primaire
session, cleaning of the optics
will rarely be required.	The Newtonian Reflecting Telescope

• Fingerprints and organic	COLLIMATION		Fig. 11
materials on the lens or mirror may
	(ALIGNMENT) OF
be removed with a solution of 3 parts
	OPTICS
distilled water to 1 part isopropyl
	All Polaris 114 EQ-AR
alcohol. You may also add 1 drop of
biodegradable dishwashing soap per	telescopes are
pint of solution. Use soft, white facial	optically aligned at the
tissues and make short, gentle	factory prior to	2
strokes. Change tissues often.	shipment. It is unlikely
CAUTION: Do not use scented	that you will need to
	align, or collimate, the
or lotioned tissues or damage
	optics after receipt of	Diagonal Assembly
could result to the optics. DO NOT
	the instrument.
use a commercial photographic
	However, if the telescope received unusually
lens cleaner.
	rough handling in shipment, it is possible
	that the optics must be re-aligned for best

optical performance. In any case this alignment procedure is simple, and requires only a few minutes the very first time the telescope is used. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the following collimation procedure, so That you will recognize a properly collimated instrument and can adjust the collimation yourself, if necessary.

A. CORRECT COLLIMATION

The properly collimated (aligned) mirror system in the Polaris 114 EQ-AR assures the sharpest images possible. This occurs when the primary mirror and diagonal mirror are tilted so that the focused image falls directly through the center of the focuser drawtube. These mirror tilt adjustments are made with the diagonal assembly and the primary mirror cell (Fig. 10) and will be discussed later.

To inspect the view of the mirror collimation, look down the focuser drawtube with the eyepiece removed. The edge of the focuser drawtube (1, Fig.13), will frame the reflections of the primary mirror with the 3 mirror clips (2, Fig. 13)

Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.