Welcome to the exciting world of amateur astronomy! Your new SkyView Pro 8 EQ is designed for high- resolution viewing of astronomical objects. With its precision optics and equatorial mount, you’ll be able to locate and enjoy hundreds of fascinating celestial denizens, including the planets, Moon, and a variety of
These instructions will help you set up, properly use, and care for your telescope. Please read them thor- oughly before getting started.
Table of Contents
1.Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.Parts list . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4.Balancing the Telescope . . . . . . 5
5.Using Your Telescope . . . . . . . . 6
6.Setting Up and Using the
Equatorial Mount . . . . . . . . . 7
7.Collimation (Aligning the Mirrors) . . . 11
8.Astronomical Observing . . . . . . 14
9.Astrophotography . . . . . . . . . 17
10.Care and maintenance . . . . . . 18
11.Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.Unpacking
The entire mount will arrive in two boxes, one containing the mount and tripod, the other containing the optical tube Be careful unpacking the boxes. We recommend keeping the boxes and all original packaging. In the event that the tele- scope needs to be shipped to another location, or returned to Orion for warranty repair, having the proper boxes and pack- aging will help ensure that your mount will survive the journey intact.
Make sure all the parts in the Parts List are present. Be sure to check each box carefully, as some parts are small. If anything appears to be missing or broken, immediate- ly call Orion Customer Support
Warning: Never look directly at the Sun through your telescope or its finder
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.
2. Parts List
The box containing the mount will have the following parts:
1 Tripod
1Equatorial mount
1Tripod support tray
1Tube ring mounting plate
1Counterweight shaft
1Latitude adjustment
2Counterweights
2 | |
1 | R.A. axis rear cover |
The box containing the optical tube will have the following parts:
1Optical tube assembly
2Tube rings with mounting screws
125mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece
110mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece
1Finder scope
1Finder scope bracket with
1Collimation cap
1Camera adapter
1Dust cover
3. Assembly
1.Stand the tripod legs upright and spread the legs out as far as they will go. Keep the tripod legs at their shortest (fully retracted) length, for now; you can extend them to a more desirable length later, after the scope is fully assembled.
2.Place the base of the equatorial mount into the tripod head. Orient the equatorial mount so that the post on the tripod head lines up with the azimuth adjustment knobs on the equatorial mount (Figure 2). You may need to loosen the azimuth adjustment knobs on the equatorial mount in order to fit the mount into the tripod head.
3.Thread the central support shaft into the equatorial mount until tight. This will secure the equatorial mount to the tri- pod head.
4.Remove the knob and washer from the bottom of the center support shaft. Slide the tripod support tray up the bottom
3