Orion Telescope Inserting an Eyepiece, Attaching a Finder Scope, Aligning the Finder Scope

Inserting an Eyepiece

An eyepiece magnifies the image focused by the telescope. The eyepiece fits into either the visual back directly or the star diagonal. To install an eyepiece:

1.Loosen the set screw on the star diagonal until the tip no longer extends into the inner diameter of the eyepiece end of the diagonal.

2.Slide the chrome portion of the eyepiece into the star diag- onal.

3.Tighten the set screw on the star diagonal to hold the eye- piece in place.

To remove the eyepiece, loosen the setscrew on the star diagonal and slide the eyepiece out. You can replace it with another eyepiece (purchased separately).

Eyepieces are commonly referred to by focal length and bar- rel diameter. The focal length of each eyepiece is printed on the eyepiece barrel. The longer the focal length (i.e., the larger the number) the lower the eyepiece magnification, the shorter the focal length (i.e., the smaller the number) the higher the magnification. Generally, you will use low to moderate pow- ers when viewing. For more information on how to determine power, see the section on “Calculating Magnification.”

Attaching a Finder Scope

A finder scope is a small, wide-field telescope used to help locate and center objects in the field of your main telescope. The finder scope has a built-in crosshair reticle that shows the optical center of the finder’s field of view.

1.To install an Orion finder scope, you must first attach a dovetail finder scope base (#7215) to the telescope. Line up the through-holes in the base with the threaded holes in the rear cell of the telescope tube. Then insert the two supplied screws through the base and thread them into the telescope holes until secure (Figure 3a). Now you’re ready to attach the finder scope.

2.Unthread the two black nylon thumbscrews until the ends are flush with the inside of the bracket (Figure 3b). Remove the O-ring from the foot of the bracket and slide it over the back of the finder (it will NOT fit over the objective end of the finder). It may need to be stretched a little. Slide it until it seats into the slot in the middle of the finder tube.

3.Slide the eyepiece end (narrow end) of the finder scope into the end of the bracket’s cylinder opposite the align- ment screws while pulling the chrome, spring-loaded ten- sioner pin on the bracket with your fingers (Figure 3c).

Push the finder scope through the bracket until the O-ring seats just inside the front opening of the bracket cylinder. Release the tensioner pin and tighten the two black nylon thumbscrews a couple of turns each to secure the finder scope in place.

4.Now insert the foot of the finder scope bracket into the dovetail base. Lock the bracket into position by tightening the knurled thumbscrew on the dovetail holder.

Aligning the Finder Scope

Accurate alignment of the finder scope makes it easy to find objects with the telescope, especially celestial objects. To make aligning the finder as easy as possible, this proce- dure should be done in the daytime when it is easy to find and identify objects. The finder scope has two perpendicular adjustment screws and a spring-loaded pin that allow easy adjustment of the finder scope horizontally and vertically. To align the finder:

Figure 3a. Attaching the optional dovetail finder scope base.

	Alignment
Focus	thumbscrews			Eyepiece
lock ring
Objective lens
				Tensioner
			Finder-scope
					bracket
					Dovetail
					foot
Figure 3b. The Orion 6x30 finder scope.
		Figure 3c.
		Pull the spring-
		loaded tensioner
		outward, then
		insert the finder
		scope into the
		finder scope
		bracket.

3