Key to Figures 1-8:
1.10x30mm Finder Scope
2.Focuser
3.Eyepiece
4.Focus Knobs
5.Optical Tube Assembly
6.U Mount
7.Horizontal Lock Knob
8.U Mount Locking Screw
9.Altitude Rod Fine Adjustment Control
10.Altitude Rod
11.Locking Plates
12.Tripod Legs
13.Locking Plate Thumbscrews
14.Altitude Rod Coarse Adjustment Control
15.Focuser Thumbscrew
16.Finder Scope Bracket Thumbscrew
17.Finder Scope Focus Knob
18.Finder Scope Bracket
19.Finder Scope Bracket Mounting Bolts
20.Tripod Tightening Ring
21.Tripod Brace
22.Eyepiece Holder Slots
23.Tripod Hook
24.Tripod Leg Lock Closed
25.Tripod Leg Lock Open
26.Diagonal Mirror Tilt Screws
27.Diagonal Mirror Holder
28.Primary Mirror Locking Screws
29.Primary Mirror Tilt Screws
Assembly of your Red Planet Telescope:
Setting Up Your Tripod:
The aluminum tripod comes preassembled and ready-to-use. Remove the tripod from the box and pull apart the legs. Gently push down the tripod braces (Fig. 6-21) until they are in the lowest position. Turn the tightening ring (Fig. 6-20) (located at the center of the tripod brace) clockwise to lock the tripod in the open position. You can then extend the legs to the desired height by pulling open the tab on each leg lock (Fig. 6-25), sliding the leg down the desired amount and then pushing the leg lock back against the leg into the locked position (Fig. 6-24). Repeat the process with each leg trying to keep the tripod as level as possible with the ground. You will notice there are holes in the tripod leg braces (Fig. 6-22). These are designed to hold eyepieces when not in use.
Attaching the U Mount:
Remove the U mount (Fig. 1-6) from the box. Place the bottom of the mount into the hole in the top of the tripod head and secure with the mount locking screw (Fig. 1-8). Please be careful to make sure that the mount is securely attached to the tripod.
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount:
Carefully remove the optical tube assembly (Fig. 1-5) from the box. Gently place the optical tube between the forks of the U mount with the focuser (Fig. 1-2) towards the front. Slide the knobs located on the sides of the optical tube assembly into the corresponding openings at the top of the U mount. Twist the locking plates (Fig. 3-11) on the sides of the telescope until the thumbscrew (Fig. 3-13) is aligned with the holes on the forks of the mount. Tighten the thumbscrews to secure the telescope to the mount. Slide the altitude rod (Fig. 3-10) into the hole in the altitude coarse adjustment control (Fig. 3-14). Align the end of the altitude rod with the corresponding threaded hole on the telescope and secure using the included screw.
Be careful not to over-tighten.
Attaching the Finder Scope:
There are two finder scope bracket mounting bolts (Fig. 5-19) located at the front end of the optical tube. Remove the nuts and set aside. Place the finder scope bracket (Fig. 5-18) onto the mounting bolts, replace the nuts and tighten down securely to the optical tube. Make sure the bracket is oriented as shown in Fig. 5. Slide the finder scope (Fig. 1-1) into the bracket facing forward.
