Carson Optical RP-100 instruction manual Calculating Power, Understanding Celestial Movement

Attaching the Eyepieces:

Insert the Huygenian 20mm eyepiece (Fig. 4-3) into the focuser (Fig. 4-2) and tighten down using the focuser locking screw (Fig. 4-15).

You have now completed the assembly of your Red PlanetTM telescope. We will now need to make the necessary adjustments in order to use your telescope properly.

Aligning the Finder Scope:

The low power and wide field of view provided by the 10x30mm finder scope (Fig. 1-1) provides a quick and easy way to sight an object prior to looking through the high-power telescope. The finder scope must first be properly aligned with the telescope in order to work properly. This alignment is best performed during the daylight. Follow the steps below to align your finder scope properly:

• Place the Huygenian 20mm eyepiece (Fig. 1-3) into the focuser (Fig. 1-2) of the telescope.

• Loosen the horizontal lock knob (Fig. 1-7) and the altitude rod coarse adjustment lock knob (Fig. 3-14).

• Point the main telescope at a specific land object 200 yards or more away and center that object in the telescope field of view. Lock down the horizontal lock knob (Fig. 1-7) and the altitude rod coarse adjustment lock knob (Fig. 3-14) being careful to keep the object centered.

• Now look through the finder scope and loosen or tighten the finder scope bracket thumb screws (Fig. 5-16) until the crosshairs are centered on the same object. Focus by turning the finder scope focus knob (Fig. 5-17) until the image in the finder scope is sharp and clear.

• Check the alignment at nighttime by repeating this process with a bright star or the moon. Make any necessary adjustments.

Now that your finder scope is properly aligned, any object centered in your finder scope should also be centered in your telescope.

Calculating Power:

The magnification of a telescope depends on both the focal length of your telescope as well as the eyepiece you use. There is a simple formula you can use to determine the magnification you are using at any given time. Simply divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece. For example, if you are using the 20mm eyepiece with your TP-100 telescope the power would be:

Power = 700mm / 20mm = 35x

Using an eyepiece with a smaller focal length will increase the magnification of your telescope. It is always best to start at the lowest magnification configuration. The wider field of view makes it easier to spot far away objects. Once an object is centered in your field of view you can switch to the higher power configurations.

Understanding Celestial Movement:

In order to get the most enjoyment out of your telescope it is necessary to know the basics of how celestial objects move across the sky. Due to the rotation of the earth, celestial objects appear to move from East to West across the sky, much like the Sun. You will notice this movement as an object in your telescope field of view will slowly move across the field and out of view. Continuous adjustment is needed to keep an object in the field of view.

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