Carson Optical RP-300 Using the Telescope, Image Orientation, Using Setting Circles

Your telescope is now polar aligned for the area you are using it. You will need only to point the telescope North (or South in the Southern Hemisphere) when using it from now on. You will only need to repeat the polar alignment if you move to a different location and your latitude has changed.

Using the Telescope:

Once you have properly assembled, balanced and aligned your telescope you are finally ready to start using it.

• To locate an object using the telescope, first loosen the R.A. lock (Fig. 3-22) and Dec. lock (Fig. 3-15) allowing the telescope to rotate along both axes. Look through the finder scope (Fig. 1-1) to sight the object you are looking for and center it in the finder scope cross-hairs. You may need to focus the finder scope by turning the finder scope focus knob (Fig. 5-25). Then re-tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks.

• It is best to use the lowest power eyepiece (the Kellner 20mm eyepiece) at first. This allows for a wider field of view making it easier to locate objects. Once the object is centered in the field of view you can switch the eyepiece to higher magnifications.

• Once the object is centered in the field of view, turn the focus knobs (Fig. 4-4) on the eyepiece focuser (Fig. 4-2) until the image is clear and sharp.

• You will notice that the object you are viewing will slowly move across the field of view (caused by the rotation of the Earth). You will need to turn the R.A. flexible cable (Fig. 1-8) to keep the object centered.

Image Orientation:

You will notice that the image you see through your finder scope and tele- scope are inverted (upside down). This is normal for Newtonian Reflector telescopes.

Using Setting Circles:

The setting circles (Fig. 3-16,17) on your equatorial mount can be used to locate hard to find celestial objects. Follow the instructions below to use the setting circles effectively:

• Make sure your telescope is assembled properly and polar aligned.

• Look up the celestial coordinates of an easy to spot object located nearby to the object you seek on a star chart or atlas (not included).

• Center this easy to spot object in the field of view of your telescope.

• Rotate the R.A. setting circle (Fig. 3-17) on your telescope’s mount by hand until the proper coordinate lines up with the R.A. indicator. You will notice that the R.A. setting circle has two sets of numbers. The top numbers are for the Northern hemisphere. The bottom numbers are for the Southern hemisphere. Once complete your setting circles are now calibrated. You are now ready to locate the hard to find object.

• Loosen the Dec. lock (Fig. 3-15) and move the telescope in Declination until the indicator points to the correct coordinate. Re-tighten the Dec. Lock when finished

• Loosen the R.A. lock (Fig. 3-22) and move the telescope in R.A. un- til the indicator points to the correct coordinate. Re-tighten the R.A. lock when finished.

• Look through the finder scope (Fig. 1-1) to see if you have located the object you are looking for and center the object in the crosshairs of the finder scope.

• Look through the telescope eyepiece and the object you are searching for should be centered in the field of view.

• This process must be repeated every time you set up your telescope.

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