Attaching the Optical Tube to the Mount
The telescope attaches to the mount via a dovetail slide bar which is mounted along the bottom of the telescope. Before you attach the optical tube, make sure that the declination and right ascension clutch knobs are tight. This will ensure that the mount does not move suddenly while attaching the telescope. To mount the telescope tube:
1Loosen the knobs on the side of the telescope mounting platform. This allows you to slide the dovetail bar on the telescope onto the mount.
2Slide the dovetail bar on the telescope tube into the mounting platform of the mount. Slide the telescope so that the back of the dovetail bar is almost flush with the back of the mounting platform.
3Tighten the locking knobs on the side of the mounting platform to hold the telescope in place.
4Slide the dovetail slide bar safety clamp down the front end of the slide bar until it touches the mounting platform. This clamp is designed to keep the telescope from sliding off the mount in case the knobs on the side of the platform comes loose. It is best to wait until the telescope is balanced in R.A. and DEC before attaching the safety clamp (see "Balancing the Mount in DEC" later in this section).
Optical Tube
Dovetail Slide Bar
Mounting Platform
Mounting Platform
Locking Knobs
Figure
10 • Assembling Your
