Table of Contents iii

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1
How to Use this Manual..................................................................................................................... 2
A Word of Caution ............................................................................................................................. 2
The Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System .......................................................................................... 3
ASSEMBLING YOUR CELESTRON CM-1100 ...................................................................................... 4
Unpacking Your Celestron CM-1100 .................................................................................................. 4
Setting Up the Tripod .........................................................................................................................6
Attaching the Center Leg Brace........................................................................................................ 7
Attaching the Central Column ............................................................................................................ 7
Attaching the Equatorial Mount.......................................................................................................... 8
Installing the Counterweight Bar ........................................................................................................ 9
Installing the Counterweight ............................................................................................................... 9
Attaching the Celestron CM-1100 to the Mount ................................................................................10
Attaching the Visual Back ................................................................................................................11
Installing the Star Diagonal ...............................................................................................................11
Installing the Eyepiece .....................................................................................................................12
Installing the Finder ..........................................................................................................................13
Installing the Polar Axis Finder .........................................................................................................14
Moving the Telescope in R.A. and DEC ............................................................................................15
Using the Slow Motion Controls........................................................................................................ 15
Adjusting the Mount .........................................................................................................................16
Balancing the Mount in R.A. .............................................................................................................17
Balancing the Mount in DEC............................................................................................................. 18
Transporting Your Celestron CM-1100 ..............................................................................................19
Storing Your Celestron CM-1100 ......................................................................................................19
Technical Specifications ...................................................................................................................20
TELESCOPE BASICS......................................................................................................................... 22
Image Orientation .............................................................................................................................22
Focusing ..........................................................................................................................................23
General Photography Hints...................................................................................................... .........24
Aligning the Finder............................................................................................................................ 24
Your First Look................................................................................................................................. 25
Daytime Observing .....................................................................................................................25
Nighttime Observing ...................................................................................................................26
Calculating Magnification ..................................................................................................................27
Determining Field of View .................................................................................................................27
ASTRONOMY BASICS .......................................................................................................................28
The Celestial Coordinate System...................................................................................................... 28
Motion of the Stars ...........................................................................................................................29
Polar Alignment ................................................................................................................................30
Finding the Pole ...............................................................................................................................31
Latitude Scales ..........................................................................................................................32
Pointing at Polaris...................................................................................................................... 33
The Polar Axis Finder................................................................................................................. 34
Declination Drift.......................................................................................................................... 35
Aligning the Setting Circles .............................................................................................................36
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S