iOptron ZEQ25GT quick start Quick Polar Alignment

Return the mount to Zero Position after balance, i.e. the CW shaft points to ground and telescope is at the highest position.

Turn Gear Switch Knob 90 degree again to LOCK position to re-engage the worm to the worm wheel. Retighten the Gear Switch Locking Screw.

CAUTION: The balance process MUST be done with Gear Switch at OPEN position! Otherwise it might damage the worm system.

8.Connect Cables: Connect DEC unit to the main control unit with a short, straight RJ11 cable. Connect the Go2Nova® 8408 hand controller to the HC port on the main unit. Plug 12V DC power supply into the POWER socket. The power indicator on the main unit will be on when the power switch is turned on.

9.Polar Alignment: In order for an equatorial mount to track properly, it has to be accurately polar aligned.

Take off the Polar Axis Cover and Polar Scope Cover. Look through the polar scope eyepiece to locate the Polaris. Slightly turn tripod Center Rod Knob to loosen the mount head. Adjust the Azimuth Adjustment Knobs to do a fine adjustment of the mount to center the polar star in the azimuth direction. Tighten the Center Rod Knob to secure the mount. Slightly loosen two Latitude Locking T-bolts on the side of the mount, turning the Latitude Adjustment Knob to adjust the latitude (altitude). Re-tighten the locking screws.

Polar Scope LED

(2) Pressing the MENU button, then select “Align”

and “Pole Star Position” to display the Polaris

Position on the LCD screen, as indicated in the

left of the following figure. For example, May 30,

2010, 20:00:00 at Boston, US (alt N42º30’32” and

long W71º08’50”), 300 min behind UT, the Polaris

Position are 1h26.8m and 41.5m

(If you are located at south hemisphere, Sigma

Octantis will be used as the reference for polar

alignment.)

(3) Using Azimuth Adjustment Knob and Latitude

Polar Axis Cover

Lat. Locking T-bolt

Lat. Adj. Knob

Polar Axis (R.A. axis)

Adjustment Knob to adjust the mount in altitude

and azimuth directions and put the Polaris in

same position on the Polar Scope Dial as

indicated on the HC LCD, as shown in Right of the

above figure.

If the mount is not equipped with a polar scope or the pole star cannot be seen, you can use Polar Alignment Procedure.

Azi. Adj. Knob

Polar Scope Cover

(1) Level the ZEQ25 mount and set it at Zero Position.

Make sure the telescope is parallel to the pole

axis (R.A. axis) of the mount. If a finder scope is

used, adjust it to be parallel to the telescope

optical axis. Set correct R.A. and DEC back lash

numbers. An eyepiece with cross hairs is

If the mount is equipped with iOptron’s AccuAligningTM Polar Scope, you can do a fast and accurate polar alignment.

Quick Polar Alignment

(1)Connect polar scope LED cable between Reticle plug located on the main unit and the LED socket at the bottom of the DEC axle. The illumination intensity can be adjusted using the HC via “Set Polar Scope Light” function under “Set Up Controller” menu.

recommended.

(2) Power on the mount. Pressing the MENU button,

then select “Align” and “Polar Alignment”. The

HC will display the azimuth and altitude position of

several bright stars near meridian. Select one that

is visible from the site as aligning Star A. Follow

the instruction to move the Star A to the center of

the eyepiece with the combination of Latitude

Adjustment Knob and “◄” or “►” button. Press

ENTER to confirm. Then select a bright star that is

close to the horizon as aligning Star B. Center it

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iOptron Corp. 6E Gill Street Woburn, MA 01801 USA (781) 569-0200 Toll Free (866) 399-4587 www.iOptron.com