While exposing through the camera lens, you will need to mon- itor the accuracy of the mount’s tracking by looking through the illuminated reticle eyepiece in the main telescope. If the guide star drifts from its initial position, then use the hand controller of the motor drive to “move” the guide star back to the center of the crosshairs. Any drifting along the Dec. axis is a result of improper polar alignment, so if the guide star drifts greatly in Dec., the mount may need to be polar aligned more accurately.
When the exposure is complete, unlock the shutter release cable and close the camera’s shutter.
Astrophotography can be enjoyable and rewarding, as well as frustrating and
8. Terrestrial Viewing
The AstroView 120 Refractor may also be used for
For terrestrial viewing, it’s best to stick with low powers of 50x or less. At higher powers the image loses sharpness and clar- ity. That’s because when the scope is pointed near the horizon, it is peering through the thickest and most turbulent part of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Remember to aim well clear of the Sun, unless the front of the telescope is fitted with a professionally made solar filter and the finder scope is covered with foil or some other completely opaque material.
9. Care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a life- time. Store it in a clean, dry,
Your AstroView 120 telescope requires very little mechanical maintenance. The optical tube is aluminum and has a smooth painted finish that is fairly
Cleaning the Optics
A small amount of dust or a few specks on the glass objective (main) lens will not affect the performance of the telescope. If dust builds up, however, simply blow it off with a blower bulb, or lightly brush it off with a soft camel hair brush. Avoid touching optical sur- faces with your fingers, as skin oil may etch optical coatings.
To remove fingerprints or smudges from a lens, use photo-
Never disassemble the telescope or eyepieces to clean opti- cal surfaces!
10. Specifications
Optical tube: Seamless aluminum
Objective lens diameter: 120mm (4.7")
Objective lens: crown and flint, achromatic,
Objective lens coating: fully coated with
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/8.3
Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm Plössls, fully coated, 1.25"
Magnification: 40x (with 25mm), 100x (with 10mm)
Focuser: Rack and pinion, accepts 1.25" or 2" accessories
Diagonal: 90° star diagonal, mirror type, 1.25"
Finder scope: 6x magnification, 30mm aperture, achromatic, crosshairs
Mount:
Tripod: Aluminum
Motor drives: Optional
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