User manual MEADE ASTROFINDER 60

[. . . ] Instruction Manual AstroFinder Model 60: 60mm (2. 4") Altazimuth Refracting Telescope Y B E D EA M Meade Instruments Corporation 6001 OAK CANYON, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618-5200 U. S. A. (949) 451-1450 I FAX: (949) 451-1460 I www. meade. com © 2002 Rev. B 0501 WARNING: NEVER USE AN ASTROFINDER MODEL 60 TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN!LOOKING AT OR NEAR THE SUN WILL CAUSE INSTANT AND IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO YOUR EYE. EYE DAMAGE IS OFTEN PAINLESS, SO THERE IS NO WARNING TO THE OBSERVER THAT DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. [. . . ] The telescope is now completely assembled. To move the telescope and point it from one object to another, first slightly loosen one of the chrome-lock (star-shaped) knobs (5, Fig. 1) which serve as a vertical lock, then loosen the azimuth (horizontal) lock (6, Fig. Also, slightly loosen the altitude coarse adjustment lock knob (17, Fig. Loosening these locks allows the telescope to be moved freely (vertically or horizontally) in any direction so that the telescope can be positioned to center a terrestrial or celestial object in the telescopic field. Once a sky object is found the altitude lock knob (17, Fig. 1) can be tightened and the altitude slow-motion fine-adjustment control knob (16, Fig. 1) can then be used to make very smooth and accurate tracking in the vertical axis. VIEWFINDER FOCUSING AND ALIGNMENT The 5 x 24mm viewfinder (2, Fig. 1) is a low-power, wide-field sighting device that, once aligned, will allow you to point the telescope with greater precision. Note: When you look through the viewfinder, you will see a crosshair with images that will be upside-down; this is normal. To work properly, the viewfinder must first be aligned to the telescope's main optical tube. To align the viewfinder, follow these steps: 1. Insert the 25mm wide-field eyepiece into the diagonal mirror (13, Fig. Point the optical tube assembly (4, Fig. Make sure the detail of the distant object you have chosen is in sharp focus. Focusing is accomplished by turning the focusing knob (23, Fig. 1) until the sharpest possible image is attained. 1) in both the front and rear rings using the collimation screws (3, Fig. Next, looking through the viewfinder, adjust the collimation screws on the rear ring until the object centered in the telescope's main tube is likewise positioned in the center of the viewfinder's crosshairs. Now it is possible to quickly sight an object in the viewfinder first, then find that object approximately centered in the 25mm eyepiece of the telescope. If the viewfinder's infinity image is not in sharp focus, the knurled end of the eyepiece can be turned to fine tune the focus. Be sure to hold the viewfinder firmly between your fingers when making this adjustment. USING THE TELESCOPE With the telescope assembled, you are ready to begin observations. [. . . ] The purpose of a Barlow lens is to increase the magnification possible with a given eyepiece. The 3x Barlow supplied with this telescope will triple the normal eyepiece power. For example, the 25mm (28X) eyepiece, when used in conjunction with the 3x Barlow lens, yields 84X. The 12. 5mm (56X) eyepiece yields 168X when used with the 3x Barlow lens. [. . . ]