User manual ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS ATLAS EQUATORIAL MOUNT

[. . . ] INSTRUCTION MANUAL Orion Atlas EQ Mount TM ® #9830 Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: support@telescope. com Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 P. O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 IN 177 Rev. A 11/02 Tube ring mounting plate Tube ring mounting plate lock knobs (2) Dec. setting circle Front opening Power indicator light Power cord jack Hand controller jack R. A. [. . . ] Use the three alignment setscrews on the polar axis finder (Figure 7) to redirect the crosshairs of the polar finder to the apparent center of this circular path. Repeat this procedure until the position that the crosshairs point to does not rotate off-center when the mount is rotated in R. A. The polar axis finder scope is now ready to be used. When not in use, replace the plastic protective cover to prevent the polar finder from getting bumped. Using the Polar Axis Finder Scope The reticle of the polar axis finder scope for the Atlas has a tiny star map printed on it that makes precise polar alignment quick and easy. To align the mount using the polar axis finder scope, follow these instructions: 1. Approximately polar-align the mount as outlined in the procedure above. lock lever and rotate the optical tube on the declination axis so that the tube is at a 90° to the right ascension axis (Figure 7). Remove the cap on the front opening of the equatorial mount (Figure 4). Focus the polar finder by rotating the 6 ® Power switch Indicator light Rate switch Reverse switches R. A. pushbuttons Note: From this point on in your observing session, you should not make any further adjustments in the azimuth or the latitude of the mount, nor should you move the tripod. The telescope should be moved only about its right ascension and declination axes. Additional Note Regarding Focusing the Polar Axis Finder Scope The polar axis finder scope is normally focused by simply rotating the eyepiece focus ring. However, if after adjusting the focus ring you find that the image of the reticle is sharp, but the stars are out of focus, then you must adjust the focus of the polar axis finder's objective lens. To do this, first remove the polar axis finder from the mount. Look through the polar axis finder at a star (at night) or distant object at least 1/4 mile away (during daylight). Use the eyepiece focus ring to bring the reticle into sharp focus. Now, loosen the focus lock ring (Figure 6) and thread the entire objective end of the finder inward or outward until images appear sharp. Once the polar axis finder's objective lens is focused, it should not need to be adjusted again. Operation of the Atlas Mount Motor Drives The Atlas EQ mount comes with dual built-in motor drives. These motor drives will be used to "track" objects in the night sky, as well as to make minute adjustments when aiming the telescope. The motors are controlled from the hand controller (Figure 8). [. . . ] Remember, once the mount is polar aligned, the telescope should be moved only on the R. A. To point the scope overhead, first loosen the R. A. lock lever and rotate the telescope on the right ascension axis until the counterweight shaft is horizontal (parallel to the ground). lock lever and rotate the telescope until it is pointing straight overhead. [. . . ]