Instructions / Assembly

EQUATORIAL ALIGNMENT

3. The R.A. circle is now calibrated to read the correct

R.A. of any object at which the telescope is pointed.

The Dec. circle is already calibrated through polar

alignment.

4. To nd another object, again identify the R.A. and

Dec. coordinates. Then, without touching the setting

circles, move the telescope (manually, by unlocking

the vertical and horizontal locks or by slewing the

telescope using the Arrow keys) so that the R.A. and

Dec. pointers read the coordinates of the second

object.

5. If the above procedure has been followed carefully,

the second object will now be in the telescope’s eld

of view.

Note: Since the second object (i.e., the object to be

located) is in constant motion, once the R.A. circle

is calibrated (step 2, above) the telescope should be

moved rapidly to read the coordinates of the second

object. Otherwise the second object will no longer be

in the position indicated by the R.A. circle.

Using setting circles requires a developed technique.

When using the circles for the rst time, try hopping

from one bright star (the calibration star) to another

bright star of known coordinates. Practice moving the

telescope from one easy-to-nd object to another. In

this way the precision required for accurate object

location becomes familiar.