Orion® Observer™ 60 Ultra™
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INSTRUCTION MANUAL Orion® Observer™ 60 Ultra™ #9831 Altazimuth Refracting Telescope Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: [email protected] Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 P.O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 IN 079 Rev. A 0898 Dual-ring finder scope bracket Finder scope Objective lens Dew cap/glare shield Finder scope alignment screws Yoke knob Focuser drawtube Altitude lock bolt Altazimuth yoke mount Eyepiece Azimuth lock knob Star diagonal Tripod leg attachment bolt Focus knob Altitude micro- motion knob Altitude micro- Accessory tray motion rod Accessory tray bracket Tripod leg Leg lock bolt Figure 1. Observer 60 Ultra Parts Diagram 2 Congratulations on your purchase of a quality Orion telescope! Your new Observer 60mm Ultra Altazimuth Refractor is designed primarily for astronomical viewing, but can also be used for terrestrial observation (with the recommended addition of an image-erecting prism). If you have never used a telescope before, we would like to welcome you to amateur astronomy. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the night sky. Learn to recognize the patterns of stars in the major constellations; a star wheel, or planisphere, available from Orion or your local telescope shop, will greatly help. With a little practice, a little patience, and a reasonably dark sky away from city lights, you'll find your telescope to be a never-ending source of wonder, exploration, and relaxation. These instructions will help you set up and properly use and care for your telescope. Please read them over thoroughly before getting started. Table of Contents 1. Terminology ......................................................................................................................... 3 2. Parts List .............................................................................................................................. 4 3. Assembly ............................................................................................................................. 4 4. Aligning the Finder Scope ................................................................................................... 4 5. Using the Telescope ............................................................................................................ 5 6. Astronomical Viewing ........................................................................................................... 6 7. Terrestrial Viewing ................................................................................................................ 7 8. Care and Maintenance .......................................................................................................... 7 9. Specifications ......................................................................................................................... 8 Focal Length For refractors, the distance from the objective 1. Terminology lens to the point at which the light rays converge to the focus Altazimuth Mount A simple type of telescope mount that point. The focal length of a refractor is a function of the curva- allows the telescope to be moved in two perpendicular direc- ture of the objective lens as well as on the type of glass it is tions: up-and-down (altitude) and sideways (azimuth). made of. Focal length is usually expressed in millimeters. Altitude Micro-Motion (or Slow-Motion) Control A two- Objective Lens The main lens system on the front end of a piece threaded rod that is anchored to the altazimuth mount refractor. It gathers light and brings it to a focus. The objective and to the telescope tube. A thumbwheel on the rod can be lens of this telescope actually consists of two lens compo- turned to slowly lengthen or shorten its length, resulting in nents (elements). small changes in the pointing altitude of the telescope. Optical Tube The main body of the telescope, which houses Dew Cap Reduces moisture buildup on objective lens; reduc- the optics. es off-axis glare. Rack-and-Pinion Focuser A type of focusing device that Diagonal Diverts the light cone by means of a mirror or prism employs a grooved rack gear and a meshing pinion gear to to provide a more comfortable viewing angle (usually 90° or move the eyepiece-holding drawtube in and out, thereby 45°). Diagonals are often used with refractor and catadioptric allowing adjustment of the image focus. telescopes, but not with Newtonian reflectors. Eyepiece The part into which you look. It contains a number WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun of lenses that together magnify the image formed by the tele- through your telescope or its finder scope— scope and allow your eye to focus on it. Eyepieces of different even for an instant—without a professionally focal lengths will produce different magnifications. made solar filter that completely covers the front Finder Scope Aids in aiming the telescope. It is a small, low- of the instrument, or permanent eye damage power refracting scope, usually with crosshairs, that rides could result. Be sure to also cover piggyback on the main telescope’s optical tube. Its wide field the front of the finder scope with an opaque of view greatly facilitates the location of target objects for material. Young children should use this viewing in the main telescope’s eyepiece. telescope only with adult supervision. 3 4. Now, spread the tripod legs apart as far as they will go, 2. Parts List until the accessory tray bracket is at its fully extended 1 Optical tube assembly, with altitude micro-motion position. Attach the tripod tray by removing the cap in the control rod attached center of the accessory tray bracket. Place the accessory tray on the accessory tray bracket so the hole in the tray 1 Altitude lock bolt fits on the circular spacer in the center of the bracket. 1 Altazimuth yoke mount Secure the tray by replacing the cap to the center of the 1 6x30 achromatic crosshair finder scope accessory tray bracket. 1 Dual-ring finder scope bracket 5. Next, tighten the nuts of the tripod leg attachment bolts at the base of the mount. 1 25mm (32x) Kellner eyepiece (1.25" barrel diameter) 6. To install the optical tube in the yoke mount, first remove 1 9mm (89x) Kellner eyepiece (1.25" barrel diameter) the two yoke knobs from the sides of the optical tube. Slide 1 90° prism star diagonal (hybrid .965"/1.25") the altitude micro-motion rod into its receptacle on the 1 Accessory tray side of the yoke. Then set the optical tube in the yoke, lin- ing up the threaded holes in the sides of the tube with the 1 Accessory tray bracket mounting holes in the yoke. Thread in the yoke knobs until 3 Tripod legs the telescope is held securely. 3 Tripod leg lock bolts 7. Screw in the altitude lock bolt into the receptacle on the side of the yoke mount. 3. Assembly 8. Insert the small end of the star diagonal into the end of the focuser drawtube, securing it with the thumbscrew on the Carefully open all of the boxes in the shipping container. Make focuser drawtube. sure all the parts listed in Section 1 are present. Save the boxes 9. Then insert an eyepiece into the star diagonal and secure and packaging material. In the unlikely event that you need to it in place with the thumbscrew on the diagonal. (Always return the telescope, you must use the original packaging. loosen the thumbscrews before rotating or removing the Assembling the telescope should take only about 10-15 minutes. diagonal or an eyepiece.) All bolts should be tightened securely to eliminate flexing and wob- 10. Attach the finder scope bracket to the optical tube over the bling, but be careful not to over-tighten or the threads may strip. two pre-installed bolts located near the focuser. It doesn’t During assembly (and anytime, for that matter), DO NOT matter whether the slanted bracket stem slants forward or touch any of the lenses of the telescope, finder scope, eye- backward; choose whichever orientation you like. Secure pieces, or the prism of the diagonal, with your fingers. The the bracket in place with the two round thumbscrews. Do optical surfaces have delicate coatings on them that can eas- not loosen the two small hex nuts at the base of the bolts, ily be damaged if touched inappropriately. NEVER remove as they keep them from falling into the optical tube. any lens assembly from its housing for any reason, or the 11. Lastly, install the finder scope in the dual-ring bracket. To do product warranty and return policy are voided. this, we recommend first removing the two spring-tensioned 1. Screw a tripod leg lock bolt into the hole in the lower aluminum alignment screws (the top bolt on each ring) and loosening cuff on each tripod leg. Extend each leg to the same length the other four so the finder scope can be inserted through before tightening the bolts. You can readjust the legs to a more the rings—eyepiece end first—without resistance. The larg- desirable height later, after the scope is completely assem- er, objective lens of the finder scope should point in the bled. same direction as the objective lens of the main telescope. 2. Remove the tripod leg attachment bolt from the top of Now reinsert the two spring-tensioned alignment screws. each of the tripod legs. Attach the three tripod legs to the Then thread in the other four alignment screws until the base of the yoke mount by lining up the holes in the top of finder scope tube is roughly centered in the rings. the legs with the holes in the base of the mount, then insert a tripod leg attachment bolt through. Only loosely 4. Aligning the Finder Scope tighten the nuts, for now. The accessory tray attachment point on each leg should be facing inward. Using a low-power finder scope, with its wide field of view, 3. Stand the tripod upright with the yoke mount attached, and makes it easy to locate objects for observing through the main spread the legs apart enough to attach the accessory tray telescope, which has a much narrower field of view. However, bracket to the three attachment points on the legs. Use the the finder scope and the telescope need to be aligned so they nut and bolt that is already inserted in each of the three both point to exactly the same spot in the sky. attachment points to fasten the accessory tray bracket to 1.