CELESTRON CI-700 / CM-1100 / CM-1400 INSTRUCTION MANUAL Models #91525 / #11055 / #11065 The Celestron CM-1100/1400 Copyright © 1998 Celestron International 2835 Columbia Street Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 328-9560 No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy- ing, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from Celestron Interna- tional. Celestron International provides this manual “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Celestron may make modifications to this manual and/or the products described herein at any time without notice or obligation. ii • Table of Contents T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S L INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 How to Use this Manual..................................................................................................................... 2 A Word of Caution ............................................................................................................................. 2 The Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System .......................................................................................... 3 L ASSEMBLING YOUR CELESTRON CM-1100 ...................................................................................... 4 Unpacking Your Celestron CM-1100 .................................................................................................. 4 Setting Up the Tripod ......................................................................................................................... 6 Attaching the Center Leg Brace ........................................................................................................ 7 Attaching the Central Column ............................................................................................................ 7 Attaching the Equatorial Mount .......................................................................................................... 8 Installing the Counterweight Bar ........................................................................................................ 9 Installing the Counterweight ............................................................................................................... 9 Attaching the Celestron CM-1100 to the Mount ................................................................................10 Attaching the Visual Back ................................................................................................................11 Installing the Star Diagonal ...............................................................................................................11 Installing the Eyepiece .....................................................................................................................12 Installing the Finder ..........................................................................................................................13 Installing the Polar Axis Finder .........................................................................................................14 Moving the Telescope in R.A. and DEC ............................................................................................15 Using the Slow Motion Controls ........................................................................................................15 Adjusting the Mount .........................................................................................................................16 Balancing the Mount in R.A. .............................................................................................................17 Balancing the Mount in DEC .............................................................................................................18 Transporting Your Celestron CM-1100 ..............................................................................................19 Storing Your Celestron CM-1100 ......................................................................................................19 Technical Specifications ...................................................................................................................20 TELESCOPE BASICS .........................................................................................................................22 Image Orientation .............................................................................................................................22 Focusing ..........................................................................................................................................23 General Photography Hints ...............................................................................................................24 Aligning the Finder ............................................................................................................................24 Your First Look .................................................................................................................................25 Daytime Observing .....................................................................................................................25 Nighttime Observing ...................................................................................................................26 Calculating Magnification ..................................................................................................................27 Determining Field of View .................................................................................................................27 ASTRONOMY BASICS .......................................................................................................................28 The Celestial Coordinate System ......................................................................................................28 Motion of the Stars ...........................................................................................................................29 Polar Alignment ................................................................................................................................30 Finding the Pole ...............................................................................................................................31 Latitude Scales ..........................................................................................................................32 Pointing at Polaris ......................................................................................................................33 The Polar Axis Finder.................................................................................................................34 Declination Drift ..........................................................................................................................35 Aligning the Setting Circles .............................................................................................................36 Table of Contents • iii USING THE DRIVE .............................................................................................................................37 Powering Up the Drive ......................................................................................................................37 Guide Speed ....................................................................................................................................38 Tracking Rate Selection....................................................................................................................38 BC -Backlash Correction ..................................................................................................................39 Periodic Error Correction ..................................................................................................................39 HC/CCD ...........................................................................................................................................40 12 V DC ...........................................................................................................................................40 Northern/Southern Hemisphere Operation .........................................................................................41 Using the Hand Controller .................................................................................................................41 R.A./DEC Reverse ............................................................................................................................42 Autoguiding ......................................................................................................................................42 CELESTIAL OBSERVING ...................................................................................................................43 Observing the Moon ..........................................................................................................................43 Observing the Planets ......................................................................................................................43 Observing the Sun ............................................................................................................................44