Orion SPACEPROBE 130ST EQ - Manual (Page 5)

your fingers (Figure 3b). Push the finder scope through
the bracket until the O-ring seats just inside the front
opening of the bracket’s cylinder. Now, release the ten-
sioner and tighten the two black nylon screws a couple of
turns each to secure the finder scope in place.
13. Insert the base of the finder scope bracket into the dove-
tail slot near the focuser. Lock the bracket into position by
tightening the knurled thumb screw on the dovetail slot.
14. Remove the cap from the focuser and insert the chrome
barrel of one of the eyepieces into the drawtube. Secure
the eyepiece with the thumb screws on the drawtube.
Remember to always loosen the thumb screws before
rotating or removing the eyepiece.
The telescope system is now fully assembled. Keep the dust
cap over the front end of the telescope when it is not in use.
4. getting Started
Balancing the telescope
To insure smooth movement of the telescope on both axes
of the equatorial mount, it is imperative that the optical tube
be properly balanced. We will first balance the telescope with
respect to the R.A. axis, then the Dec. axis.
1. Keeping one hand on the telescope optical tube, loosen
the R.A. lock knob. Make sure the Dec. lock knob is
locked, for now. The telescope should now be able to
rotate freely about the R.A. axis. Rotate it until the coun-
terweight shaft is parallel to the ground (i.e., horizontal).
2. Now loosen the counterweight lock knob and slide the
weight along the shaft until it exactly counterbalances the
telescope (Figure 4a). That’s the point at which the shaft
remains horizontal even when you let go of the telescope
with both hands (Figure 4b).
3. Retighten the counterweight lock knob. The telescope is
now balanced on the R.A. axis.
4. To balance the telescope on the Dec. axis, first tighten
the R.A. lock knob, with the counterweight shaft still in the
Figure 3a. The 6x30
finder-scope.
Figure 3b. Inserting the
finder scope into the finder scope
bracket
5
Focus
lock ring
Alignment thumbscrews
Tensioner
Objective
lense
Finder Scope Bracket
d.
c.
Figure 4. Proper operation of the equatorial mount requires that
the telescope tube be balanced on both the R.A. and Dec. axes. (a)
With the R.A. lock knob released, slide the counterweight along the
counterweight shaft until it just counterbalances the tube. (b) When
you let go with both hands, the tube should not drift up or down. (c)
With the Dec. lock knob released, loosen the tube ring lock clamps
a few turns and slide the telescope forward or back in the tube
rings. (d) When the tube is balanced about the Dec. axis, it will not
move when you let go.
a.
b.