Celestron XLT series - Manual (Page 2)

2
T T a a b b l l e e o o f f C C o o n n t t e e n n t t s s
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Warning ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
ASSEMBLY .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Setting up the Tripod .................................................................................................................................. 8
Attaching the Equatorial Mount ................................................................................................................. 9
Attaching the Center Leg Brace ............................................................................................................... 10
Installing the Counterweight Bar.............................................................................................................. 10
Installing the Counterweights ................................................................................................................... 11
Attaching the Slow Motion Knobs ........................................................................................................... 11
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount............................................................................................. 12
Installing the Finderscope......................................................................................................................... 13
Installing the Visual Back......................................................................................................................... 13
Installing the Star Diagonal ...................................................................................................................... 14
Installing the Eyepieces ............................................................................................................................ 14
Moving the Telescope Manually .............................................................................................................. 15
Balancing the Mount in R.A..................................................................................................................... 15
Balancing the Mount in DEC ................................................................................................................... 16
Adjusting the Mount................................................................................................................................. 16
Adjusting the Mount in Altitude............................................................................................................... 17
Adjusting the Mount in Azimuth.............................................................................................................. 17
TELESCOPE BASICS ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Image Orientation..................................................................................................................................... 20
Focusing ................................................................................................................................................... 20
Aligning the Finderscope ......................................................................................................................... 21
Calculating Magnification ........................................................................................................................ 21
Determining Field of View....................................................................................................................... 22
General Observing Hints .......................................................................................................................... 22
ASTRONOMY BASICS............................................................................................................................................... 23
The Celestial Coordinate System ............................................................................................................. 23
Motion of the Stars ................................................................................................................................... 24
Latitude Scale ........................................................................................................................................... 25
Pointing at Polaris .................................................................................................................................... 25
Finding the North Celestial Pole .............................................................................................................. 26
Declination Drift Method of Polar Alignment.......................................................................................... 27
Aligning the R.A. Setting Circle .............................................................................................................. 28
Using the R.A. Vernier Scale ................................................................................................................... 29
CELESTIAL OBSERVING......................................................................................................................................... 30
Observing the Moon ................................................................................................................................. 30
Lunar Observing Hints ............................................................................................................................. 30
Observing the Planets ............................................................................................................................... 30
Observing the Sun .................................................................................................................................... 31
Solar Observing Hints .............................................................................................................................. 31
Observing Deep Sky Objects.................................................................................................................... 31
Seeing Conditions..................................................................................................................................... 31
Transparency ............................................................................................................................................ 31
Sky Illumination ....................................................................................................................................... 31
Seeing ....................................................................................................................................................... 32