Celestron Skyscout Scope 90 Manual Owners Guide free pdf ebook was written by Marlene Gomez on October 18, 2007 consist of 16 page(s). The pdf file is provided by www.celestron.com and available on pdfpedia since May 20, 2011.
celestron skyscout scope 90 manual owners guide...
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................................................... 5
Setting up the Tripod .................................................................................................................. 5
Moving the Telescope Manually ................................................................................................ 6
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount............................................................................... 6
Installing the Diagonal & Eyepieces........................................................................................... 7
Aligning the Finderscope............................................................................................................ 7
Attaching the SkyScout............................................................................................................... 8
Aligning the SkyScout ................................................................................................................ 8
TELESCOPE BASICS ................................................................................................................... 9
Focusing...................................................................................................................................... 9
Calculating Magnification .......................................................................................................... 9
Determining Field of View ....................................................................................................... 10
General Observing Hints........................................................................................................... 10
CELESTIAL OBSERVING ......................................................................................................... 11
Observing the Moon ................................................................................................................. 11
Observing the Planets ............................................................................................................... 11
Observing the Sun..................................................................................................................... 11
Observing Deep Sky Objects .................................................................................................... 12
Seeing Conditions ..................................................................................................................... 12
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 13
Care and Cleaning of the Optics ............................................................................................... 13
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
..................................................................................................... 14
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................... 15
2
Congratulations on your purchase of the SkyScout Scope. The SkyScout Scope is made of the highest quality
materials to ensure stability and durability. All this adds up to a telescope that gives you a lifetime of pleasure with
a minimal amount of maintenance.
This telescope was designed for use with the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium (sold separately). The
SkyScout Scope features a compact and portable design with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to
the world of amateur astronomy. In addition, your SkyScout Scope is ideal for terrestrial observations which will
open your eyes with superb high power viewing.
The SkyScout Scope carries a
two year limited warranty.
For details see our website at
www.celestron.com
Some of the many standard features of the SkyScout Scope include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
All coated glass optical elements for clear, crisp images.
Special metals used to minimize magnetic interference of SkyScout.
Smooth functioning, rigid alt-azimuth mount with a large pan handle with built-in clutch for easy targeting.
Preassembled steel leg tripod with 1.25” legs ensures stable platform.
Quick and easy no-tool set up.
The SkyScout Scope can be used terrestrially as well as astronomically with the standard accessories included.
Take time to read through this manual before embarking on your journey through the Universe. It may take a few
observing sessions to become familiar with your telescope, so you should keep this manual handy until you have
fully mastered your telescope’s operation. The manual gives detailed information regarding each step as well as
needed reference material and helpful hints guaranteed to make your observing experience as simple and pleasurable
as possible.
Your telescope is designed to give you years of fun and rewarding observations. However, there are a few things to
consider before using your telescope that will ensure your safety and protect your equipment.
Warning
•
Never look directly at the sun with the naked eye or with a telescope (unless you have the proper
solar filter). Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.
•
Never use your telescope to project an image of the sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can
damage the telescope and any accessories attached to it.
•
Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside the telescope can
cause these devices to crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass through to the eye.
•
Do not leave the telescope unsupervised, either when children are present or adults who may not be
familiar with the correct operating procedures of your telescope.
3
1
3
2
4
5
6
12
7
8
9
11
10
Figure 1-1 SkyScout Scope 90mm Refractor
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Objective Lens
Telescope Optical Tube
SkyScout (not included)
SkyScout Bracket
Finderscope
Eyepiece
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Erect Image Diagonal
Focuser
Pan Handle
Tripod
Accessory Tray
Alt-Az Mount
4
This section covers the assembly instructions for your SkyScout Scope. Your telescope should be set up indoor the
first time so that it is easy to identify the various parts and familiarize yourself with the correct assembly procedure
before attempting it outdoor.
Each SkyScout Scope includes – optical tube with attached SkyScout bracket , Alt-Az mount with attached pan
handle, 10mm eyepiece – 1.25”, 40mm eyepiece – 1.25”, erect image diagonal - 1.25” .
Setting up the Tripod
1.
2.
3.
4.
Remove the tripod from the box (Figure 2-1). The tripod comes preassembled so that the set up is very
easy.
Stand the tripod upright and pull the tripod legs apart until each leg is fully extended and then push down
slightly on the tripod leg brace (Figure 2-2). The very top of the tripod is called the tripod head.
Next, we will install the tripod accessory tray (Figure 2-3) onto the tripod leg brace (center of Figure 2-2).
Insert the cut-out in the center of the tray (flat side of the tray facing down) to match the center of the tripod
leg brace and push down slightly (Figure 2-4). The ears of the tray should appear as in Figure 2-4
Figure 2-1
Figure 2-2
Figure 2-3
Figure 2-4
5.
6.
7.
Rotate the tray until the ears are under the leg brace support of each leg and push slightly and they will lock
in place (Figure 2-5). The tripod is now completely assembled (Figure 2-6).
You can extend the tripod legs to the height you desire. At the lowest level the height is 24” (61cm) and
extends to 41” (104cm). You unlock the tripod leg lock knob at the bottom of each leg (Figure 2-7) and pull
the legs out to the height you want & then lock the knob securely. A fully extended the tripod looks like the
image in Figure 2-8.
The tripod will be the most rigid and stable at the lowest height.
Figure 2-5
Figure 2-6
Figure 2- 7
Figure 2-8
5
Moving the Telescope Manually
The SkyScout Scope Alt-Az mount is easy to move wherever you want to point it. The up and down (altitude) is
controlled by the pan handle (Figure 2-10). The side-to-side (azimuth) is controlled by the azimuth lock
(Figure 2-9). The pan handle and the azimuth lock are both loosened by turning the handle and lock
counterclockwise. When loose you can find your objects easily and then lock the controls. To lock the controls
in place, turn them clockwise.
Figure 2-10
Figure 2-9
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount
The telescope optical tube attaches to the mount via a dovetail slide bar mounting bracket at the top of the mount
(Figure 2-11). The mounting bar is the bracket which is attached to the tube rings.
Before you attach the optical
tube, make sure that the pan handle and azimuth lock are fully locked.
Then put the dovetail bracket in the
horizontal position as shown in Figure 2-10. This will ensure that the mount does not move suddenly while attaching
the telescope optical tube. Also, remove the objective lens cap from the front of the tube. To mount the telescope
tube:
1.
2.
Loosen the mounting knob and the mounting safety screw on the side of the dovetail mounting platform so
they do not protrude into the mounting platform – see Figure 2-11.
Slide the dovetail mounting bar into the recess on the top of the mounting platform (figure 2-12).
Tighten the mounting knob on the dovetail mounting platform to hold the telescope in place.
Hand tighten the mounting platform safety screw until the tip touches the side of the mounting bracket.
NOTE: Never loosen any of the knobs on the telescope tube or mount other than the R.A. and DEC knobs.
Figure 2-11
Figure 2-12
6
Installing the Diagonal
The diagonal is a prism that diverts the light at a right angle to the light path of
the refractor. This allows you to observe in a position that is more comfortable
than if you looked straight through. This diagonal is an erect image model that
corrects the image to be right side up and oriented correctly left-to-right which is
much easier to use for terrestrial observing. Also, the diagonal can be rotated to
any position which is most favorable for you. To install the diagonal and
eyepieces:
1. Insert the small barrel of the diagonal into the 1.25” eyepiece adapter of
the focus tube on the refractor – Figure 2-13. Make sure the two
thumbscrews on the eyepiece adapter do not protrude into the focuser tube
before installation and the plug up cap is removed from the eyepiece
adapter.
Installing the Eyepieces
Figure 2-13 – Diagonal with Eyepiece
The eyepiece (or ocular) is an optical element that magnifies the image focused by the telescope. Without the
eyepiece it would be impossible to use the telescope visually. Eyepieces are commonly referred to by focal length
and barrel diameter. The longer focal length (i.e., the larger the number) the lower the eyepiece magnification (i.e.,
power). Generally, you will use low-to-moderate power when viewing. For more information on how to determine
power, see the section on “Calculating Magnification”.
1.
Put the chrome barrel end of the 40mm eyepieces into the diagonal and tighten the thumb screw. Again,
when doing this make sure the thumb screw is not protruding into the diagonal before inserting the
eyepiece.
The eyepieces can be changed to other focal lengths by reversing the procedure in step 2 above.
2.
Attaching the Finderscope
To align the finderscope with the telescope you must first mount the
finderscope to the telescope. To install the finderscope:
1.
Slide the finder bracket (attached to the finderscope) into the
mounting bracket on the telescope.
The finderscope bracket will slide in from the back. The finderscope
should be oriented so that the objective (larger) lens is toward the
front end of the telescope.
Figure 2-14
2.
3.
Tighten the set screw on the mounting bracket to hold the
finderscope in place.
Aligning the Finderscope
Accurate alignment of the finder makes it easy to find objects with the telescope, especially celestial objects. To
make aligning the finder as easy as possible, this procedure should be done in the daytime when it is easy to find and
identify objects. The finderscope has a spring-loaded adjustment screw that puts pressure on the finderscope while
the remaining screws are used to adjust the finder horizontally and vertically. To align the finder:
1
Choose a target that is in excess of one mile away. This eliminates any possible parallax effect between the
telescope and finder.
Release the mounts locking clamps and point the telescope at your target.
2
7
3
Center your target in the main optics of the telescope. You may have to move the telescope slightly to
center it.
Adjust the screw on the side of the finder bracket until the cross hairs are centered horizontally on the target
seen through the telescope.
Adjust the screw on the top of the finder bracket until the cross hairs are centered vertically on the target
seen through the telescope.
4
5
Attaching the SkyScout
Before using the telescope to find your first object, your SkyScout Personal Planetarium must be attached and
aligned with the telescope’s eyepiece.
To attach the SkyScout to the bracket:
1. Hold the SkyScout with the larger targeting window towards the front (objective lens) end of the telescope.
2. Align the holes at the bottom of the SkyScout with the alignment pins on the bracket mounting platform.
3. Place the holes over the pins and press the SkyScout down until it is firmly seated on the bracket.
4. For added security, thread the mounting screw into the SkyScout’s tripod mounting hole.
SkyScout Mounting
Platform
¼-20 Mounting
Screw
Altitude (Up and Down)
Adjustment Knob
Azimuth (side to side)
Adjustment Control
(opposite side)
Figure 2-14 SkyScout Bracket
Aligning the SkyScout
Aligning the SkyScout to the telescope’s eyepiece should be done at night using a bright celestial object such as a
bright star or planet. To align the SkyScout:
1. Turn on the SkyScout so that it can get a GPS link.
2. While the SkyScout is linking, use the finder scope to point the telescope at a known bright star or planet.
3. Center the object in the 40mm eyepiece.
4. Use the
Locate
function on your SkyScout and select the same alignment object that is centered in the
eyepiece.
5. While looking through the mounted SkyScout, use the
adjustment knobs on the bracket to move the SkyScout in
the direction indicated by the red targeting arrows
(Figure 2.15a).
6. Once all the targeting arrows are illuminated (Figure
2.15b)., the SkyScout should be aligned with the
telescope. Check to make sure that the alignment is still
centered in the eyepiece. If it has moved, re-center the
object and repeat steps 4 – 5 again.
Figure 2-15a
Figure 2-15b
8
A telescope is an instrument that collects and focuses light. The nature of the optical design determines how the
light is focused. Some telescopes, known as refractors, use lenses, .and other telescopes, known as reflectors
(Newtonians), use mirrors.
Developed in the early 1600s, the
refractor
is the oldest telescope design. It derives its name from the method it
uses to focus incoming light rays. The refractor uses a lens to bend or refract incoming light rays, hence the name
(see Figure 3-1). Early designs used single element lenses. However, the single lens acts like a prism and breaks
light down into the colors of the rainbow, a phenomenon known as chromatic aberration. To get around this
problem, a two-element lens, known as an achromat, was introduced. Each element has a different index of
refraction allowing two different wavelengths of light to be focused at the same point. Most two-element lenses,
usually made of crown and flint glasses, are corrected for red and green light. Blue light may still be focused at a
slightly different point.
Figure 3-1
A cutaway view of the light path of the Refractor optical design
Focusing
To focus your telescope, simply turn the focus knob located directly below the eyepiece holder (see Figures 1-1).
Turning the knob clockwise allows you to focus on an object that is farther than the one you are currently observing.
Turning the knob counterclockwise from you allows you to focus on an object closer than the one you are currently
observing.
Note:
If you wear corrective lenses (specifically glasses), you may want to remove them when observing with an
eyepiece attached to the telescope. However, when using a camera you should always wear corrective lenses to
ensure the sharpest possible focus. If you have astigmatism, corrective lenses must be worn at all times.
Calculating Magnification
You can change the power of your telescope just by changing the eyepiece (ocular). To determine the
magnification of your telescope, simply divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece
used. In equation format, the formula looks like this:
Focal Length of Telescope (mm)
9
Magnification =
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Focal Length of Eyepiece (mm)
Let’s say, for example, you are using the 10mm eyepiece that came with your telescope. To determine the
magnification you simply divide the focal length of your telescope (the SkyScout Scope for this example has a focal
length of 660mm) by the focal length of the eyepiece, 10mm. Dividing 660 by 10 yields a magnification of 66
power.
Although the power is variable, each instrument under average skies has a limit to the highest useful magnification.
The general rule is that 60 power can be used for every inch of aperture. For example, the SkyScout Scope is 3.5
inches (90mm) in diameter. Multiplying 3.5 by 60 gives a maximum useful magnification of over 212 power.
Although this is the maximum useful magnification, most observing is done in the range of 20 to 35 power for every
inch of aperture which is 70 to 123 times for the SkyScout Scope. You can determine the magnification for your
telescope the same way.
Determining Field of View
Determining the field of view is important if you want to get an idea of the angular size of the object you are
observing. To calculate the actual field of view, divide the apparent field of the eyepiece (supplied by the eyepiece
manufacturer) by the magnification. In equation format, the formula looks like this:
Apparent Field of Eyepiece
True Field =
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Magnification
As you can see, before determining the field of view, you must calculate the magnification. Using the example in
the previous section, we can determine the field of view using the same 10mm eyepiece that is supplied standard
with the SkyScout Scope. The 10mm eyepiece has an apparent field of view of 50°. Divide the 50° by the
magnification, which is 66 power. This yields an actual field of .75°.
To convert degrees to feet at 1,000 yards, which is more useful for terrestrial observing, simply multiply by 52.5.
Continuing with our example, multiply the angular field of .75° by 52.5. This produces a linear field width of 39
feet at a distance of one thousand yards.
General Observing Hints
When working with any optical instrument, there are a few things to remember to ensure you get the best possible
image.
•
Never look through window glass. Glass found in household windows is optically imperfect, and as a
result, may vary in thickness from one part of a window to the next. This inconsistency can and will
affect the ability to focus your telescope. In most cases you will not be able to achieve a truly sharp
image, while in some cases, you may actually see a double image.
Never look across or over objects that are producing heat waves. This includes asphalt parking lots
on hot summer days or building rooftops.
Hazy skies, fog, and mist can also make it difficult to focus when viewing terrestrially. The amount
of detail seen under these conditions is greatly reduced.
If you wear corrective lenses (specifically glasses), you may want to remove them when observing
with an eyepiece attached to the telescope. When using a camera, however, you should always wear
corrective lenses to ensure the sharpest possible focus. If you have astigmatism, corrective lenses must
be worn at all times.
•
•
•
10
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