ASTRO-PHYSICS 400GTO Assembly Instructions Manual - Page 6

Browse online or download pdf Assembly Instructions Manual for Telescope ASTRO-PHYSICS 400GTO. ASTRO-PHYSICS 400GTO 13 pages. German equatorial with servo motor drive

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Assemble Pier or Tripod

Begin by assembling the pier or tripod at the desired observing location.

ADJUSTABLE ALUMINUM TRIPOD: Extend the legs to the desired height; secure with the locking levers. Adjust the

distance between the legs. Place the legs far enough apart to provide a solid base of support.

ADJUSTABLE HARDWOOD TRIPOD: Remove the tripod from its carrying case and attach the shelf to each of the three

legs with the knobs provided. Adjust legs to the desired height and spread. Lock in position with the hand knobs.

PORTABLE PIER: Slide the three legs onto the nubs of the base. Place the pedestal tube on the base and attach the

tension rods. The turnbuckles should be drawn tight until the whole assembly is stiff enough to support your

weight without movement.

Assemble Mount to Pier or Tripod

In order to track the motion of astronomical objects, the polar axis must be positioned so that an imaginary line drawn

through the hollow shaft points toward the celestial pole. At this stage of the assembly process, you want to position the

mount so that it points roughly north. Place the mount into the top of the pier or tripod so that the threaded R.A.

opening

is on the south side of the pier/tripod. Screw in the three hand knobs to hold the mount in place.

Altitude and Azimuth Adjustments - Rough Polar Alignment

For rough polar alignment, your goal is to sight the celestial pole when looking through the polar alignment sight hole in the

center of the polar axis. You will need to make altitude (up/down) and azimuth (side to side) adjustments to the position of

the mount.

We recommend that you do your rough polar alignment without the telescope since you may be making major adjustments

to the position of the mount at this time. The remainder of the mount, telescope and counterweights would add considerable

axis