SKY-WATCHER EQ1 User Manual

14
F
ocusing
Fig.g
unlock
0
90
8
0
7
0
60
50
40
3
0
2
0
1
0
EQ2
EQ1
Fig.h
Slowly turn the focus knobs under the focuser, one way or the other,
until the image in the eyepiece is sharp (Fig.g). The image usually
has to be finely refocused over time, due to small variations caused
by temperature changes, flexures, etc. This often happens with short
focal ratio telescopes, particularly when they haven't yet reached
outside temperature. Refocusing is almost always necessary when
you change an eyepiece or add or remove a Barlow lens.
EQ1:
In order for your telescope to track objects in the sky you have to
align your mount. This means tilting the head over so that it points to
the North (or South) celestial pole. For people in the Northern
Hemisphere this is rather easy as there is a bright star very near the
spot Polaris. For casual observing, rough polar alignment is
adequate. Make sure your equatorial mount is level and the red dot
finder is aligned with the telescope before beginning.
Look up your latitude on a map, road maps are good for this
purpose. Now look at the side of your mount head, there you will see
a scale running from 0-90 degrees. Unlock the hinge of the mount by
gently pulling on the lock lever counter-clockwise. At the bottom of
the head is a screw that pushes on a tongue under the hinge,
changing the angle. Spin this until your latitude is shown on the scale
by the indicator pin, then lock the hinge (Fig.h).
"Pole Star" is less than one degree from the North Celestial Pole
(NCP). Because it is not exactly at the NCP, Polaris appears to trace
a small circle around it as the Earth rotates. Polaris is offset from the
NCP, toward Cassiopeia and away from the end of the handle of the
Big Dipper (Fig.i).
Fig.i
P
olar Alignment
+
Polaris
Cassiopeia
Little Dipper
Big Dipper
NCP
0
3
0
6
0
9
0
unlock
Unlock the DEC lock knob and rotate the telescope tube until
the pointer on the setting circle reads 90°. Retighten the DEC
lock knob. Loosen the azimuth lock knob and rotate the mount
horizontally until the R.A. axis points roughly at Polaris.
Retighten the azimuth lock knob. Look through the
finderscope and centre Polaris on the crosshairs by adjusting
the azimuth and latitude settings if a more accurate polar
alignment is desired.
Unlock the DEC lock knob and rotate the telescope tube until
the pointer on the setting circle reads 90°. Retighten the DEC
lock knob. At the top of the main shaft is a white line with "R"
"A" on either side of it. Loosen the azimuth lock knob and
rotate the mount until the white line points roughly at Polaris.
Retighten the azimuth lock knob. Look through the finderscope
and centre Polaris on the crosshairs by adjusting the azimuth
and latitude settings if a more accurate polar alignment is
desired.
EQ2:
After a while you will notice your target drifting slowly North or South depending on the direction of the pole
relative to Polaris. To keep the target in the center of the view, turn only the R.A. slow-motion cable. After your
telescope is polar aligned, no further adjustments in the azimuth and latitude of the mount should be made in
the observing session, nor should you move the tripod. Only movements in R.A. and DEC axis should be made
in order to keep an object in the field.

SKY-WATCHER EQ1 Specifications

General

Brand	SKY-WATCHER
Model	EQ1
Category	Accessories
Language	English