Meade Starfinder Reflecting Telescope Instruction Manual download pdf (Page 6)

- 6 -

12vDC Outlet

The 12vDC Outlet accepts a #607 Power Cord (See OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES, page 12) for powering the 16" Starfinder

Equatorial Telescope from a 12vDC automobile cigarette lighter

plug. While the recommended supply voltage is 12vDC, the

telescope will operate in a range of 6-18vDC.

COLLIMATION OF THE OPTICAL SYSTEM

After the secondary mirror assembly has been installed, it will be

necessary to collimate, or align the secondary mirror with the

primary mirror.

1. Correct Collimation

A properly collimated (aligned) mirror system in the Starfinder

Reflecting telescope assures the sharpest images possible.

The Starfinder is properly aligned when the primary mirror (3),

Fig. 3, and secondary mirror (2), Fig. 3, are tilted so that the

focused image (6), Fig. 3, falls directly through the center of the

focuser drawtube (5), Fig. 3.

To inspect the view of the mirror collimation, remove the

eyepiece and look down the focuser drawtube. The round edge

of the focuser drawtube (1), Fig. 5, will frame the reflections of

the primary mirror with the secondary mirror (2), Fig. 5, the

spider vanes (3), Fig. 5, and your eye (4), Fig. 5. Properly

aligned, all of these reflections will appear concentric (i.e.

centered) as illustrated in Fig. 5. Any deviation from the

concentric reflections will require adjustments to the secondary

mirror assembly (Fig. 4), and/or the primary mirror cell.

Fig. 4: Secondary Mirror Assembly. (1) Spider Vanes; (2) Tilt

Screws; (3)Secondary Mirror Holder.

Face-on view Edge-on view

2. Spider Vane Adjustments

Looking down the open end of the telescope tube, check to see

if the secondary mirror system is centered in the optical tube. If

the assembly is off-center, loosen one of the spider vane

adjustment/lock knobs while unscrewing the opposite knob.

Only make adjustments to 2 knobs at a time until the secondary

mirror is centered in the drawtube. When the spider vane is

correctly positioned, the view through the drawtube will look like

Fig. 7. (Note that the secondary mirror is misaligned.)

3. Secondary Mirror Adjustments

If the secondary mirror (1), Fig. 7, is centered in the drawtube

(2), Fig. 7, but the primary mirror is only partially visible in the

reflection (3), Fig. 7, the 3 hex screws located on the secondary

mirror assembly (2), Fig. 4, must be unthreaded slightly to refine

the tilt-angle of the secondary mirror until the entire primary

mirror can be seen centered within the secondary mirror

reflection. When the secondary mirror is correctly aligned, it will

look like Fig. 8. (Note that the primary mirror is misaligned.)

Fig. 5: Correct Collimation. (1) Round Edge of Focuser Drawtube;

(2) Secondary Mirror; (3) Spider vanes; (4) Eye.

Fig. 6: Spider Vane Misalignment. (1) Secondary Mirror;

(2) Round Edge of Focuser Drawtube.

Fig. 7: Secondary Mirror Misalignment. (1) Secondary Mirror;

(2) Round Edge of Focuser Drawtube; (3) Reflection of Primary Mirror.

Fig. 8: Primary Mirror Misalignment. (1) Secondary Mirror; (2)

Round Edge of Focuser Drawtube; (3) Eye.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 15 16

Comments to this Manuals

No comments

Meade Starfinder Reflecting Telescope Instruction Manual Page 6

Comments to this Manuals

Related products and manuals for Telescopes Meade Starfinder Reflecting Telescope