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Related Manuals for Orion 9966
Summary of Contents for Orion 9966
- Page 1 INSTRUCTION MANUAL Orion ® SkyQuest XT12 Classic ™ #9966 Dobsonian Reflecting Telescope Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: support@telescope.com Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 P.O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 IN 256 Rev. A 08/05...
- Page 2 Secondary mirror holder with 4-vane spider (not visible) Navigation knob Right side panel Front brace Handle Top baseplate Ground baseplate Figure 1. The SkyQuest XT12 Classic Dobsonian. Finder scope Finder scope bracket Eyepiece Focuser Optical Tube Altitude side bearing CorrecTension (XT) Friction Optimization System Eyepiece rack...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
CorrecTension (XT) Friction Optimization system, large format focuser, and deluxe accessory package, this telescope represents a giant leap forward in the evolution of the Dobsonian. Whether you are brand-new to amateur astronomy or a seasoned stargazer, the SkyQuest XT12 Dobsonian will provide many evenings of enjoyment and fascination. -
Page 4: Assembly
Figure 2. To remove the rear end ring, unthread the six screws that connect it to the tube. Box #3: Primary Mirror and Cell Qty. Description Primary mirror Mirror cell Collimation knobs Nylon washers Springs 2. Assembly Now that you have unpacked the boxes and familiarized yourself with all the parts in front of you, it’s time to begin assembly. - Page 5 (Figure 7). Position your body so that your chest is pressing against this bulge, and hug the telescope with your left hand so that the tube becomes round. With your right hand, gently tap down the side of the mirror cell that needs to be seated, and the entire mirror cell should seat onto the tube (Figure 8).
- Page 6 The purpose of the lock nut is merely to keep the two baseplates from com- ing apart when moving the telescope. Overtightening the lock nut (I) will make the mount difficult to rotate in the azimuthal (horizontal) direction.
- Page 7 Orient the spacer so the narrow end is closest to the knob. Thread the entire assembly into the hole in the center of the telescope’s alti- tude side bearing until tight. The end ring of the spring...
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Page 8: Using Your Telescope
It should appear as shown in Figure 1. The dust cover on the front of the telescope tube should always remain in place when the telescope is not in use. It is also a good idea to store eyepieces in an eyepiece case and to replace the cover caps on the focuser and finder scope when the telescope is idle. -
Page 9: Focusing The Telescope
Both motions can be made simultaneously and in a continuous manner for easy aiming. Move the telescope gently — let it glide. In this way you can point the telescope to any position in the night sky, from horizon to horizon. - Page 10 Start by once again moving the telescope until it is pointed in the general direction of the object you want to see. Some observers find it convenient to sight along the tube to do this.
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Page 11: Collimation (Aligning The Mirrors)
(d) The secondary mirror is correctly expect the user to compensate for heavier accessories by adding weight to the opposite end of the telescope tube. Such counterweighting systems can be expensive and unwieldy. The CorrecTension Friction Optimization system of the SkyQuest XT12 Dobsonian, however, solves the finicky bal- ance problem. -
Page 12: Aligning The Secondary Mirror
The secondary mirror itself should be cen- tered in the focuser drawtube, in the direction parallel to the length of the telescope. If it isn’t, as in Figure 19b, it must be adjusted. This adjustment will rarely, if ever need to be done. -
Page 13: Astronomical Observing
Star-Testing the Telescope When it is dark, point the telescope at a bright star and accu- rately center it in the eyepiece’s field-of-view. Slowly defocus the image with the focusing knob. If the telescope is correct- ly collimated, the expanding disk should be a perfect circle (Figure 24). -
Page 14: Cooling The Telescope
On the bottom of the mirror cell there are four threaded holes (M4-.7) where a fan can be attached. Orion sells a cooling fan for the SkyQuest XT12; consult the Orion catalog or OrionTelescopes.com for details. - Page 15 B. The Sun You can change your nighttime telescope into a daytime Sun viewer by installing an optional full-aperture solar filter over the front opening of the telescope. The primary attraction is sunspots, which change shape, appearance, and location daily.
- Page 16 Starhopping, as it is called by astronomers, is perhaps the simplest way to hunt down objects to view in the night sky. It entails first pointing the telescope at a star close to the object you wish to observe, and then progressing to other stars closer and closer to the object until it is in the field of view of the eyepiece.
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Page 17: Care And Maintenance
Certain photo- graphic aids, such as the Orion SteadyPix, can help in taking photos by the afocal method. 6. Care and Maintenance If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a life- time. - Page 20 During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required.