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RP-300 TELESCOPE
Instruction Manual
©2009 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
MADE IN CHINA
7 5066800573 1
Carson Optical
35 Gilpin Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788-4723
Phone: 631-963-5000
Fax: 631-427-6749
©2007 CARSON OPTICAL ©2011 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
For information, call toll-free: 1-800-967-8427 www.carson-optical.com
MADE IN CHINA
MADE IN CHINA
info@carsonoptical.com / sales@carsonoptical.com / www.carsonoptical.com
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TM Congratulations on your purchase of a Carson RP-300 Red Planet Series telescope. This telescope features an easy-to-use design and high perfor- Table of Contents: mance optics that are perfect for amateur astronomers looking to explore the wonders of outer space. Please read this manual carefully to ensure that Introduction you assemble and use your telescope correctly. When used properly, your TM Red Planet telescope should provide years of exciting observations of the 3 Box Conten
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Fig.1 Fig.3 Fig.2 4 5
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Fig.4 Fig.6 Fig.5 Fig.7 6 7
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Key to Figures 1-9: Fig.8 1. 6x30mm Finder Scope 2. Focuser 3. Eyepiece 4. Focus Knobs 5. Optical Tube Assembly 6. Cradle Rings 7. Dec. Flexible Cable 8. R.A. Flexible Cable 9. Optical T ube Saddle Plate 10. Equatorial Mount 11. Counter Weight Bar 12. Counter Weight 13. Counter W eight Locking Screw 14. T ripod Legs 15. Declination Lock 16. Dec. Setting Circle 17. R.A. Setting Circle 18. Latitude Dial 19. Latitude T urn Screws 20. Equatorial Mount Base Fig.9 21. Equatorial Mou
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Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount: Assembly of your Red Planet T elescope: Remove the two cradle rings (Fig. 1-6) from the box. There are two holes in the top of the equatorial mount (called the optical tube saddle plate (Fig. Setting Up Your Tripod: 2-9)). Place the threaded screw at the bottom of each cradle ring (Fig. 6-29) The aluminum tripod comes preassembled and ready-to-use. Remove the through one of these holes and secure it using the included washer and wing tripod fr
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Aligning the Finder Scope: Balancing the Telescope: The low power and wide field of view provided by the 6x30mm finder scope (Fig. 5-1) provides a quick and easy way to sight an object prior to looking Balancing the Mount in R.A.: through the high-power telescope. The finder scope must first be properly To reduce stress on the mount, the telescope should be balanced on the polar aligned with the telescope in order to work properly. This alignment is best axis (See Fig. 2). Instructions
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The equivalent to longitude lines on the celestial sphere are known as lines Understanding Celestial Movement: of “Right Ascension” or “R.A.” for short. These lines are measured in hours, minutes and seconds starting at the “zero” line of R.A. which passes through In order to get the most enjoyment out of your telescope it is necessary to the constellation Pegasus. There are 24 primary lines of R.A. located at 15° know the basics of how celestial objects move across the sky . Due to t
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Your telescope is now polar aligned for the area you are using it. You will Using Setting Circles: need only to point the telescope North (or South in the Southern Hemisphere) The setting circles (Fig. 3-16,17) on your equatorial mount can be used to when using it from now on. You will only need to repeat the polar alignment locate hard to find celestial objects. Follow the instructions below to use the if you move to a different location and your latitude has changed. setting circles effe
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There are many conditions that may affect your ability to focus or observe Collimation of the Optics: celestial objects clearly . The internal optics of the telescope have already been “collimated” or • Brightly lit areas (light pollution) will make it difficult to see faint “aligned” at the factory . However , rough handling of the telescope may objects in the sky . It will also make it difficult for your eyes to adjust knock the optics out of collimation, resulting in poor optical p
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Fig.12 Fig.13 Adjusting the Primary Mirror: Specifications: If the telescope is properly collimated you should see the diagonal mirror (See Fig. 10) at the exact center of the primary mirror . If the diagonal Optical Design: Newtonian Reflector mirror appears of f-center (See Fig. 12) you will need to adjust the primary Aperture: 1 14mm (4.49”) mirror (See Fig. 10) located on the outside lower -end of the main tube. T o Focal Length: 900mm (35.43”) do this you will first need t
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Warranty Procedure: Customer Service: Provide proof of purchase. A receipt or other dated proof of purchase must be included with merchandise being returned for a warranty claim to be pro- We will be happy to help you with any problems you may experience cessed. while using your telescope. Please call our toll-free customer service line Call or write for authorization. Before returning any product for a warranty at 1-800-967-8427. claim, a Return Authorization (RA) number must be obta
