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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
®
Orion
™
®
SkyQuest IntelliScope
XT6, XT8, XT10
#9985, #9986, #9987
Customer Support (800) 676-1343
E-mail: support@telescope.com
Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 P.O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
IN 226 Rev. E 03/05
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Secondary mirror holder with 4-vane spider (not visible) Finder scope Finder scope bracket Eyepiece Focuser Navigation knob Optical tube Tensioning knob IntelliScope Controller Port modular jack Retaining knob (opposite side) Computerized Object Locator (optional) Primary mirror cell Right side panel Eyepiece rack Front brace Left side panel Handle Top baseplate Foot (3) Ground baseplate Figure 1. The SkyQuest XT8 IntelliScope 2
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Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion SkyQuest XT IntelliScope Dobsonian. It is a high-perfor- mance astronomical instrument designed to provide dazzling views of celestial objects and unprecedented ease of use. With the addition of the optional IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator (Controller), you gain the ability to locate and view thousands of celestial objects with the push of a button. Searching for objects is a thing of the past, as the IntelliScope’s high-resolution digital
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3 Plastic feet Assembly of the Dobsonian Base Refer to Figure 2 during base assembly. The base need only 3 Feet attachment wood screws (length 1") be assembled once, unless you disassemble it for long-term 5 Encoder board mounting wood screws storage. The assembly process takes about 30 minutes and 1 Brass bushing requires, in addition to the supplied tools, a Phillips screw- driver, and two adjustable crescent wrenches. You can 1 Azimuth axis hex-head screw (length 2.25") substitute a
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hole, and the large hole lines up with the central hole in Correct Tension pads the baseplate. Thread an encoder board mounting screw into the predrilled starter hole with a Phillips screwdriver and tighten until just tight. 6. Place one fender washer (H) onto the azimuth axis screw (I). Then push the screw up through the hole in the ground baseplate (A).Then slide the encoder disk (J), flat side down, onto the azimuth axis screw. 7. Place the brass bushing (F) onto the azimuth axis scre
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Encoder connector board Screws Figure 6. Attaching the encoder connector board. (XT10 Shown) Installing the Eyepiece Rack The aluminum eyepiece rack is a standard accessory on Figure 8. Using the two supplied screws, install the aluminum SkyQuest IntelliScope Dobsonians. It holds three 1.25" eye- eyepiece rack in the predrilled holes near the top of the front pieces and one 2" eyepiece (three 1.25" eyepieces on the baseplate. XT6) in a convenient place on the base, within easy reach damag
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SkyQuest Intelliscope Dobsonians employ a simple yet effec- pads on the interior surface of the side panel just touch the tive remedy for the friction problem that obviates the need for side of the altitude bearing on the optical tube. such cumbersome countermeasures. CorrecTension Friction 2. Place the black nylon retaining knob spacer on the shaft of Optimization utilizes a simple “disc brake” to apply the correct the remaining retaining/tensioning knob. This knob will level of tens
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3. Using Your Telescope O-ring One of the great benefits of the SkyQuest XT IntelliScope Dobsonian is its ability to point to more than 14,000 celestial objects, when used with the optional IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator (Controller). Use of the Controller is completely optional, and your telescope will function perfectly well without it. However, the Controller will greatly enhance your observ- ing experience by enabling you to quickly and precisely locate even very faint object
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Setting the Altitude Tension Level If you have trouble focusing, rotate the focusing knob so the drawtube is in as far as it will go. Now look through the eyepiece The telescope should move smoothly with just gentle hand while slowly rotating the focusing knob in the opposite direction. pressure. While azimuth friction is not adjustable, the altitude You should soon see the point at which focus is reached. friction can be adjusted to the desired level by turning the alti- tude tension knob
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Check the alignment by moving the telescope to another Start by once again moving the telescope until it is pointed object and fixing the finder scope’s crosshairs on the exact in the general direction of the object you want to see. Some point you want to look at. Then look through the telescope’s observers find it convenient to sight along the tube to do this. eyepiece to see if that point is centered in the field of view. If Now, look in the finder scope. If your general aim is accu- it is,
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Keep in mind that as magnification is increased, the brightness If you wish to carry the optical tube and base separately, sim- of the object being viewed will decrease; this is an inherent ply unthread the retaining and tensioning knobs until they are principle of the physics of optics and cannot be avoided. If free of the base and optical tube (make certain the spacer magnification is doubled, an image appears four times dim- does not fall off the retaining knob). Lift the tube off the base
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dust cap, but has a hole in the center and a reflective inner 4. Alignment (Collimation) surface. The cap helps center your eye so that collimation is easier to perform. Figures 18b through 18e assume you have of the Optical System the collimation cap in place. To get the sharpest images, your telescope’s optical system As an additional aid in collimation, the primary mirror of every must be in precise alignment. The process of aligning the SkyQuest telescope has a tiny adhesive ring mark
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Figure 19. The SkyQuest IntelliScope properly set up for collimation. Note the white paper placed across from the focuser, and the level angle of the optical tube. Ideally, the telescope should be pointing at a white wall. Aligning the Secondary Mirror With the collimation cap in place, look through the hole in the Figure 20. To center the secondary mirror under the focuser, hold cap at the secondary (diagonal) mirror. Ignore the reflections the mirror holder in place with one hand wh
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To start, turn the smaller thumbscrews counterclockwise a When you have the dot centered as much as is possible in the few turns each (Figure 22). Use a screwdriver in the slots, if ring, your primary mirror is collimated. The view through the necessary. collimation cap should resemble Figure 18e. Re-tighten the locking thumbscrews. Now, try tightening or loosening one of the larger collima- tion thumbscrews with your fingers (Figure 23). Look into the A simple star test will tell you whethe
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A. Selecting an Observing Site outdoors is more than 40°, allow an hour or more. In the win- ter, storing the telescope outdoors in a shed or garage greatly Since most astronomical objects are faint, observing them reduces the amount of time needed for the optics to stabilize. from dark skies will give you the best views. While some It also is a good idea to keep the scope covered until the Sun objects, such as the planets and Moon, are bright enough sets so the tube does not heat greatly
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lower powers. It is quite common for an observer to own five C. The Planets or more eyepieces to access a wide range of magnifications. The planets don’t stay put like the stars, so to find them you This allows the observer to choose the best eyepiece to use should refer to Sky Calendar at our website telescope.com, or depending on the object being viewed. At least to begin with, to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, the two supplied eyepieces will suffice nicely. or o
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for observing these usually faint celestial entities. For deep- ing assembly of the base. The encoders allow highly precise sky observing it is important that you find an observing site positioning of the telescope to coordinates programmed into well away from light pollution. Take plenty of time to let your the IntelliScope controller’s database for each object. Since eyes adjust to the darkness. As you become more experi- the telescope is not dependent on motors for movement, you enced and
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Your SkyQuest IntelliScope requires very little mechanical You may now remove the mirror from the mirror cell. Do not maintenance. The optical tube is steel and has a smooth touch the surface of the mirror with your fingers; lift it care- painted finish that is fairly scratch-resistant. If a scratch does fully by the edge. Set the mirror, aluminized face up, on a appear on the tube, it will not harm the telescope. Smudges clean, soft towel. Fill a clean sink free of abrasive cleanser on the t
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8. Specifications SkyQuest XT6 IntelliScope SkyQuest XT10 IntelliScope Primary mirror:150mm diameter, parabolic, center-marked Primary mirror: 254mm diameter, Pyrex, parabolic, center- marked Focal length: 1200mm Focal length: 1200mm Focal ratio: f/8.0 Focal ratio: f/4.7 Focuser:Rack-and-pinion. 1.25" eyepieces Focuser: Rack-and-pinion. Accepts 2" and 1.25" eyepieces Altitude bearing diameter: 5.75" with included adapter Optical tube material: Rolled steel Altitude bearing diameter: 5.75" Azi
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One-Year Limited Warranty This Orion SkyQuest IntelliScope Dobsonian Reflecting Telescope is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. 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 Ha
