A
AAddvvaanncceedd SSeerriieess CCGG--55 && CCGG--55
IINNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONN MMAANNUUAALL
9911551177
●
●
9911551188
G
T
T
T
G
G
Figure 2.1 – Advanced Series
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
12
11
10
9
1 Optical Tube 7 Tripod
(Advanced C8-S Shown)
2 Finderscope 8 Counterweight(s)
3 Finderscope Bracket 9 Counterweight Bar
4 Equatorial Mount 10 Declination Setting Circle
5 Latitude Adjustment Scale 11 Dovetail Mounting Bar
6 Tripod Center Leg Brace/Accessory Tray 12 Schmidt Corrector Lens
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
B
C
D
1 Optical Tube 9 Counterweight Bar
2 Finderscope 10 Declination Setting Circle
3 Finderscope Bracket 11 Dovetail Mounting Bar
4 Equatorial Mount 12 Schmidt Corrector Lens
5 Latitude Adjustment Scale 13 Hand Control
6 Tripod Center Leg Brace/Accessory Tray 14 R.A. Motor Drive / Control Panel
7 Tripod 15 Declination Motor Drive
8 Counterweight(s)
CONTROL PANEL C Autoguider Port
A Hand Control Port D 12v Output Jack
B DEC Motor Port E On/Off Switch
A
Figure 2.2 – Advanced Series GT
(Advanced C8-SGT Shown)
12
11
15
10
14
9
8
E
13
5
Counterweight Bar Coupling
This section covers the assembly instructions for your Celestron Advanced Series CG-5 mount. Your mount
should come with all of the following:
CG-5 Mount CG-5 GT Mount,
Computerized
91517 91518
EQ Mount Head EQ Mount Head
2" steel tripod 2" steel tripod
Counterweight Bar Counterweight Bar
Counterweight Bar Coupling
Screw
One- 11# Counterweight One- 11# Counterweight
Accessory Tray/Leg Brace Accessory Tray/Leg Brace
Central Rod with locking
knob (attached to tripod)
2- slow motion knobs
(attached)
RA housing cover RA housing cover
Mounting Adapter bar Mounting Adapter bar
Instruction Manual Instruction Manual
Hand control
The Celestron Advanced Series telescopes are shipped in two boxes (three boxes for GT models). In separate
boxes are the following:
• Optical Tube Assembly and Standard Accessories
• Equatorial Mount, Tripod, Hand Control, Counterweight(s) and Counterweight Bar (equatorial mount
with motors comes in separate box for GT models)
Remove all the pieces from their respective boxes and place on a flat, clear work area. A large floor space is
ideal. When setting up your Celestron telescope you must start with the tripod and work up from there. These
instructions are laid out in the order each task must be performed.
d
SSeettttiinngg uupp tthhee TTrriippood
The CG-5 tripod comes with an all metal center leg brace / accessory tray to give rock solid support to the
mount.
Screw
Central Rod with locking
knob (attached to tripod)
2- slow motion knobs
(attached)
Plastic hand control holder
(2 pieces)
Declination cable
Car battery adapter
6
The tripod comes fully assembled with a metal plate, called the tripod head, that holds the legs together at the
Equatorial
Tripod
top. In addition, there is a central rod that extends down from the tripod head that attaches the equatorial mount
to the tripod. To set up the tripod:
1.
Stand the tripod upright and pull the tripod legs apart until each leg is fully extended. The tripod will now stand
by itself. Once the tripod is set up, you can adjust the height at which it stands.
2. Loosen the lever on the leg clamp so that the tripod leg can be adjusted.
3. Slide the center portion of the tripod leg away from the tripod head until it is at the desired height.
4. Tighten the levers on each leg clamp to hold the legs in place.
AAttttaacchhiinngg tthhee EEqquuaattoorriiaall MMoouunntt
The equatorial mount allows you to tilt the telescope’s axis of
rotation so that you can track the stars as they move across the
sky. The CG-5 mount is a German equatorial mount that
attaches to the tripod head. On one side of the tripod head there
is a metal alignment peg for aligning the mount. This side of
the tripod will face north when setting up for an astronomical
observing session. To attach the equatorial head:
1. Locate the azimuth adjustment screws on the equatorial mount.
2. Retract the screws so they no longer extend into the azimuth
housing on the mount. Do NOT remove the screws since
they are needed later for polar alignment.
3. Hold the equatorial mount over the tripod head so that the
azimuth housing is above the metal peg.
4. Place the equatorial mount on the tripod head so that the two are flush.
5. Tighten the knob (attached to the central rod) on the underside of the tripod
head to hold the equatorial mount firmly in place.
AAttttaacchhiinngg tthhee CCeenntteerr LLeegg BBrraaccee
1. Slide the accessory tray over the central rod so that each
arm of the tray is pushing against the inside of the tripod
legs.
2.
Thread the accessory tray knob on to the central rod and
tighten.
Mount
Head
Figure 2-3
CG-5 Computerized Shown
Azimuth
Alignment Screws
Alignment
Peg
Mounting
Knob
Mounting Knob
Central Rod
Accessory Tray
Accessory
Tray Knob
Figure 2-4
7
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Counterweight
Bar
To properly balance the telescope, the mount comes with a counterweight bar and one counterweight To install
the counterweight bar:
Lock Nut
1. Thread the counterweight bar lock nut onto the threaded end of the
counterweight bar.
2. Locate the opening in the equatorial mount on the DEC axis
3. Thread the counterweight bar into the opening until tight.
Locking Screw
4. Tighten the counterweight bar lock nut fully for added support.
Once the bar is securely in place you are ready to attach the
counterweight.
Counterweight
Since the fully assembled telescope can be quite heavy, position
the mount so that the polar axis is pointing towards north
before the tube assembly and counterweights are attached.
This will make the polar alignment procedure much easier.
Safety Screw
Figure 2-3
t
IInnssttaalllliinngg tthhee CCoouunntteerrwweeiigghht
Depending on which AST telescope you have, you will receive either one or two counterweights. To install the
counterweight(s):
1. Orient the mount so that the counterweight bar points toward the ground .
2. Remove the counterweight safety
screw
on the end of the counterweight bar (i.e., opposite the end that
attaches to the mount).
3. Loosen the locking screw on the side of the counterweight.
4. Slide the counterweight onto the shaft
(see Figure 2-5)
.
5. Tighten the locking screw on the side of the weight to hold the counterweight in place.
6. Replace the counterweight safety
screw
.
8
)
(see Fig 2-
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((AAddvvaanncceedd GGTT MMooddeellss OOnnllyy)
The Advanced GT telescope models come with a hand control
holder to place the computerized hand control. The hand control
holder comes in two pieces: the leg clamp that snaps around the
tripod leg and the holder which attaches to the leg clamp. To
attach the hand control holder:
1. Place the leg clamp up against one of the tripod legs and
press firmly until the clamp wraps around the leg.
2.
Slide the back of the hand control holder downward into
the channel on the front of the legs clamp
6
) until it snaps into place.
Figure 2-5
Hand Control
Holder
Leg Clamp
Figure 2-6
AAttttaacchhiinngg tthhee SSllooww MMoottiioonn KKnnoobbss
((FFoorr NNoonn--GGTT MMooddeellss OOnnllyy)
The Advanced Series (non-GT models) comes with two slow motion control knobs that allows you to make
fine pointing adjustments to the telescope in both
R.A. and Declination. To install the knobs:
1. Locate the hard plastic shell under the R.A. shafts.
2. Remove either of the two oval tabs by pulling
tightly.
3. Line up the flat area on the inner portion of the R.A.
slow motion knob with the flat area on the R.A.
shaft (see Fig 2-7).
4. Slide the R.A. slow motion knob onto the R.A.
shaft.
The knob is a tension fit, so sliding it on holds it in
place. As mentioned above, there are two R.A.
shafts, one on either side of the mount. It makes no difference which shaft
you use since both work the same. Use whichever one you find more
convenient. If, after a few observing sessions, you find the R.A. slow motion knob is more accessible from the
other side, pull firmly to remove the knob, then install it on the opposite side.
5. The DEC slow motion knob attaches in the same manner as the R.A. knob. The shaft that the DEC slow motion
knob fits over is toward the top of the mount, just below the telescope mounting platform. Once again, you
have two shafts to choose from. Use the shaft that is pointing toward the ground. This makes it easy to reach
while looking through the telescope, something which is quite important when you are observing.
)
Figure 2-7
9
Advanced
GT Users!
AAttttaacchhiinngg aann OOppttiiccaall TTuubbee ttoo tthhee MMoouunntt
An optical tube attaches to the mount via a dovetail bar which mounts along the
bottom of a telescope tube. The CG-5 mount comes with a mounting bar that
mates to the mounting head of the mount. The mounting bar can be used to
attached a desired telescope to the CG-5 mount. Before you attach an optical
tube, make sure that the declination and right ascension clutch knobs are
tight. This will ensure that the mount does not move suddenly while attaching the
telescope. To mount the telescope tube:
In order for the GT computerized mount to function properly, before installing
an optical tube, the mounting platform must be positioned so that the
Declination Index Marks are aligned (see Fig 2-8).
1. Loosen the mounting screw on the side of the telescope mounting platform. This allows you to slide the
dovetail bar onto the mount.
2 Slide the dovetail bar on the telescope tube into the mounting platform of the mount.
3 Tighten the mounting screw on the side of the mounting platform to hold the telescope in place.
Dovetail Bar
Telescope
Mounting Screw
Figure 2-9
Figure 2-8
MMoovviinngg tthhee TTeelleessccooppee MMaannuuaallllyy
In order to properly balance your telescope, you will need to move your
telescope manually at various portions of the sky to observe different
objects. To make rough adjustments, loosen the R.A. and DEC clutch
knobs slightly and move the telescope in the desired direction.
Both the R.A. and DEC axis have lock levers to clutch down each axis
of the telescope. To loosen the clutches on the telescope, rotate the lock
levers counterclockwise.
BBaallaanncciinngg TThhee MMoouunntt iinn RR..AA..
To eliminate undue stress on the mount, the telescope should be
properly balanced around the polar axis. Proper balancing is crucial for
Declination
Index Marks
Declination
Lock Lever
R.A. Lock Lever
10
accurate tracking. To balance the mount:
1. Verify that the telescope is securely attached to the telescope mounting platform.
2. Loosen the R.A. lock lever and position the telescope off to one side of the mount. The
counterweight bar will extend horizontally on the opposite side of the mount.
3. Release the telescope — GRADUALLY — to see which way the telescope “rolls.”
4. Loosen the set screws on the side of the counterweight so it can be moved the length of the
counterweight bar.
5. Move the counterweight to a point where it balances the telescope (i.e., the telescope remains
stationary when the R.A. clutch knobs are loose).
6. Tighten the screw on the counterweight to hold it in place.
Figure 2-12
While the above instructions describe a perfect balance arrangement, there should be a SLIGHT imbalance to
ensure the best possible tracking. When the scope is on the west side of the mount the counterweight should be
slightly imbalanced to the counterweight bar side. And when the tube is on the east side of the mount there
should be a slight imbalance toward the telescope side. This is done so that the worm gear is pushing against a
slight load. The amount of the imbalance is very slight. When taking astrophotographs, this balance process
can be done for the specific area at which the telescope is pointing to further optimize tracking accuracy.
Figure 2-13
C
BBaallaanncciinngg TThhee MMoouunntt iinn DDEEC
Although the telescope does not track in declination, the telescope should also be balanced in this axis to
prevent any sudden motions when the DEC lock lever is loose. To balance the telescope in DEC:
1. Loosen the R.A. clutch lock lever and rotate the telescope so that it is on one side of the mount
(i.e., as described in the previous section on “Balancing the Mount in R.A.”).
2. Tighten the R.A. lock lever to hold the telescope in place.
3. Loosen the DEC clutch lock lever and rotate the telescope until the tube is parallel to the ground.
4. Release the tube — GRADUALLY — to see which way it rotates around the declination axis.
DO NOT LET GO OF THE TELESCOPE TUBE COMPLETELY!
5. Slightly loosen the knobs that holds the telescope to the mounting platform and slide the telescope
either forward or backward until it remains stationary when the DEC clutch is loose. Do NOT let
go of the telescope tube while the knob on the mounting platform is loose. It may be necessary to
11
rotate the telescope so that the counterweight bar is pointing down before loosening the mounting
platform screw.
6. Tighten the knobs on the telescope mounting platform to hold the telescope in place.
Like R.A. balance, these are general balance instructions and will reduce undue stress on the mount. When
taking astrophotographs, this balance process should be done for the specific area at which the telescope is
pointing.
AAddjjuussttiinngg tthhee MMoouunntt
In order for a motor
drive to track accurately, the telescope’s axis of rotation must be parallel to the Earth’s
axis of rotation, a process known as polar alignment. Polar alignment is achieved NOT by moving the telescope
in R.A. or DEC, but by adjusting the mount vertically, which is called altitude, and horizontally, which is called
azimuth. This section simply covers the correct movement of the telescope during the polar alignment process.
The actual process of polar alignment, that is making the telescope’s axis of rotation parallel to the Earth’s, is
described later in this manual in the section on “Polar Alignment.”
Adjusting the Mount in Altitude
• To increase the latitude of the polar axis, tighten the rear latitude adjustment screw and loosen the front screw
(if necessary).
• To decrease the latitude of the polar axis, tighten the front
adjustment screw and loosen the rear screw (if necessary).
The latitude adjustment on the CG-5 mount has a range from approximately 30° going up to 60°.
It is best to always make final adjustments in altitude by moving the mount against gravity (i.e. using the rear
latitude adjustment screw to raise the mount). To do this you should loosen both latitude adjustment screws and
manually push the front of the mount down as far as it will go. Then tighten the rear adjustment screw to raise
the mount to the desired latitude.
For Advanced GT users, it may be helpful to remove the front latitude adjustment screw completely. This will
allow the mount to reach lower latitudes without the screw coming into contact with R.A. motor assembly. To
remove the latitude screw, first use the rear screw to raise the mount head all the way up. Then remove the
front latitude screw completely. Now you should be able to
manually move the mount head all the way to it lowest latitude.
Now, using only the rear screw, raise the mount to your desired
latitude.
Adjusting the Mount in Azimuth
For rough adjustments in azimuth, simply pick up the telescope and
tripod and move it. For fine adjustments in azimuth:
1. Turn the azimuth adjustment knobs located on either side of the
azimuth housing. While standing behind the telescope, the knobs
are on the front of the mount.
• Turning the right adjustment knob clockwise moves the mount toward the right.
• Turning the left adjustment knob clockwise moves the mount to the left.
(under the counterweight bar)
latitude
Front Latitude
Adjustment Screw
Azimuth
Adjustment
Knobs
Figure 2-14
Rear Latitude
Adjustment
Screws
12
Both screws push off of the peg on the tripod head, which means you may have to loosen one screw while
tightening the other. The screw that holds the equatorial mount to the tripod may have to be loosened slightly.
Keep in mind that adjusting the mount is done during the polar alignment process only. Once polar aligned, the
mount must NOT be moved. Pointing the telescope is done by moving the mount in right ascension and
declination, as described earlier in this manual.
AAttttaacchhiinngg tthhee DDeecclliinnaattiioonn CCaabblleess ((FFoorr GGTT MMooddeellss OOnnllyy))
The Advanced Series mount comes with a declination cable that connects from the R.A. motor drive electronic
panel to the Dec motor drive. To attach the motor
cables:
•
Locate the Declination cable and
plug one end of the cable into the
port on the electronics panel labeled
DEC Port and plug the other end of
the cable into the port located on the
declina
tion motor drive (see
Fig 2-15
PPoowweerriinngg tthhee TTeelleessccooppe
The Advanced GT can be powered by the
supplied car battery adapter or optional 12v AC
adapter. Use only
Celestron. Using any other adapter may damage
the electronics and will void your manufacturer's
warranty.
).
e
adapters supplied by
Declination Cable
Input Port
Declination Cable
Output Port
12v Power Input
On/Off Switch
1. To power the telescope with the car battery adapter (or 12v AC adapter), simply plug the round post
into the 12v outlet on the electronic panel and plug the other end into your cars cigarette lighter outlet
or portable power supply (see Optional Accessories). Note: to prevent the power cord from being
accidentally pulled out, wrap the power cord around the strain relief located below the power switch.
2.
Turn on the power to the telescope by flipping the switch, located on the electronics panel, to the "On"
position.
Figure 2-15
13
1
2
3
7
8
9
10
4
The following is a supplemental addendum to the included instruction manual that
explains the new features of Celestron's Advanced Series Telescopes. Please refer to this
addendum for information concerning the new hand control features included with
your telescope. Refer to the owner's manual for step-by-step instruction on assembling
and using your telescope.
The Advanced Series GT, computerized version of each telescope has a hand controller
designed to give you instant access to all the functions that your telescope has to offer. With
automatic slewing to over 40,000 objects, and common sense menu descriptions, even a
beginner can master its variety of features in just a few observing sessions. Below is a brief
description of the individual components of the computerized hand controller:
1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Window: Has a dual-line, 16 character display
screen that is backlit for comfortable viewing of telescope information and scrolling
text.
2. Align: Instructs the telescope to use a selected star or object as an alignment position.
3. Direction
complete control of the
telescope in any
direction. Use the
direction keys to move
the telescope to
the initial alignment
stars or for centering
objects in the eyepiece.
Keys: Allows
14
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