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1. Objective Lens 6. Erect Image Diagonal
2. Tube Rings 7. Focuser
3. Piggyback Camera Adapter 8. Slow Motion Cables
4. Star Pointer Finderscope 9. Tripod
5. Eyepiece 10. Eyepiece Accessory Tray
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Thank you for purchasing this Celestron Refractor Telescope. This telescope is a precision scientific instrument. With it you
will enjoy numerous objects in the sky—planets, nebulae, star clusters, galaxies and other astronomical objects. Your
refractor telescope can also be used as an excellent spotting scope for viewing daytime land objects as well.
Before your journey begins take time to read this manual to familiarize yourself with the operation and parts of your
telescope.
WARNING—NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITH YOUR TELESCOPE OR ITS FINDERSCOPE.
PERMANENT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE MAY RESULT AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO
YOUR TELESCOPE. HOWEVER, YOU MAY ENJOY LOOKING AT THE SUN IF YOU HAVE A SAFE
METHOD OF DOING SO, SUCH AS A CELESTRON SOLAR FILTER.
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1) Your Firstscope 90AZ telescope should include all of the following:
a. Tripod with Alt Az mount head
b. Telescope tube with tube rings attached
c. Two 1 ¼" eyepieces
d. 45˚ erect image diagonal
e. StarPointer Finderscope
f. Two slow motion cables
g. Eyepiece accessory tray
2) To set up the tripod, spread the legs outward until they are fully extended. Extend the center portion of each of
the three tripod legs down 6-8". Use the three tightening screws located at the bottom of each leg to secure the
extended legs in place.
3) Place the accessory tray on top of tripod's center leg brace. Thread the tray's threaded post into the hole in the
center of the leg brace.
4) Slide the chrome end of each slow motion control cable onto the Alt Az mount
gear shaft. See Figure A.
5) Remove the wing nuts from the threaded post at the bottom of the tube rings.
Place the telescope tube on top of the Alt Az mount so that the threaded posts
slide through the holes on the mount. The slow motion cables should extend
towards the focuser end of the telescope tube. Replace the wing nut and tighten
to hold the telescope in place.
6) Remove the plastic cap covering the end of the focuser. Loosen the set screw
on the focuser so that it does not obstruct the inner diameter of the focuser.
Insert the chrome barrel of the star diagonal into the focuser and tighten the set
screw.
7) Loosen the set screw on the diagonal so that it does not obstruct the inner diameter of the barrel. Insert the
chrome barrel of the 20mm eyepiece into the diagonal and tighten the set screw. See Figure B
8) Locate the StarPointer finderscope. Remove the knurled nuts on the threaded posts at the focuser end of the
telescope tube. Mount the Star Pointer bracket by placing the bracket over the posts protruding from the tube
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Figure A
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and tightening it down with the knurled nuts. Orient the Star Pointer so that the
glass window is facing towards the front of the tube.
9) Remove the lens cap from the front of the telescope.
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Star Pointer Finderscope
Figure B
The Star Pointer is the quickest and easiest way to point your telescope exactly at a desired object in the sky. It's like
having a laser pointer that you can shine directly onto the night sky. The Star Pointer is a zero magnification pointing
tool that uses a coated glass window to superimpose the image of a small red dot onto the night sky. While keeping both
eyes open when looking through the Star Pointer, simply move your telescope until the red dot, seen through the Star
Pointer, merges with the object as seen with your unaided eye. The red dot is produced by a light-emitting diode (LED);
it is not a laser beam and will not damage the glass window or your eye. The star pointer is powered by a long life 3-volt
lithium battery (#CR2032) located underneath the front portion of the Star Pointer. Like all finderscopes, the Star
Pointer must be properly aligned with the main telescope before it can be used. This is a simple process using the
azimuth and altitude control knobs located on the side and bottom of the Star Pointer. The alignment procedure is best
done at night since the LED dot will be difficult to see during the day
Azimuth Adjustment Screw (Adjustment knob
located on opposite side)
On / OFF / Brightness
Switch
.
Glass Window
Altitude Adjustment
Knob
Battery Compartment
Figure 1 – The StarPointer Finderscope with Mounting Bracket
Dovetail Mounting Bracket
To align the Star Pointer finderscope:
1. Before using the StarPointer, you must first remove the protective plastic cover between the battery and the battery
clip.
2. To turn on the Star Pointer, slide the On/Off switch to the 1 "On" position. To increase the brightness level of the
red dot, slide the switch to the 2 "On" position.
3. Locate a bright star or planet and center it in a low power eyepiece in the main telescope.
4. With both eyes open, look through the glass window at the alignment star.
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5. If the Star Pointer is perfectly aligned, you will see the red LED dot overlap the alignment star. If the Star Pointer is
not aligned, take notice of where the red dot is relative to the bright star.
6. Without moving the main telescope, turn the Star Pointer's azimuth and altitude adjustment knobs until the red dot is
directly over the alignment star.
The Star Pointer is now ready to be used. Remember to always turn the power off after you have found an object. This
will extend the life of both the battery and the LED.
Pointing the AZ Telescope
The Altazimuth mount can be moved in two directions; vertically, which is called altitude and horizontally, which is called
azimuth.
Altitude
• For major directional changes in altitude, hold the end of the telescope tube and move the telescope to the desired
orientation.
• For fine adjustments in altitude, turn the slow motion control knob on the right side of the mount. Turning the knob
clockwise lowers the angle at which the telescope is aiming while turning it counterclockwise raises the angle at which the
telescope is aiming.
Azimuth
• For major directional changes in azimuth, loosen the azimuth tension knob (Figure 5) on the right side of the mount. Once
loose, point the telescope to the desired area and tighten the azimuth tension
knob.
• For fine adjustments in azimuth, turn the slow motion control knob on the left
side of the mount. Turning the knob clockwise moves the telescope to the right
while turning it counterclockwise moves the telescope to the left.
NOTE: The azimuth slow motion knob will NOT work while the azimuth
tension knob is loose. The azimuth tension knob must be fully tightened before
you can use the azimuth slow motion control knob.
Figure 5 – Azimuth tension knob
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A telescope is an instrument that collects and focuses light. The nature of the optical design determines how the light is
focused. Some telescopes, known as refractors, use lenses. Other telescopes, known as reflectors, use mirrors.
Your Firstscope telescope is a refractor telescope that use an objective lens to collect its light.
Image Orientation
The image orientation of any telescope changes depending on how the eyepiece is inserted into the telescope. When
observing through a refractor telescope using the erect image diagonal, the image will be correct. However, when observing
straight through, with the eyepiece inserted directly into the telescope, the image will be inverted.
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