Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ 21043, PowerSeeker 80EQ 21048, PowerSeeker 114EQ 21045, PowerSeeker 127EQ 21049, PowerSeeker 70EQ 21037 Instruction Manual
ENGLISH
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●● PPoowweerrSSeeeekkeerr 6600EEQQ ## 2211004433 ●● PPoowweerrSSeeeekkeerr 7700EEQQ ## 2211003377
●● PPoowweerrSSeeeekkeerr 8800EEQQ ## 2211004488 ●● PPoowweerrSSeeeekkeerr 111144EEQQ ## 2211004455
●● PPoowweerrSSeeeekkeerr 112277EEQQ ## 2211004499
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................................................... 6
Setting up the Tripod............................................................................................................................................. 6
Attaching the Equatorial Mount .......................................................................................................................... 7
Installing the Counterweight Bar & Counterweight(s) ...................................................................................... 7
Attaching the Slow Motion Cables....................................................................................................................... 8
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount........................................................................................................ 8
Installing the Diagonal & Eyepiece (Refractor).................................................................................................. 9
Installing the Eyepiece on the Newtonian............................................................................................................ 9
Installing the Finderscope................................................................................................................................... 10
Aligning the Finderscope..................................................................................................................................... 10
Installing and Using the Barlow Lens ................................................................................................................ 10
Moving the Telescope Manually......................................................................................................................... 11
Balancing the Mount in R.A. .............................................................................................................................. 11
Balancing the Mount in Dec................................................................................................................................ 11
Adjusting the Equatorial Mount ........................................................................................................................ 12
Adjusting the Mount in Altitude......................................................................................................................... 12
TELESCOPE BASICS .................................................................................................................13
Image Orientation................................................................................................................................................ 14
Focusing................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Calculating Magnification................................................................................................................................... 14
Determining Field of View .................................................................................................................................. 15
General Observing Hints..................................................................................................................................... 15
ASTRONOMY BASICS .............................................................................................................. 16
The Celestial Coordinate System........................................................................................................................ 16
Motion of the Stars .............................................................................................................................................. 16
Polar Alignment with the Latitude Scale........................................................................................................... 17
Pointing at Polaris................................................................................................................................................ 18
Finding the North Celestial Pole......................................................................................................................... 18
Polar Alignment in the Southern Hemisphere .................................................................................................. 19
Aligning the Setting Circles................................................................................................................................. 21
Motor Drive.......................................................................................................................................................... 22
CELESTIAL OBSERVING .........................................................................................................23
Observing the Moon ............................................................................................................................................ 23
Observing the Planets.......................................................................................................................................... 23
Observing the Sun................................................................................................................................................ 23
Observing Deep-Sky Objects .............................................................................................................................. 24
Seeing Conditions................................................................................................................................................. 24
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY............................................................................................................ 25
Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography ....................................................................................................... 25
Piggyback Photography....................................................................................................................................... 25
Planetary & Lunar Photography with Special Imagers................................................................................... 25
CCD Imaging for Deep Sky Objects .................................................................................................................. 25
Terrestrial Photography...................................................................................................................................... 25
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE.................................................................................................. 26
Care and Cleaning of the Optics......................................................................................................................... 26
Collimation of a Newtonian................................................................................................................................. 26
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ..................................................................................................... 29
POWERSEEKER SPECIFICATIONS......................................................................................... 30
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Congratulations on your purchase of a PowerSeeker telescope. The PowerSeeker Series of telescopes come in
several different models and this manual covers five models mounted on a German Equatorial Mount --- 60mm
refractor, 70mm refractor, 80mm refractor, 114mm Newtonian, and 127mm Newtonian. The PowerSeeker Series is
made of the highest quality materials to ensure stability and durability. All this adds up to a telescope that gives you
a lifetime of pleasure with a minimal amount of maintenance.
These telescopes were designed for the First Time Buyer offering exceptional value. The PowerSeeker series
features a compact and portable design with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to the world of
amateur astronomy.
PowerSeeker telescopes carry a two year limited warranty. For details see our website at www.celestron.com
Some of the many standard features of the PowerSeeker include:
• All coated glass optical elements for clear, crisp images.
• Smooth functioning, rigid equatorial mount with setting circles in both axes.
• Preassembled aluminum tripod ensures a stable platform.
• Quick and easy no-tool set up.
• CD-ROM “The Sky” Level 1 -- astronomy software which provides education about the sky and printable sky
maps.
• All models can be used terrestrially as well as astronomically with the standard accessories included.
Take time to read through this manual before embarking on your journey through the Universe. It may take a few
observing sessions to become familiar with your telescope, so you should keep this manual handy until you have
fully mastered your telescope’s operation. The manual gives detailed information regarding each step as well as
needed reference material and helpful hint to make your observing experience as simple and pleasurable as possible.
Your telescope is designed to give you years of fun and rewarding observations. However, there are a few things to
consider before using your telescope that will ensure your safety and protect your equipment.
Warning
y Never look directly at the sun with the naked eye or with a telescope (unless you have the proper
solar filter). Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.
y Never use your telescope to project an image of the sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can
damage the telescope and any accessories attached to it.
y Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside the telescope can
cause these devices to crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass through to the eye.
y Do not leave the telescope unsupervised, either when children are present or adults who may not be
familiar with the correct operating procedures of your telescope.
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Figure 1-1 PowerSeeker 80EQ Refractor
PowerSeeker 60EQ & PowerSeeker 70EQ Similar
1. Telescope Optical Tube 9. Latitude Adjustment Screw
2. Mounting Bracket w/ Tube Rings 10. Tripod Accessory Tray
3. R.A. Setting Circle 11. Tripod
4. Finderscope 12. Counterweight Bar
5. Eyepiece & Diagonal 13. Counterweight
6. Focus Knob 14. Equatorial Mount
7. Dec. Slow Motion Cable 15. Dec. Setting Circle
8. R.A. Slow Motion Cable 16. Objective Lens
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Figure 1-2 PowerSeeker 114EQ Newtonian
PowerSeeker 127EQ Newtonian Similar
1. Eyepiece 8. Tripod Accessory Tray
2. Tube Ring 9. Tripod
3. Telescope Optical Tube 10. Counterweight
4. Primary Mirror 11. R.A. Setting Circle
5. Dec. Slow Motion Cable 12. Equatorial Mount
6. R.A. Slow Motion Cable 13. Dec. Setting Circle
7. Latitude Adjustment Screw 14. Focus Knob
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This section covers the assembly instructions for your PowerSeeker telescope. Your telescope should be set up
indoor the first time so that it is easy to identify the various parts and familiarize yourself with the correct assembly
procedure before attempting it outdoor.
Each PowerSeeker comes in one box. The pieces in the box are – optical tube, tube rings (except 60EQ), German
equatorial mount, counterweight bar, counterweight, R.A. & Dec. slow-motion cables, 4mm eyepiece – 1.25”,
20mm eyepiece – 1.25” (erect image for 114EQ & 127EQ), erect image diagonal 1.25” (for 60EQ, 70EQ, and
80EQ), 3x Barlow Lens 1.25”, “The Sky” Level 1 CD-ROM.
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1. Remove the tripod from the box (Figure 2-1). The tripod comes preassembled so that the set up is very
easy.
2. Stand the tripod upright and pull the tripod legs apart until each leg is fully extended and then push down
slightly on the tripod leg brace (Figure 2-2). The very top of the tripod is called the tripod head.
3. Next, we will install the tripod accessory tray (Figure 2-3) onto the tripod leg brace (center of Figure 2-2).
4. On the bottom of the tripod tray is a screw attached to the center. The screw attaches into a threaded hole
in the center of the tripod leg brace by turning it counterclockwise - note: pull up slightly on the tripod leg
brace to make it easy to attach. Continue turning the tray until hand tight – don’t over tighten the tray.
5. The tripod is now completely assembled (Figure 2-4).
6. You can extend the tripod legs to the height you desire. At the lowest level the height is 26” (66cm) and
7. The tripod will be the most rigid and stable at the lower heights.
Figure 2-1 Figure 2-2 Figure 2-3
extends to 47” (119cm). You unlock the tripod leg lock knob at the bottom of each leg (Figure 2-5) by
turning them counterclockwise and pull the legs out to the height you want & then lock the knob securely.
A fully extended the tripod looks like the image in Figure 2-6.
Figure 2-4 Figure 2-5 Figure 2- 6
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The equatorial mount allows you to tilt the telescopes axis of rotation so that you can track the stars as they move
across the sky. The PowerSeeker mount is a German equatorial mount that attaches to the tripod head. To attach
the mount:
1. Remove the equatorial mount from the box (Figure 2-8). The mount has the latitude locking bolt attached to
it (Figure 2-27). The latitude adjustment screw attaches to the threaded hole in the mount as shown in Figure
2-10.
2. The mount will attach to the tripod head and more specifically to the knob with bolt attached under the tripod
head (Figure 2-7). Push the mount (large flat portion with a small tube sticking out) into the center hole of the
tripod head until it is flush and hold it steady. Then, reach under the tripod head with your other hand and
turn the knob counterclockwise which will thread it into the bottom of the mount. Continue turning until it is
tight. The completed assembly of the mount to the tripod is seen in Figure 2-9.
Figure 2-7 Figure 2-8 Figure 2-9 Figure 2-10
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To properly balance the telescope, the mount comes with a counterweight bar and one or two counterweights
(depending on the model you have). To install them:
1. Remove the counterweight safety screw from the counterweight bar (at the opposite end of the threaded rod)
by unthreading it counterclockwise – see Figure 2-11.
2. Install the large threads of the counterweight bar into the threaded hole in the Dec. axis of the mount and turn
clockwise-- see Figure 2-12 until it is tight. Now you are ready to attach the counterweight(s).
3. Orient the mount so that the counterweight bar points toward the ground.
4. Loosen the locking knob on the side of the counterweight so that the threads do not protrude through the
center hole of the counterweight.
5. Slide the counterweight onto the counterweight bar about half way up and tighten the locking knob securely.
The correct orientation of the weight is shown in Figure 2-13.
6. Slide the second counterweight (if your model has a second weight) onto the counterweight bar flush up
against the first one and then lock securely.
7. Replace the safety screw and thread it on securely. The completed assembly is shown in Figure 2-13.
Figure 2-11 Figure 2-12 Figure 2-13
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The PowerSeeker mount comes with two slow motion control cables that allow you to make fine pointing
adjustments to the telescope in both R.A. and Declination. To install the cables:
1. Locate the two cables with knobs on them. The longer one is for the R.A. axis and make sure the screw on
each cable end does not protrude through the opening.
2. Slide the cable onto the R.A. shaft (see Figure 2-14) so the screw fits over the groove in the R.A. Shaft.
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 (except if using a motor drive). Use whichever one you find more convenient.
3. Tighten the screw on the R.A. cable to hold it securely in place.
4. The DEC slow motion cable attaches in the same manner as the R.A. cable. The shaft that the DEC slow
motion knob fits over is toward the top of the mount, just below the telescope mounting platform.
Figure 2-14
R.A. Shaft on bottom below the R.A. Setting
Circle Dec. Shaft on top above the Dec. Setting
Circle
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R.A. & Dec. Cables attached
Figure 2-15
The telescope optical tube attaches to the equatorial mount with tube rings (except on the 60EQ) supporting it to the
mounting bracket at the top of the mount (Figure 2-16). For the 60EQ refractor, the tube mounts directly to the
mounting bracket with the screw studs attached to the optical tube. Before you attach the optical tube, make sure
that the declination and right ascension locking knobs are tight (Figure 2-24). Then, make sure that the
latitude adjustment screw and latitude locking bolt (Figure 2-27) are tight. This will ensure that the mount does
not move suddenly while attaching the telescope optical tube. Also, remove the objective lens cap (refractor) or the
front opening cap (Newtonian). To mount the telescope tube:
1. Remove the protective paper covering the optical tube. You will have to remove the tube rings (Figure 2-16)
before removing the paper.
2. Remove the knobs from the threaded posts at the bottom of the tube rings (Figure 2-16).
3. Now put the posts through the holes in the top of the mount platform (Figure 2-17) and put the knobs back on
and tighten and they will look like Figure 2-18.
4. Open the tube rings (loosen the large chromed knobs) so that the optical tube can be put on.
5. Hold the optical tube carefully with one hand and center in the tube rings and close the rings and latch and
tighten the knurled knobs of the tube rings which will look like Figure 2-19.
6. Note that you could attach the tube rings to the optical tube first and then attach to the mounting platform on
the equatorial mount as this is a personal preference.
NOTE: Never loosen any of the knobs on the telescope tube or mount other than the R.A. and DEC knobs.
Hint: For maximum rigidity of the telescope and mount, make sure the knobs/screws holding the tripod legs to the
tripod head are tight.
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Figure 2-16 Figure 2-17 Figure 2-18 Figure 2-19
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The diagonal is a prism that diverts the light at a right angle to the light path of
the refractor. This allows you to observe in a position that is more comfortable
than if you had to look straight through. This diagonal is an erect image model
that corrects the image to be right side up and oriented correctly left-to-right
which is much easier to use for terrestrial observing. Also, the diagonal can be
rotated to any position which is most favorable for you. To install the diagonal
and eyepieces:
1. Insert the small barrel of the diagonal into the 1.25” eyepiece adapter of the
focus tube on the refractor – Figure 2-20. Make sure the two thumbscrews
on the eyepiece adapter do not protrude into the focuser tube before
installation and the plug up cap is removed from the eyepiece adapter.
2. Put the chrome barrel end of one of the eyepieces into the diagonal and
tighten the thumb screw. Again, when doing this make sure the thumb
screw is not protruding into the diagonal before inserting the eyepiece.
3. The eyepieces can be changed to other focal lengths by reversing the
Figure 2-20
procedure in step 2 above.
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The eyepiece (or ocular) is an optical element that magnifies the image focused by
the telescope. Without the eyepiece it would be impossible to use the telescope
visually. Eyepieces are commonly referred to by focal length and barrel diameter.
The longer focal length (i.e., the larger the number) the lower the eyepiece
magnification (i.e., power). Generally, you will use low-to-moderate power when
viewing. For more information on how to determine power, see the section on
“Calculating Magnification”. The eyepiece fits directly into the focuser of the
Newtonian. To attach the eyepieces:
1. Make sure the thumbscrews are not protruding into the focuser tube. Then,
insert the chrome barrel of the eyepieces into the focus tube (remove the
plug up cap of the focuser first) and tighten the thumbscrews – see
Figure 2-21.
2. The 20mm eyepiece is called an erecting eyepiece since it corrects the
image so it is right side up and corrected left to right. This makes the
telescope useful for terrestrial viewing.
Figure 2-21
3. The eyepieces can be changed by reversing the procedure as described
above.
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