Celestron PowerSeeker2 70 User Manual

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IDENTIFYING PARTS OF YOUR FIRSTSCOPE

1. Telescope Tube 10. Tripod

2. Tube Ring 11. Counterweight

3. Star Pointer Finderscope 12. Counterweight Bar

4. Eyepiece 13. Right Ascension Slow Motion

Cable

5. Star Diagonal 14. Right Ascension Setting Circle

6. Focuser 15. Equatorial Mount

7. Declination Slow Motion Cable 16. Declination Circle

8. Latitude Adjustment Screws 17. Objective Lens

9. 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.

This manual covers both the 70mm equatorial model and the 90mm model. The equatorial mount contains setting circles and
slow motion cables to make it easier to locate and track astronomical objects.

But, 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 telescope should include all of the following:

a. Tripod with center support bracket
b. Telescope tube with tube ring attached
c. Equatorial mount head
d. Two 1 ¼" eyepieces
e. 90˚ star diagonal
f. StarPointer Finderscope
g. 2# Counterweight (Firstscope 70)
h. 5# Counterweight (Firstscope 90)
i. Counterweight bar
j. Two slow motion cables
k. Eyepiece accessory tray
l. The Sky CD rom

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 threaded
hole in the center of the leg brace.

4) Locate the equatorial mount and place the base of the mount through the hole in the center of the tripod
mounting platform. From underneath the tripod mounting platform, thread the mounting bolt with washer into
the threaded hole on the bottom of the equatorial mount.

5) Thread the latitude adjustment screws into the equatorial mount until both screws are touching the inside of the
mount and the mount can no longer pivot up and down.

6) Locate the counterweight bar and counterweight. Thread the threaded end of the counterweight bar into the Dec
axis of the equatorial mount. Remove the safety screw and washer from the other end of the counterweight bar.
Loosen the counterweight locking bolt so that the screw is no longer obstructing the center hole of the
counterweight. Slide the counterweight half way up the counterweight bar and tighten the locking screw to
secure the counterweight in place. Thread the safety screw and washer on to the end of the counterweight bar.

7) Slide the chrome end of the slow motion control cables onto the equatorial
mount gear shaft. See Figure A. The longer cable should attach to the Right
Ascension axis and the shorter cable attaches to the Declination axis.

8) Remove the wing nuts from the threaded post at the bottom of the tube ring.
Place the telescope tube on top of the equatorial mount so that the threaded
posts slide through the holes on the equatorial mount. The declination slow
motion cable should extend towards the focuser end of the telescope tube.
Replace the wing nut and tighten to hold the telescope in place.

9) 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.

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Figure A

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10) Loosen the set screw on the star 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

11) 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 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.

12) Remove the lens cap from the front of the telescope.

Figure B

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Star Pointer Finderscope

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

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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.

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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.

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.

Moving Your Telescope:

To change the direction your telescope is pointing:

1. To move the telescope in declination (north/south) there are two options. For large and quick movements, loosen the

declination knob (see figures 8 & 9) when moving the telescope and then tighten the knob when you are near the
position you want. For very small movements and fine adjustments, use the declination cable. The declination cable
has a range of about 30° and if you come to the stop at the end of its travel, do not try to force movement when
the declination cable has reached the stop. Instead loosen the declination knob and manually move the telescope
in declination until you pass the object in the opposite direction. Then tighten the knob and reverse the direction of
the declination cable.

2. To move the telescope in right ascension (east/west) there are two options. For large and quick movements, loosen

the right ascension knob when moving the telescope and then tighten the knob when you are near the position you
want. For very small movements and fine adjustments, turn the right ascension cable. Unlike the declination cable,
the right ascension cable has 360˚ of continuous motion.

Balancing the Telescope in Right Ascension (R.A.):

The telescope should be properly balanced in order for it to move smoothly in both axes. Proper balance is essential if using
an optional motor drive for accurate tracking.

1. To balance the right ascension axis, move the counterweight shaft so it is parallel (horizontal) to the ground. (See

figure 2). Slowly release the right ascension knob and see if the optical tube moves. If the optical tube moves, then
slide the counterweight up or down the counterweight shaft until the optical tube remains stationary in the parallel
position to the ground. When this happens, make sure the counterweight lock is tight.

Balancing the Telescope in Declination (DEC):

The telescope should also be balanced on the declination axis to prevent any sudden motions when the DEC clamp is
released. To balance the telescope in DEC:

1. Release the R.A. clamp 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 telescope in R.A.).Lock the R.A. clamp to hold the telescope in place. Release the DEC clamp and
rotate the telescope until the tube is parallel to the ground (see figure 3). Release the tube — GRADUALLY — to see
which way it rotates around the declination axis. DO NOT LET GO OF THE TELESCOPE TUBE COMPLETELY!
Loosen the screws that hold the telescope tube inside the mounting rings and slide the telescope either forwards or
backwards until it remains stationary when the DEC clamp is released. Tighten the tube ring screws firmly to hold the
telescope in place.

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