Orion SHORTTUBE 80-A User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Orion®

ShortTube™ 80-A

80mm Rich-Field Refracting Telescope

#9947

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Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975			P.O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 9506

IN 305 Rev. A 02/07

Welcome to a new world of adventure! Your Orion ShortTube 80-A is a fine-quality instrument designed for both daytime terrestrial viewing and nighttime stargazing. Compact, portable, and easy to use, this versatile scope will provide many hours of enjoyment for the whole family.

These instructions will help you set up and properly use and care for your telescope. Please read them over thoroughly before getting started.

Tube rings	Finder scope

scope bracket

Eyepiece

(20mm)

tar diagonal

Focus wheels

Figure 1. The ShortTube 80-A refractor.

WARNING: Never look at the sun with your telescope (or even with just your eyes) without a professionally made solar filter. Permanent eye damage or blindness could result. Young children should use this telescope only with adult supervision.

Avoid using the type of solar filter that screws into an eyepiece. They are susceptible to cracking under the intense heat that builds up near the focus point, and could cause severe retinal damage. Use only the type of solar filter that covers the front of the telescope. Be sure also to cover the front of the finder scope with aluminum foil or another opaque material to prevent physical damage to the internal components of the scope itself as well as to your eyes.

Parts List

Qty. Description

1Optical tube assembly

120mm Expanse 1.25" eyepiece (20x)

19mm Expanse 1.25" eyepiece (44x)

190° Mirror star diagonal, 1.25"

18x40 Finder scope

1Finderscope bracket with O-ring

1Dovetail tube ring mounting plate

2Tube rings

2Tube ring mounting hardware screws

1Objective lens cap

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Alignment thumbscrews

Focus lock ring

Figure 2a. The 8x40 finder scope and bracket

1Soft carry case

1Hex key (5mm)

Note: The following instructions describe the ShortTube 80-A. If you have purchased the ShortTube 80 Optical Tube

Assembly only, there will be many accessories described hat are not included with your telescope. All of the described accessories are available from Orion Telescopes & Binoculars. Contact our Customer Service Department at 800-676-1343 or visit our website at OrionTelescopes.com for details.

Getting Started

The ShortTube 80-A comes nearly fully assembled from the factory. The telescope’s optics have been installed and collimated, so you should not have to make any adjustments to them. Open the box and inspect the contents to make sure all of the items in the parts list are present.

Please keep the original shipping box. In the unlikely event you should need to ship the telescope back to Orion for warranty repair service, you should use the original packaging.

The box also makes a very good container for storing the telescope when it is not in use.

Installing the Finder Scope

To place the finder scope in the finder scope bracket (Figure 2a.), first unthread the two black nylon thumbscrews until the screw ends are flush with the inside diameter of the bracket. Place the O-ring that comes on the base of the bracket over the body of the finder scope until it seats into the slot on the middle of the finder scope. Slide the eyepiece end (narrow end) of the finder scope into the end of the bracket’s cylinder opposite the adjustment screws while pulling the chrome, spring-loaded tensioner on the bracket with your fingers (Figure 2b.) Push the finder scope through the bracket until the O-ring seats just inside the front opening of the bracket’s cylinder. Now, release the tensioner and

tighten the two black nylon screws a couple of turns each to secure the finder scope in place. Secure the bracket to the dovetail mount on the optical tube with the knurled thumbscrew on the dovetail mount.

Figure 2b. Inserting the finder scope into the finder scope bracket.

Installing the Diagonal and Eyepiece

Insert the star diagonal into the focuser drawtube and secure it with the knurled thumbscrew on the drawtube. Then insert the 20mm Expanse eyepiece into the diagonal and secure it in place with the thumbscrews on the diagonal.

(Always loosen the thumbscrews before rotating or removing the diagonal or an eyepiece.)

Mounting the Telescope

The ShortTube 80-A can be mounted on Orion equatorial mounts using the included tube rings and dovetail mounting plate. Attach the tube rings to the dovetail mounting plate with the included socket-head cap screws. Insert the socket-head cap screws through the holes in the plate and thread them into the base of the tube rings (Figure 2c). Place the optical tube into the open rings. Close the rings, and use the silver clamping knob on each tube ring to secure the telescope. Now you are ready to attach the telescope to the equatorial mount.

Socket-head cap screw

Figure 2c. Attaching the dovetail mounting plate.

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