Orion XT12 User Manual
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Orion®
SkyQuest™ XT12 IntelliScope®
#9988
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
Customer Support ( 80 0) 676-1343
E-mail: suppor t@ te le sc op e. co m
Corpo rate Off ices (831) 763-700 0
P.O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
IN 227 Rev. B 03/05
Secondary mirror holder with
4-vane spider (not visible)
Navigation knob
Finder scope
Finder scope
bracket
Eyepiece
Focuser
Optical tube
Tensioning knob
Right side panel
Front brace
Eyepiece rack
Handle
Top baseplate
Computerized
Object Locator (optional)
Primary mirror cell
IntelliScope
Controller Port
modular jack
Left side panel
Figure 1. The SkyQuest XT12 IntelliScope
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Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion SkyQuest XT12 IntelliScope Dobsonian. It is a highperformance astronomical instrument designed to provide dazzling views of celestial objects and
unprecedented ease of use. With the addition of the optional IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator
(controller), you gain the ability to locate and view thousands of celestial objects with the push of a but
ton. Searching for objects is a thing of the past, as the IntelliScope’s high-resolution digital encoders find
them for you — in seconds. It’s so easy!
Even if you decide not to purchase the optional IntelliScope controller, your SkyQuest telescope will
provide years of stargazing enjoyment, thanks to its large-aperture, precision optics; its innovative, userfriendly design; and its complement of outstanding features and accessories. We hope you enjoy your
journey through the universe!
Please read these instructions thoroughly before beginning assembly and subsequent use of the telescope.
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Table of Contents
1. Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Aligning (Collimating) the
Optical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Using your Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Astronomical Observing
. . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6. Optional IntelliScope Computerized
Object Location
7. Care and Maintenance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
8. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun
through your telescope or its finder scope—even
for an instant—without a professionally made
solar filter that completely covers the front of
the instrument, or permanent eye damage could
result. Young children should use this telescope
only with adult supervision.
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1. Unpacking
The telescope is packed in three boxes, one containing the
optical tube assembly and accessories, another containing
the unassembled Dobsonian base, and the last containing
the primary mirror in its cell,. Be careful unpacking the boxes.
We recommend keeping the original packaging. In the event
that the telescope needs to be shipped to another location,
or returned to Orion for warranty repair, having the proper
packaging will help ensure that your telescope will survive the
journey intact.
Make sure all the parts in the Parts List below are present. Be
sure to check boxes carefully, as some parts are small. If any
thing appears to be missing or broken, immediately call Orion
Customer Support (800-676-1343) or email sales@telescope.
com for assistance.
Parts List
Box #1: Optical Tube Assembly and Accessories
Qty. Description
1 Optical tube assembly
1 Dust cover
1 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece, 1.25" barrel diameter
1 10mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece, 1.25" barrel diameter
1 9x50 finder scope
1 Finder scope bracket with O-ring
1 Collimation cap
1 4-Hole eyepiece rack
2 Eyepiece rack mounting wood screws (length 3/4")
2 Tensioning/Retaining knobs
1 Tensioning knob nylon washer (white)
1 Tensioning knob metal washer
1 Nylon retaining knob spacer (black)
1 Handle
2 Handle mounting hex-head screws
2 Handle mounting screw washers
1 Crescent wrench
1 Azimuth encoder board
1 Encoder connector board
1 Encoder disk
Box #2: Dobsonian Base
Qty Description
1 Left panel
1 Right panel
1 Front brace
1 Top baseplate
1 Ground baseplate
12 Base assembly wood screws (length 2", black)
3
1 Hex key (size 4mm)
3 Plastic feet
3 Feet attachment wood screws (length 1")
5 Encoder board mounting wood screws
1 Brass bushing
1 Azimuth axis hex-head screw (length 2.25")
2 Fender washers (diameter 1")
1 Hex lock nut
4 Altitude bearing cylinders
4 Altitude bearing cylin der screws (length 1.5",
black)
1 Vertical stop knob
3 Flat washers (2x1/16" thick, 1x1/32" thick)
Box #3: Primary Mirror and Cell
Qty Description
1 Primary mirror
1 Mirror cell
3 Collimation knobs
3 Nylon washers
3 Springs
Warning: Once the rear end ring is removed from the
tube, the raw edge of the tube itself will be exposed. Be
careful not to cut or otherwise hurt yourself on the tube’s
edge. Also be careful not to pinch yourself when attach
ing the assembled mirror cell onto the tube.
Next, assemble the rear end ring to the mirror cell. Find a
clean, flat surface, and turn the mirror cell over so that the
mirror is facing downwards. Place the three springs onto the
three exposed threaded shafts (Figure 3). Lower the end ring
onto the mirror cell so the threaded shafts pass through it,
and the end ring rests on the springs (Figure 4). Add a nylon
washer to each collimation knob and thread the collimation
knobs through the end ring and onto the threaded shafts
(Figure 5). Make sure the knobs have at least three full turns
of engagement on the shafts. The mirror cell is now ready to
be installed into the tube.
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2. Assembly
Now that you have unpacked the boxes and familiarized
yourself with all the parts in front of you, it’s time to begin
assembly.
Assembly of the Optical Tube
In order to prevent damage to the primary mirror in ship
ment, it is shipped in its cell separately from the optical tube.
To install the mirror cell into the optical tube, the rear end
ring attached to the optical tube must first be removed. This
is done by unthreading and removing the six Phillips-head
screws that connect the end ring to the tube (Figure 2), and
then pulling the end ring off of the tube.
Figure 2. To remove the rear end ring, unthread the six screws
that connect it to the tube.
Figure 3. Place the three springs on the exposed threaded shafts
of the mirror cell.
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Figure 4. Lower the rear end ring onto the mirror cell so that the
threaded shafts pass through the end ring, and the end ring rests
on the springs.
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Figure 5. Thread the collimation thumbnuts, with nylon washers
attached, through the rear end ring and onto the threaded shafts.
Make sure the thumbnuts have at least three full turns of engagement
on the shafts.
Assembling the SkyQuest XT12 IntelliScope mirror cell to the
tube can be a bit tricky. This is because the large diameter
and thin aluminum of the tube will cause the tube to become
somewhat out of round once the rear end ring is removed.
To assemble the mirror cell to the tube, stand the tube up verti
cally so that the raw edge of the tube is facing upwards. Line up
the threaded holes in the edge of the mirror cell end ring with
the holes in the end of the tube. Then, lower the mirror cell onto
the tube so that one side of the end ring is fully seated onto the
tube (Figure 6). Now, look along the perimeter of the tube, and
you will notice a bulge in the tube that prevents the mirror cell
from fully seating on the tube (Figure 7). Position your body
so that your chest is pressing against this bulge, and hug the
telescope with your left hand so that the tube becomes round.
With your right hand, gently tap down the side of the mirror cell
that needs to be seated, and the entire mirror cell should seat
onto the tube (Figure 8). Replace the six Phillips-head screws
that connect the rear end ring to the tube.
Figure 6. Lower the assembled mirror cell onto the tube
so one side of the end ring is seated on the tube edge. The
threaded attachment holes in the end ring should also be lined
up with the through holes in the end of the tube
Figure 7. Locate the area of tube that is bulging out and
preventing the mirror cell from fully seating.
Figure 8. Hug the tube so that your chest pushes against the
bulge, and a gentle tap should fully seat the mirror cell onto the
tube.
Assembly of the Dobsonian Base
Refer to Figure 9 during base assembly. The base need only
be assembled once, unless you disassemble it for long-term
storage. The assembly process takes about 30 minutes and
requires, in addition to the supplied tools, a Phillips screw
driver, and two adjustable crescent wrenches. You can
substitute a 10mm crescent wrench for one of the adjustable
crescent wrenches, or use a pair of pliers.
The azimuth encoder board and other encoder items should
be installed, even if you do not plan to use the optional
Computerized Object Locator. The smooth motion of the tele
scope depends on the installation of these parts.
When tightening screws, tighten them until firm, but be careful
not to strip the holes by over-tightening. If you use an electric
screwdriver, do final tightening with a standard screwdriver to
avoid stripping.
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Figure 9. Exploded view of the Dobsonian base.
C
M
B
L
K
D
F
E
A
J
H
I
1. With a Phillips screwdriver, screw the plastic feet into the
underside of the ground baseplate (A) using the self-tap
ping wood screws provided. Insert the screws through the
feet and thread them into the predrilled starter holes.
2. Loosely attach the front brace (B) to the two side panels
(C) with six of the base assembly screws in the predrilled
holes. Use the 4mm hex key to tighten the screws. The side
panels should be oriented so the SkyQuest IntelliScope
labels are facing outward. Do not completely tighten the
screws yet.
3. Connect the two side panels (C) with the front brace
attached to the top baseplate (D) with the remaining six
base assembly screws in the predrilled holes. The side of
the baseplate with the pilot hole near the square-shaped
cutout should be facing downwards. Tighten all six screws
firmly.
4. Tighten the six base assembly screws installed in step 2.
5. Attach the azimuth encoder board (E) to the underside
of the top baseplate (D). Insert the modular jack on the
encoder board into the square-shaped hole in the base
plate and align the encoder board so that the small slotted
hole in the board lines up with the predrilled starter hole,
and the large hole lines up with the central hole in the
baseplate (Figure 10). Thread an encoder board mounting
screw into the predrilled starter hole with a Phillips screw
driver and tighten until just tight.
6. Place one fender washer (H) onto the azimuth axis screw
(I). Then push the screw up through the hole in the ground
baseplate (A).Then slide the encoder disk (J), flat side
down, onto the azimuth axis screw.
7. Place the brass bushing (F) onto the azimuth axis screw
(I) so that the wide end of the bushing is closest to the
Encoder board
mounting screw
Figure 10. To install the azimuth encoder board, line up the
large hole in the encoder board with the central hole in the top
baseplate.
encoder disk (J). Seat the bushing onto the encoder disk
so that the registration feature on the bushing goes into
the hole in the encoder disk. You may need to move the
encoder disk around on the azimuth axis screw a bit in
order for the bushing to seat properly.
8. Carefully position the top baseplate (D) over the ground
baseplate (A) and lower it so the brass bushing (F) goes
into in the center hole of the top baseplate. Place the
remaining fender washer (K) onto the shaft of the azimuth
axis screw, then thread the hex lock nut (L) onto the end of
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the azimuth axis screw and tighten it finger tight, for now.
9. To tighten the azimuth axis screw (I) and hex lock nut
(L), tilt the assembled Dobsonian base at a slight angle
to lift the ground baseplate off the ground. Now, with one
wrench (or pliers) hold the head of the azimuth axis screw
still while turning the hex lock nut with the other wrench.
Figure 11 shows this being done. Tighten the hex lock nut
just until the top fender washer is no longer moving freely,
then tighten the hex nut 3/16-1/4 turn beyond that. This
ensures proper spacing between the encoder disk and the
azimuth encoder board.
10. Attach the handle (M) to the front brace (B) with the two
handle mounting hex-head screws. Place one washer
on each screw, then press the handle against the front
brace (the end of the handle with the logo should be fac
ing upwards). Thread the screws from the inside of the
base into the handle until tight using the supplied crescent
wrench.
11. Line up one of the altitude bearing cylinders with one of
the four bearing cylinder holes on the interior of the side
panels. The beveled end of the cylinder should be facing
away from the side panel. Push a bearing cylinder screw
through the side panel and bearing cylinder. Then thread
it into the built-in hex nut on the cylinder with a Phillips
head screwdriver (Figure 12). Repeat this for the remain
ing three bearing cylinders.
12. Attach the encoder connector board to the interior sur
face of the left side panel. Place the board against the side
panel so that the modular jack fits into the square-shaped
hole and thread four encoder board mounting screws
through the connector board and into the predrilled holes
in the side panel until tight (Figure 13).
Azimuth encoder board
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