Sky-Watcher EQ2 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Telescopes with EQ1 & EQ2 Mount

060103V1

REFRACTOR

B

EQ1 C

								D
					F			E
		H		G
	I								12
									11 10
	J
	K								9 8
									7
	L								6
									5
	M		1
					2				4
					3				G
									H
			a						I
			b
		EQ1						EQ2	J
A. Dust Cap/Mask						A. Dust Cap/Mask
	(Remove before Viewing)						(Remove before Viewing)
B. Dew Cap/Sun Shade						B. Dew Cap/Sun Shade
C. Objective Lens						C. Objective Lens
D. Telescope Main Tube						D. Telescope Main Tube
E. Piggyback Bracket						E. Piggyback Bracket
F.	Finderscope					F.	Finderscope
G. Finderscope Bracket						G. Finderscope Bracket
H. Finderscope Alignment						H. Finderscope Alignment
	Screws						Screws
I.	Focus Locking Screw					I.	Eyepiece
J.	Eyepiece					J.	Diagonal
K. Diagonal						K. Focus Tube
L. Focus Tube						L. Focus Knob
M. Focus Knob
1.	Dec. Flexible Control					1.	Dec. Flexible Control
							Cable
2.	Cable					2.	Altitude Adjustable T-Bolt
	R.A. Flexible Control					3.	Azimuth Lock Knob
3.	Cable					4.	Counterweight
	Altitude Adjustable T-Bolt					5.	Counterweight Locking
4. Azimuth Lock Knob							Thumb screw
5.	Counterweight					6.	Counterweight Rod
6.	Counterweight Locking					7. R.A. Flexible Control Cable
	Thumb Screw					8.	R.A. Axis Scale
7. Counterweight Rod						9.	R.A. Lock Knob
8.	R.A. Axis Scale					10. Dec. Scale
9.	Dec. Scale					11. Dec. Lock Knob
10. Dec. Lock Knob						12. Tube Rings
11. Tube Ring Mounting Plate
12. Tube Rings						a. Accessory Tray
a. Accessory Tray						b. Tripod?		Leg
b. Tripod?		Leg

A

EQ2

		C	B
	D		A
	E
F
			12
			11
			10
			9
			8
			7
			6
			5
K L			4
1 2			3
			a
			b
			c

			E			REFLECTOR/MAKSUTOV
					F	EQ1			E		EQ2
										F
									D
		D
						G			C
	C										G
						H
B						I			B		H
						J
											I
							K
	A
		11							A		J
		10									K
		9
									12
		8
		7							11
	6								10
		5							9
							2	1	8
						3					1
									7
						4					2
									6		3
									5		4
						a
							b
			EQ1		EQ2				a
A. Secondary Mirror Position				A. Secondary Mirror Position					b
B.	Dust Cap / Mask			B.	Dust Cap / Mask
?	(Remove before Viewing)			?	(Remove before Viewing)
C.	Focus Tube			C.	Focus Tube
D.	Finderscope Bracket			D.	Finderscope Bracket
E.	Finderscope			E.	Finderscope
F.	Finderscope Alignment			F.	Finderscope Alignment
	Screws				Screws
G. Eyepiece				G. Eyepiece
H. Focus Knob				H. Focus Knob
I.	Piggyback Bracket			I.	Piggyback Bracket
J.	Telescope Main Tube			J.	Telescope Main Tube
K.	Primary Mirror Position			K.	Primary Mirror Position
1.	Dec. Flexible Control Cable			1.	R.A. Scale						Dust Cap (not shown,
2.	R.A. Flexible Control Cable			2.	Dec. Flexible Control Cable				Red Dot Finder
											remove before viewing)
3.	Altitude Adjustment T-bolt			3.	Altitude Adjustment T-bolt
4.	Azimuth Lock Knob			4.	Azimuth Lock Knob
5.	Counterweight			5. R.A. Flexible Control Cable					Focus Locking Screw
6.	Counterweight Locking			6.	Counterweight
	Thumb Screw			7.	Counterweight Locking
7.	Counterweight Rod				Thumb Screw				Eyepiece
8.	R.A. Scale			8.	Counterweight Rod
9.	Dec. Scale			9.	R.A. Lock Knob						1/4"-20 Adapter
10. Dec. Lock Knob				10. Dec. Scale					Diagonal
11. Tube Rings				11. Dec. Lock Knob
a. Accessory Tray				12.	Tube Rings				Focusing Knob
b. Tripod?			Leg	a. Accessory Tray					MAKSUTOV (see above for mount diagram)
				b.	?
					Tripod Leg

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Assembling Your Telescope	5
For EQ1	5
Tripod set up
Preparing the mount for assembly	5
Telescope assembly	6
Finderscope/Red dot nder assembly	7
Eyepiece assembly	7
For EQ2	8
Tripod set up
Telescope assembly	8
Finderscope/Red dot nder assembly	9/10
Eyepiece assembly	10
Operating Your Telescope	11
Aligning the nderscope/Using the red dot nder	11
Balancing the telescope	12
Operating the EQ1 Mount	12
Operating the EQ2 Mount	13
Using the Barlow Lens	13
Focusing	14
Polar Alignment	14
Tracking celestial objects	15
Using the setting circles	15
Pointing your telescope	16
Choosing the appropriate eyepiece	20
Observing the Sky	21
Sky Conditions	21
Selecting an Observing Site	21
Choosing the Best Time to Observe	21
Chooling the Telescope	21
Adapting Your Eyes	21
Proper Care for Your Telescope	22
Collimating a Newtonian	22
Cleaning Your Telescope	23

Before you begin

This instruction manual is applicable to all the models listed on the cover. Take a moment to nd the model closest to your telescope on p.2 and p.3. Follow the instructions for your speci c model in the manual. Read the entire instructions carefully before beginning. Your telescope should be assembled during daylight hours. Choose a large, open area to work to allow room for all parts to be unpacked.

Caution!

NEVER USE YOUR TELESCOPE TO LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE WILL RESULT. USE A PROPER SOLAR FILTER FOR VIEWING THE SUN. WHEN OBSERVING THE SUN, PLACE A DUST CAP OVER YOUR FINDERSCOPE TO PROTECT IT FROM EXPOSURE. NEVER USE AN EYEPIECE-TYPE SOLAR FILTER AND NEVER USE YOUR TELESCOPE TO PROJECT SUNLIGHT ONTO ANOTHER SURFACE, THE INTERNAL HEAT BUILD-UP WILL DAMAGE THE TELESCOPE OPTICAL ELEMENTS.

FOR EQ1 MOUNT

TRIPOD SET UP

Fig. 1

Fig. 2.

ADJUSTING TRIPOD LEGS (Fig.1)

1)	Slowly loosen the height adjustment clamp and
	gently pull out the lower section of each tripod leg.
	Tighten the clamps to hold the legs in place.
2)	Spread the tripod legs apart to stand the tripod
	upright.
3)	Adjust the height of each tripod leg until the	Fig. 3
	tripod head is properly leveled. Note that the
	tripod legs may not be at same length when
	the equatorial mount is level.

ATTACHING THE ACCESSORY TRAY (Fig. 2)

1) Place the accessory tray on top of the bracket, and secure with the locking knob from underneath.

ATTACHING MOUNT TO TRIPOD LEGS (Fig. 3)

1) Place the equatorial mount inside the tripod mounting platform.

2) Push the azimuth lock knob/locking shaft up and thread the screw into the hole in the bottom of the mount.

PREPARING THE MOUNT FOR ASSEMBLY

REPOSITIONING THE MOUNT HEAD (Fig.4.1 _ 4.5)

Follow the diagrams to place the mount into an upright position.		Fig.4.4	Fig.4.5
	Fig.4.3
Fig.4.1	Fig.4.2

(unlock)

(unlock)

Unlock the DEC	Unlock the R.A.	Unlock the altitude	Swivel 180°.	Tighten altitude,
lock knob.	lock knob on the	lock knob. Set the		DEC and R.A.
Swivel 180°.	other side.	angle to local altitude.		knobs.
	Swivel 180°.

5

TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY

Fig.6

Fig.5

(long)

(short)

INSTALLING COUNTERWEIGHT (Fig.5)

1)Slide counterweight halfway onto rod. Hold the counterweight with one hand and insert counterweight rod into threaded hole on mount with the other hand. Tighten counterweight rod onto mount.

2)Tighten thumbscrew to lock counterweight in place.

INSTALLING CONTROL CABLES (Fig.6)

1) Slide the sleeve end of the cable over the nipple on the end of the worm gear. Tighten the cable using the set screw against theat surface on the nipple.

ATTACHING THE TUBE RINGS TO MOUNT (Fig.7)

Fig.7

1) Remove the tube rings from telescope by releasing their thumb nuts and opening their hinges.

2) Place the tube rings on top of the tube ring mounting plate and bolt the tube rings to the mount using the wench provided.

	ATTACHING THE TELESCOPE	Fig.8
	MAIN TUBE TO TUBE RINGS (Fig.8)

1) Remove the telescope tube from the paper covering. 2) Find the center of balance of the telescope tube.

Place this point between the two tube rings. Close the hinges around the telescope and fasten securely by tightening the thumb nuts. Do not over-tighten.

TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY (for Maksutov

Telescopes only)

ATTACHING THE TELESCOPE TUBE TO MOUNT (Fig.9)

1) Place the telescope tube on top of the 1/4"-20 adapter. Turn the knurled black wheel underneath

Fig.9 while holding the tube in place to secure the telescope.

2) Fasten the telescope tube assembly to the mount using the wench provided.

6

FINDERSCOPE ASSEMBLY

ATTACHING THE FINDERSCOPE (Fig.10, 11)	Fig.10	Fig.11

1) Locate the nderscope optical assembly.

2) Remove the two knurled thumbscrews near the end of the telescope main body. (near the

front of the telescope main body for the re ector) 3) Position the nderscope bracket over the

screws in the telescope main body.

4) Secure the nderscope bracket with the two knurled thumbscrews.

RED DOT FINDER ASSEMBLY

ATTACHING THE RED DOT FINDER (Fig.12)

Fig.12

Slide the red dot nder bracket into the rectangular slot and tighten the screw to hold the red dot nder in place.

EYEPIECE ASSEMBLY

(re ector)

INSERTING EYEPIECE (Fig.13)

1)Unscrew the thumbscrews on the end of the focus tube to remove the

black plastic end-cap.

2)Insert the desired

eyepiece then	Fig.13
re-tighten thumb
screws to hold the
eyepiece in place.

(refractor and Maksutov)

INSERTING EYEPIECE (Fig.14)

1)Loosen the thumbscrews on the end of the focus tube.

2)Insert the diagonal into the focus tube and re-tighten the thumbscrews to hold the diagonal in place.

3)Loosen the thumbscrews on the diagonal.

4)Insert the desired eyepiece into diagonal and secure by re-tightening thumbscrews.

Fig.14

7

FOR EQ2 MOUNT

TRIPOD SET UP

Fig. 15

Fig. 16

ADJUSTING TRIPOD LEGS (Fig.15)

1)	Slowly loosen the height adjustment clamp and
	gently pull out the lower section of each tripod leg.
	Tighten the clamps to hold the legs in place.
2)	Spread the tripod legs apart to stand the	Fig.17
	tripod upright.
3)	Adjust the height of each tripod leg until the
	tripod head is properly leveled. Note that the
	tripod legs may not be at same length when
	the equatorial mount is level.

ATTACHING THE ACCESSORY TRAY (Fig.16)

1) Place the accessory tray on top of the bracket, and secure with the locking knob from underneath.

ATTACHING MOUNT TO TRIPOD LEGS (Fig.17)

1) Place the equatorial mount inside the tripod mounting platform.

2) Push the azimuth lock knob/locking shaft up and thread the screw into the hole in the bottom of the mount.

TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY

INSTALLING COUNTERWEIGHT (Fig.18)

1) Slide counterweight halfway onto rod. Hold the counterweight with one hand and insert counterweight rod into threaded hole on mount with the other hand. Tighten counterweight rod onto mount.

2) Tighten thumbscrew to lock counterweight in place. Fig.19

	INSTALLING CONTROL CABLES (Fig.19)	(short)
	1) Locate the control cables. The control	(long)
	cables have two di erent lengths.
		Fig.18
	Although you can mount either cable
	to each direction axis, it is recommended
	that you mount the longer cable to the
	declination axis and the shorter cable
	to the right ascension axis (setting circle).
	2) To install the control cables, slide the
	sleeve end of the cable over the nipple
	on the end of the worm gear. Tighten
	the cable using the set screw against
	the at surface on the nipple.

8