Tele Vue 102 User Manual

®

Te l e Vue

-102-102

-102

-102-102

Operating Guide

880mm f/8.6

2-ELEMENT APO REFRACTOR

Thank you for purchasing the Tele Vue-102. This 4” aperture telescope has an 880mm focal length f/8.6
APO doublet diffraction-limited objective.

WARNING: NEVER try to look at the sun or point the telescope toward or near the sun without
professional solar observing equipment rigidly secured in front of the objective lens. When

observing the sun with the proper filters, use only the Tele Vue “Sol-Searcher” (SSF-1006) for
finding the Sun. Remove any other finding devices such as Starbeam from the telescope. Instant and
permanent eye damage may result from viewing the sun directly, even during a solar eclipse, or when
viewing through thin clouds, or when the sun is near the horizon.

Standard features of the optical tube assembly (O.T.A.) include: sliding dew shield, screw-on cover, 2”
focuser, and custom hard-shell case. The Complete Package also includes a 2” Everbrite diagonal, 2” to
1¼” adapter, Ring Mount, and Plössl eyepiece.

MountingMounting

Mounting - The Tele Vue Ring Mount permits mounting to the Tele Vue Gibraltar, heavy duty camera tripods

MountingMounting
or equatorial mounts using Tele Vue adapters (consult your Tele Vue dealer). You will receive the two ¼-20
studs, wing knobs, Allen wrench and complete mount assembly instructions with the mount.

FindersFinders

Finders - We particularly recommend using the Starbeam reflex sight (part# SFT-2003) to complement

FindersFinders

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field of the telescope and attaches directly to the Ring Mount. The case has a cutout for the
Starbeam. The Quick Release Universal Finder Bracket (QFM-1008) holds a traditional 50mm finderscope
and also attaches to the mount ring channels.

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3.0° field. This can serve as a finder, for rich field viewing or for terrestrial use. (Image is upright, but left­right reversed using diagonal mirrors.) Also for 2” diagonals only, we highly recommend the 22mm
Nagler Type 4, which will provide 40x with over a 2.0° field.

terrestrial observers who appreciate the highest levels of image performance. The 60° angle is far more
comfortable for terrestrial observing than the standard 90°, and the 99% reflective Everbrite dielectric
coating gives the truest color rendition of any mirror or prism, and is sharpest at the highest powers.

Powermates and Bino Vue are not recommended with the 45° erecting prism. For 1¼” diagonals and
prisms, the 32mm Plössl, or 24mm Panoptic offers the maximum field, 1.8° at 27.5x and 36.7x respec­tively.

Getting Acquainted with the Tele Vue-102(see photos on page 3.)

Note: Complete Packages include the O.T.A. and all other items described below. O.T.A. purchasers must
supply eyepieces, eyepiece adapter, diagonal, and mounting device in order for the telescope to function.

1.1 Optical tube assembly

The OTA consists of the objective cell, tube and focuser. The front cell houses the carefully aligned
objective. Never attempt to loosen the 3 alignment screws in the front lens cell. The tube is aluminum and
powder coated, requiring no special care. The rack and pinion focuser is driven by high leverage knobs.

iewing Considerationsiewing Considerations

iewing Considerations - The Tele Vue 55mm Plössl in a 2” diagonal will provide 16x with a

iewing Considerationsiewing Considerations

Tele Vue developed the 1¼” 60° Everbrite Diagonal (part# DPC-6012) specifically for

For correct left-right viewing, use the Tele Vue 45° erector (part# AMI-0011). Barlows,

Te le Vue

Visionary

®

32 Elkay Dr., Chester, New York 10918 (845) 469 - 4551. televue.com

The two tension screws on the top of the focuser body can be adjusted to add resistance when using
heavy eyepieces. These tension screws tighten against a brass clamp ring, which then cinches down
on the teflon sleeve in which the draw tube slides. For photography it is not necessary to tighten beyond
the need to keep a camera stationary. Even when sufficiently tight, the focuser knobs can still drive the
draw tube. The two lock screws in the end of the draw tube also tighten against a brass clamp ring for
extra holding power on the diagonal or other accessories.

1.2 Ring Mount and Balancing

The Ring Mount permits easy telescope balancing. If you are using a Tele Vue Gibraltar, first unlock the
brass vertical motion tension knobs then unlock the “bat handle”, on the Ring Mount, reposition the
telescope by sliding it fore or aft and re-lock. This permits balancing heavy and light eyepieces,
cameras, etc. It may also be helpful to use our Bronze “Equalizer” (BEC-0005) in place of the standard
Hi-Hat 2”-1¼” Adapter when using light-weight eyepieces. The extra weight can balance heavier 2”
eyepieces so you may not need to shift the tube in the Ring Mount at all, when changing eyepieces.

1.3 Eyepieces

Tele Vue eyepieces offer a range of magnifications from 16x to over 200x, with the Tele Vue-102.
We recommend choosing low and medium power eyepieces in

ratios of field stop diameters. For
example, factors of 1.4 or 2.0. When choosing higher power eyepieces, use ratios of magnification.
(see reference chart in the “Choosing Your Eyepieces” article.

1.4 Photography

For prime focus photography at 880mm f/8.6 using a 35mm SLR, use camera adapter (part# ACM-

2000). For flat field astrophotography at 700mm f/6.9, use the Tele Vue 0.8x reducer/flattener, (part#
RFL-4087). The RFL-4087 also requires use of the 2” adapter (part# RAD-1074) and T-ring Adapter (Part #
TRG-1072). Tele Vue Powermates with optional T-ring adapters provide a variety of options for

extending focal length. To reach focus with the Powermates requires our 3.5” extension tube. Afocal

photography can be done using our various digital camera to eyepiece adapters. For Piggyback 35mm
SLR photography, attach the Piggy-Cam platform, (part# PGC-1001) to the Ring Mount.

Mounting points are provided on top of the focuser body and draw tube for easy installation of the
Digital Micrometer Kits (part#s RMK-2002 or RMF-2003). These kits allow imagers to index focus position
to within 0.0001”, providing a very convenient way of finding best focus, returning to it, or checking that
it hasn’t changed. The Focusmate

tm

dual speed focus accessory (part# TFM-2000) with its 6:1 focus
reduction is highly recommended for extraordinarily fine focus adjustment for critical focusing. The Focus­mate Driver (part# FDU-2003) adds hands free motorized focusing and the Focusmaster permits remote
PC focusing via ASCOM compliant focusing software. For installation, setup and use of the Digital

TM

Micrometer Kit, Focusmate

, Focusmate Driver and Focusmaster™, see the instructions included with

each.

1.5 Caring for the Tele Vue-102

Tele Vue-102 requires no special care. Treat it as you would any fine camera lens. Use the lens cap when
the telescope is being stored or not in use. The captive dew shield provides protection from glare, helps
protect the lens from dust or spray blown in by the wind and minimizes dew formation on the lens.

If dew forms on the lens during cold weather, it is best to use an electric hair dryer (on the lowest
setting) to gently warm it away. A few specks of dust will have no effect on the quality of the image, and
may be gently blown off with a squeeze bulb.
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Fingerprints, however should be cleaned off. Though the anti-reflection coatings are durable, they
are easily scratched. The simplest cleaning method is to moisten a very soft, lint-free tissue, cloth, “Q-Tip”
or surgical cotton with a lens or glass cleaner and gently whisk away the stain. Do not apply any solutions
directly to the glass surfaces. After every cleaning stroke, use a fresh applicator. The fewer strokes the
better! Any residual “film” will not affect visual performance.