Vixen Viper-MC90L Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual

Preface

Thank you very much for your purchase of a Vixen VIPER astronomical
telescope. VIPER is a new type of compact telescope, which offers easy access
to the wonders of the night sky. Enjoy star observation from your window,
veranda, or nearby park. It is also an ideal complement for outdoor activities
since it is easily carried to the country or seaside for better viewing.

Please read the instructions carefully before use to ensure proper use of
the instrument.

Always keep this instruction manual near the telescope, even after reading.
This instruction manual describes necessary precautions for the safe use of
the telescope to prevent injuries to yourself and others as well as damage to

property. Read the entire user manual prior to using of this product.

Warning!

Never look directly at the sun with your naked eyes or through any telescope or
its finder or guiding scope. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.

Precautions

Do not leave the instrument lens uncapped in the daytime. Telescopes may
become heated and result in a fire.
Do not use the product while traveling or walking. This may cause injuries

from collision or falling.

Keep caps, desiccant, or vinyl packing materials away from children, to

eliminate danger from swallowing or suffocation.

Do not use the product in a wet environment.

Do not touch the product with

wet hands which may result in an electrical shock.

Never disassemble the product. This may cause an accident from fire,

electrical shock, or failure. This will also void your warranty.

Caution on Handling and Storage

Do not leave the product inside a car in bright sunshine or in front of any
heat sources.

When cleaning, do not use organic solvents such as alcohol.

Keep the plastic packaging material away from small children to avoid

injuries.
Avoid exposing product to rain, water droplets, heavy dew, mud or sand.
Avoid touching any lens or mirror surface directly with hands.

In

case lens

becomes dirty, such as with fingerprints, gently wipe it using a commercially
available lens cleaner and lens cleaning paper.

Blow off dust on lens using a commercially available blower brush.

For storage, keep in a dry and ventilated location.

Remove battery when storing for a long period.

Checking Contents

First, make sure the following items are contained in the packing.

An optical tube (Maksutov-Cassegrain type,

90

mm dia.)
A platform (Fork-arm type altazimuth)
A K25mm eyepiece (48x1 31.7mm dia.)
An eyepiece adaptor for straight-through viewing (31.7mm dia.)
A finder scope, 8x21 mm (Erect-image)
An intelligent joystick controller
A battery holder for 8 pieces of size

AA

dry cells, 12V (equipped in the body).

Finder Bracket Screw

-

K25mm

Eyepiece lens

Eyepiece lens setscrew

Finder

8x21

mm

Optical tube setscrew

.-

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.

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Adjusting, ._

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Vertical nlovement

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Screw

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DC 12V

,

Connection Adapter

Mode Indicator Connection

1) How to assemble

1. Attachment of the optical tube to the arm

1-1 Place the platform so the arm is located on the right. (Fig. 1)

1-2 Turn the upper and lower dovetail, so the optical tube setscrew comes to the

upper position. (Fig. 2).

Leave the optical tube setscrew loose. (Fig.

3)

Loosen

1-3 Hold the optical tube with the eyepiece section facing you and the optical

tube dovetail plate is on the right. (Fig.

4)

E.<epiece

-

section

-

1-4 Insert the optical tube dovetail plate onto the dovetail slide bar of the upper

and lower revolving dovetail. Fasten the optical tube setscrew. (Fig.

5)

<Fig.5>

Optical tube setscrew

*

Fix the optical tube very securely to avoid danger from unexpected detachment

of the optical tube during use.

*

When observing near the zenith, place the optical tube to be more toward the

front.

2.

Attaching finder scope
2-1 Loosen the finder bracket setscrew. Attach the finder scope in the correct
direction (Fig.

6),

and fix the screw. (Fig.

7)

--.

{Front}

(Rear}

Finder

Ti.jht

up

the fillelel 1)1dcket scr

errr

Finder bracket
setscrew

3.

Inserting battery cells

3-1 Open the cover of the battery holder box, and take out the battery holder (Fig.

8)

*

Battery holder can be easily taken out when the knob is pulled.

<Fig.$>

3-2 Insert battery cells into the battery holder (Fig.

9).

Pay attention to the

polarity.

3-3 While facing up, insert the battery holder into the battery holder box after the

battery holder is filled with battery cells. (Fig. 10)

*

Insert the battery holder so its contact will match with that in the battery holder

box.

When taking power from outlet

You can power from a home outlet if you have an AC adapter 12V (optional).

.

.

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tf

:{or1

h4wz

,111

AC

~(I.l;)tel

12':

i(:)l)ti011,1ll. 4'01.1

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the

r:Nlt!et .1t 110111~.

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4.

Connecting controller

4-1 Cor~nect the joystick type controller with the terminal port CONT. (Fig. 11)

5.

Applying power supply

5-1 Turn on the power supply. (Fig. 12)

2)

How to use

1.

Moving the telescope

Move the telescope by using the joystick type controller, which is connected to
the main body. Depending on the degree of inclination of the stick, the telescope
can be moved at a sidereal rate speed of around

2x1 8x, 64x, 128x, 300x, 800x.

For example, if the joystick is tilted to the right, the telescope will turn to move to

the right (Fig.

14), if it is tilted forward, the telescope will turn to move downwards.

(Fig. 15)
(In erect-image mode. By changing mode, movement can be changed. Refer to
the later MODE CHANGE).

*

Sidereal rate: A speed that stars moves.

Contr

oll

to

UI,"."

CIS

Doh1ld.11

(1s

Direction

Changing speed

Depending on a degree of inclination of the joystick, the telescope can be moved
at approximately

2x, 8x1 64x, 128x, 300x1 and 800x faster than a sidereal rate.

Joystick

.-

.

-

-.

.-

.

~.

-

When moving at a low speed, move the joystick back and forth, rather than
keeping a steady tilt of the joystick.

2.

Adjusting finder scope

It is not easy to find a target star, since the telescope uses high magnification

power. Therefore, to facilitate your search for a star, use the finder scope which

has a lower magnification. Be sure that the field of view of the telescope is

aligned with that of the finder scope.

2-1 Pull down the mirror shift lever. (Fig. 17)

<Fig.I

7>

Veltic.11
HOI izont.il

S!lift

Lever

2-2 Loosen the eyepiece setscrew, and insert an eyepiece into the eyepiece

section (diagonal mirror). (Fig. 18). Fasten the eyepiece setscrew. (Fig. 19)

Eyepiece Setsc~ elrr

..-

.

--.-

E!;epiece

-

-

Eyepiece Sectio11lDi.1goi1.21 Ivlil

I

01

I

Liies

2-3 While looking into the eyepiece, move the telescope so the top of a utility

pole or tower, approximately

500

meters away, comes into the center of the field
of view. (Fig. 20). When an object comes into the center of the sight, turn the
focusing knob to achieve focus. (Fig. 21).

<Fig21

.

.

Eyepiece Letis

In this case, the image in the eyepiece (diagonal mirror) appears reversed side
to side from that which is actually observed by the naked eye. When the mode of
the joystick is in the Erect-Image Mode, an image that is reversed side to side
from the tilt direction will move. (Refer to the page of Erect-Image Mode)

Uie~illq i~lldcje

of

eyepiece lells(cli.~cjo~~,ll

inir

lo1

I

.

2-4

To align the field of view of the finder scope and eyepiece together, look into
the finder scope steadying the telescope (Fig. 22). Adjust the finder scope by
turning the three finder adjustment thumbscrews to bring a target object into the
center of the cross hair line, which is viewed through the eyepiece (diagonal

mirror). (Fig.

23)

Potate the ac!i~lstlnel\t tllil~nl)zr~

ens

In this case, an image that is seen in the finder scope appears in the same
orientation as is seen by the naked eye.
2-5 When a target object comes into the center of the cross hair lines in the

finder scope while looking into the eyepiece (diagonal mirror), finder scope

adjustment is complete.
This procedure will not be required again unless the finder scope or telescope is
moved or the finder scope adjustment thumbscrews will not move. The three
adjustment thumbscrews of the finder scope are designed to be a push-in and
pull-up screw. Do not try to adjust them at the same time, but minutely adjust
each screw individually.

3.'

Observation

Gazing with eyepiece (diagonal mirror).

*

This is used for observing stars.

3-1

Loosen the eyepiece setscrew and insert an eyepiece into the eyepiece
section (diagonal mirror) of the body. (Fig. 25). Fasten the eyepiece setscrew.
(Fig. 26).

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.

.

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Eyepiece Setscreirr

3-2 Pull down the mirror shift lever. (Fig. 27)

iFig.273

,.

..

,

Ve~tic.>l

HOI

izontdl

Shift

level

3-3 Slew an object into the center of the cross hairs by operating the joystick
type controller while looking into the finder scope. (Fig. 28)

*

Make sure in this case that the mode of the joystick is in the erect-image mode.

(Refer to the mode change)

3-4 Adjust focusing upon turning the focusing knob while looking into the

eyepiece (diagonal mirror). (Fig.; 29

-

30)

<-iSI.3~>

ViehilltJ I1)l~tJe of Eyel,ieee lens

(I~idcjolldl 1uli1

I

OI

By I otdlilltj focus knol,, ~tljrlst the tocus.

-- - -

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~rt

of Focus

Focus

111

cdse hllell t.11 get is seen

till

oogh

eycl'ieca lensltli,~gonal lnil r ol

1.

the t.11 (jet

hill I)e seen

dr,

ol,l,osite tlif ectioll of side-to-sitle.

3-5 If necessary, operate the joystick corresponding to the diurnal movement
(earth's rotation) of the star.

In the case where the mode of the joystick is in ,the erect-image mode, an

image that is seen in the eyepiece (diagonal mirror) will move to the opposite

direction from where the joystick is tilted. (Refer to the page of Three Modes)

Gazing with eyepiece (Straight-through viewing). 'This is used with stars

at lower positions or when terrestrial landscape is observed.

3-6 Attach the eyepiece adapter for straight-through viewing with the eyepiece
section (straight-,through viewing) of the body. Loosen the eyepiece setscrew
and insert the eyepiece to the end. (Fig. 31). Fasten the eyepiece setscrew.
(Fig. 32).

cFig.313

~Fig.32,

Eyepiece lens

-

Eyepiece

Eyepiece

,~d;rl>te~

setscl eA

fol (li~ ect vie&

3-7 Pull up the mirror shift lever. (Fig. 33).

<Fig.34>

'

ViePiilVJ ill?,?!~"

0f

Fi111:el
T,II get

Velticdl
Hor izo~ltdl
Shift level

3-8 Bring an object into the center of the cross hairs by operating the joystick
controller while looking into the finder scope.
3-9 Adjust focusing by turning the focusing knob. (Fig. 35

-

36)

Focus k1>o!,

Fielcl

of

wie~

of

eyepiece !en%

~ith

cli,~gon.~l mil

I

91.

.

.=Fig

,36>

111

cdise Allen td~get

iis

seen

hit11

st1 digl~t-t111 ot~glb vieki~~g.tl>e td~ <jet

ill

Oe

seen

,IS

upsitle-(lo

AIL

3-10 If necessary, operate the joystick corresponding to the diurnal movement
(earth's rotation) of the star.

*

In the case where the mode of the joystick is in the erect-image mode, an
image that is seen will move to an opposite direction of side-to-side and up and
down from where the joystick is tilted. (Refer to the page of Three Modes)

*

Since observation of the universe may not require an erect image, images that
can be seen with VIPER are reversed from side to side (using eyepiece:
diagonal mirror) and upside down 180 degrees rotated (using eyepiece:
straight-through). It is possible to observe a normal erect image, if a terrestrial
erect-image diagonal (optionally supplied) is attached.

4.

Mode Change

Joystick type controller offers three operational modes to change the movement

of the telescope. Familiarize yourself with those movements by looking at
terrestrial scenery before beginning stargazing.

Pr~sli Joystick

Ivlove Joystick to tlie Riglit

El

ect i~ii~ige 11lve1 teil inl.ige

CIi.~llge

~iso<le

~iiocle Ivlocle

Iri.~go~i,il lili~

I

01

liiotle

Prlsll Joystick

,

,-

.

.

-

..

{;I

eel) light is

trll

neil

03.

r

Settilig

of

ilivel tecl illl.ige

liiocle is co11ll1lete.l

How to change mode

4-1

Press the joystick of the controller in the center. Agreen light will illuminate to

notify that it is in the setting mode. (Telescope cannot be moved during setting

mode).

4-2

Upon tilting the joystick to the right, three red lights will illuminate

From left:

Erect-Image Mode

+

Diagonal Mirror Mode

+

Inverted lmage Mode

4-3

If the joystick is depressed when the light is illuminated at the desired mode,
mode will be selected at that mode. And when the mode is selected, the green
light will turn off and a red light at the selected mode will remain illuminated.

5.

Three Modes

5-1

Erect-Image Mode (Initial setting mode when power is made on)

~elesco~e will move in the direction that the joystick is tilted. Use this mode
when searching for an object while looking into the finder scope, or attaching a
terrestrial erect-image diagonal (optionally supplied) with eyepiece.

Although this can be used during viewing the object in the eyepiece, the
direction between the field of view and where the joystick is tilted does not
match.

In the case where an object is viewed in the eyepiece (diagonal mirror):

Viewing

imqge will move in an opposite direction from side to side from where
the joystick is tilted. To synchronize movement of the joystick with the viewing
object, change to the Diagonal Mirror Mode.

In the case where an object is viewed through the eyepiece (straight-through
viewing): The viewed image will move in an opposite direction in upside down
and from side to side from where the joystick is tilted. To synchronize movement
of the joystick with viewing object, change to the Inverted lmage Mode.

-

--

--

-

rvlove joystick to

,:

7,-*

the I irjltt

II~XT-.

>

-

-

-;*

I

-

Fielil of vie

h

of Fillcle~

El ect-imdcje nlocle 8 Eyepiece lells Icli.\(jol14~l lnir

I

01

1

.

lvli~ue joystick to

the

I

irjht

7

-

-

-

-

-

<.

-

T.ll(ret is seen .lt the centel

El ect-i~\l.lcje moi!e

.:

Eyepiece re:)$

1St1

.~i(rht-thl or~ijh)

.

Fielil of uieh of Eyepiece lens

Tdl (jet

is

see11 .lt the celltel

(St1 diijllt-thl C*II(JIII

lvlove j0:ystick to

tl~z

I,nttnm

I

ic~llt

5-2

Diagonal Mirror Mode (corresponding mode with eyepiece (diagonal
mirror))
Telescope will move in the same up and down direction where the joystick is
tilted, however, it will move reversely to the side-to-side direction from the

joystick. When looking into the eyepiece (diagonal mirror), a viewing object

appears reverse side-to-side. In the Diagonal Mirror Mode, the actual image and

that in the eyepiece (diagonal mirror) move in the same direction as the joystick

movement.

Fieltl of vieh of Eyepiece lens

T,~I get is seen .~t the centel

hit11

tlidi~~lldl lllil

101.

fvlove joystick to

the left top

5-3

Inverted lmage Mode (corresponding mode with eyepiece (direct view))
Telescope will move in the reverse direction from both up and down and side to
side direction from where joystick is tilted. When looking into the eyepiece (direct
view), image of viewing object appears reversed

(180 degrees) in the up and

down direction from the actual image. In this lnverted lmage Mode, images that
can be seen in the eyepiece and the movement of the joystick correspond in the
same direction.

Inverted Irndge lvlo<le 6 Eyepeice lens hith (li.lgo~ldl nlir I or

.

Fieltl of Vieh of eyepiece lens

T,lrget is seen .~t the cctllte~

(St1 dic~llt-thr or~cJh,

fvlove joystick to

the left top

Erect-Image Mode

Diagonal Mirror Mode

lnverted lmage Mode

Use this mode when tracking a target object by finder
scope, or observing terrestrial objects when using
terrestrial erect-image diagonal (optional).

Use this mode while looking into an eyepiece
(diagonal mirror).

Use this mode while looking into an eyepiece (direct
view)

Specifications of

VIPER-MC9OL

Optical Tube: Maksutov-Cassegrain type, with straight-through and angled

viewing mirror shift lever
Objective effective diameter:

90mm (3.5 in), multi-coated

Focal length (F ratio):

1200mm (47 in) (Fl13.3)

Dimensions: Approx. 300mm (11.8 in)

(L)

x 112mm (4.5 in) (Max O.D.),

Weight: Approx.

1.6kg (3.5 Ibs)

Finder scope:

8x, dia. 21 mm (.8 in) (erect-image)

Platform: Folk-arm type altazimuth mount

Drive: High speed two-axis motor, with joystick type controller
Dimensions: Approx.

280(H)mm (11 in), Diameter of the platform approx.

160mm (6.3 in)

Weight: Approx.

1.3kg (2.9 Ibs)

Power supply: Size

AA dry cell x 8 pieces used (optional)

Accessories: Eyepiece

K25mm (magnification 48x, real field of view 56',

31.7mm dia. (1.3 in)), straight-through eyepiece adaptor (Dia. 31.7mm,
(1.3 in))

Vixen

Co.,

Ltd.