Balancing The Telescope - Levenhuk Blitz 70 PLUS Guia Del Usuario

retighten the thumbscrew to hold the diagonal mirror in place. Then, insert the desired eyepiece into the
diagonal mirror and secure it by retightening the thumbscrew. If a Barlow lens is needed, install it between
the focuser and the eyepiece.
Reflectors (fig. 5b): Loosen the focuser thumbscrew and take off the plastic cap from the focuser tube.
Insert the selected eyepiece and secure it by retightening the thumbscrew. If a Barlow lens is needed,
install it between the focuser and the eyepiece.
Optical finderscope assembly and alignment
Unthread two screws in the back of the telescope tube. Place the finderscope base above the holes on the
tube. Lock the finderscope base into position by tightening the screws (fig. 6).
Optical finderscopes are very useful accessories. When they are correctly aligned with the telescope,
objects can be quickly located and brought to the center of the view. Turn the scope end in and out to
adjust focus (fig. 8a).
To align the finderscope, choose a distant object that is at least 550 yards (500 meters) away and point
the telescope at the object. Adjust the telescope so that the object is in the center of the view in
your eyepiece. Check the finderscope to see if the object is also centered on the crosshairs. Use three
adjustment screws to center the finderscope crosshairs on the object (fig. 8b).
Focusing
Slowly rotate the focus knobs (refractor 7a, reflector 7b) one way or the other until the image in the
eyepiece is sharp. The image usually has to be finely refocused over time due to small variations caused
by temperature changes, flexures, etc. Refocusing is almost always necessary when you change an
eyepiece, add or remove a Barlow lens.

Balancing the telescope

A telescope should be balanced before each observing session. Balancing reduces stress on the telescope
mount and allows precise slow-motion movements. A balanced telescope is especially crucial when using
the optional clock drive for astrophotography. The telescope should be balanced after all accessories
(eyepiece, camera, etc.) have been attached. Before balancing your telescope, make sure that your
tripod is balanced and on a stable surface. For photography, point the telescope in the direction you will
be taking photos before performing the balancing steps.
R.A. Balancing
• For best results, adjust the altitude of the mount to between 15° and 30° if possible, by using the
altitude adjustment T-bolt. Slowly unlock the R.A. and Dec. lock knobs. Rotate the telescope until
both the optical tube and the counterweight rod are horizontal to the ground, and the telescope
tube is to the side of the mount.
• Tighten the Dec. lock knob.
• Move the counterweights along the counterweight rod until the telescope is balanced and remains
stationary when released.
• Tighten the counterweight screws to secure the counterweights.
Dec. Balancing
All accessories should be attached to the telescope before R.A. balancing, and the R.A. balancing should
be done before proceeding with Dec. balancing. For best results, adjust the altitude of the mount to
between 60° and 75° if possible.
• Release the R.A. lock knob and rotate around the R.A. axis so that the counterweight rod is in a
horizontal position. Tighten the R.A. lock knob.
• Unlock the Dec. lock knob and rotate the telescope tube until it is parallel to the ground.
• Slowly release the telescope and determine in which direction it rotates. Loosen the tube clamps or
ring clamps and slide the telescope tube forward or backward between the rings until it is balanced.
• Once the telescope no longer rotates from its parallel starting position, retighten the tube clamps or
ring clamps and the Dec. lock knob. Reset the altitude axis to your local latitude.
Operating the mount
The mount has controls for both conventional altitude (up-down) and azimuth (left-right) directions of
motion. These two adjustments are suggested for large direction changes and for terrestrial viewing. To
adjust azimuth, loosen the big knob under the mount base and rotate the mount head about the azimuth
axis. Use the altitude adjustment T-bolts to set the required altitude.
In addition, the equatorial mount has R.A. (hour angle) and Dec. controls for polar-aligned astronomical
observing. Loosen the lock knobs to make large direction changes. Use the slow-motion controls for fine
adjustment after the lock knobs have both been locked. An additional scale is included for the altitude
axis. This allows polar alignment at your local latitude (fig. 9).
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