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Orion ®
AstroView 90mm EQ ™
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R.A. lock knob IS
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NA
AS
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RI
Right ascension
(R.A.) setting circle
Declination (Dec.) Right ascension (R.A.)
slow motion control slow motion control
Latitude adjustment T-bolt Latitude locking T-bolt
Azimuth lock knob Latitude scale
Figure 4. The equatorial mount.
to find it. For example, if your latitude is 35° North, set the
Big Dipper
pointer to +35. Then retighten the latitude locking T-bolt.
(in Ursa Major)
The latitude setting should not have to be adjusted again Polaris
unless you move to a different viewing location some dis-
tance away. Cassiopeia
r Stars N.C.P.
3. Loosen the Dec. lock knob and rotate the telescope opti- Pointe
cal tube until it is parallel with the R.A. axis. The pointer
on the Dec. setting circle should read 90°. Retighten the
Dec. lock knob. Figure 5. To find Polaris in the night sky, look north and find the
Big Dipper. Extend an imaginary line from the two “Pointer Stars” in
4. Loosen the azimuth lock knob and rotate the entire equa-
the bowl of the Big Dipper. Go about five times the distance
torial mount left-to-right so the telescope tube (and R.A.
between those stars and you’ll reach Polaris, which lies within 1° of
axis) points roughly at Polaris. If you cannot see Polaris
the north celestial pole (NCP).
directly from your observing site, consult a compass and
rotate the equatorial mount so the telescope points
in the field of view. Before you can use the cables, you must
North. Retighten the azimuth lock knob.
manually “slew” the mount to point the telescope in the vicini-
The equatorial mount is now approximately polar-aligned for ty of the desired target. Do this by loosening the R.A. and
casual observing. More precise polar alignment is required Dec. lock knobs and moving the telescope about the mount’s
for astrophotography. Several methods exist and are R.A. and Dec. axes. Once the telescope is pointed some-
described in many amateur astronomy reference books and where close to the object to be viewed, retighten the mount’s
astronomy magazines. R.A. and Dec. lock knobs.
Note: From this point on in your observing session, you The object should now be visible somewhere in the tele-
should not make any further adjustments in the azimuth scope’s finder scope. If it isn’t, use the slow-motion controls
or the latitude of the mount, nor should you move the to scan the surrounding area of sky. When the object is visi-
tripod. Doing so will undo the polar alignment. The tele- ble in the finder scope, use the slow-motion controls to cen-
scope should be moved only about its R.A. and Dec. ter it. Now, look in the telescope with a long focal length (low
axes. magnification) eyepiece. If the finder scope is properly
aligned, the object should be visible somewhere in the field
Use of the R.A. and Dec. of view.
Slow-Motion Control Cables
Once the object is visible in the telescope’s eyepiece, use
The R.A. and Dec. slow-motion control cables allow fine the slow-motion controls to center it in the field of view. You
adjustment of the telescope’s position to center objects with- can now switch to a higher magnification eyepiece, if you