Celestron Advanced VX 700 Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope Advanced VX - Page 9

Like R.A. balance, these are general balance instructions and will reduce undue stress on the mount. When taking astroimages, this balance process should be done for the specific area at which the telescope is pointing. • Turning the right adjustment knob clockwise moves the mount toward the right. • Turning the left adjustment knob clockwise moves the mount to the left. Adjusting the Mount In order for a motor drive to track accurately, the telescope's axis of rotation must be parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation, a process known as polar alignment. Polar alignment is achieved NOT by moving the telescope in R.A. or DEC but by adjusting the mount vertically, which is called altitude and horizontally, which is called azimuth. This section simply covers the correct movement of the telescope during the polar alignment process. The actual process of polar alignment, or making the telescope's axis of rotation parallel to the Earth's, is described later in this manual in the section on "Polar Alignment." Adjusting the Mount in Altitude • To increase the latitude of the polar axis, tighten the rear latitude adjustment screw and loosen the front screw. • T o decrease the latitude of the polar axis, tighten the front latitude adjustment screw (located below the counterweight bar and loosen the rear screw. The latitude adjustment on the Advanced VX mount has a range from approximately 7° to 77°. Azimuth Adjustment Knobs Latitude Adjustment Knobs Both screws push off of the alignment peg on the tripod head, which means you may have to loosen one screw while tightening the other. The screw that holds the equatorial mount to the tripod may have to be loosened slightly. Keep in mind that adjusting the mount is done during the polar alignment process only. Once polar aligned, the mount must NOT be moved. Pointing the telescope is done by moving the mount in right ascension and declination, as described earlier in this manual. Attaching the Declination Cable The Advanced VX mount comes with a cable that connects the electronic control panel to the declination motor. To attach the motor cables: • Locate the Declination cable and plug one end of the cable into the port on the electronics panel labeled DEC Port. • Plug the other end of the cable into the port located on the declination motor. Powering the Telescope The Advanced VX mount can be powered by the supplied car battery adapter or optional 12V AC adapter. Use only adapters supplied by Celestron. Using any other adapter may damage the electronics and will void your manufacturer's warranty. 1. T o power the telescope with the car battery adapter (or 12V AC adapter), simply plug the round post into the 12V outlet on the electronic panel and plug the other end into your car's cigarette lighter outlet or portable power supply. 2. Turn on the power to the telescope by flipping the switch, located on the electronics panel, to the "On" position. It is best to always make final adjustments in altitude by moving the mount against gravity (i.e., using the rear latitude adjustment screw to raise the mount). To do this, you should loosen both latitude adjustment screws and manually push the front of the mount down as far as it will go. Tighten the rear adjustment screw to raise the mount to the desired latitude. Adjusting the Mount in Azimuth For rough adjustments in azimuth, simply pick up the telescope and tripod and move it. For fine adjustments in azimuth: Turn the azimuth adjustment knobs located on either side of the azimuth housing. While standing behind the telescope, the knobs are on the front of the mount. ENGLISH I 9