Celestron Advanced VX 9.25 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Advanced VX Manual - Page 8

Your Advanced VX tripod comes with the alignment peg installed so the polar axis and counterweight bar extends between two tripod legs. If you wish, you can reposition the alignment peg so the counterweight bar extends directly over a tripod leg. This is a matter of personal preference and does not affect the stability of the mount. Observers at lower latitudes will prefer to leave the alignment peg between two legs to avoid the counterweight from making contact with the tripod leg when the counterweight is in the lowest part of its swing. To change the position of the alignment peg: Mounting Knob Alignment Peg Tray Knob Central Column Accessory Tray Tripod Head Lock Nut Installing the Counterweight Bar To properly balance the telescope, the mount comes with a counterweight bar and at least one counterweight (depending on model). To install the counterweight bar: 1. Locate the counterweight bar and locking nut from the box containing the equatorial head. The locking nut should already be threaded onto the end of the counterweight bar. 1. Use a wrench to hold the alignment peg in place while using another wrench to loosen the locking nut underneath the alignment peg. 2. O nce the nut is loose, you can unthread the alignment peg and move it to the threaded hole on the opposite side of the tripod head. 3. T hread the peg in until it stops, and back it off until the flat sides of the alignment peg are square to the tripod. 4. Hold the peg in this position with one wrench while using another wrench to tighten the locking nut against the tripod head. 5. M ount the equatorial head as described above. 2. L ocate the opening in the equatorial mount on the declination axis and thread the counterweight bar into the opening until it is tight. 3. Tighten the counterweight bar lock nut fully. Declination Axis Lock Nut Counterweight Bar Counterweight Attaching the Accessory Tray The Advanced VX mount comes with an accessory tray that has holes specially designed for 1.25" and 2" eyepieces. The accessory tray also acts as a tripod leg tensioner to add stability to the mount. To install the tray: 1. Remove the nut and washer from the lower side of the tripod's central rod. 2. Slide the accessory tray over the central rod so that each arm of the tray is pushing against the inside of the tripod legs. 3. Thread the accessory tray knob onto the central rod and tighten. Counterweight Lock Screw Safety Screw Once the bar is securely in place, you are ready to attach the counterweight. Observing Tip: Since the fully assembled telescope can be quite heavy, position the mount so that the polar axis is pointing towards north before the optical tube assembly and counterweights are attached. This will make the polar alignment procedure much easier. Installing the Counterweight To install the counterweight(s) that were included with your mount or telescope kit: 1. Orient the mount so the counterweight bar points toward the ground. 8 I