Page 4 - • Introduction; I N T R O D U C T I O N; with your Celestron telescope and its operation.
4 • Introduction I N T R O D U C T I O N I N T R O D U C T I O N I N T R O D U C T I O N I N T R O D U C T I O N I N T R O D U C T I O N Welcome to the Celestron world of amateur astronomy! For more than a quarter of a century, Celestron has provided amateur astronomers with the tools to explore the...
Page 5 - Introduction • 5; How to Use This Manual
Introduction • 5 This manual is designed to instruct you in the proper use of your Celestronrefracting telescope. This includes assembly, initial use, and long term operationand maintenance. There are four major sections to the manual. The first sectioncovers the proper procedure for setting up your...
Page 6 - • Introduction
6 • Introduction Developed in the early 1600s, the refractor is the oldest telescope design. Itderives its name from the method it uses to focus incoming light rays. Therefractor uses a lens to bend or refract incoming light rays, hence the name (seeFigure 1-1). Early designs used single element len...
Page 9 - Tighten the knobs on each leg clamp to hold the legs in place.; Assembling the CG-5 Equatorial Mount; Tripod Head
The CR-150 HD • 9 The tripod comes fully assembled with the metal plate, called the tripod head, thatholds the legs together at the top. In addition, the brackets that support the acces-sory tray are also attached to the tripod. Stand the tripod upright and pull the tripod legs apart until the leg b...
Page 10 - Thread the wing bolts into the holes in the accessory tray.
10 • The CR-150 HD With the tripod set up, you are ready to attach the accessory tray to the tripod.There are three wing bolts that hold the accessory tray to the bracket. 1. Locate the three wing bolts. 2. Place the accessory tray over the bracket and position it so the thread holes in the accessor...
Page 12 - Remove either of the two oval tabs by pulling tightly.
12 • The CR-150 HD Attaching the R.A. Slow Motion Knob With the mount securely in place, you are ready to attach some of the accessories(the telescope tube will be added last). Start with the Right Ascension (R.A.) slowmotion knob. The R.A. slow motion knob allows you to make fine pointing adjust-me...
Page 13 - Attaching the Declination Slow Motion Knob; the flat area on the DEC shaft.
The CR-150 HD • 13 Attaching the Declination Slow Motion Knob Like the R.A. slow motion knob, the DEC slow motion knob allows you to make finepointing adjustments in the direction the telescope is pointed. The DEC slow motion knob attaches in the same manner as the R.A. knob. The shaftthat the DEC s...
Page 14 - Attaching the Counterweight Bar and Counterweights
14 • The CR-150 HD Attaching the Counterweight Bar and Counterweights The last item to be mounted before the telescope tube is the counterweight bar andcounterweights. Used to balanced the telescope, the counterweight bar attaches tothe opposite side of the mount as the telescope. To install the cou...
Page 15 - Tighten the knob on the CG-5 mount to hold the telescope in place.
The CR-150 HD • 15 With the mount fully assembled, you are ready to attach the telescope to themount.The optical tube attaches to the mount using a dovetail slidebar that is fastened totwo tube rings that clamp around the tube. • Before you attach the optical tube, fully tighten the right ascension ...
Page 21 - Telescope Basics • 21; Focuser Knob
Telescope Basics • 21 Eyepieces are commonly referred to by focal length and barrel diameter. The focallength of each eyepiece is printed on the eyepiece barrel. The longer the focal length(i.e., the larger the number) the lower the eyepiece magnification (i.e., power) and theshorter the focal lengt...
Page 22 - 2 • Telescope Basics; Focusing; Locate the mounting bracket near the back of the telescope tube.; Attaching the Finder
22 • Telescope Basics To focus your telescope, simply turn either of the focus knobs located under the focustube (see figure 4-1). Turn the focus knobs until the image is sharp. Once sharp, turn theknobs toward you to focus on an object that is closer than the one you are currentlyobserving. Turn th...
Page 23 - Aligning the Finder
Telescope Basics • 23 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-2 The finder comes mounted in the finder bracket. To mount the finder to the telescope, The finder comes mounted in the finder bracket. To mount the finder to the telescope, The finder comes mounted in the finder bracket. To ...
Page 25 - Telescope Basics • 25; N i g h t t i m e O b s e r v i n g; Center the object in the finder using the slow motion knobs.
Telescope Basics • 25 N i g h t t i m e O b s e r v i n g N i g h t t i m e O b s e r v i n g N i g h t t i m e O b s e r v i n g N i g h t t i m e O b s e r v i n g N i g h t t i m e O b s e r v i n g Looking at objects in the sky is quite different than looking at objects on Earth.For one, many ob...
Page 26 - Calculating Magnification
26 • Telescope Basics You can change the power of your Celestron CR-150 HD telescope just by chang-ing the eyepiece (ocular). To determine the magnification for your telescope, youwould simply divide the focal length of the telescope (1200mm) by the focal lengthof the eyepiece that you are using. In...
Page 27 - Telescope Basics • 27; General Photography Hints
Telescope Basics • 27 Your Celestron telescope can be used for both terrestrial and astronomicalphotography. Your telescope has a fixed aperture and, as a result, a fixed f/ratio.To properly expose your subjects photographically, you need to set your shutterspeed accordingly. Most 35mm single lens r...
Page 28 - 8 • Astronomy Basics
28 • Astronomy Basics A S T R A S T R A S T R A S T R A S T R O N O M Y B O N O M Y B O N O M Y B O N O M Y B O N O M Y B A S I C S A S I C S A S I C S A S I C S A S I C S This section deals with observational astronomy in general. It includes infor-mation on the night sky, polar alignment, and usin...
Page 29 - Astronomy Basics • 29; Motion of the Stars
Astronomy Basics • 29 Like the Sun, the stars also appear to move across the sky. This motion is causedby the Earth’s rotation. For observers in the northern hemisphere, all stars appearto move around the north celestial pole. For observers in the southern hemisphere,all stars appear to move around ...
Page 30 - 0 • Astronomy Basics; Polar Alignment
30 • Astronomy Basics Figure 5-3 Figure 5-3 Figure 5-3 Figure 5-3 Figure 5-3 When the telescope’s axis of rotation is parallel to the Earth’s axis, stars viewedthrough the telescope appear stationary when using a motor drive. In order for the telescope to track the stars it must meet two criteria. F...
Page 31 - Astronomy Basics • 31; Finding the Pole
Astronomy Basics • 31 For each hemisphere, there is a point in the sky around which all the otherstars appear to rotate. These points are called the celestial poles and arenamed for the hemisphere in which they reside. For example, in the northernhemisphere all stars move around the north celestial ...
Page 33 - Astronomy Basics • 33; Pointing at Polaris
Astronomy Basics • 33 Pointing at Polaris Pointing at Polaris Pointing at Polaris Pointing at Polaris Pointing at Polaris This method utilizes Polaris as a guidepost to the celestial pole. Since Polaris is lessthan a degree from the celestial pole, many amateurs simply point the polar axis oftheir t...
Page 34 - 4 • Astronomy Basics; Declination Drift; • If the star drifts south, the polar axis is too far east.
34 • Astronomy Basics Declination Drift Declination Drift Declination Drift Declination Drift Declination Drift This method of polar alignment allows you to get the most accurate alignmenton the celestial pole and is required if you want to do long exposure deep-skyastrophotography through the teles...
Page 36 - 6 • Celestial Observing; C E L E S T I A L O B S E R V I N G
36 • Celestial Observing C E L E S T I A L O B S E R V I N G With your telescope set up, you are ready to use it for celestial observing.This section covers visual observing of both solar system and deep-skyobjects. In the night sky, the Moon is a prime target for your first look because itis extrem...
Page 37 - Using the Lens Cap Aperture Stop
Celestial Observing • 37 Although overlooked by many amateur astronomers, solar observation is bothrewarding and fun. However, because the Sun is so bright, special precautions mustbe taken when observing our star so as not to damage your eyes or your telescope. WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: W...
Page 39 - Celestial Observing • 39; Star Hopping; Start at the star in the northeast corner. The star is Alpha (
Celestial Observing • 39 Star Hopping Star Hopping Star Hopping Star Hopping Star Hopping You can use your setting circles to find these objects (as described earlier in thismanual) or try star hopping. Star hopping is done by using bright stars to guide youto an object. Here are directions for two ...
Page 41 - Celestial Observing • 41
Celestial Observing • 41 Viewing conditions affect what you can see through your CR-150 HD telescopeduring an observing session. Conditions include transparency, sky illumination,and seeing. Understanding viewing conditions and the affect they have on observ-ing will help you get the most out of you...
Page 42 - 2 • Celestial Observing
42 • Celestial Observing Once adjusted to the outdoor temperature, don’t touch the telescope tube with yourhands. When pointing the telescope, hold the telescope by the star diagonal. Ifobserving with others, make sure no one stands in front of or directly below thetelescope tube. The images produce...
Page 43 - Celestial Photography • 43; C E L E S T I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y
Celestial Photography • 43 C E L E S T I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y C E L E S T I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y C E L E S T I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y C E L E S T I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y C E L E S T I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y After looking at the night sky for awhile you may want to try photographi...
Page 45 - Celestial Photography • 45
Celestial Photography • 45 The exposure times listed here should be used as a starting point. Always makeexposures that are longer and shorter than the recommended time. Also, trybracketing your exposures, taking a few photos at each shutter speed. This willensure that you will get a good photo. If ...
Page 47 - Celestial Photography • 47
Celestial Photography • 47 The exposure time depends on the film being used. However, five minutes is usuallya good starting point. With slower films, like 100 ISO, you can expose as long as 45minutes. With faster films, like 1600 ISO, you really shouldn’t expose more than 5 to10 minutes. When getti...
Page 50 - 0 • Optional Accessories; O P T I O N A L A C C E S S O R I E S; The SkyTM
50 • Optional Accessories O P T I O N A L A C C E S S O R I E S The following is a partial list of optional accessories available for your CelestronCR-150 HD. CD-ROM (93700) - Celestron and Software Bisque have joinedtogether to present this comprehensive CD-ROM called The Sky™ Level 1 - for Celestr...
Page 56 - 6 • List of Bright Stars; LIST OF BRIGHT STARS; Star Name
56 • List of Bright Stars LIST OF BRIGHT STARS The following is a list of bright stars that can be used to align the R.A. setting circle. All coordinates are inepoch 2000.0. Epoch 2000.0 Star Name C o n s t e l l a t i o n R.A. DEC Magnitude H M S ° ‘ “ Sirius CMa 06 45 09 -16 42 58 -1.47 C a n o p ...
Page 57 - FOR FURTHER READING; Astronomy Texts
FOR FURTHER READING The following is a list of astronomy books that will further enhance your understanding of the night sky. Thebooks are broken down by classification for easy reference. Astronomy Texts Astronomy Now ....................................................................................
Page 58 - CELESTRON ONE YEAR WARRANTY
CELESTRON ONE YEAR WARRANTY A. Celestron International (CI) warrants this telescope to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for one year. CI will repair or replace suchproduct or part thereof which, upon inspection by CI, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a condit...
