Tasco Telescope Owner's Manual

Introduction

This manual provides comprehensive instructions for assembling, balancing, and using your Tasco telescope. It covers various models and essential operational details.

Telescope Assembly Instructions

Follow these steps carefully to assemble your telescope:

1. Attach Tripod Legs: Remove the three tripod legs (U) from the box. Align the holes in the tripod legs with those on the equatorial mount head (N). Secure each leg using a large (3") bolt with a washer, inserting it through the hole and fastening with a wing nut and washer. Ensure the hinge flange on each leg faces inward, as these will support the accessory tray (W). (See Fig. 1)
2. Set Up Tripod: Stand the tripod upright and spread the legs. Loosen the adjusting lock on each leg. Lift the equatorial mount and extend the tripod legs to the desired equal height. Tighten each leg's adjusting locks to secure their position. (See Fig. 2)
3. Attach Accessory Tray: Use the provided small machine screws and wing nuts to attach the accessory tray (W) to the flanges on the tripod legs. (See Fig. 4)
4. Mount Telescope Body: Remove the telescope main body (J), counterweight (R), counterweight rod (S), and control cables (A) from the box. Gently place the telescope main body tube into the cradle (Fig. 11). Ensure the cradle is centered on the tube for proper balancing. Tighten the cradle locking knobs (Fig. 11a). Attach the control cables to the declination (P) and hour axis (Q) cable studs. Loosen the counterweight clamping screw (Fig. 12b), slide the weight onto the rod, and thread the rod into the hole below the declination axis (Fig. 12c).
5. Models 46-060675, 46-114375, 40-060675: Similar to step 4, remove components and mount the telescope body in the "V" block, securing with nuts. Attach control cables and install the counterweight.
6. Models 40-060675, 40-114675: Remove the finderscope with bracket (H). Remove knurled thumbscrews from the telescope main body. Position the finderscope bracket so its holes align with those on the main body. Reinstall and tighten the thumbscrews. (See Fig. 4b)
7. Models 46-060675, 46-114375, 46-114500: Remove the StarPointer finderscope with bracket (H). Remove knurled thumbscrews from the telescope main body. Position the bracket to align holes with the main body. Reinstall and tighten thumbscrews. (See Fig. 4a)
8. Insert Diagonal: Insert the diagonal (E) into the focus tube (Fig. 5a) and secure with the retaining screw. Note: The diagonal should only be used with eyepieces, never with a Barlow lens simultaneously.
9. Insert Eyepiece: Insert the eyepiece (G) into the diagonal (Fig. 5b) and secure with the retaining screw.
10. Insert Barlow: Insert the Barlow lens (Fig. 7) into the focus tube and secure. Then, insert the eyepiece into the open end of the Barlow and secure. (Fig. 6)

Note on Image Orientation: Astronomical telescopes typically show an inverted image. Using a diagonal in refractor models corrects vertical inversion but may cause left-right inversion (mirror image). For terrestrial viewing and to correct mirror-like inversion, remove the diagonal and use an erecting eyepiece. Low magnification eyepieces are recommended for terrestrial viewing.

Refractor telescopes can be used for terrestrial viewing with an erecting eyepiece. Reflectors are primarily for astronomical use.

Your telescope is now fully assembled and ready for use.

CAUTION! Viewing the sun can cause permanent eye damage. Never view the sun with this telescope or with the naked eye.

Balancing Your Telescope

Proper balancing ensures steady viewing, especially at high magnifications. Follow these steps:

1. Level the tripod by adjusting the legs.
2. Loosen the polar axis clamp and adjust the polar axis to match your observation latitude. Consult a map or atlas if your latitude is unknown. Retighten the clamp screw.
3. Loosen the declination clamp screw. Rotate the telescope on the declination axis until the "90°" mark on the declination scale aligns with the fixed pointer. Retighten the clamp screw.
4. Loosen the hour axis clamp. Rotate the telescope until the counterweight rod is horizontal. Do not tighten the clamp screws yet.
5. If the telescope remains in place, it is balanced.
6. If unbalanced, loosen the counterweight thumb screw and slide the weight along the rod until the telescope stays in position. Tighten the weight and hour axis screws.

Using the Finderscope

The finderscope is a low-power, wide-field telescope used to locate and aim the main telescope. It must be aligned with the main telescope before use.

1. Install the lowest power eyepiece (20mm) into the finderscope. Select a distant, stationary object. Aim your main telescope at the object until it's centered in the eyepiece. Lock all equatorial mount knobs.
2. Look through the finderscope. If the object isn't visible, loosen the adjustment screws and move the finderscope until the object is visible and centered. Tighten the screws while centering. (See Fig. 8)
3. Adjust the finderscope screws to center the object on its crosshairs. Recheck the main telescope to ensure it hasn't moved. If it has, realign and readjust the finderscope.

Your finderscope is now operational.

Using the StarPointer

The StarPointer is a zero-magnification tool that projects a red dot onto the sky, acting like a laser pointer for easy aiming. It requires alignment with the main telescope.

1. Turn on the StarPointer by rotating the brightness control clockwise until it clicks. Increase brightness by continuing to rotate the knob up to 180°.
2. Locate a bright star or planet and center it in the main telescope's low-power eyepiece.
3. If aligned, the red dot will overlap the star. If not, note the red dot's position relative to the star. Without moving the main telescope, adjust the StarPointer's azimuth and altitude controls until the red dot is directly over the star.
4. If the red dot is too bright, turn the control counterclockwise until it matches the star's brightness for accurate alignment.

Remember to turn off the StarPointer after use to conserve battery life.

Finding Objects

1. Look through the StarPointer and pan the telescope until the object is in view. Tighten altitude and azimuth locks.
2. Use the StarPointer's fine adjustment ring on the altitude slow motion rod to center the object.

Focusing

1. Once an object is found, turn the focus knob until the image is sharp.
2. For closer objects, turn the knob towards the eyepiece (focus tube moves away from the front). For distant objects, turn in the opposite direction.
3. For sharp focus, avoid looking through windows or across heat-generating surfaces like asphalt.

Image Orientation

1. With a diagonal, the image is upright but reversed left-to-right.
2. Observing straight through (without a diagonal) inverts the image vertically and horizontally. The finderscope image is also inverted.

Magnification

Magnification depends on the telescope's focal length (FL_telescope) and the eyepiece's focal length (FL_eyepiece).

Formula: Magnification = FL (telescope) / FL (eyepiece)

Solar Observation

CAUTION! Never look at the sun with this telescope or with the naked eye, as it can cause permanent eye damage. Never leave the telescope unattended during the day, as children could look at the sun and suffer permanent damage.

Preparing for Sun Projection

CAUTION! Cover the objective lens to prevent anyone from looking through it.

1. Insert the projection screen rod through the finderscope bracket opening, with the washer end towards the objective lens. The washer acts as a stop.
2. Remove the diagonal if it is attached; it is not used for solar observation.
3. Insert the lowest power eyepiece (highest mm designation) into the focus tube without the diagonal.
4. Select the black plate of the solar projection assembly. Slide it onto the rod, position it near the eyepiece so the hole centers the eyepiece lens, and lock it. This plate shades the white projection screen, which will be placed later.

Observing the Sun

1. Point the telescope generally towards the sun without looking through it or the finderscope. Use the telescope's shadow on the ground for aiming assistance.
2. Hold the white plate a few inches behind the finderscope eyepiece. Gently move the telescope until the sun is projected onto the white plate as a round image of the sky. Use the flexible control cables to center the sun in this projected image.
3. Slide the white plate onto the solar projection assembly rod, aligning it with the telescope's eyepiece, and lock it in place.
4. Use the flexible control cables for minor adjustments to center the sun's image on the white screen.
5. Focus the sun's image on the white screen using the focus knob.
6. The projected image will show sunspots, solar disk texture, and indicate that the sun is brighter at its center than at its edges.

Moon Filter

A moon filter is included to reduce glare and increase contrast when viewing the moon. Screw it onto the threaded end of the eyepiece.

CAUTION! The moon filter is for moon viewing only. It is not for sun viewing. Viewing the sun through this telescope, with or without the filter, or with the naked eye, can cause permanent eye damage.

Technical Specifications

Eye Lens Chart & Theoretical Power Limits