Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Quick Setup Guide

Assembly Instructions

1. Step 1: Unpack and Verify Parts

   Unpack your telescope and verify that all parts are present. Your PowerSeeker 50AZ includes: optical tube with lens shade attached; tripod with center support bracket and accessory tray; three eyepieces; a 3x Barlow lens, star diagonal, finderscope with bracket, and a 1.5x image erecting eyepiece.

2. Step 2: Set Up the Tripod

   Spread the tripod legs outward until they are fully extended and push down the center leg brace.

3. Step 3: Extend Tripod Legs

   Extend the center portion of each of the three tripod legs down about 6 to 12 inches. Flip the tightening lever inward on each leg to secure the extended leg in place.

4. Step 4: Ensure Level Platform

   Check to ensure that all three legs are the same height once extended to provide a level platform for the telescope.

5. Step 5: Mount Accessory Tray

   To mount the accessory tray, remove the fastener from the lower support bracket.

6. Step 6: Secure Accessory Tray

   Place the accessory tray on the lower support bracket and then tighten the fastener.

7. Step 7: Remove Telescope Bolt

   Remove the threaded bolt from the underside of the telescope tube.

8. Step 8: Align Mount and Tube

   Line up the hole in the mount with the holes on the underside of the optical tube as shown.

9. Step 9: Secure Optical Tube

   Replace the threaded bolt to secure the optical tube to the mount.

10. Step 10: Verify Assembly

    The properly assembled optical tube should appear as pictured.

11. Step 11: Remove Finderscope Nuts

    Remove the knurled finderscope nuts from the optical tube.

12. Step 12: Orient and Place Finderscope

    Orient the finderscope so that it is facing towards the front of the tube. Place the finderscope over the screws as shown.

13. Step 13: Secure Finderscope and Remove Caps

    Replace the knurled nuts to secure in place and remove the lens covers.

14. Step 14: Loosen Focuser and Remove Cap

    Loosen the set screws on the focuser and remove the plastic cap.

15. Step 15: Insert Diagonal and Remove Cap

    Insert the diagonal into the focuser and tighten the set screws to secure in place. Remove the plastic cap on the diagonal.

16. Step 16: Install 20mm Eyepiece

    Place the 20mm eyepiece into the barrel of the diagonal as shown above. Tighten the set screw to secure in place.

17. Step 17: Remove Front Lens Cap

    Remove the lens cap from the front of the telescope.

18. Step 18: Focus the Image

    To observe, look through the eyepiece as shown above. Focus the image by turning the knobs below the focuser.

19. Step 19: Use Barlow Lens (Optional)

    For additional magnification, you can use the included 3x Barlow lens. Place the Barlow lens in the focuser in place of the eyepiece. Remove the cap from the Barlow lens.

20. Step 20: Install Eyepiece into Barlow

    Insert the barrel of the 20mm eyepiece into the Barlow lens and tighten the screws to secure it in place.

Aligning the Finderscope

The finder is one of the most important parts of your telescope. It helps you locate objects and center them in the eyepiece. The first time you assemble your telescope, you need to align the finder to the telescope's main optics. It's best to do this during the day.

* SOLAR WARNING! Never attempt to view the sun through any telescope without a proper solar filter!

1. Step 1: Choose a Target

   Take the telescope outside during the day and find an easily recognizable object, like a streetlight, license plate or sign. The object should be as far away as possible, but at least a quarter mile away.

2. Step 2: Center the Target in the Eyepiece

   Look through the telescope using your lower powered 20mm eyepiece. Move the telescope until the object you chose lies in the center of the view. If the image is blurry, gently turn the focus knobs on either side of the telescope until it comes into sharp focus.

   NOTE: The image in your telescope may appear inverted. This is perfectly normal in an astronomical telescope.

3. Step 3: Look Through Finderscope

   Once the object is centered in your 20mm eyepiece, look through the finderscope and locate the crosshair reticle.

4. Step 4: Adjust the Finderscope

   Without moving the telescope, use the three finger knobs surrounding the finderscope bracket to move the finder around until the crosshair appears over the same object you are observing in the telescope's 20mm eyepiece.

   TIP: Try adjusting one screw at a time. Loosen one screw by half a turn and tighten another by the same amount to ensure the finderscope is securely held in place.

5. Step 5: Finderscope Alignment Complete

   Your finderscope is now aligned! It should not require realignment unless it is bumped or dropped.

Your First Night Out: The Moon

The best and easiest target for you to try to view first is the Moon. Try observing the Moon at different points in its phase cycle. The best time to view the Moon is from two days after a New Moon up to a few days before a Full Moon. During this period, you will be able to see the most detail in the craters and lunar mountain ranges.

1. Step 1: Set Up Telescope

   With the Moon visible in the sky, set up your telescope with the 20mm eyepiece installed.

2. Step 2: Point Telescope Towards Moon

   Move the telescope so that it is roughly pointing toward the Moon.

3. Step 3: Align Finderscope with Moon

   Look through the finderscope and locate the crosshair reticle. Continue moving the telescope until the crosshair appears over the Moon.

4. Step 4: Focus the Image

   Look through the telescope's 20mm eyepiece. Gently turn the focus knobs to adjust the sharpness of the image.

5. Step 5: Congratulations!

   Congratulations! You have now observed your first celestial object!

   To get a closer view of the Moon, loosen the set screws on the focuser and remove the 20mm eyepiece. Replace it with your 4mm eyepiece and tighten the set screws to secure it in place. The 4mm eyepiece will give you significantly more magnification, making the Moon appear much larger.

   NOTE: You may need to adjust the focus knobs when you change eyepieces, so make sure you are getting the sharpest image possible.

6. Step 6: Explore Further

   You can view many other celestial objects, such as planets, star clusters and nebulae using this same technique if you know where to find them in the night sky.

Celestron's free SkyPortal app for iOS and Android can help you locate and identify a wide array of celestial objects quickly and easily.

Important Safety Information

SOLAR WARNING

• Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with a telescope unless you have the proper solar filter. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.
• Never use your telescope to project an image of the Sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage the telescope and any accessories attached to it.
• Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside the telescope can cause these devices to crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass through to the eye.
• Do not leave the telescope unsupervised, especially when children or adults unfamiliar with the correct operating procedures of your telescope are present.