Omegon EQ-1 Mode D'emploi page 66

How to locate an object:
1. Loosen the RA axis locking screw. If you have previously balanced the telescope correctly the axis will not
shift its orientation. Now move the telescope. You will see that movement in this axis describes a circular
arc. Celestial objects also describe exactly such a curve as they move across the sky. This axis will later be
the tracking axis. With this axis locked, you can accurately follow the position of the celestial object by
using manual fine adjustments.
2. Now unlock the upper DEC axis. This is also the elevation axis which is, simply put, responsible for the
vertical position of the celestial body in the sky. Slew the telescope tube back and forth in this axis.
This will give you a feeling for how the mount moves.
3. With this kind of telescope you will usually locate celestial objects visually. That means that you select an
object in the sky and accurately move the telescope in its axes by hand in order to bring the object into
view.
The locks for both telescope axes are loosened, allowing you to freely slew the telescope in all directions.
Now, moving the telescope simultaneously in both axes is no longer a problem. With a little practice, it will
become second nature.
4. Now just decide on a celestial object. Turn the telescope in both axes so that the tube points roughly in
the direction of the object. If, for example, you have selected an object in the south, you must slew in the
RA axis (based on a northern alignment) to the right or to the left. In this case, the DEC axis must be
completely changed from north to south. After this example slew, the front of the telescope will point to
the south with the focuser on the northern side.
5. After you have moved the telescope roughly in the direction of the object, the fine adjustment then follows.
Use the finder scope or the red dot finder for this.
Finder scope: Now position the object roughly in the finder scope. Relock both axes, but make sure that the object
does not 'wander' out of the field of view when re-tightening the screws. The flexible slow motion controls are now
used for accurate fine adjustments of the celestial object. Looking though the finder scope, turn both slow motions
until the object is precisely located in the finder scope crosshairs.
Red dot finder: Switch the red dot finder on and dim the brightness of the red dot to an intensity that is comfortable
for you. Now position the object roughly in the red dot finder so the object can be seen on the projection plate. Relock
both axes, but make sure that the object does not wander out of the field of view when re-tightening the screws. The
flexible slow motion controls are now used for the accurate fine adjustment of the celestial object. Looking though
the red dot finder, turn both slow motions until the object coincides with the red dot.
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