Loosen the tripod base lock knob and the altitude lock so that the telescope can move freely.
Step2
If you have not already done so, place a low-power eyepiece in the diagonal prism of the main telescope and point the telescope at an easy-to-find land object. Turn the focuser knob to focus the image in the eyepiece. Center the object precisely.
Step3
Re-tighten the tripod base lock knob and the altitude lock so that the telescope does not move during the procedure.
Step4
Look through the Smartfinder. Turn theSmartfinder’s two alignment screws until Smartfinder’s red dot points precisely at the same object as centered in the eyepiece. Smartfinder is now aligned to the main telescope.
Step5
Check this alignment on a celestial object, such as the moon or a bright star, and make any necessary refinements.
Tips & Warnings
Viewing conditions vary from night to night and from site to site. Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, return to a lower power eyepiece for a more well-resolved image.
If you have a refracting telescope, objects will appear right-side-up, but reversed left-to-right.This will not make a difference when observing astronomical objects, and in fact, all astronomical telescopes present inverted images.
During terrestrial observing, when a corrected image (right-side up and correct left-to-right) is desirable, anoptional Meade 45° Erecting Prism is available.
Never point the telescope directly at or near the sun at any time. Observing the sun, even for the smallest fraction of a second, will result in instant and irreversible eye damage, as well as physical damage to the telescope itself.
No means of correcting the image is available for reflecting telescopes. The image will appear upside down and reversed left-to-right.
When you look through your telescope’s eyepiece, the image might look strange at first.
