Celestron 31058 User Manual

G-8N NEWTONIANINSTRUCTION MANUALModel #31058

The G-8N • 7There are three wing bolts that hold the accessory tray to the bracket.1. Locate the three wing bolts.2. Place the accessory tray

8 • The G-8NThe equatorial mount allows you to tilt the telescope’s axis of rotation so thatyou can track the stars as they move across the sk

The G-8N • 9Attaching the R.A. Slow Motion KnobWith the mount securely in place, you are ready to attach some of the accesso-ries (the telesco

10 • The G-8NAttaching the Declination Slow Motion KnobLike the R.A. slow motion knob, the DEC slow motion knob allows you tomake fine pointin

The G-8N • 11Attaching the Counterweight Bar and CounterweightThe last item to be mounted before the telescope tube is the counterweight baran

12 • The G-8NWith the mount fully assembled, you are ready to attach the telescope to themount.• Before you attach the optical tube, fully tig

The G-8N • 13The G-8N lens cover has a 1-1/2" cap covering an aperture stop that is offsetfrom the center. To utilize the aperture stop,

14 • The G-8NThe telescope should also be balanced on the declination axis to prevent anysudden motions when the DEC clamp is released. To ba

The G-8N • 15For the purpose of polar alignment, there are two directions in which themount can be adjusted; vertically, which is called altit

16 • The G-8NThe entire telescope and mount is light enough to pick up and carry outside fora casual observing session. If, however, you want

TABLE OF CONTENTS▲▲▲▲▲ INTRODUCTION ...

The G-8N • 17To install the finderscope onto the telescope you must first mount thefinderscope through the finder bracket and then attach it to

18 • The G-8NThe eyepiece, or ocular as it is also called, is an optical element that magnifiesthe image focused by the telescope. Without th

The G-8N • 19Below is pertinent technical information on your G-8N telescope that you mayfind useful.Optical System: Newtonian ReflectorApertur

20 • Telescope BasicsTELESCOPE BASICSOnce your telescope has been fully assembled and the accessories attached,you are ready to take a look.

To focus your telescope, simply turn the focus knob located directly below theeyepiece holder (see figure 2-13). Turning the knob clockwise allows yo

Accurate alignment of the finder makes it easy to find objects with the tele-scope, especially celestial objects. To make aligning the finder as easy

With the telescope fully assembled and all the accessories attached you areready for your first look. Your first look should be done in the daytime w

Nighttime ObservingLooking at objects in the sky is quite different than looking at objects on Earth.For one, many objects seen in the daytime are eas

As implied in the previous section, you can change the power of yourCelestron G-8N just by changing the eyepiece (ocular). To determine themagnificat

26 • Astronomy BasicsASTRONOMY BASICSASTRONOMY BASICSASTRONOMY BASICSASTRONOMY BASICSASTRONOMY BASICSThis section deals with observational ast

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ CELESTIAL OBSERVING...

Astronomy Basics • 27Like the Sun, the stars also appear to move across the sky. This motion is causedby the Earth’s rotation. For observers

28 • Astronomy BasicsFigure 4-3When the telescope’s axis of rotation is parallel to the Earth’s axis, stars viewedthrough the telescope appear

Astronomy Basics • 29For each hemisphere, there is a point in the sky around which all the otherstars appear to rotate. These points are call

30 • Astronomy BasicsLatitude ScalesLatitude ScalesLatitude ScalesLatitude ScalesLatitude ScalesThe easiest way to polar align a telescope is

Astronomy Basics • 31Pointing at PolarisPointing at PolarisPointing at PolarisPointing at PolarisPointing at PolarisThis method utilizes Polar

32 • Astronomy BasicsDeclination DriftDeclination DriftDeclination DriftDeclination DriftDeclination DriftThis method of polar alignment allow

Astronomy Basics • 33Polar Alignment FindersPolar Alignment FindersPolar Alignment FindersPolar Alignment FindersPolar Alignment FindersThere

34 • Celestial ObservingCELESTIAL OBSERVINGWith your telescope set up, you are ready to use it for celestial observing.This section covers vis

Celestial Observing • 35Observing Deep-SkyObserving Deep-SkyObserving Deep-SkyObserving Deep-SkyObserving Deep-SkyObjectsObjectsObjectsObjects

36 • Celestial ObservingUsing the Setting CirclesUsing the Setting CirclesUsing the Setting CirclesUsing the Setting CirclesUsing the Setting

Introduction • 1INTRINTRINTRINTRINTRODUCTIONODUCTIONODUCTIONODUCTIONODUCTIONWelcome to the Celestron world of amateur astronomy! Celestron ha

Celestial Observing • 37Star HoppingStar HoppingStar HoppingStar HoppingStar HoppingYou can use your setting circles to find these objects (as

38 • Celestial ObservingStar hopping may take some getting used to since you can see more stars throughthe finder than you can see with the na

Celestial Observing • 39Viewing conditions affect what you can see through your G-8N telescope during anobserving session. Conditions include

40 • Celestial Observingtemperature, don’t touch the telescope tube with your hands. When pointing thetelescope, hold the telescope by the st

Celestial Photography • 41CELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHYCELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHYCELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHYCELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHYCELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHYAfter looki

42 • Celestial PhotographyShort exposure prime focus photography is the best way to begin recordingcelestial objects. It is done with the cam

Celestial Photography • 43The exposure times listed here should be used as a starting point. Always makeexposures that are longer and shorter

44 • Celestial PhotographyThe easiest way to enter the realm of deep-sky, long exposure astrophotography isvia the piggyback method. Piggybac

Celestial Photography • 45The exposure time depends on the film being used. However, five minutes isusually a good starting point. With slow

46 • MaintenanceTELESCOPE MAINTENTELESCOPE MAINTENTELESCOPE MAINTENTELESCOPE MAINTENTELESCOPE MAINTENANCEANCEANCEANCEANCEAfter you have set up

2 • IntroductionThis manual is designed to instruct you in the proper use of your Celestron G-8Ntelescope. The instructions are for assembly,

Maintenance • 47Prior to collimating the primary mirror holder, locate the three (3) screws on theend plate at the end of the tube. Unthread t

48 • Optional AccessoriesOPTIONAL ACCESSORIESThe following is a partial list of optional accessories available for your CelestronG-8N.Barlow L

Optional Accessories • 49• Lanthanum Eyepieces (LV Series) - Lanthanum is a unique rare earthglass used in one of the field lenses of this new

50 • Optional AccessoriesSingle Axis Motor Drive System - #93518By adding the MDCG-5 Drive System to your mount, you add the capacity toautom

The Messier Catalog • 51THE MESSIER CATALOGTHE MESSIER CATALOGTHE MESSIER CATALOGTHE MESSIER CATALOGTHE MESSIER CATALOGThe Messier Catalog, co

52 • The Messier CatalogM#M#M#M#M#NGC#NGC#NGC#NGC#NGC#Const.Const.Const.Const.Const.R.A.R.A.R.A.R.A.R.A.DECDECDECDECDECMagMagMagMagMagTypeType

The Messier Catalog • 53M#M#M#M#M#NGC#NGC#NGC#NGC#NGC#Const.Const.Const.Const.Const.R.A.R.A.R.A.R.A.R.A.DECDECDECDECDECMagMagMagMagMagTypeType

54 • List of Bright StarsLIST OF BRIGHT STARSLIST OF BRIGHT STARSLIST OF BRIGHT STARSLIST OF BRIGHT STARSLIST OF BRIGHT STARSThe following is

FOR FURTHER READINGFOR FURTHER READINGFOR FURTHER READINGFOR FURTHER READINGFOR FURTHER READINGThe following is a list of astronomy books that will fu

CELESTRON ONE YEAR WARRANTYA. Celestron International (CI) warrants this telescope to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for one year.

Introduction • 3WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE CORRECT OPERAT-WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE CORRECT OPERAT-WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH T

2835 Columbia Street2835 Columbia Street2835 Columbia Street2835 Columbia Street2835 Columbia StreetTorrance, CA 90503Torrance, CA 90503Torrance, CA 9

4 • The G-8NASSEMBLING YOUR G - 8N N E W T O N I A NThis section covers the proper assembly instructions for your G-8N reflectingtelescope

The G-8N • 5 1. Finderscope 9. Tripod Leg Clamp 2. Finderscope Bracket 10. Leg Brace Assembly 3. Tube Ring 11. Counterweight 4.

6 • The G-8NThe tripod comes fully assembled with the metal plate, called the tripod head,that holds the legs together at the top. In additio