Orion Telescopes 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope Instruction Manual
- June 10, 2024
- Orion Telescopes
Table of Contents
- 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope
- Parts List
- Anatomy of a Great Telescope.
- Setting Up the Telescope
- Operating the Telescope
- Using Your Telescope
- Objects to Observe
- Care and Maintenance
- Specifications
- Appendix A
- One-Year Limited Warranty
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Orion® StarBlast™ 4.5
4.5″ Astro Reflector Telescope
#10015
10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope
Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion Star Blast 4.5 A stro Reflector
telescope. If you have never owned a telescope before, we would like to
welcome you to amateur astronomy. Take some time to familiarize yourself with
the night sky. Learn to recognize the patterns of stars in the major
constellations. With a little practice, a little patience, and a reasonably
dark sky away from city lights, you’ll find your telescope to be a never-
ending source of wonder, exploration, and relaxation.
With its high-quality parabolic reflector optics and precision engineered
mechanics, the Star Blast 4.5 is not a toy, but rather an immensely capable
astronomical instrument. Your
telescope will arrive almost fully assembled out of the box! Only the visual
accessories need to be installed. These include the EZ Finder II reflex sight
and the eyepiece.
WARNING: Do NOT look at the Sun without a professionally made solar
filter on the telescope; serious eye damage may result if you look at the Sun
with any unfiltered optical instrument. Do not leave the telescope
unsupervised around children. Always cover the lenses when leaving the
telescope in direct sunlight.
This compact telescope is designed for grab-and-go portability. Whether you
set it on a picnic table, the hood of your car, or on the ground, we’re sure
you and your family and friends will love scanning the night sky for its many
hidden treasures.
The following instructions will help you to get the maximum performance from
your new telescope, please read them thoroughly.
Parts List
- Optical tube
- Base
- 20mm Bertele eyepiece, 1.25”
- 10mm Bertele eyepiece, 1.25”
- EZ Finder II reflex sight
- Moon filter, 1.25”
- MoonMap 260
- Dust cap
- Allen wrench, 2mm
When unpacking the telescope it is suggested that you save the internal packaging. In the unlikely event the product needs to be returned, the shipping materials can be reused to ensure it arrives safely at its destination. Make sure all the parts listed in the Parts List and shown in Figure 1 are present.
Anatomy of a Great Telescope.
Refer to Figure 2 for this section.
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Optical Tube – This is the part of the StarBlast that contains the mirror optics, which collect the distant starlight and direct it to the eyepiece for magnifying, focusing and viewing. Mirrors.
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Tube Clamp – Holds the optical tube and connects it to the side panel of the base. The tube clamp knob at the top of the clamp can be loosened to allow you to rotate the tube to a comfortable eyepiece position.
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Rack-and-Pinion Focuser – The focuser holds the eyepiece and has two focusing knobs that rotate in unison. You turn the focus knobs to achieve the sharpest possible image.
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EZ Finder II Reflex Sight – A non-magnifying finder scope that helps you aim the telescope and locate objects in the sky for viewing. It emits a red LED “dot” that shows where your telescope is pointed.
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10mm Bertele Eyepiece – This eyepiece has a 10mm focal length, which produces 45x magnifying power with this telescope. The Bertele design comprises four lens elements, which are antire flection multi-coated. The barrel is threaded to accept Orion 1.25″ filters.
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Front Cell – This telescope’s front cell holds the small secondary mirror, which directs the light reflected from the primary mirror out the side of the optical tube to the focuser and eyepiece for convenient viewing.
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Altitude Tension Knob – This knob couples the tube clamp to the base’s side panel and allows the tension between the two to be adjusted to allow smooth up/down movement of the optical tube that is neither too stiff nor too loose.
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Base – The StarBlast 4.5’s compact but sturdy base provides a stable mounting for the telescope. It glides smoothly in both the altitude (up/down) and azimuth (left/right)
axes, making it easy to manually maneuver the telescope. -
20mm Bertele Eyepiece – This eyepiece has a 20mm focal length, which produces 22.5x magnifying power with this telescope. The Bertele design comprises four lens elements, which are antire flection multi-coated. The barrel is threaded to accept Orion 1.25″ filters.
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Eyepiece Rack – This handy rack has three holes to hold extra 1.25” eyepieces and accessories when they are not being used. It comes pre-installed on the base.
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Feet – The three feet under the base provide support and have rubber pads on the bottom that grip smooth surfaces.
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Carry Handle – A cutout in the side panel makes a convenient carrying handle for transporting the StarBlast 4.5 to your viewing site.
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Rear Cell – The telescope’s rear cell holds the parabolic primary mirror and features three collimation knobs that allow adjustment of the mirror’s tilt. The collimation procedure – the method for making sure the optics are precisely aligned to yield the sharpest images is covered laer in this manual.
Setting Up the Telescope
Your new TableTop telescope arrives with the optical tube already attached to
the base. Carefully remove the assembled telescope from the shipping box and
set it upright on its base.
Remove the plastic bag from the telescope.
The telescope is packed with the optical tube oriented vertically in the base,
with a foam pad between the optical tube and the base (Figure 3A). To rotate
the tube into a “normal” position, you may have to first loosen the tube ring
clamp knob, then pull the tube upward (Figure 3B). Then it should be possible
to remove the foam block and rotate the tube. Be sure to retighten the clamp
knob.
Install the EZ Finder II
Slide the foot of the EZ Finder’s bracket into the dovetail shoe on the
telescope tube (Figure 4). Make sure the EZ finder II is oriented with the
sight tube facing the front end of the telescope, as shown.
Figure 3. A) The telescope comes with a foam block between the optical tube and the base. B) To remove the block, loosen the tube clamp knob a turn or two, then slide the tube upward. Then remove the foam block.
Install and Eyepiece
The Star Blast 4.5 comes with two 4-element Bertele eyepieces: one of 20mm
focal length and the other of 10mm focal length. More information about the
eyepieces are provided later in this manual.
Insert an eyepiece directly into the focuser (Figure 5). First remove the cap
from the focuser and loosen the two thumbscrews to provide clearance for the
eyepiece barrel. Then
insert the barrel of the eyepiece into the focuser and lightly retighten the
thumbscrews.
Using the EZ Finder II Reflex Sight
The included EZ Finder II reflex sight (Figure 6) makes pointing your
telescope almost as easy as pointing your finger. It permits easy object
targeting prior to observation in the higherpower main telescope. It
superimposes a red dot generated by an internal LED light on the sky, showing
right where your telescope is pointed (Figure 7).
Before you can use the red dot finder scope, you must remove the small tab
sticking out from the battery compartment. Doing so will allow the pre-
installed 3V CR-2032 button cell battery to make contact with the EZ Finder
II’s electronic circuitry to power its red LED illuminator. The tab can then
be discarded.
Turn the power knob clockwise until you hear the “click” indicating that power
has been turned on. Look through the back of the reflex sight with both eyes
open to see the red dot inside the sight tube. Position your eye at a
comfortable distance from the back of the unit. The brightness of the dot is
adjusted by turning the power knob. For best results when stargazing, use the
dimmest possible setting that allows you to see the dot without difficulty.
Typically a dimmer setting is used under dark skies and a bright setting is
used under light-polluted skies or in daylight.
Aligning the EZ Finder II
To use the red dot finder scope properly, it must be aligned with the main
telescope. When the EZ Finder II is properly aligned with the telescope, an
object that is centered on reflex sight’s red dot should also appear in the
center of the field of view of the telescope’s eyepiece. Alignment is easiest
to do during daylight hours, before observing at night.
Follow this procedure:
Figure 4. Slide the foot of the EZ Finder II bracket into the dovetail shoe on the telescope tube, as shown. Then tighten the thumbscrew.
Figure 5.. Insert an eyepiece into the focuser and secure it by lightly tightening the two thumbscrews.
Figure 6. The EZ Finder II “red dot” scope
- First, remove the dust cover from the front of the telescope.
- With the 20mm eyepiece installed in the focuser, point the telescope at a well-defined land target (e.g., the top of a telephone pole) that’s at least a quarter mile away.
- Center the target in the telescope eyepiece.
- Next, you will also center the target object on the EZ Finder II’s red dot. Without moving the telescope, use the EZ Finder II’s altitude and azimuth adjustment knobs (shown in Figure 6) to position the red dot on the object.
- When the red dot is centered on the distant object, check to make sure the object is still centered in the telescope’s eyepiece. If it isn’t, re-center it then adjust the EZ Finder II’s alignment again. When the object is centered in the telescope eyepiece and in the EZ Finder II, the EZ Finder II is properly aligned with the telescope.
The EZ Finder II’s alignment should be checked before each observing session. At the end of your observing session, be sure to turn the power knob counterclockwise until it clicks off.
Figure 7. The EZ Finder II superimposes a tiny red dot on the sky, showing right where the telescope is pointed.
Figure 8. A) To replace the EZ Finder II’s CR2032 3V lithium battery, first remove the small Phillips screw to unlock the battery cover, B) then remove the old battery and replace it with the positive (+) side facing the retaining clip.
Replacing the Battery
Replacement 3-volt lithium (CR-2032) batteries are available from many retail
outlets. To replace the dead battery, use a small Phillips head screwdriver to
remove the battery cover (Figure 8A). Then carefully pull back on the
retaining clip and shake out the old battery. Do not over-bend the retaining
clip. Then slide the new battery under the retaining clip with the positive
(+) side facing the clip as shown (Figure 8B).
Operating the Telescope
Eyepiece Selection
By using eyepieces of different focal lengths, it is possible to attain
different magnifications with your telescope. That’s because the magnifying
power of a telescope is dependent on both the focal length of the telescope
and of the eyepiece being used with it.
To calculate the magnification of a telescope-eyepiece combination, simply
divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece.
So, for example, the Star Blast 4.5 has a focal length of 450mm.When used with the 20mm eyepiece, the resulting magnification is 22.5x.
When using the 10mm eyepiece, the magnification is 45x.
The 20mm eyepiece is great for low power, wide field viewing, while the 10mm
eyepiece is suited for higher-power observation. Other eyepieces can be used
to achieve even higher powers. It is quite common for an observer to own five
or more eyepieces to access a wide range of magnifications. An optional 2x
Barlow lens is another great accessory to have. It doubles the magnifying
power of any eyepiece it is used with.
We recommend starting a viewing session by inserting your lowest-power
(longest focal length) eyepiece to locate and center the target object. Low
magnification yields a wide field of view, which shows a larger area of sky in
the eyepiece. This makes finding and centering an object much easier. Trying
to find and center objects with a high power (narrow field of view) eyepiece
is like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Once you’ve centered the object
in the eyepiece, you can switch to a higher magnification (shorter focal
length) eyepiece, if you wish. This is recommended for small and bright
objects, like planets and double stars. The Moon also takes higher
magnifications well. The best rule of thumb with eyepiece selection is to
start with a low power, wide-field eyepiece, and then work your way up in
magnification. If the object looks better, try an even higher magnification
eyepiece. If the object looks worse, then back off the magnification a little
by using a lower-power eyepiece.
Magnification Limits
Every telescope has a useful magnification limit of about 2x per millimeter of
aperture. This translates to a limit of 228x for the Star Blast 4.5 (4.5”
equates to 114mm aperture). Some telescope manufacturers will use misleading
claims of ultra-high magnifications: “See distant galaxies at 640X!” While
such magnifications are technically possible, the actual image at that
magnification would be a dim, indistinct blur. Low and moderate magnifications
are what give the best views. A small, but bright and crisply detailed image
is always better than a dim, blurry, over-magnified one.
Image Orientation
The image in the eyepiece will appear rotated (upside down) in the Star Blast
4.5. This is normal for reflector telescopes. But this is also why reflector
telescopes are not recommended for daytime terrestrial use. For astronomical
viewing the orientation of the image matters little, as there is no “right
side up” in space!
On or Off the Ground? Your Choice
One of the great qualities of the Star Blast 4.5 A stro Reflector is its
conveniently compact, portable size. The cutout in the side panel makes a
perfect carrying handle for taking the Star Blast wherever you want to go.
You may find that the most comfortable way to use the telescope is while
sitting down or kneeling on the ground next to it. If you wish
to raise the telescope off the ground a bit so that it can be used while
standing or sitting in a chair, then setting it on a platform such as a milk
crate, acamping table, or a picnic
table might be just the ticket.
Figure 9. The Star Blast has two axes of motion: altitude (up/down) and azimuth (left/right).
Altitude and Azimuth (Aiming the Telescope)
Your Star Blast 4.5 telescope’s base permits motion along two axes: altitude
(up/down) and azimuth (left/right) (Figure 9). Both motions can be made
simultaneously and in a continuous manner for easy aiming. This way you can
point to any position in the night sky, from horizon to horizon.
The altitude axis rotation tension is adjustable with the altitude tension
adjustment knob (Figure 2). You want sufficient friction of motion to keep the
telescope from rotating too freely, which can make it difficult to land on and
stay aimed at an object you wish to view. However, if you apply too much
tension the telescope will be difficult to move smoothly and in small
increments needed to center an object in the eyepiece for viewing.
Turn the tension adjustment knob to set the right amount of friction. The
rotation tension of the azimuth axis is set at the factory and should allow
smooth, easy rotation of the base to the left or right.
Focusing the Telescope
The Star Blast 4.5 comes equipped with a 1.25” rack-and-pinion focuser (Figure
5). We recommend practicing focusing in the daytime when starting out to get
the hang of it. With the 20mm eyepiece inserted into the focuser, aim the
optical tube so the front (open) end is pointing in the general direction of
an object at least 1/4-mile away. With your fingers, slowly rotate either of
the two the focus knobs (they rotate in unison) until the object comes into
sharp focus. Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until the image starts to blur
again, then reverse the rotation of the knob gradually, until you’ve nailed
the exact focus point.
You can adjust the position of the focuser to the angle that is most
comfortable for viewing by simply loosening the tube clamp knob, then rotating
the optical tube until the focuser is where you want it.
Using Your Telescope
Choosing an Observing Site
When selecting a location for observing, get as far away as possible from
direct artificial light such as street lights, porch lights, and automobile
headlights. The glare from these lights will greatly impair your dark-adapted
night vision. Avoid viewing over rooftops and chimneys, as they often have
warm air cur- rents rising from them. Similarly, avoid observing from indoors
through an open (or closed) window, because the temperature difference between
the indoor and outdoor air will cause image blurring and distortion.
If at all possible, escape the light-polluted city sky and head for darker
country skies. You’ll be amazed at how many more stars and deep-sky objects
are visible in a dark sky!
Cooling the Telescope
All optical instruments need time to reach “thermal equilibrium.” The bigger
the instrument and the larger the temperature change, the more time is needed.
Allow at least 20 minutes for your telescope to acclimate to the temperature
outdoors before you start observing with it.
Figure 10. Megrez connects the Big Dipper’s “handle” to its “pan.” If you cannot see Megrez, a magnitude 3.4 star, then 32the viewing conditions are poor.
Let Your Eyes Dark-Adapt
Don’t expect to go from a lighted house into the darkness of the outdoors
at night and immediately see faint nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters—or
even very many stars, for that matter. Your eyes take about 30 minutes to
reach perhaps 80% of their full dark-adapted sensitivity. As your eyes become
dark-adapted, more stars will glimmer into view and you’ll be able to see
fainter details in objects you view in your telescope.
To see what you’re doing in the darkness, use a red-filtered flashlight rather
than a white light. Red light does not spoil your eyes’ dark adaptation like
white light does. A flashlight with a red LED light is ideal. Beware, too,
that nearby porch lights, street lights, and car headlights will ruin your
night vision.
“Seeing” and Transparency
Atmospheric conditions vary significantly from night to night. “Seeing” refers
to the steadiness of the Earth’s atmosphere at a given time. In conditions of
poor seeing, atmospheric turbulence causes objects viewed through the
telescope to “boil.” If you look up at the sky and stars are twinkling
noticeably, the seeing is poor and you will be limited to viewing at lower
magnifications. At higher magnifications, images will not focus clearly. Fine
details on the planets and Moon will likely not be visible.
In conditions of good seeing, star twinkling is minimal and images appear
steady in the eyepiece. Seeing is best overhead, worst at the horizon. Also,
seeing generally gets better after midnight, when much of the heat absorbed by
the Earth during the day has radiated off into space.
Especially important for observing faint objects is good “transparency” – air
free of moisture, smoke, and dust. All tend to scatter light, which reduces an
object’s brightness. Transparency is judged by the magnitude of the faintest
stars you can see with the unaided eye (6th magnitude or fainter is
desirable). If you cannot see stars of magnitude 3.5 or dimmer then conditions
are poor. Magnitude is a measure of how bright a star is – the brighter a star
is, the lower its magnitude will be. A good star to remember for this is
Megrez (mag. 3.4), which is the star in the “Big Dipper” connecting the handle
to the “dipper”. If you cannot see Megrez, then you have fog, haze, clouds,
smog, or other conditions that are hindering your viewing. (See Figure 10.)
Tracking Celestial Objects
The Earth is constantly rotating about its polar axis, completing one full
rotation every 24 hours; this is what defines a “day”. We do not feel the
Earth rotating, but we see it at night from the apparent movement of stars
from east to west. When you observe any astronomical object, you are watching
a moving target. This means the telescope’s position must be continuously
adjusted over time to keep a celestial object in the field of view. This is
called “tracking” the object. It’s easy to do with the Star Blast 4.5 because
of its smooth motions on both axes. As the object moves off toward the edge of
the eyepiece’s field of view, just lightly nudge or tug the telescope to re-
center the object. Objects appear to move across the field of view faster at
higher magnifications. This is because the field of view becomes narrower.
Using the Orion Moon Filter and Moon Map 260
Orion Moon Filter
This popular accessory reduces glare from the bright lunar surface for more
comfortable viewing. It also boosts contrast so you can enjoy more-detailed
views of surface features. The neutral density filter transmits only 13% of
incoming light to the eyepiece, preventing the overpowering brightness from
washing out details, providing better clarity and resolution, and reducing eye
strain. It does not alter the natural color of the Moon, either. Just screw
the filter into the threaded barrel of the eyepiece and you’re all set (Figure
11).
Orion Moon Map 260
With locations and names of over 260 features on the Moon such as craters,
mountains, valleys, “seas” and more, the Orion Moon Map 260 is a great tool
for beginning astronomers.This detailed map will even show you where various
spacecraft have landed on the Moon’s surface! The whole family will enjoy
looking at the Moon with the telescope, then using the Moon Map 260 to learn
the names of the craters and other features observed. Using a red flashlight
(sold separately) to read the Moon Map in the dark will be helpful; the red
light will not spoil your eyes’ dark adaptation.
Figure 11. The Moon filter threads into the eyepiece barrel as shown.
What to Expect
So what will you see with your telescope? You should be able to see bands on
Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, craters on the Moon, the waxing and waning of
Venus, and many bright deep-sky objects. Do not expect to see color as you do
in Hubble Space Telescope photos, since those are taken with long-exposure
cameras and have “false color” added. Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see
color in deep-sky objects. But remember that you are seeing these objects
using your own telescope with your own eyes, in real time. And that’s pretty
cool!
Objects to Observe
Now that you are all set up and ready to go, one critical decision must be
made: what to look at?
A. The Moon
With its rocky surface, the Moon is one of the easiest and most interesting
targets to view with your telescope. Lunar craters, maria, and even mountain
ranges can all be clearly seen from a distance of 238,000 miles away! With its
ever-changing phases, you’ll get a new view of the Moon every night. The best
time to observe our one and only natural satellite is during a partial phase,
that is, when the Moon is NOT full. During partial phases, shadows are cast on
the surface, which reveal more detail, especially right along the border
between the dark and light portions of the disk (called the “terminator”). A
full Moon is too bright and devoid of surface shadows to yield a pleasing
view. Make sure to observe the Moon when it is well above the horizon to get
the sharpest images. Use the included Moon Filter to dim the Moon when it is
very bright. It simply threads onto the bottom of the eyepiece barrel. You’ll
find that a Moon filter improves viewing comfort, and also helps to bring out
subtle features on the lunar surface.
B. The Sun
You can change your nighttime telescope into a daytime Sun viewer by
installing an optional full-aperture solar filter over the front opening of
the telescope. The primary attraction is sunspots, which change shape,
appearance, and location daily. Sunspots are directly related to magnetic
activity in the Sun. Many observers like to make drawings of sunspots to
monitor how the Sun is changing from day to day.
Important Note: Do not look at the Sun with this telescope without a
professionally made solar filter installed on the front opening, or permanent
eye damage or blindness could result! Do not use the EZ Finder II when solar
viewing, either.
C. The Planets
Planets, being in our own solar system and having their own orbits, do not
stay at “fixed” locations like the stars do. So to find them you should refer
to Sky Calendar at our website (telescope.com), or to charts published monthly
in Astronomy or Sky & Telescope magazines, or on astronomy websites. Venus,
Jupiter, and Saturn are the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and
the Moon. Other planets may be visible but will likely appear star-like.
Because planets are quite small in apparent size, you will need to use high
power. Not all the planets are generally visible at any one time.
JUPITER: The largest planet, Jupiter, is a great subject for observation. You
can see the disk of the giant planet and watch the ever-changing positions of
its four largest moons — Io, Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede.
SATURN: The ringed planet is a breathtaking sight when it is well positioned.
The tilt angle of the rings varies over a period of many years; sometimes they
are seen edge-on, while at other times they are broadside and look like giant
“ears” on each side of Saturn’s disk. A steady atmosphere (good seeing) is
necessary for a good view. You will probably see a bright “star” close by,
which is Saturn’s brightest moon, Titan.
VENUS: At its brightest, Venus is the most luminous object in the sky,
excluding the Sun and the Moon. It is so bright that sometimes it is visible
to the naked eye during full daylight! Ironically, Venus appears as a thin
crescent, not a full disk, when at its peak brightness. Because it is so close
to the Sun, it never wanders too far from the morning or evening horizon. No
surface markings can be seen on Venus, which is always shrouded in dense
clouds.
D. The Stars
Stars will appear like twinkling points of light. Even powerful telescopes
cannot magnify stars to appear as more than a point of light. You can,
however, enjoy the different colors of the stars and locate many pretty double
and multiple stars. The gorgeous two-color double star Albireo in Cygnus is a
favorite. Defocusing a star slightly can help to bring out its color.
E. Deep-Sky Objects
Under dark skies, you can observe a wealth of fascinating deep-sky objects,
including gaseous nebulas, open and globular star clusters, and a variety of
different types of galaxies. Most deep-sky objects are very faint, so it is
important that you find an observing site well away from light pollution. Take
plenty of time to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Do not expect these
subjects to appear like the photographs you see in books and on the internet;
most will look like dim gray smudges. Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see
color in deep-sky objects. But as you become more experienced and your
observing skills get sharper, you will be able to ferret out more and more
subtle details and structure.
To find deep sky objects in the sky, it is best to consult a star chart,
planetarium program or app, or a planisp here. These guides will help you
locate the brightest and best deep-sky objects for viewing with your
telescope. You can also try low power scanning of the Milky Way. Pop in the
20mm eyepiece and just cruise through the “star clouds” of our galaxy. You’ll
be amazed at the rich fields of stars and objects you’ll see! The Milky Way is
best observed on summer and winter evenings.
Care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a lifetime. Store it in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe from rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Do not store the telescope outdoors, although storage in a garage or shed is okay. Small components like eyepieces and other accessories should be kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the dust cover on the front of the telescope when it is not in use.
Specifications
Optical design | Newtonian reflector |
---|---|
Primary mirror figure | Parabolic |
Primary mirror coating | Aluminum with SiO2 overcoat |
Secondary mirror | 34mm minor axis diameter |
Secondary mirror coating | Aluminum with SiO2 overcoat |
Aperture | 114mm |
Focal length | 450mm |
Focal ratio | f/3.9 |
Central obstruction diameter | 34mm |
Focuser | Rack and pinion, 1.25” |
Base | MDF material with laminate finish |
Mounting saddle | Vixen-style dovetail with clamp knob |
Optical tube mounting adapter | Vixen-style dovetail bar; two ¼”-20 threaded |
holes on bottom
Eyepieces| 20mm 4-element Bertele design, 1.25”, multi-coated
10mm 4-element Bertele design, 1.25”, multi-coated
Magnification with supplied|
eyepieces| 22.5x (20mm) and 45x (10mm)
Finder scope| EZ finder II reflex sight (3V lithium ion battery included)
Moon filter| Neutral density, 13% transmission, 1.25”
Weight, assembled telescope| 10lbs. 13.8 oz
Optical tube length| 17.75″
Base diameter and height| 14″ D x 17″ H
Appendix A
Collimation – Aligning the Optics
Collimation is the process of adjusting the optics of a telescope so they are
precisely aligned with one another and with the telescope tube. For this
reflector telescope, the primary and secondary mirrors must be in precise
alignment. Your telescope’s optics were aligned at the factory, and should not
need
Figure 12. Before collimating your telescope, place a piece of white paper inside the optical tube opposite the focuser. Make sure the telescope tube is oriented parallel to the ground during the collimation process.
Figure 13. Collimating the optics. (A) When the mirrors are properly aligned,
the view down the focuser drawtube should look like this. (B) Here, only part
of the primary mirror is visible in the secondary mirror, so the secondary
mirror needs to be adjusted (tilted). (C) Here the secondary mirror is
correctly aligned because the entire primary mirror is visible in it. But the
reflection of the secondary mirror is off-center. So the primary mirror still
needs adjustment. (D) Now the primary mirror is correctly aligned, so the
secondary mirror is centered. much adjustment unless the telescope is handled
roughly. Accurate mirror alignment is important to ensure the sharpest
possible images viewed through your telescope, so it should be checked
occasionally. With practice, collimating is relatively easy to do and can be
done in daylight.
It helps to perform the collimation procedure in a brightly lit room with the
telescope pointed toward a bright surface, such as a light-colored wall. The
telescope tube should be oriented horizontally (parallel to the ground).
Placing a piece of white paper in the telescope tube opposite the focuser
(i.e., on the other side of the secondary mirror from the focuser) will also
be helpful (see Figure 12). You will need the included 2mm Allen wrench and a
philips screwdriver to perform the collimation.
To check your telescope’s collimation, remove the eyepiece and look down the
focuser. You should see the secondary mirror centered in the focuser, as well
as the reflection of the primary mirror centered in the secondary mirror, and
the reflection of the secondary mirror (and your eye) centered in the
reflection of the primary mirror, as in Figure 13A. Got all that? Review it
again carefully, and compare what you see to Figure 13A. If anything is off-
center, proceed with the following collimation procedure.
NOTE: Precise collimation is best achieved by using an optional
collimating tool, such as a quick-collimation cap, a Cheshire eyepiece, or a
laser collimator. Check our website for available collimating tools. Figures
13B through 13D assume that you have an optional Cheshire eyepiece or
collimation cap in the focuser.
Primary Mirror Center Mark
You may have noticed that your Star Blast 4.5 has a small adhesive ring in the
exact center of the primary mirror. This “center mark” allows you to achieve a
very precise collimation of the primary mirror; you don’t have to guess where
the center of the mirror is, which is important in the collimation process.
This center mark is especially useful when using an optional collimating
device.
Note: The adhesive ring should not be removed from the primary mirror.
Because it lies directly in the shadow of the secondary mirror, its presence
in no way adversely affects the optical performance of the telescope or the
image quality. That might seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true! Leave it in
place.
Aligning the Secondary Mirror
Align the secondary mirror first. Note secondary mirror collimation screws are
Allen screws, so you will need to use the included 2mm Allen wrench to adjust
them.
Look down the focuser at the secondary (diagonal) mirror. If the entire
primary mirror reflection is not visible in the secondary mirror, as in Figure
13B, you will need to adjust the tilt of the secondary mirror. This is done by
alternately loosening one of the three secondary mirror alignment screws then
lightly tightening the other two (Figure 14). The goal is to center the
primary mirror reflection in the secondary mirror, as in Figure 13C. Don’t
worry that the reflection of the secondary mirror (the smallest circle) is
off-center. You will fix that in the next step. It will take some trial and
error to determine which screws to loosen and tighten to move the reflection
of the primary mirror to the center of the secondary mirror. But be patient
and you’ll get it.
Figure 14. Use the included 2mm Allen wrench to adjust the three secondary mirror collimation setscrews.
Aligning the Primary Mirror
The final adjustment is made to the primary mirror. It will need adjustment
if, as in Figure 13C, the reflection of the primary mirror is centered in the
secondary mirror, but the small reflection of the secondary mirror is off-
center. The tilt of the primary mirror is adjusted using three spring-loaded
collimation knobs and three smaller locking thumbscrews on the back end of the
optical tube (Figure 15). First loosen the three locking thumbscrews a turn or
so. Then tighten one of the collimation knobs about a quarter turn and see if
the secondary mirror reflection has moved closer to the center of the primary.
If it moved farther away then try loosening the same collimation knob a bit.
Repeat this process on the other two sets of collimation screws, if necessary,
adjusting them one way or the other and seeing if the secondary mirror
reflection moves closer to the center of the primary mirror reflection. It
will take a little trial and error to get a feel for how to tilt the mirror in
this way. When the center hole in your collimating tool is centered as much as
possible on the reflection of the adhesive dot on the primary mirror, your
primary mirror is collimated. The view through the collimation cap should
resemble Figure 13D. Finally, very lightly tighten the three locking
thumbscrews so that the primary mirror stays in that position. A simple star
test will tell you whether the optics are accurately collimated.
Figure 15. The optical tube’s rear cell has three pairs of collimation screws. The large knobs are the spring-loaded collimation knobs while the smaller Phillips screws are the locking screws.
Star-Testing the Telescope
When it is dark, point the telescope at a bright star and accurately center it
in the eyepiece’s field of view. Slowly de-focus the image with the focusing
knob. If the telescope is correctly collimated, the expanding disk should be a
perfect circle (Figure 16). If the image is unsymmetrical, the scope is out of
collimation. The dark shadow cast by the secondary mirror should appear in the
very center of the out-of-focus circle, like the hole in a donut.
If the “hole” appears off-center, the telescope is out of collimation. If you
try the star test and the bright star you have selected is not accurately
centered in the eyepiece, the optics will always appear out of collimation,
even though they may be perfectly aligned. It is critical to keep the star
centered, so over time you may need to make slight corrections to the
telescope’s position in order to keep the star in the center of the field of
view. A good star to point at for a star test is Polaris, the North Star,
because its position does not move significantly over time.
Figure 16. A star test will determine if the telescope’s optics are properly collimated.
Appendix B
Cleaning the Optics
Cleaning Lenses
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning fluid
specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to clean the exposed
lenses of your eyepieces. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid
designed for eyeglasses. Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose
particles off the lens with a blower bulb. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a
tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a circular
motion, applying only very slight pressure, then remove any excess fluid with
a fresh lens tissue. Oily fingerprints and smudges may be removed using this
method. Use caution; rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. On larger lenses,
clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh lens tissue on each area.
Never reuse tissues.
Cleaning Mirrors
You should not have to clean the StarBlast 4.5’s primary mirror very often, if
ever. Covering the telescope with the dust caps on the front opening and on
the focuser when not in use will help prevent dust from accumulating on the
mirrors. When bringing the telescope inside after an evening’s viewing it is
normal for moisture to accumulate on the mirror due to the change in
temperature. We suggest leaving it uncovered overnight to allow this
condensation to evaporate. Improper cleaning can scratch mirror coatings, so
the fewer times you have to clean the mirrors, the better. Small specks of
dust or flecks of paint on the mirror have virtually no effect on the visual
performance of the telescope.
If you believe your telescope primary mirror needs cleaning, please email us
at: support@telescope.com or contact Orion
Technical Support at 800-676-1343.
One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion product is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship
for a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the
benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any
warranted instrument that proves to be defective,
provided it is returned postage paid. Proof of purchase (such as a copy of the
original receipt) is required. This warranty is only valid in the country of
purchase.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been
abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or
restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your
state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer
goods remain fully applicable.
For further warranty information, please visit
www.OrionTelescopes.com/warranty.
Corporate Offices: 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 – USA
Toll Free USA & Canada: 800-447-1001
International: +1(831) 763-7000
Customer Support: support@telescope.com
Copyright © 2022 Orion Telescopets & Binoculars All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of Orion Telescopets & Binoculars.
References
- Orion Telescopes & Binoculars: Official EU Site - Telescope.com
- Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
- Starter
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