Bushnell 78-8876 Northstar Goto Telescope Instruction Manual

Bushnell 78-8876 Northstar Goto Telescope

Instruction Manual

• Congratulations on the purchase of your Bushnell Northstar Goto Telescope. Included with this product are several value added features such as a Moon Filter, 9V battery, CDROM, and Magnetic Compass. The moon filter should be screwed into the eyepiece when viewing the full moon to increase contrast of this extremely bright phase of the moon. The 9V battery is included as well as an interactive astronomy CDROM for your computer to aid you in your understanding of the night sky. Finally, the magnetic compass will aid you in finding North after dark while setting up for your viewing session.
• After reading through this manual and preparing for your observing session as outlined in these pages, you can start enjoying this fantastic product. At Bushnell we have made every effort to give you a superior quality product that meets your high standards for Quality, Durability, and Performance.
• However, if you have questions about use and function or included accessories or feel the product is not working properly, please DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE. For assistance, personal customer service and prompt customer care, please call our Toll Free Number 800-423-3537 or visit our website at www.bushnell.com.

Parts Diagrams

Telescope Parts Diagram

1. Red Dot Finderscope
2. 1.25″ Format Eyepiece
3. Rack and Pinion Focusing Mechanism
4. Accessory Tray Brace
5. Quick-Release Tripod Leg Lever
6. Quick-Release Accessory Tray
7. Remote Computer Controller
8. Main Telescope Tube
9.  Quick-Release Adjustable Aluminum Tripod

DETAILED ASSEMBLY

No tools are required for assembly of your telescope.
Remove all components from the carton and identify all components. It is a good idea to lay all the parts out in front of you before assembly. Since your telescope is a precision optical system the parts require careful handling—particularly the onboard computer, telescope, eyepieces, and various accessory lenses.

SET UP TRIPOD AND ACCESSORY TRAY

1. Stand Northstar Computerized Star Locator Assembly and attached tripod legs in the upright position. Spread tripod legs to a comfortable distance.
2. Fold down the accessory tray braces and place the Quick Release Accessory Tray on top of braces. (See Quick Assembly Diagram)
3. Turn accessory tray until it snaps into place.
4. Adjust tripod leg height to suit by opening tripod leg lever and extending tripod legs to desired height. Clamp Tripod Leg lever closed when complete.

ATTACH TELESCOPE TUBE

1. Locate Main Telescope Tube.
2. Remove Telescope Tube Thumb Nuts from side of Telescope Tube. (See Quick Assembly Diagram)
3. Position Main Telescope Tube Attachment Bolts through Telescope Tube Bracket at the top of the Northstar Computerized Star Locator Assembly. Make sure the telescope is pointing in the correct direction. (Logo on telescope tube should be right-side up.)
4. Reattach Telescope Tube Thumb Nuts to Main Telescope Tube Attachment Bolts once Main Telescope Tube and Northstar Computerized Star Locator Assembly are assembled together.

ATTACH FINAL TELESCOPE ACCESSORIES

1. Locate Red Dot Finderscope.
   For Reflector Telescopes: Remove Finderscope attachment nuts from Main Telescope Tube. Place Finderscope Assembly over Finderscope Attachment Bolts and reattach Finderscope thumb nuts to Finderscope Mount Bolts. NOTE: The large end of the finderscope should face the open end of telescope tube.

2. Attach Low Power Eyepiece.
   For Reflector Telescope Models: Insert lowest power eyepiece in the focusing mechanism by backing out eyepiece set screw and inserting eyepiece fully.

3. Tighten all set screws to secure accessories.

4. Remove Objective Dust Cover exposing entire diameter of open end of telescope.

SELECTING AN EYEPIECE
You should always start viewing with the lowest power eyepiece, which in this case is the 20 mm lens. Note: the base power of each eyepiece is determined by the focal length of the telescope objective lens. A formula can be used to determine the power of each eyepiece: telescope OBJECTIVE lens focal length divided by EYEPIECE focal length = MAGNIFICATION (e.g. Using the 20 mm lens, a sample calculation could look like this: 750 mm / 20 = 38x or 38 power. Telescope models will vary in focal length.)
Included with this telescope is a Barlow lens. Barlow lenses are used to double or triple the power of your telescope. Place your Barlow between the focusing tube and the eyepiece. Using the example above, your 3x Barlow lens would give you a total power of 114x or 114 power. (38 x 3 = 114x or 114 power). The magnification calculation would look like this: 750 mm /20mm = 38 power. 38 power x 3=114 power.

ENJOYING YOUR NEW TELESCOPE

1. First determine your targeted object. Any bright object in the night sky is a good starting point. One of the favorite starting points in astronomy is the moon. This is an object sure to please any budding astronomer or experienced veteran. When you have developed proficiency at this level, other objects become good targets. Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus are good second steps to take.
2. The first thing you need to do after assembling the telescope as planned is center the desired object in the finderscope’s cross hairs. Provided you did a reasonable job aligning the finderscope, a quick look through the main telescope tube at low power should reveal the same image. With the lowest power eyepiece (the one with the largest number printed on it) you should be able to focus the same image that you saw through the finderscope. Avoid the temptation to move directly to the highest power. The low power eyepiece will give you a wider field of view, and brighter image—thus making it very easy to find your target object. At this point with a focused image in both scopes, you’ve passed the first obstacle. If you don’t see an image after attempting to focus it in, you might consider aligning your finderscope again. Once you pass this step, you’ll will enjoy the time spent ensuring a good alignment. Every object you center in the finderscope will be easily found in the main telescope tube, which is important for continuing your exploration of the night sky.
3. The low power eyepieces are perfect for viewing the full moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and even constellations. These should build your foundation. However, for more detail, try bumping up in magnification to higher power eyepieces on some of these objects. During calm and crisp nights, the light/dark separation line on the moon (called the “Terminator”) is marvelous at high power. You can see mountains, ridges and craters jump out at you due to the highlights. Similarly, you can move up to higher magnifications on the planets and nebulae. Star clusters and individual stars are best viewed through the low power no matter what.
4. The recurring astronomical theater we call the night sky is an ever-changing billboard. In other words, the same movie does not play all the time. Rather, the positions of the stars change not only hourly as they seem to rise and set, but also throughout the year. As the earth orbits the sun our perspective on the stars changes on a yearly cycle about that orbit. The reason the sky seems to move daily just as the sun and the moon “move” across our sky is that the earth is rotating about its axis. As a result you may notice that after a few minutes or a few seconds depending on what power you are viewing at, the objects in your telescope will move. At higher magnifications especially, you will notice that the moon or Jupiter will “race” right out of the field of view. To compensate, just move your telescope to “track” it in the necessary path.

NORTHSTAR COMPUTER INTERFACE DIAGRAM

1. On/Off Button (On Northstar Base)
2. Back Button
3. Enter Button
4. Scroll Up Button
5. Scroll Down Button
6. LCD Display
7. GO” Button
8. Motorized Movement Buttons (4)
9. Battery Door (On Northstar Base)

BUTTON FUNCTIONS

ALL BUTTONS ARE ILLUMINATED FOR NIGHTTIME USE.

1. On/Off Button: The On/Off Button will turn the Northstar Computerized Star Locator on and off. This button flashes or strobes on and off during normal use. To turn the unit off, simply depress and hold the On/Off button for three seconds and release. (Note: The Northstar Computerized Star Locator will automatically turn itself off after 10 minutes of inactivity.)
2. Back Button: This button functions to navigate to the previous level within the operating framework and/or back to the previous level of input.
3. Enter Button: This button functions to select certain menu choices. By pressing the ENTER button Northstar will advance to the selected level. When an object name or number is listed on the screen, the ENTER button can also be pressed to display a scrolling text description of the object.
4. Scroll Up Button: This button functions to scroll up through various menus within Northstar. Anytime you encounter a blinking text/number option, the scroll button will display the various choices within that menu. (Note: To select an option that you have scrolled to, just press the ENTER button.)
5. Scroll Down Button: This button functions to scroll down through various menus within Northstar. Anytime you encounter a blinking text/number option, the scroll button will display the various choices within that menu.
6. (Note: To select an option that you have scrolled to, just press the ENTER button.)
7. “GO” Button: The GO button will automatically center any object displayed on the LCD display. By pushing the “GO” button, the telescope will automatically find and follow the selected object until another object is selected and the “GO” button is pushed again.
8. Motorized Movement Buttons: These four multi-directional buttons will allow the user to override the tracking system and move the telescope utilizing the motors manually to another desired location. The longer these buttons are depressed, the faster the Northstar will move until it reaches its maximum speed.

LCD DISPLAY

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a two-line, sixteen character display. The LCD is illuminated for use during nighttime viewing just like the buttons.

MENU TREE

ALIGNING NORTHSTAR FOR THE FIRST TIME (Continued)

1. STEP: SET THE TIME
   By using the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons and the ENTER button, the time can easily be set as well as the time zone. Each flashing option will need to be changed to read the appropriate number. Once the appropriate number is displayed, accept the number by pressing ENTER. Then set the next flashing option until the time and time zone are set.

2. STEP: SET THE DATE
   Again by using the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons and the ENTER button, the date can easily be set. Each flashing option will need to be changed to read the appropriate number or month. Once the appropriate number is displayed, accept the number by pressing ENTER. Then set the next flashing option until the day, month and year are set.

3. STEP: SET THE LOCATION

The next screen will display

• ALIGN EARTH CITY ][

CITY will be flashing. By pressing the ENTER button, the display will change to:

• COUNTRY U.S.A.][

The country will be flashing.
Again by using the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons and the ENTER button, the COUNTRY can be chosen. When the appropriate Country is found and the ENTER button is pushed, choose the city that you are closest to by pressing ENTER when it is displayed.

• NOTE: CHOOSE THE CITY CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEWING LOCATION. THIS IS NOT A CRITICAL STEP AND THE ALIGNMENT WILL BE REFINED AUTOMATICALLY AS WE PROGRESS.
• After four simple criteria that any consumer should know, the telescope now knows where over 20,000 astronomical objects are in the night sky to a relative precision. With just two more steps, you will zero in on pinpoint accuracy.
• Now the telescope will lead you through a simple two star alignment process. YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW WHERE ANY STARS ARE. You just simply follow the directions.
• A scrolling message indicates to CENTER STAR 1 THEN PRESS ENTER

Then the display will read

• CENTER STAR 1 {120 ]52 MIZAR

Push the “GO” button and the telescope will automatically move to the general vicinity of the first guide star–in this case MIZAR
The guide stars will be the brightest stars found in that area of the sky. Northstar will automatically “zero out” the guide star and the display will read:

• CENTER STAR 1 0◊0 0◊0 MIZAR

Note as you move from greater than 10 degrees away from an object to under ten degrees, the display moves into tenths of degrees with the arrows acting as decimal points (Example 8]5=8.5 degrees below the object).
After getting the star zeroed in, you need to do as the screen told you—CENTER STAR 1. In other words, the star might appear in the lower left corner of your telescope’s eyepiece.
By looking through the eyepiece, center the star in the field of view by using the Motorized Movement Buttons or move 14. the telescope by hand and press ENTER.

USING NORTHSTAR FOR THE FIRST TIME (Continued)

Now imagine that you are a parent trying to impress your children (or vice versa). Ten minutes into your first observing session you are already learning astronomical objects.
This is a great educational tool !!!!
To find the object, just press the “GO” button and that object will be right in the telescope’s eyepiece!
By pressing the BACK button, you move back to the previous level each time the button is pressed. Press the button three times and you are back at the main level menu.

The display will read

• SELECT MODE EXPLORE ][

SCROLL UP or SCROLL DOWN to select

• SELECT MODE SKY TOUR ][.

Press ENTER.
This mode will take you through the best and brightest objects for each month. If you have done the ALIGN EARTH alignment and entered the date, it will automatically take you to the current month. Don’t know what some of these obscure objects and abbreviations mean? Just press the ENTER key for more information.

Press the BACK button until you get back to the main menu

• SELECT MODE SKY TOUR ][.

SCROLL UP or SCROLL DOWN until the display reads

• SELECT MODE IDENTIFY ][

PRESS ENTER
This mode will default to the level

• IDENTIFY ANY

By selecting this option with the ENTER key, it will IDENTIFY the object that you are currently viewing OR the closest object to where your telescope is currently pointed. You also have the options to choose other types of IDENTIFY menus. These will IDENTIFY the closest CLUSTERS, NEBULAS, etc. to your current
telescope position.

To select the final mode press ENTER at the display

• SELECT MODE TELESCOPE ][

The display reads something like

• RA18:53 DEC+38.7
• AZ280 ALT+62 LYR

The TELESCOPE mode gives you dynamic real-time information on your telescope’s current position in terms of astronomical coordinates. Play around with this mode by moving the telescope around. Notice the three letter abbreviation in the lower right portion of the display. This dynamically displays the current CONSTELLATION that the telescope is pointing at. These names are abbreviated in this mode. Definitions for the abbreviations will be in the catalog index.

Catalog Index

CONSTELLATION ABBREVIATIONS

Star Catalog

WARRANTY / REPAIR

TELESCOPE LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY

• Your Bushnell® telescope is warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner. The Lifetime Limited Warranty is an expression of our confidence in the materials and mechanical workmanship of our products and is your assurance of a lifetime of dependable service.
• If your telescope contains electrical components, these components are warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for two years after the date of purchase.
• In the event of a defect under this warranty, we will, at our option, repair or replace the product, provided that you return the product postage prepaid. This warranty does not cover damages caused by misuse, improper handling, installation, or maintenance provided by someone other than a Bushnell Authorized Service Department.

Any return made under this warranty must be accompanied by the items listed below

1. A check/money order in the amount of $15.00 to cover the cost of postage and handling
2. Name and address for product return
3.  An explanation of the defect
4. Proof of Date Purchased
5. Product should be well packed in a sturdy outside shipping carton, to prevent damage in transit, with return postage prepaid to the address listed below:

IN U.S.A. Send To

• Bushnell Performance Optics
• Attn.: Repairs
• 8500 Marshall Drive Lenexa,
• Kansas 66214

IN CANADA Send To

• Bushnell Performance Optics
• Attn.: Repairs
• 25A East Pearce Street, Unit 1 Richmond
• Hill, Ontario L4B 2M9

For products purchased outside the United States or Canada please contact your local dealer for applicable warranty information. In Europe you may also contact Bushnell at:

BUSHNELL Performance Optics Gmbh European Service Centre MORSESTRASSE 4

D- 50769 KÖLN GERMANY
Tél: +49 (0) 221 709 939 3 Fax: +49 (0) 221 709 939 8

This warranty gives you specific legal rights.
You may have other rights which vary from country to country. ©2003 Bushnell Performance Optics

For further questions or additional information please contact:

• Bushnell Performance Optics
• 9200 Cody
• Overland Park, Kansas 66214
• 800-423-3537 • www.bushnell.com

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