Discovery ST80 Sky Trip Telescopes User Manual

Discovery ST80 Sky Trip Telescopes

PARTS NAME

1.  Telescop tube
2. Dew cap
3. Eyepiece
4. Diagonal prism
5. Focuser
6. Altitude lock knob
7. Slow-motion control
8. Tripod leg
9. Azimuth lock knob
10. Finderscope
11.  Accessory tray (Sky Trip ST80)

**Diagonal prism

**

Barlow lens

Eyepiece

1.  Zenith
2. Nadir
3. N E S W
4. Meridian line
5. Rotation around the azimuth axis
6. Altitude

DISCOVERY SKY TRIP TELESCOPES

Discovery Sky Trip refracting telescopes installed on simple alt-azimuth mounts make a wonderful present for beginning astronomers of all ages. With these models, you can explore craters on the Moon, observe details on surfaces of different planets, as well as enjoy the views of bright deep-sky objects. These instructions will help you set up, properly use, and care for your telescope. Please read them thoroughly before getting started.

CAUTION! Never look directly at the Sun — even for an instant — through your telescope or finderscope without a professionally made solar filter that completely covers the front of the instrument, or permanent eye damage may result. To avoid damage to the internal parts of your telescope, make sure the front end of the finderscope is covered with aluminum foil or another non- transparent material. Children should use the telescope under adult supervision only.

All parts of the telescope will arrive in one box. Be careful when unpacking it. We recommend keeping the original shipping containers. In the event that the telescope needs to be shipped to another location, having the proper shipping containers will help ensure that your telescope survives the journey intact. Be sure to check the box carefully, as some parts are small. All screws should be tightened securely to eliminate flexing and wobbling, but be careful not to overtighten them, as that may strip the threads. During assembly (and anytime, for that matter), do not touch the surfaces of the optical elements with your fingers. The optical surfaces have delicate coatings on them that can easily be damaged if touched. Never remove lenses or mirrors from their housing, or the product warranty will be null and void.
Mount assembly (fig. 2)

•  On the lower part of the tube, there is a mounting plate with a threaded hole. Align it with the fastening screw of the tripod.
•  Screw the tripod fastening screw into the hole on the tube mounting plate in order to secure the telescope tube.
•  Do not overtighten the screw because you might accidently damage the screw thread.

Optical accessories assembly

Your telescope can be equipped with additional accessories, such as eyepieces, diagonal prism or a Barlow lens. The accessories should be installed in well- defined ordering.
Loosen the focuser thumbscrew. Insert the diagonal prism into the focuser tube and retighten the thumbscrew to hold the diagonal prism in place (fig. 4). Then, insert the desired eyepiece into the diagonal prism and secure it by retightening the thumbscrew. If a Barlow lens is needed, install it between the diagonal prism and the eyepiece.

Barlow lens

A Barlow lens increases the magnifying power of an eyepiece, while reducing the field of view. It expands the cone of the focused light before it reaches the focal point, so that the telescope’s focal length appears longer to the eyepiece. In addition to increasing magnification, the benefits of using a Barlow lens include improved eye relief, and reduced spherical aberration of the eyepiece. For this reason, a Barlow plus a lens often outperform a single lens producing the same magnification. And the best advantage is that a Barlow lens can potentially double the number of eyepieces in your collection.

Optical finder scope assembly and alignment

Unthread two screws in the back of the telescope tube. Place the finder scope base above the holes on the tube. Lock the finder scope base into position by tightening the screws (fig. 3). Optical finder scopes are very useful accessories. When they are correctly aligned with the telescope, objects can be quickly located and brought to the center of the view. Turn the scope end in and out to adjust focus (fig. 6). To align the finder scope, choose a distant object that is at least 550 yards (500 meters) away and point the telescope at the object. Adjust the telescope so that the object is in the center of the view in your eyepiece. Check the finder scope to see if the object is also centered on the crosshairs. Use three adjustment screws to center the finder scope crosshairs on the object.

Focusing

Slowly rotate the focus knobs one way or the other until the image in the eyepiece is sharp. The image usually has to be finely refocused over time due to small variations caused by temperature changes, flexures, etc. Refocusing is almost always necessary when you change an eyepiece, add or remove a Barlow lens (fig. 5).

Operating the mount

The AZ mount is an alt-azimuth mount that allows you to rotate the telescope about the vertical and horizontal axes and change its altitude and azimuth. Due to Earth’s movement, the objects will be constantly shifting out of your view, so you will have to adjust the altitude and azimuth of your telescope to continue your observations.
Reference materials usually list declination coordinates in degrees, hours and minutes above or below the horizon line. Azimuth coordinates may sometimes be listed with the compass points (N, SW, ENE, etc.), but it is more commonly listed in degrees around the 360-deg plane, where north is 0°, east is 90°, etc. (fig. 7).

How to start observing

Before you start exploring the Cosmos, you should learn to operate the telescope during the day. First, observe different terrestrial objects — houses, trees and many others!
Attention: The telescope should be used in a place protected from the wind. When you get to observing the Moon, planets and stars at night, remember to choose locations away from street lamps, car lights and window lights. Try to observe on nights when the stars shine bright and evenly. Point the telescope at the desired object. Looking through the finderscope, slowly move the tube until the object is in the center. Now look through the eyepiece and you will see the image of the object magnified many times!

Specifications

 | Discovery Sky Trip ST50| Discovery Sky Trip ST70| Discovery Sky Trip ST80
---|---|---|---
Optical design| refractor| refractor| refractor
Optics material| glass| glass| glass
Optics coating| fully coated| fully coated| fully coated
Aperture, mm| 50| 70| 80
Focal length, mm| 360| 400| 400
Focal ratio| f/7.2| f/5.71| f/5
Highest practical

power, x

| 100| 140| 160
Eyepiece barrel

diameter

| 1.25″| 1.25″| 1.25″
Eyepieces| 8mm (45x) 20mm (18x)| 10mm (40x) 20mm (20x)| 25mm (16x) 9mm (44x)
Barlow lens| +| +| +
Diagonal prism| +| +| +
Finderscope| optical, 2x| optical, 5×24| optical, 5×20
Mount| AZ| AZ| AZ
Tripod, mm| aluminum 400—1250| aluminum 400—1250| aluminum 560—1200
Accessory tray| —| +| +
Backpack| +| +| —
Shoulder bag| —| —| +

The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the product range and specifications without prior notice.

Care and maintenance

• Never, under any circumstances, look directly at the Sun through this device without a special filter, or look at another bright source of light or at a laser, as it may cause PERMANENT RETINAL DAMAGE and may lead to BLINDNESS.
•  Take the necessary precautions when using the device with children or others who have not read or who do not fully understand these instructions.
• Do not try to disassemble the device on your own for any reason. For repairs and cleaning of any kind, please contact your local specialized service center.
• Stop using the device if the lens fogs up. Do not wipe the lens! Remove moisture with a hair dryer or point the telescope downward until the moisture naturally evaporates.
• Protect the device from sudden impact and excessive mechanical force.
•  Do not touch the optical surfaces with your fingers. Clean the lens surface with compressed air or a soft lens cleaning wipe. To clean the device exterior, use only the special cleaning wipes and special tools that are recommended for cleaning the optics.
• Store the device in a dry, cool place away from hazardous acids and other chemicals, away from heaters, open fire, and other sources of high temperatures.
• Replace the dust cap over the front end of the telescope whenever it is not in use. Always put eyepieces in their protective cases and cover them with their caps. This prevents dust or dirt from settling on the mirror or lens surfaces.
• Lubricate the mechanical components with metal and plastic connecting parts. Components to be lubricated:
  • Optical tube;
  •  Fine mechanics (focuser rail, telescope optical tube microfocuser);
  •  Mounting;
  • Worm-and-worm pairs, bearings, cogs, threaded mounting gears.
  • Use all-purpose silicon-based greases with an operating temperature range of −60 … +180°С (−76 … +356°F).
• If a part of the device or the battery is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.
• Children should use the device under adult supervision only.

Levenhuk Warranty

Levenhuk telescopes, except for accessories, carry a 2-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. All Levenhuk accessories are warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for six months from date of retail purchase. The warranty entitles you to free repair or replacement of the Levenhuk product in any country where a Levenhuk office is located if all warranty conditions are met. For further details please visit our web site: www.levenhuk.com/warranty If warranty problems arise, or if you need assistance in using your product, contact the local Levenhuk branch.

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