CELESTRON 31043-CT-DS Reflector Telescope User Manual

: June 3, 2024
: Celestron

Table of Contents

CELESTRON 31043-CT-DS Reflector Telescope
installation instructions
BONUS SOFTWARE INCLUDED
ALIGNING THE FINDERSCOPE
YOUR FIRST NIGHT OUT
BATTERY ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS
Documents / Resources

CELESTRON 31043-CT-DS Reflector Telescope

SOLAR WARNING! Never attempt to view the Sun through any telescope without a proper solar filter!

installation instructions

Unbox your telescope and verify that all parts are present. Your AstroMaster includes a 114mm telescope tube, a StarPointer red dot finderscope (with CR2032 3V battery), a pre-assembled tripod with center leg brace and altazimuth mount attached, two eyepieces, an accessory tray, a lens cloth, one insert card with a download code for the FREE Celestron Starry Night Software, and one insert with information about the FREE Celestron Sky Portal app for your smartphone or tablet.
Spread the tripod legs apart. Loosen the tightening screws at the bottom of each leg and extend each leg about 6 to 12 inches.
Retighten the screws to secure the legs in place.
Ensure that all three legs are about the same length and the tripod is roughly level.
To attach the accessory tray, line up notches and turn clockwise until tray tabs lock into place with the tripod brackets.
Properly assembled, the accessory tray should appear as pictured above.
Your fully assembled tripod should now appear as shown.
Back out the fastening screws on the tripod mount to provide clearance for the telescope tube’s dovetail. Then slide the dovetail into the mount.
Center the dovetail in the mount and tighten the fastening screws. For added security, tighten the angled lock-down screw next to the fastening screw.
Loosen the setscrew on the focuser. Remove the plastic cap covering the end of the focuser.
Insert the barrel of the 20mm eyepiece into the focuser and tighten the setscrew.
Loosen the two Philips-head screws on the side of the fi nderscope and slide the clamp over the fi nderscope bracket. Secure the fi nder- scope in place by tightening the two Philips-head screws.
Remove the small plastic tab under the battery cover by pulling it straight out. For longer battery life, be sure to turn off fi nderscope when not in use.
Remove the lens cap from the front of the telescope before you begin observing.
You are now ready to use your AstroMaster telescope.

BONUS SOFTWARE INCLUDED

Enhance your astronomy experience by downloading our free software for PC and Mac plus our free SkyPortal planetarium app for iOS and Android.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows:

Windows 7 or higher
500 MHz or higher processor
128 MB RAM
850 MB of hard disk space
32 MB OpenGL-capable graphics card
The Minimum recommended monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.
Android: Version 4.0 and higher

Mac:

Universal Binary (PPC/Intel compatible)
OS X 10.4 or higher (10.5 or higher)
G3 450 MHz or higher processor
128 MB RAM
850 MB of hard disk space
32 MB OpenGL-capable graphics card
The Minimum recommended monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.
Apple: iOS 4.3 and higher

ALIGNING THE FINDERSCOPE

The fi nder is one of the most important parts of your telescope. It helps you locate objects and center them in the eyepiece. The fi rst time you assemble your telescope, you need to align the fi nder to the telescope’s main optics. It’s best to do this during the day.*

SOLAR WARNING! Never attempt to view the Sun through any telescope without a proper solar fi lter!

CHOOSE A TARGET
Take the telescope outside during the day and fi nd an easily recognizable object, such as a streetlight, car license plate or sign. The object should be as far away as possible, but at least a quarter mile away.
CENTER THE TARGET IN THE EYEPIECE Look through the telescope using your lower powered eyepiece. Move the telescope until the object you chose lies in the center of the view. If the image is blurry, gently turn the focus knobs on either side of the telescope until it comes into sharp focus. NOTE: The image in your telescope may appear inverted. This is perfectly normal in an astronomical telescope.
LOOK THROUGH FINDERSCOPE
Once the object is centered in your 20mm eyepiece, look through the fi nderscope and locate the red dot.
ADJUST THE FINDERSCOPE
Without moving the telescope, use the two adjustment knobs to move the fi nder around until the red dot appears over the same object you are observing in the telescope’s 20mm eyepiece.
YOUR FINDERSCOPE IS NOW ALIGNED! It should not require realignment unless it is bumped or dropped.

YOUR FIRST NIGHT OUT

THE MOON
The best and easiest target for you to try to view first is the Moon. Try observing the Moon at different points in its phase cycle. The best time to view the Moon is from two days after a New Moon up to a few days before a Full Moon. During this period, you will be able to see the most detail in the craters and lunar mountain ranges.

With the Moon visible in the sky, set up your telescope with the 20mm eyepiece installed. Move the telescope so that it is roughly pointing toward the Moon.
Look through the finderscope and locate the crosshair reticle. Continue moving the telescope until the crosshair appears over the Moon.
Look through the telescope’s 20mm eyepiece. Gently turn to adjust the sharpness of the image.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE NOW OBSERVED YOUR FIRST CELESTIAL OBJECT! To get a closer view of the Moon, loosen the set screws on the focuser and remove the 20mm eyepiece. Replace it with your 10mm eyepiece and tighten the set screws to secure it in place. The 10mm eyepiece will give you significantly more magnification, making the Moon appear much larger. NOTE: You may need to adjust the focus knobs when you change eyepieces, so make sure you are getting the sharpest image possible.
You can view many other celestial objects, such as planets, star clusters, and nebulae using this same technique if you know where to find them in the night sky.

Celestron’s free SkyPortal app for iOS and Android can help you locate and identify a wide array of celestial objects quickly and easily.

BATTERY ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

The StarPointer finderscope is powered by a long-life 3V lithium battery (#CR2032) located directly under the StarPointer’s front end. To access the battery compartment, turn the StarPointer upside down. Using a Phillips head screwdriver, loosen the screw and lift up the battery cover. When replacing the battery, make sure to install the new battery with its positive terminal (+) facing outward. If the telescope will not be in use for a long period of time, it is recommended to remove the battery from the StarPointer.

WARNING: KEEP BATTERIES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Examine devices and make sure the battery compartment is correctly secured, e.g. that the screw or other mechanical fastener is tightened.
Do not use if the compartment is not secure.
Dispose of used button batteries immediately and safely. Flat batteries can still be dangerous.
Tell others about the risk associated with button batteries and how to keep their children safe.

SOLAR WARNING

Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with a telescope unless you have the proper solar filter. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.
Never use your telescope to project an image of the Sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage the telescope and any accessories attached to it.
Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside the telescope can cause these devices to crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass through to the eye.
Do not leave the telescope unsupervised, especially when children or adults unfamiliar with the correct operating procedures of your telescope are present.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For more information on this product or to download the instruction manual, please visit the respective product page on celestron.com
©2022 Celestron. Celestron and Symbol are trademarks of Celestron, LLC. All rights reserved. Celestron.com 2835 Columbia Street, Torrance, CA 90503 USA
SOLAR WARNING: Never attempt to view the sun through any telescope without a proper solar filter.
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