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Instruction Manual
R-90 · R-102 · R-127S/L · R-152S · N-130 · N-150 · N-203
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
2
GENERAL INFORMATIONS / TEILESCOPE FEATURES
B
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d
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J
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g
d
f
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e
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Fig. 1a: The Messier series telescope including a viewfinder with LED riticle (only MON2). Optical Assembly
(Newtonian model shown).
Fig. 1b: Close up of focuser and viewfinder assembly
(Standard viewfinder for MON1 models), Newtonian
shown. For a close up of the refractor focuser
assembly, see page 10.
Fig. 1c: The Messier series heavy duty steel tripod
R = Achromatic Refractor - Refracting
telescope
N = Newtonian - Reflecting telescope
Technical Data on page 20!
3*
WARNING!
Never use a Messier-Series Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversi-
ble damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occur-
red until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telesco-
pe or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
GENERAL INFORMATIONS / TEILESCOPE FEATURES
3
Fig. 1d, top:
The Messier series mount
MON2
Fig. 1d, left:
The Messier series mount
MON1
2!
2@
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1&
1*
1(
2#
2$
2^
2^
2*
2(
2&
3)
3!
3@
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3$
3$
2$
2!
2@
2#
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1*
1&
2^
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3!
INHALTSVERZEICHNIS
4
IMPORTANT NOTE:
All Bresser telescopes and accessories are under constant technical advancement. Slight changes of the product specifications,
which serve the improvement of the product, are reserved for this reason.
No part of this manual may be reproduced, sent, transferred or be translated into another language in any form without written
permission of the Meade Instruments Europe GmbH & CO. KG. Errors and technical changes excepted.
• Please keep this guidance at hand for further looking up.
® The name „Bresser“ and the Bresser Logo are registered trademarks. „Messier“ is a trademark of the Meade Instruments Europe
GmbH & Co. KG.
© 2005 Meade Instruments Europe GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
Chapter Page
Messier series: Your personal
window to the universe..................................................... 5
Description of the features
................................................... 5
Getting Started! – First Steps ............................................ 8
Telescope Assembly ........................................................... 8
How to Assemble Your Telescope ..................................... 8
Balancing the Telescope .................................................. 10
Aligning the Viewfinder ..................................................... 11
Choosing an Eyepiece ......................................................13
Observation ....................................................................... 14
Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually ................ 14
Observe the Moon ........................................................... 14
Setting the Polar Home Position ...................................... 15
Maintenance ...................................................................... 16
Maintenance guidelines ...................................................... 16
Alignment (Collimation)
of the Newtonian Optical System .................................... 16
Chapter Page
Inspecting the Optics ......................................................... 18
Customer Service ............................................................... 19
Technical Data R-102, R-127 S/L und R-152 S .............. 20
Technical Data N-150, N-230, R-90 und N-130 .............. 21
Appendix A: Celestial coordinates .................................. 22
Locating the Celestial Pole ................................................. 23
Setting Circles .................................................................... 23
To use the setting circles to locate an object
not easily found by direct visual observation .................. 24
Appendix B: Latitude Chart ............................................. 25
Appendix C: Polar Alignment .......................................... 27
Adjusting the polar viewfinder ............................................ 27
Polar alignment
by using the polar viewfinder (MON 2 only)...................... 28
Appendix D: Basic astronomy ......................................... 30
Appendix E: Star maps ..................................................... 35
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
TELESCOPE FEATURES
Messier series: Your personal
window to the universe
The Messier series models are versatile, high-resolution telescopes.
The Messier series models offer unmatched mechanical performance.
The Messier series telescopes reveal nature in an ever-expanding level of
detail. Observe the feather structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study
the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of 800 million miles. Focus
beyond the Solar System and observe majestic nebulae, ancient star
clusters, and remote galaxies. Messier series telescopes are instruments
fully capable of growing with your interest and can meet the requirements
of the most demanding advanced observer. Refer to Figures 1a through 1e
for the following features:
Description of the features (Fig. 1a to 1d)
1 Eyepiece Thumbscrews: Tightens the eyepiece (see 3) in place.
Tighten to a firm feel only.
2 Eyepiece Holder: Holds eyepiece in place. Holders supplied for both
1.25" and 2" eyepieces.
Diagonal Prism (not shown, achromatic refractor models only):
Provides a more comfortable right-angle viewing position. Slide the
diagonal prism directly into the eyepiece holder (see 2) and tighten
the thumbscrew on the eyepiece holder to a firm feel only. See page
10 for a photo and more information.
3 Eyepiece: Place the supplied eyepiece into the eyepiece holder or
the diagonal prism and tighten in place with the eyepiece thumbscr-
ew (see 2). The eyepiece magnifies the image collected in the optical
tube.
4 8 x 50mm Viewfinder: A low-power, wide-field sighting scope with
LED reticle that enables easy centering of objects in the telescope
eyepiece.
5 Viewfinder Collimation Screws: Use these screws to adjust the
alignment of the viewfinder.
6 Viewfinder Front Cell and Locking Ring: Adjust the front cell to
focus the viewfinder. See step 3, page 11 for more details. The view-
finder is supplied with a small dust cover placed over the front cell.
7 Viewfinder Bracket: Holds the viewfinder in place.
8 Focus Knobs: Moves the telescope’s focuser drawtube in a finely-
controlled motion to achieve precise image focus. The Messier series
telescopes can be focused on objects from a distance of about 75 ft.
to infinity. Rotate the focus knobs to focus on objects.
9 Dust Cover: Place the dust cover (not visible in photo) over the
corrector when storing the telescope.
NOTE:
The dust cover should be replaced after each observing session and the
power turned off to the telescope. Allow time for any dew that might
have collected during the observing session to evaporate prior to repla-
cing the dust cover.
10 Optical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from
distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination
through the eyepiece.
11 Cradle Assembly: Attaches to mount base. See 9.
13 Cradle Ring Lock Knobs (2 pcs.) and Washers
14 Cradle Rings: Part of the cradle assembly (see 11); hold the optical
tube firmly in place.
15 Viewfinder Bracket Screws: Tighten to a firm feel to hold viewfinder
securely in place (see 4). See page 11 for more information.
16 Focus Lock Knob: Designed to prevent the focuser drawtube from
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
5
B
Which eyepiece is suitable for
which application? See p. 13
“choosing an eyepiece”
H
How do I mount the viewfinder?
See p. 9, 9/9a
E
How do I adjust the finderscope?
See p. 11
1!
Want to learn more about moun-
ting the telescope? See p. 8.
TELESCOPE FEATURES
moving when a heavy accessory, such as a camera, is attached to
the focuser assembly. For normal observing with an eyepiece and
diagonal prism, it is not necessary to use the lock knob.
17 Dec. Lock: Controls the manual movement of the telescope. Turning
the Dec. lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be
freely rotated by hand about the Dec. axis. Turning the Dec. lock
clockwise (to a firm feel only) tightens the lock and prevents the
telescope from being moved free, but engages the manual Dec. drive
shaft.
18 Polar Viewfinder Cap (for MON2 models only): Remove this cap when
using the polar viewfinder (see 29).
19 Declination (Dec.) Setting Circle: See APPENDIX A, page 22, for more
information.
20 Counterweight Shaft Base: Thread, along with the shaft, to the mount.
See page 8 and 10 for more information.
21 Counterweight and Counterweight Lock Knob: Counterbalances the
weight of the optical tube, and adds stability to the mount. Tighten the
lock knob on the side of the counterweight to a firm feel to prevent the
weight from sliding on the shaft.
22 Counterweight Shaft: Slide the counterweight onto this shaft (see 21).
23 Counterweight Safety Cap: Prevents the counterweight from
accidentally slipping off the end of the counterweight shaft.
24 R.A. manual Drive Assembly:
26 Latitude Adjustment:
Sets the latitude of your observing location. The
two Thandle screws work in a "push - pull" operation—as you tighten
one, loosen the other. The T-handle above the star marking on top of one
of the tripod legs is the North T-handle screw (South in the Southern
Hemisphere). The leg marked with a star must be pointed North (South
in the Southern hemisphere) during the polar alignment procedure.
With MON 1 Mounts, there’s only one latitute screw but the adjustment
is similar to the MON 2 models.
27 Fine Azimuth Control Knobs: Fine tune the side-to-side movement of
the telescope when centering Polaris in the telescope eyepiece or when
using the polar alignment viewfinder.
28 Latitude Dial: Set the latitude of the observing site on this dial using
the latitude T-handle screws. For more information see Step 6, page 12.
29 Polar Alignment Viewfinder (MON 2 only): Allows you to precisely polar
align the telescope.
30 Polar Alignment Viewfinder Reticle and LED Knob (MON 2 only):
Rotate the knob to switch on or off the LED that illuminates the reticle
within the polar alignment finder. Be sure to turn off the LED when
finished with the polar viewfinder. Powered by (factory-supplied)
batteries contained within.
31 Right Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle: See APPENDIX A, page 22.
32 R.A. Setting Circle Lock Knob: Rotate the knob to lock the R.A.
Setting Circle in place.
33 R.A. Lock: Controls the manual movement of the telescope. Turning
the R.A. lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be
freely rotated by hand about the R.A. axis. Turning the R.A. lock
clockwise (to a firm feel only) tightens the lock and prevents the
telescope from being moved free, but engages the R.A. manual shaft.
34 DEC-Antriebswelle
35 Tripod Leg Adjustment Knobs: Tighten to a firm feel to secure tripod
legs.
36 Variable Height Tripod Legs: Supports the telescope mount. Note that
one legs has a star stamped on top of it. This leg must be pointed
North (South in the Southern hemisphere) during the alignment
procedure. The mount attaches to the top of the tripod.
37 Accessory tray: Set extra eyepieces and other accessory on this
convenient tray.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
6
1&
IImmppoorrttaanntt::
Before loosening the DEC lock, hold
the optical tube in place; otherwise it
might swing through and caus dama-
ge to the mount or even hurt the ope-
rator.
2&
Want to learn more about adju-
sting the latitude scale? See p. 12,
step 6.
DEFINITION:
In this manual, you will find the terms
“right aszension (RA), Declination
(DEC), Elevation and Azimut”. These
terms are explained on p. 22
2(
Want to learn more about the
polar finder? See p. 27.
TELESCOPE FEATURES
38
Tripod Leg Braces: Make the tripod more secure and stable. See Fig. 3.
39
Accessory Tray Thumbscrew: Attach on the top side of the tray and
tighten to a firm feel to secure the tray to the tripod and keep the tripod
stable. See How to assemble your telescope, page 8 for more
information.
40 Tripod Leg Lock Knobs (one on each leg): Loosen these knobs to slide
the inner leg extension. Tighten the knobs to a firm feel to lock in the
height of the tripod..
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
7
Messier Tips
Surf the Web
One of the most exciting resources for astronomy is the internet. The inter-
net is full of websites with new images, discoveries, and the latest astronomi-
cal information.
For example, when comet Hale-Bopp made its approach to our Sun in 1998,
astronomers around the world posted new photos daily.
You can find websites for almost any topic relating to astronomy on the internet. Try the
following key word searches: NASA, Hubble, HST, astronomy, Messier, satellite, nebula,
black hole, variable stars, etc.
CChheecckk oouutt BBrreesssseerrss wweebbssiittee ffoorr tthhee llaatteesstt pprroodduucctt aanndd tteecchhnniiccaall iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn.. YYoouullll
ffiinndd oouurr w
weebbssiittee aatt::
http://www.bresser.de/
HHeerree aarree ssoommee ootthheerr ssiitteess yyoouu mmiigghhtt ffiinndd iinntteerreessttiinngg::
• Sky & Telescope: http://www.Skyand Telescope.com
• Astronomy: http://www.astronomy.com
• The Starfield: http://users.nac.net/gburke/
• Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.goc/apod
• Heavens Above
(satellite observing information): http://www.heavens-above.com
• Photographic Atlas of the Moon: http://www.lpi.ursa.edu/research/lunar_orbiter
• Hubble Space Telescope
Public Pictures: http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pictures.html
Getting Started! – First Steps
As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The
assembly is shipped in separate boxes.
Telescope Assembly
• Equatorial mount with polar alignment finder
• Heavy duty, adjustable steel tube tripod with leg braces, three tripod leg
lock knobs, and a captive mount locking knob
• Complete optical tube assembly including primary mirror with dust cover
and a rack-and-pinion focuser and eyepiece holders for both 1.25" and
2" eyepiece holders, tube cradle assembly with two rings and two lock
knobs
• Eyepiece
• Counterweight and counterweight shaft. Some models include an
additional counterweight.
• 8 x 50mm or 6 x 30mm viewfinder
How to Assemble Your Telescope
The giftboxes contain the optical tube assembly and the tripod with the
equatorial mount. The accessories are located within compartments
custom-cut into the styrofoam block inserts.
1. Remove the components from the giftboxes. Remove and identify the
telescope’s equipment. Refer Figures 1a to 1f for images of the parts
and the overall assembly of your telescope. When removing the tripod
from the giftbox, hold the assembly parallel (horizontal) to the ground or
the inner tripod leg extensions will slide out as they are not locked in
place.
2. Adjust the tripod legs. Spread the tripod legs as far as they will open,
so that the leg braces are taut. See Fig. 3.
3. Attach the accessory shelf to the tripod. Place the triangular accessory
shelf on top of the leg braces so that each corner of the triangle lies
over a leg brace. Notice that there is protrusion on each leg brace.
There is a corresponding slot for each protrusion on the accessory tray.
See Fig. 4. Line up the slots with the protrusions and slide the
protrusions through the slots to hold the tray in place.
4. Attach mount to tripod base. Place the mount over the base of the
tripod with the computer control panel positioned above the tripod leg
marked with a star and with the protrusion on top of the tripod's base
positioned between the fine azimuth control knobs. See Fig. 5. Back off
the azimuth control knobs wide enough for protrusion to fit between
them. Slide the hole in the center of the underside of the mount onto
the captive mount locking bolt in the center of the base and tighten it by
turning the knob below the base. Tighten to a firm feel.
5. Attach the counterweight(s) to the counterweight shaft. Place the counter-
weight shaft base (20, Fig. 1d) over the threaded end of the shaft (22, Fig.
1d). Thread the shaft and base assembly into the hole beneath the Dec.
setting circle as depicted in Fig. 6. Look through the hole in the
counterweight and note the pin blocking the hole. Tilt the counterweight
slightly and the pin moves out of position, clearing the hole. If the pin does
not move, unscrew the counterweight lock knob slightly until the pin moves.
Unscrew the safety cap (23, Fig. 1d) from the shaft. Holding the
counterweight (21, Fig. 1d) firmly in one hand, slip the counterweight to
approximately the midpoint of the counterweight shaft (22, Fig. 1d). Tighten
the counterweight lock knob to a firm feel. Replace the safety cap.
NOTE:
If the counterweight ever slips, the safety cap (23, Fig. 1d) prevents the
counterweight from sliding entirely off the shaft. Always leave the safety
cap in place when the counterweight is on the shaft.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
8
FIRST STEPS
Fig. 3: Tripod assembly
Fig 4: Place slots in tray over prot-
rusions on leg braces
Fig. 5: Attach the mount to the tri-
pod
Locking
protrusion
leg
braces
Abb. 6: ATtach counterweight
assembly (here: MON 2)
Shaft
Safety cap
Lock knob
Counterweight
shaft base
DEC-setting circle
Mounting
thumbscrew
protrusion
fine
Azimuth
control
knobs
star
Mount
locking knob
6. Set the latitude. Setting the latitude is easier if it is set before you attach
the optical tube to the assembly. Locate the latitude dial (28, Fig. 1d); note
that there is a triangular pointer above the dial located on the mount. The
pointer is not fixed; it moves as the mount moves.
Determine the latitude of your observing location. See APPENDIX B:
LATITUDE CHART, page 25, for a list of latitudes, or check an atlas. Move
the latitude T-handle screws in order to move the mount until the pointer
points to your latitude. The two T-handle screws (MON 2 only) work in a
"push - pull" operation—as you tighten one, loosen the other. When the
pointer points at your latitude, tighten both screws until they make contact
with the mount. The MON 1 has on screw with similar operation.
At your observing site, set up the telescope assembly so that this leg
approximately faces North (or South in the Southern Hemisphere).
7. Attach the cradle assembly to the mount
Models R and N: Remove the
optical tube from the cradle and slide the cradle assembly (11, Fig. 1a)
onto the cradle mounting slot. See Fig. 7. The rounded base of the cradle
assembly fits into the rounded portion of the mounting slot. Tighten both
the cradle locking knob and the secondary locking knob to a firm feel.
8. Position optical tube –
Models R and N:
Unscrew the cradle ring lock
knobs (13, Fig. 1a) and open the cradle rings. While firmly holding the
optical tube (10, Fig. 1a), position it onto the cradle rings (14, Fig. 1a)
with the mid-point of the optical tube’s length lying roughly in the center
of the cradle ring assembly. Point the tube so that the front end (this
end comes shipped with the dust cover (9, Fig. 1a) over it) is oriented as
depicted in Fig. 1a. Then close the cradle rings (14, Fig. 1a) over the
optical tube. Loosely tighten the cradle ring lock knobs just to hold the
tube securely in place until you balance it. See Balancing the
telescope, page 10.
9.
Attach viewfinder bracket
(Abb. 9b). Locate the viewfinder bracket
screws (15, Fig. 1b and Fig. 9a) and remove the nuts from the screws.
Slide the holes in the viewfinder bracket over the viewfinder bracket
screws. Replace the nuts and tighten to a firm feel only.
9a. Attach viewfinder tube:. Back off the viewfinder collimation screws (5,
Fig. 1b) and slide the viewfinder tube into the bracket. Orient the view-
finder eyepiece as depicted in Fig. 1b. Tighten the collimation screws
to a firm feel. See Aligning the viewfinder, page 11.
10. Insert the eyepiece: N models (Fig. 10a): Lift to remove the dust cap
from the eyepiece holder on the focuser assembly. Set the dust cap
aside in a safe place and replace it when you have finished observing
to protect the eyepiece assembly. Back off the eyepiece thumbscrews
(1, Fig. 1a) and insert the supplied 25mm eyepiece (3, Fig. 1a) into the
the eyepiece holder. Tighten the holder thumbscrews to a firm feel to
secure the eyepiece..
R models (Abb. 10b): Lift to remove the dust cap from the eyepiece
holder on the focuser assembly. Set the dust cap aside in a safe place
and replace it when you have finished observing to protect the
eyepiece assembly. Back off the eyepiece thumbscrews (1, Fig. 1b) and
slide the diagonal prism into the holder and tighten the thumbscrews to
a firm feel only. Insert the supplied 25mm eyepiece (3, Fig. 1b) into the
the diagonal prism. Tighten the prism's thumbscrews to a firm feel to
secure the eyepiece.
NOTE:
Two eyepiece holders are included with your telescope—for both 1.25" and
2" eyepieces.To change eyepiece holders, unscrew the attached holder
from the focuser and thread on the other holder.
11. Adjust the height of the tripod: Adjust the height of the tripod by
loosening the tripod lock knobs (Fig. 11). Extend the sliding inner
section of each tripod leg to the desired length; then tighten each knob.
Adjust the tripod to a height that is comfortable for viewing.
13. Remove Plastic from Reticle LED: The polar alignment reticle LED
(30, Fig. 1d) contains two watch batteries. The reticle's LED is shipped
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
9
FIRST STEPS
Fig. 9: Viewfinder assembly. Slide
bracket into slot.
Fig. 8: Place the optical tube in
rings and loosely tighten the crad-
le ring lock knobs.
Cradle rings
Lock
knobs
R/N
R/N
Fig. 6a: Attach counterweight
assembly (MON1)
Safety cap
Lock knob
Shaft
Counter
weight
Shaft base
DEC-setting circle
Fig. 7a: Attach cradle to base mounting
and tighten locking (MON1)
Cradle
assembly
A
B
Fig. 7: Attach cradle to base mounting
slot and tighten locking (MON2)
Cradle
assembly set
A
BC
with a plastic strip between the two batteries to protect battery life.
Unthread both the thumbscrew (F) and the threaded lid (E). Remove
the plastic strip before using. Refer to the reticle assembly in Fig. 13b
and note the orientation of the batteries. Place the batteries (C) into the
battery holder (D) before inserting into the reticle container (A).
NOTE:
Remember to turn off the LED when you are not using the reticle.
Balancing the Telescope
In order for the telescope to be stable on the tripod and also for it to move
smoothly, it must be balanced. To balance the telescope, unlock the Right
Ascension or R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d). When this axis is unlocked, the teles-
cope pivots on the R.A. axis. Later in the procedure, you will also unlock
the Declination or Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d). When unlocked, the telescope
pivots on the Dec. axis. Most of the motion of the telescope takes place by
moving about these two axes, separately or simultaneously. Try to become
familiar with these locks and observe how the telescope moves on each
axis. To obtain a fine balance of the telescope, follow the method below:
1. Firmly hold the optical tube secure so that it cannot accidentally swing
freely. Loosen the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d). The optical tube now moves
freely about the R.A. axis. Rotate the telescope so that the
counterweight shaft is parallel (horizontal) to the ground.
2. Unlock the counterweight lock knob and slide the counterweight (21,
Fig. 1d) along the counterweight shaft until the telescope remains in one
position without tending to drift down in either direction. Then re-tighten
the counterweight lock knob, locking the counterweight in position.
3. Again, hold the optical tube so that it cannot accidentally swing freely.
Lock the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d), and unlock the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d).
The telescope now is able to move freely about the Dec. axis. Loosen
the cradle ring lock knobs (13, Fig. 1a) so that the main tube slides easi-
ly back and forth in the cradle rings. Move the main tube in the cradle
rings until the telescope remains in one position without tending to drift
down in either direction. Re-lock the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d).
The telescope is now properly balanced on both axes. Next, the viewfinder
must be aligned.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
10
FIRST STEPS
Fig. 10a: Insert eyepiece intor holder
and tighten thumbscrews.
Fig. 11: Adjust the tripod height
using the leg lock knobs.
Eyepiece
Holde
r
Thumbscrew
Leg lock knob
Fig. 10b: Insert eyepiece into
diagonal prism and tighten
thumbscrews.
Eyepiece
Holder
Thumbscrews
Diagonal
prism
Viewfinder
N
R
Viewfinder
Aligning the Viewfinder
The wide field of view of the telescope's viewfinder (4, Fig. 1a) provides
an easier way to initially sight objects than the main telescope's
eyepiece (3, Fig. 1a), which has a much narrower field of view. If you
have not already attached the viewfinder to the telescope tube
assembly, follow the procedure described in step 9, page 9.
In order for the viewfinder to be useful, it must be aligned to the main
telescope, so that both the viewfinder and telescope's optical tube (10,
Fig. 1a) point at the same position in the sky. This alignment makes it
easier to find objects: First locate an object in the wide-field viewfinder,
then look into the eyepiece of the main telescope for a detailed view.
To align the viewfinder, perform steps 1 through 4 during the daytime;
perform step 5 at night. Both the 6 x 30mm and the 8 x 50mm viewfinders
align in an identical manner. Refer to Fig. 14.
1. Remove the dust covers from the optical tube and the viewfinder.
2.
If you have not already done so, insert the low-power 25mm eyepiece (3, Fig.
1b) into the eyepiece holder of the main telescope. See step 10, page 9.
3. Look through the viewfinder eyepiece at an object at least one-half mile
away (Tip: Remove the viewfinder tube from the bracket to simplify this
operation). If the distant object is not in focus, turn the focus lock ring
counterclockwise to loosen the viewfinder front cell (6, Fig. 1b). Twist
the front cell until focus is achieved and retighten the focus lock ring.
4. Unlock the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d) and the Dec lock (17, Fig. 1d) so that
the telescope turns freely on both axes. Then point the main telescope
at a tall, welldefined and stationary land object (e.g., the top of a
telephone pole) at least 200 yards distant and center the object in the
telescope's eyepiece. Focus the image by turning the focus knobs (8,
Fig. 1b). Retighten the R.A. and Dec. locks.
5. Look through the viewfinder and loosen or tighten, as appropriate, one
or more of the viewfinder collimation thumbscrews (5, Fig. 1b) until the
viewfinder’s crosshairs are precisely centered on the object you
previously centered in the main telescope's eyepiece. You are now
ready to make your first observations with your telescope.
ATTENTION:
Never point the telescope directly at or near the Sun at any time!
Observing the Sun, even for the smallest fraction of a second, will
result in instant and irreversible eye damage, as well as physical
damage to the telescope itself.
6. Check this alignment on a celestial object, such as a bright star or the
Moon, and make any necessary refinements, using the method outlined
above in steps 3 and 4.
With this alignment performed, objects first located in the wide-field
viewfinder will also appear in the telescope's eyepiece.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
11
FIRST STEPS
Fig. 13a: Reticle LED assembly:
(A) Reticle container
(B) LED
(C) Batteries
(D) Battery holder
(E) Threaded lid
(F) On/off switch
Abb. 13b: Before using the illumi-
nation for the first time, remove the
isolation pad (See Fig. 13a) from
the battery holder.
Isolation pad
A
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
12
FIRST STEPS
Collimation screws
Eyepiece
Fig. 14: Viewfinder alignment (MON 2
viewfinder shown)
Holder
Collimation screws
Eyepiece
Fig. 14b: Viewfinder assembly (MON
1 models shown)
Holder
Fig. 14a: LED-reticle as seen
through the MON 2 viewfinder
Messier Tips
Further Study....
This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are
interested in pursuing further studies in astronomy, a few topics are suggested
below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up some of these in the optional Autostar
glossary.
Also included below is a small sampling of books, magazines, and organizations
that you might find helpful.
Topics
1. How is a star born? How does a solar system form?
2. How is the distance to a star measured? What is a light year? What is red shift and
blue shift?
3. How are the craters on our Moon formed? Is there water under the surface of the
Moon?
4. What is a black hole? A neutron star? A gamma burster? An Einstein lens?
5. What are stars made of? Why are stars different colors? How is the elementa
composition of a star determined? What is an Lyman Alpha forest?
6. What is the difference between a Type 1 and a Type II supernova?
7. What is the importance of studying the composition of comets? Where do comets
come from?
8. How old is our Sun? Will our Sun evolve into a planetary nebula or go supernova?
9. What is the Inflationary Big Bang? What is dark matter? What are MACHO's?
10. How are extrasolar planets discovered? What is an accretion (or protoplanetary) disk?
11. What are the differences between elliptical, spiral, and irregular galaxies? Can
globular clusters be older than the universe itself?
Books
1. The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack Newton and Philip Teece
2. The Sky: A User’s Guide by David Levy
3. Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis
4. Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael Covington
5. Observing for the Fun of It by Melanie Melton
6. Will Black Holes Devour the Universe? and 100 Other Questions about Astronomy by
Melanie Melton
Magazines
1. Sky & Telescope, Box 9111, Belmont, MA 02178
2. Astronomy, Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187
Organizations
1. Astronomical League, Executive Secretary, 5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012
2. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112
3. The Planetary Society, 65 North Catalina Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106
Choosing an Eyepiece
A telescope’s eyepiece magnifies the image formed by the telescope’s
main optics. Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters,
or “mm.” The smaller the focal length, the higher the magnification. For
example, an eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has a higher
magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 25mm.
Your telescope comes supplied with a Plössl 25mm eyepiece which gives
a wide, comfortable field of view with high image resolution.
Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast ima-
ges, and eye relief during long observing sessions. To find an object with a
telescope, always start with a lower power eyepiece such as the Super
Plössl 26mm. When the object is located and centered in the eyepiece,
you may wish to switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image
as much as practical for prevailing seeing conditions.
The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal
length of the telescope and the focal length of the eyepiece being used. To
calculate eyepiece power, divide the telescope's focal length by the
eyepiece's focal length. For example, a 25mm eyepiece is supplied with
the Messier-Series. The focal length of the 8" Messier series model is
900mm (see Specifications, page 20).
Telescope Focal Length ÷ Eyepiece Focal Length = Eyepiece Power
Telescope Focal Length = 1000mm
Eyepiece Focal Length = 25mm
Telescope Focal Length 1000 mm
Magnification = = = 40
Eyepiece Focal Length 25 mm
The magnification is therefore 40X (approximately).
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
13
FIRST STEPS
Fig. 15a+b: Jupiter; examples of
the right amount of magnification
and too much magnification
Messier Tips
Too Much Power?
Can you ever have too much power? If the type of power you’re referring to is
eyepiece magnification, yes, you can! The most common mistake of the beginning obser-
ver is to “overpower” a telescope by using high magnifications which the telescope’s
aperture and atmospheric conditions cannot reasonably support.
Keep in mind that a smaller, but bright and well-resolved image is far superior to one that
is larger, but dim and poorly resolved (see Figs. 15a and 15b). Powers above 200X
should be employed only under the steadiest atmospheric conditions.
NNoottee::
Seeing conditions vary widely
from night-tonight and site-to-site.
Turbulence in the air, even on an
apparently clear night, can distort
images. If an image appears fuzzy and
ill-defined, back off to a lower power
eyepiece for a more well-resolved
image.
(see Fig. 15a and 15b below).
Observation
Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually
After the telescope is assembled and balanced as described previously,
you are ready to begin manual observations. View easy-to-find terrestrial
objects such as street signs or traffic lights to become accustomed to the
functions and operations of the telescope. For the best results during
observations, follow the suggestions below:
When you wish to locate an object to observe, first loosen the
telescope’s R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d) and Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d). The
telescope can now turn freely on its axes. Unlock each axis separately
and practice moving your telescope. Then practice with two unlocked
axes at the same time. It is very important to practice this step to
understand how your telescope moves, as the movement of an
equatorial mount is not intuitive.
Use the aligned viewfinder to sight-in on the object you wish to observe.
When the object is centered in the viewfinder’s crosshairs, re-tighten the
R.A. and Dec. locks.
A telescope’s eyepiece magnifies the image formed by the telescope’s
main optics. Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters, or
“mm.” The smaller the focal length, the higher the magnification. For
example, an eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has a higher
magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 25mm. Low-power
magnification eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast
images, and relief of eye strain during long observing sessions. To observe
an object with a telescope, always start with a low power eyepiece such as
the 25mm supplied with your telescope. When the object is centered and
focused in the eyepiece, switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the
image as much as practical for prevailing viewing conditions.
Once centered, an object can be focused by turning one of the knobs of
the focusing mechanism (8, Fig. 1b). Notice that when observing
astronomical objects, the field of view begins to slowly drift across the
eyepiece field. This motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth on its
axis. Objects appear to move through the field more rapidly at higher
powers. This can be compensated with the RA drive shaft or the
(optional) RA drive motor.
Observe the Moon
Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not visible every
night). The Moon contains many interesting features, including craters,
mountain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view the Moon is during
its crescent or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during
these periods and adds a depth to the view. No shadows are seen during a
full Moon, making the overly bright surface to appear flat and rather
uninteresting. Consider the use of a neutral density Moon filter when
observing the Moon. Not only does it cut down the Moon's bright glare,
but it also enhances contrast, providing a more dramatic image.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
14
OBSERVATION
IImmppoorrttaanntt NNoottee::
Objects appear upside-down and
reversed left-for-right when observed
in the viewfinder. With refracting tele-
scope models, objects viewed through
the main telescope with the diagonal
mirror in place are seen right-side-up,
but reversed left-for-right. This image
inversion is of no consequence when
observing astronomical objects, and in
fact all astronomical telescopes yield
inverted images.
WWAARRNNIINNGG
Never use a Telescope to look at the
Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will
cause instant and irreversibledamage
to your eye. Eye damage is often pain-
less, so there is no warning to theob-
server that damage has occurred until
it is too late. Do not point the telesco-
pe or its viewfinder at or near the Sun.
Do not look through the telescope or
its viewfinder as it is moving. Children
should always have adult supervision
while observing.
Setting the Polar Home Position
1. Level the mount, if necessary, by adjusting the length of the three tripod
legs.
2. Unlock the R.A. Lock (33, Fig. 1d). Rotate the Optical Tube Assembly
until the counterweight shaft is pointing straight down over the mount.
See Figs. 16a and 16b.
3. If you have not already done so, lift the telescope assembly and turn it
so that the tripod leg marked with a star faces approximately North
(South in the Southern Hemisphere). Release the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d)
of the tripod, so that the optical tube (10, Fig. 1a) may be rotated. Rotate
the optical tube until it points North (or South in the Southern
Hemisphere). Then re-tighten the lock. Locate Polaris, the North Star, if
necessary, to use as an accurate reference for due North (or Octantis in
the Southern Hemisphere). See LOCATING THE CELESTIAL POLE,
page 23.
4. If you have not already done so, determine the latitude of your observing
location. See APPENDIX C: LATITUDE CHART, page 54, for a list of
latitudes of major cities around the world. Use the latitude T-handle
screws (26, Fig. 1d) to tilt the telescope mount so that the pointer
indicates the correct latitude of your viewing location on the latitude dial
(28, Fig. 1d). See step 6, page 12 for more information.
5. If steps 1 through 4 above were performed with reasonable accuracy,
your telescope is now sufficiently well-aligned to Polaris, the North Star,
for you to begin making observations. Once the mount has been placed
in the polar home position as described above, the latitude angle need
not be adjusted again, unless you move to a different geographical
location (i.e., a different latitude).
IMPORTANT NOTE:
For almost all astronomical observing requirements, approximate settings
of the telescope’s latitude and other settings are acceptable. Do not allow
undue attention to precise settings of polar home position of the telescope
to interfere with your basic enjoyment of the instrument.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
15
OBSERVATION
Fig. 16a: The polar home position,
side view.
Level
mount
Point leg
marked with
star to north
Point optical
tube to north
Point counter-
weight shaft
straight down
over mount
North
Fig. 16b: The polar home position,
front view.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
Maintenance
Messier series telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to
yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due
any precision instrument, your Messier will rarely, if ever, require factory
servicing.
Maintenance guidelines include:
a. Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: A little dust on the front surface of
the telescope’s correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image
quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens.
b. When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed
with gentle strokes of a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe
(available at any pharmacy). DO NOT use a commercial photographic
lens cleaner.
c. Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed
with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You
may also add 1 drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint of
solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes.
Change tissues often.
Caution:
Do not use scented or lotioned tissues or damage could result to the
optics.
d. If the telescope is used outdoors on a humid night, water condensation
on the telescope surfaces will probably result. While such condensation
does not normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is
recommended that the entire telescope be wiped down with a dry cloth
before the telescope is packed away. Do not, however, wipe any of the
optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some time
in the warm indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry
unattended.
e. Do not leave your Messier inside a sealed car on a warm summer day;
excessive ambient temperatures can damage the telescope’s internal
lubrication.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
16
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
17
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
Alignment (Collimation) of the
Newtonian Optical System
All Bresser Newtonian telescopes are precisely collimated at the factory
before packing and shipment, and it is probable that you will not need to
make any optical adjustments before making observations. However, if the
telescope sustained rough handling in shipment, you may need to re-
collimate the optical system. Such re-collimation is not a difficult procedure
in any case.
The collimation procedure for the Meade Schmidt-Newtonians is slightly
different from that of other Newtonian reflecting telescopes, because of the
"fast" f/5 focal ratio of the primary mirror. In typical Newtonian reflectors with
more conventional focal ratios (i.e. longer focal ratios), when the observer
looks down the focuser tube (without an eyepiece in the focuser), the
images of the diagonal mirror, primary mirror, focuser tube, and the
observer's eye appear centered relative to each other. However, with the
short focal ratio primary mirror of the Newtonian, correct collimation requires
that the diagonal mirror be offset in 2 directions: (1) away from the focuser
and (2) towards the primary mirror, in equal amounts. This offset is
approximately 1/8" in each direction. Note that these offsets have been per-
formed at the factory prior to shipment of your telescope. It is only neces-
sary for you to confirm that the telescope has not been badly jarred out of
collimation, and to perform the final fine-tuning of Step 4, below.
Fig. 31a shows a correctly collimated Schmidt-Newtonian telescope, as it
appears when viewed through the focuser with the eyepiece removed.
To check and, if necessary, set the optical collimation, follow these steps:
1. Observe through the focuser and orient your body so that the telesco-
pe's primary mirror is to your right, and the correcting plate end of the
telescope tube is to your left. The diagonal mirror will appear centered
as shown (2, Fig. 31a). If the diagonal appears off center, then adjust the
4 collimation screws on the plastic diagonal mirror housing.
2. If the reflection of the primary mirror (3, Fig. 31a) is not centered on the
surface of the diagonal mirror, adjust the 4 collimation screws on the
plastic diagonal mirror housing to center the reflection. As described
above, the 4 collimation screws (Fig. 31b) on the plastic diagonal mirror
housing are used for two different adjustments during the collimation
procedure.
Note:
The R-(refractor) models do not need
any collimation
b c d e f g
b
Focuser drawtube
c
Secondary mirror
d
Reflection of primary mirror
e
Reflection of secondary mirror
f
Reflection of observer’s eye
g
Primary mirror clips
Fig. 31a
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Do not force the 4 screws past their normal travel, and do not rotate any
screw or screws more than 2 full turns in a counterclockwise direction (i.e.,
not more than 2 full turns in their "loosening" direction), or else the
diagonal mirror may become loosened from its support. Note that the
diagonal mirror collimation adjustments are very sensitive: generally turning
a collimation screw 1/2-turn will have a dramatic effect on collimation.
3. If the reflection of the diagonal mirror is not centered within the reflection
of the primary mirror, adjust the 3 collimation screws located on the rear
of the primary mirror cell.
NOTE:
There are 6 screws (Fig. 31c) on the primary mirror cell. The 3 knurled
knobs are the collimation screws, and the 3 smaller thumb screws are
locking screws. The locking screws must be loosened slightly in order to
adjust the collimation screws.
Proceed by "trial and error" until you develop a feel for which collimation
screw to turn in order to change the image in any given way.
4. Perform an actual star test to confirm the accuracy of steps 1 through 3.
Using the 25mm eyepiece, point the telescope at a moderately bright
(second or third magnitude) star, and center the image in the main
telescope's field of view.
5. Bring the star's image slowly in and out of focus until you see several
disks surrounding the star's center. If steps 1 through 3 were done
correctly, you will see concentric (centered with respect to each other)
circles (1, Fig. 32).
An improperly collimated instrument will reveal oblong or elongated circles
(2, Fig. 32). Adjust the 3 collimating screws on the primary mirror housing
until the circles are concentric on either side of the focus.
In summary, the 4 adjustment screws on the plastic diagonal mirror
housing change the tilt of the secondary mirror so that it is correctly
centered in the focuser drawtube, and so that the primary mirror appears
centered when looking into the focuser. The 3 collimating knobs on the
primary mirror change the tilt of the primary mirror so that it reflects the
light directly up the center of the drawtube.
Inspecting the Optics
A Note About the “Flashlight Test: If a flashlight or other high-intensity light
source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending
upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle of the light) may reveal what
appears to be scratches, dark or bright spots, or just generally uneven
coatings, giving the appearance of poor quality optics. These items are
only seen when a high intensity light is transmitted through lenses or
reflected off the mirrors, and can be seen on any high quality optical
system, including giant research telescopes.
The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by the “flashlight test;"
the true test of optical quality can only be conducted through careful star
testing.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
18
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
Fig 31b: The four collimation
screws on the secondary mirror
housing
Fig. 31c: The six collimation
screws on the rear of the primary
mirror cell.
knurled knob
thumbscrew
Fig. 32: Correct (1) and incorrect
(2) collimation viewed during a star
test.
1 2
Customer Service
If you have a question concerning your Messier series telescope, contact
the Messier Customer Service Department.
In the improbable case of a malfunction, please contact first the Bresser
customer service before sending back the telescope. Please give complete
error descriptions and specific information about the defective part. The
great majority of servicing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding
return of the telescope to the factory. In any case, we need name, address,
phone number and/or email address of the customer.
Contact data:
• Via Post:
Meade Instruments Europe GmbH & Co. KG
Messier Customer Service
Siemensstr. 6
DE-46325 Borken
Germany
New Adress from March 1st, 2006:
Gutenbergstr. 2
DE-46414 Rhede
Germany
• V
ia E-Mail:
service.apd@bresser.de
• Via T
elephone:
+49 (0) 28 61 - 93 17 60
New Telephone no. from March 1st, 2006:
+49 (0) 28 72 - 80 74 0
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
19
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
R-102 Achromatic refractor
Optical design achromatic refractor
Clear aperture 4” = 102 mm
Focal length 1000 mm
Focal ratio f/10
Resolving power 1.11 arc sec
Coatings multi coated
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA + DEC drive system flexible shafts
Max. practicle power 200x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 18.1 kg
R-127 S/L Achromatic refractor
Optical design achromatic refractor
Clear aperture 5” = 127 mm
Focal length 635 mm • 1200 mm
Focal ratio f/5 • f/10
Resolving power 0.9 arc sec
Coatings multi coated
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA + DEC drive system flexible shafts
Max. practicle power 250x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 20.2 kg • 21 kg
R-152 S Achromatic refractor
Optical design achromatic refractor
Clear aperture 6” = 152 mm
Focal length 760 mm
Focal ratio f/5
Resolving power 0.75 arc sec
Coatings multi coated
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA + DEC drive system flexible shafts
Max. practicle power 300x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 24.8 kg
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
20
TECHNICAL DATA
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
21
TECHNICAL DATA
N-150 Newtonian reflector
Optical design Newtonian reflector
Clear aperture 6” = 150 mm
Focal length 1200 mm
Focal ratio f/8
Resolving power 0.76 arc sec
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA + DEC drive system flexible shafts
Max. practical power 300x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 22.45 kg
N-203 Newtonian Reflector
Optical design Newtonian reflector
Clear aperture 8” = 203 mm
Focal length 900 mm
Focal ratio f/4,4
Resolving power 0.56 arc sec
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA + DEC drive system flexible shafts
Max. practical power 400x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 25.1 kg
R-90 Achromatic Refractor
Optical design achromatic refractor
Clear aperture 3,5” = 90 mm
Focal length 900 mm
Focal ratio f/10
Resolving power 1.27 arc sec
Coatings multi-coated
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA- und DEC-Antriebssystem über flexible Wellen
Max. practical power 180x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 12.25 kg
N-130 Newtonian Reflector
Optical design Newtonian refelctor
Clear aperture 5,1” = 130 mm
Focal length 1000 mm
Focal ratio f/7,7
Resolving power 0.88 arc sec
Mount MON2 Aluminium-Guß, German type
equatorial
RA + DEC drive system flexible shafts
Max. practical power 260x
Tripod adjustable steel-tube field tripod
Net weight 17,3 kg
Appendix A:
Celestial coordinates
For a sufficient tracking of an celestial object, the telescope mount
has to be aligned with the celestial pole.
By doing this, the mount’s axes are orientated in this way that they fit
to the celesial sphere.
If you want to align the telescope’s mount to the celestial pole, you
need some knowledge in which way an object at the sky can be
located while it is steadily moving across the sphere. This chapter
provides a basic knowledge about equatorial coordiates, the celestial
pole and how objects can be found by their coordinates. You will also
get used to the meaning of “Right aszension” and “Declination”
A celestial coordinate system was created that maps an imaginary
sphere surrounding the Earth upon which all stars appear to be
placed. This mapping system is similar to the system of latitude and
longitude on Earth surface maps. In mapping the surface of the Earth,
lines of longitude are drawn between the North and South Poles and
lines of latitude are drawn in an East-West direction, parallel to the
Earth’s equator. Similarly, imaginary lines have been drawn to form a
latitude and longitude grid for the celestial sphere. These lines are
known as Right Ascension and Declination.
The celestial map also contains two poles and an equator just like a
map of the Earth. The poles of this coordinate system are defined as
those two points where the Earth’s north and south poles (i.e., the
Earth's axis), if extended to infinity, would cross the elestial sphere.
Thus, the North Celestial Pole (1, Fig. 34) is that point in the sky
where an extension of the North Pole intersects the celestial sphere.
The North Star, Polaris is located very near the North Celestial Pole.
The celestial equator (2, Fig. 34) is a projection of the Earth’s equator
onto the celestial sphere.
Just as an object's position on the Earth’s surface can be located by
its latitude and longitude, celestial objects may also be located using
Right Ascension and Declination. For example, you could locate Los
Angeles, California, by its latitude (+34°) and longitude (118°).
Similarly, you could locate the Ring Nebula (M57) by its Right
Ascension (18hr) and its Declination (+33°).
• Right Ascension (R.A.): This celestial version of longitude is
measured in units of hours (hr), minutes (min), and seconds (sec) on
a 24-hour "clock" (similar to how Earth's time zones are determined
by longitude lines). The "zero" line was arbitrarily chosen to pass
through the constellation Pegasus — a sort of cosmic Greenwich
meridian. R.A. coordinates range from 0hr 0min 0sec to 23hr 59min
59sec. There are 24 primary lines of R.A., located at 15-degree
intervals along the celestial equator. Objects located further and
further East of the zero R.A. grid line (0hr 0min 0sec) carry higher
R.A. coordinates.
• Declination (Dec.): This celestial version of latitude is measured in
degrees, arcminutes, and arc-seconds (e.g., 15° 27' 33"). Dec.
locations north of the celestial equator are indicated with a plus (+)
sign (e.g., the Dec. of the North celestial pole is +90°). Dec.
locations south of the celestial equator are indicated with a minus
(–) sign (e.g., the Dec. of the South celestial pole is –90°). Any point
on the celestial equator (such as the the constellations of Orion,
Virgo, and Aquarius) is said to have a Declination of zero, shown as
0° 0' 0.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
22
APPENDIX A: CELESTIAL COORDINATES
Abb. 33: Celestial sphere
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
0
1
12
11
10
9
8
7
5
6
4
3
2
13
Earth rotation
0° DEC
South celestial pole
Right Ascension
Star
Celestial Equator
-90° DEC
+90° DEC
D
e
c
l
i
n
a
t
i
o
n
Northern celestial pole
(near Polaris)
1
2
Every celestial object can be exactly determined by these
coordinates.Using setting circles prerequisites an advanced observing
technique. If you use them for the first time, first point a bright star
(the guide star) with known coordinates and adjust the setting circles
to them. Now you can do a “star hop” to the next star with known
coorditates and compare the setting circles with them. By this way,
you will learn which precise handling is necessary for a successful
pointing.
Locating the Celestial Pole
To get basic bearings at an observing location, take note of where the
Sun rises (East) and sets (West) each day. After the site is dark, face
North by pointing your left shoulder toward where the Sun set. To
precisely point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris) by using the
Big Dipper as a guide (Fig. 35).
Note:
For nearly every purpose (except long-term astrophotography)
average settings of the mount’s azimuth and latitue are sufficient.
Therefore it is not necessary to spend too much time on perfekt
aligning the celestial pole!
Setting Circles
Setting circles included with the Messier-Series models permit the
location of faint celestial objects not easily found by direct visual
observation. With the telescope pointed at the North Celestial Pole,
the Dec. circle (19, Fig. 1d) should read 90° (understood to mean
+90°). Each division of the Dec. circle represents a 1° increment. The
R.A. circle (31, Fig. 1d) runs from 0hr to (but not including) 24hr, and
reads in increments of 5min.
Using setting circles requires a developed technique. When using the
circles for the first time, try hopping from one bright star (the
calibration star) to another bright star of known coordinates. Practice
moving the telescope from one easy-to-find object to another. In this
way, the precision required for accurate object location becomes
evident.
To use the setting circles to locate an object not
easily found by direct visual observation:
Insert a low-power eyepiece, such as a 25mm, into the focuser
assembly. Pick out a bright star with which you are familiar (or is
easily located) that is in the area of the sky in which your target
object is located. Look up the R.A. coordinate of the bright star, and
also of the object you wish to locate, in a star atlas. Point the object
at the bright star. Then loosen the R.A. setting circle lock knob (32,
Fig. 1d) and turn the R.A. setting circle to read the correct R.A.
coordinate of the bright star; lock the R.A. setting circle lock knob
onto the object. Next, loosen the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d) and turn the
telescope in R.A. to read the correct R.A. coordinate of the object.
Tighten the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d). If the procedure has been followed
carefully, the desired object should now be in the telescopic field of a
low-power eyepiece.
If you do not immediately see the object you are seeking, try
searching the adjacent sky area. Keep in mind that, with the 25mm
eyepiece, the field of view of the Messier series is about 0.5°.
Because of its much wider field, the viewfinder may be of significant
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
23
APPENDIX A: CELESTIAL COORDINATES
Abb. 34: Locating Polaris
Polaris
Ursa Minor
Ursa Maior
Cassiopeia
assistance in locating and centering objects, after the setting circles
have been used to locate the approximate position of the object.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
24
APPENDIX A: CELESTIAL COORDINATES
Messier Tips
Join an Astronomy Club. Attend a Star Party
One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an
astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/store to
find out if there’s a club in your area.
At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy and Meade enthusiasts with whom you
will be able to share your discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way to learn more about
observing the sky, to find out where the best observing sites are, and to compare notes
about telescopes, eyepieces, filters, tripods, and so forth.
Often, club members are excellent astrophotographers. Not only will you be able to see
examples of their art, but you may even be able to pick up some “tricks of the trade” to
try out on your Messier-Series telescope. Many groups also hold regularly scheduled
Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and
other pieces of astronomical equipment.
APPENDIX B: LATITUDE CHART
Appendix B: Latitude Chart
Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World
To aid in the polar alignment procedure (see pages 17-21), latitudes of
major cities around the world are listed below. To determine the latitude of
an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site.
Then follow the procedure below:
Northern hemisphere observers (N):
If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) north of the listed city, add one degree
for every 70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city,
subtract one degree per 70 miles.
Southern Hemisphere observers (S):
If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) north of the listed city, subtract one
degree for every 70 miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed
city, add one degree per 70 miles.
EUROPE
City Country Latitude
Amsterdam Netherlands 52° N
Athen Greece 38° N
Berlin Germany 52° N
Bern Switzerland 47° N
Bonn Germany 50° N
Borken/Westf. Germany 52° N
Bremen Germany 53° N
Dresden Germany 51° N
Dublin Ireland 53° N
Düsseldorf Germany 51° N
Frankfurt/M. Germany 50° N
Freiburg Germany 48° N
Glasgow Scotland 56° N
Hamburg Germany 54° N
Hannover Germany 52° N
Helsinki Finland 60° N
Kopenhagen Denmark 56° N
Köln Germany 51° N
Leipzig Germany 51° N
Lissabon Portugal 39° N
London Great Britain 51° N
Madrid Spanien 40° N
München Germany 48° N
Nürnberg Germany 50° N
Oslo Norway 60° N
Paris France 49° N
Rom Italy 42° N
Saarbrücken Germany 49° N
Stockholm Schweden 59° N
Stuttgart Germany 49° N
Wien Austria 48° N
Warschau Poland 52° N
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
25
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
26
APPENDIX B: LATITUDE CHART
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
City Country Latitude
Albuquerque New Mexico 35° N
Anchorage Alaska 61° N
Atlanta Georgia 34° N
Boston Massachusetts 42° N
Chicago Illinois 42° N
Cleveland Ohio 41° N
Dallas Texas 33° N
Denver Colorado 40° N
Detroit Michigan 42° N
Honolulu Hawaii 21° N
Jackson Mississippi 32° N
Kansas City Missouri 39° N
Las Vegas Nevada 36° N
Little Rock Arkansas 35° N
Los Angeles Kalifornien 34° N
Miami Florida 26° N
Milwaukee Wisconsin 46° N
Nashville Tennessee 36° N
New Orleans Louisiana 30° N
New York New York 41° N
Oklahoma City Oklahoma 35° N
Philadelphia Pennsylvania 40° N
Phoenix Arizona 33° N
Portland Oregon 46° N
Richmond Virginia 37° N
Salt Lake City Utah 41° N
San Antonio Texas 29° N
San Diego Kalifornien 33° N
San Francisco Kalifornien 38° N
Seattle Washington 47° N
Washington District of Columbia 39° N
Wichita Kansas 38° N
SOUTH AMERICA
City Country Latitude
Asuncion Paraguay 25° S
Brasilia Brasil 24° S
Buenos Aires Argentinia 35° S
Montevideo Uruguay 35° S
Santiago Chile 34° S
ASIA
City Country Latitude
Peking China 40° N
Seoul South Korea 37° N
Taipei Taiwan 25° N
Tokio Japan 36° N
Victoria Hongkong 23° N
AFRICA
City Country Latitude
Kairo Egypt 30° N
Cape city South Africa 34° S
Rabat Marocco 34° N
Tunis Tunesia 37° N
Windhoek Namibia 23° S
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
27
APPENDIX C: POLAR ALIGNMENT
Appendix C: Polar Alignment
The Polar Alignment Viewfinder
Normally, a rough alignment with the celestial pole is sufficient for visual
purposes. However, for those observers who need to meet the more
demanding requirements of astrophotography, the polar alignment
viewfinder allows the telescope mount to be more precisely aligned with
true North. The MON 2’s polar alignment viewfinder contains a reticle, lit by
an LED (Fig. 35 and 36).
Adjusting the polar viewfinder (MON 2 only)
A: Calibrating the month circle at the polar viewfinder
scope (best done while daytime)
1. Point the viewfinder against a bright surface (not in any case at the sun!)
and see the scaled line with the center cross (Fig. 36). Turn the
viewfinder’s eyepiece until the scales are focussed.
2. Now turn the month circle against the viewfinder until the 1st of May hits
the vertical line. The month circle is secured by a counterring; it should
be able to be turned but it should not come loose. Now you can put the
viewfinder back into the RA axis
3. On the month circle, there’s a second scale, marked “E 20 10 0 10 20
W”. Take a white pencil and mark the point on the viewfinder that is right
above the “0”. This can be also done by using a small piece of colored
tape.
B: Aligning the viewfinder’s optical axis to the RA axis
1. Starting at the polar home position (see p. 14), loosen the Dec lock, turn
the Dec axis by 90° and re-engage the Dec lock again. In this position,
the optical axis of the viewfinder is free.
2. Point the viewfinder at a terrestrial objekt like a phone pole, the tip of a
church tower or equiv. so that it lines up with the center cross of the
reticle.
3. Ascertain whether the object moves out of the center cross when the
mount is rotated around its Dec axis.
4. If this is the case, correct 50% of the error by adjusting the hex screw of
the viewfinder holder. Now correct the remaining error by repositioning
the mount. Turn the RA axis by 90 / 180° and repeat this process until
the center cross stays on the desired object.
Polar alignment by using the polar viewfinder
(MON 2 only)
1. Set the polar home position (p. 14). Loosen the Dec lock, turn the Dec
axis by 90° and re-engage the lock.
2. Loosen the RA lock (33, Fig 1 d)
3. Remove the dust caps
4. If not done yet, remove the isolaton pad from the viewfinder’s
illumination (see p. 10, step 13).
5. Turn the illuminator switch clockwise to a comfortable brightness and
look throug the viewfinder. If necessary, focus the viewfinder until reticle
and stars appear sharp.
6. In the following step 7, use the latitude adjustment screws (Fig 1 d, 26)
and the azimuth adjustment screws (Fig 1 d, 27) to do the necessary fine
adjustments
Observers on the northern hemishere:
N-7 a) Determine the rough longitude of your observing site (example:
Munich is 12° E). Now determine the longitude of the time meridian
Fig. 35: The polar alignment
viewfinder
Fig. 36: The view inside the polar
alignment viewfinder reticle (the
four stars show an association
near the southern celestial pole)
Reticle LED
knob
Eyepiece
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
28
according to your local time. For the central european time, this is 15° E
(do not use daylight savings). Calculate the difference between both
longitudes; in our exampel with Munich, it is 3°
N-7 b) Now set the secondary scale at your month ring (E 20 10...) to this
difference. If your observing site is east of the time meridian, turn to “E”,
if it is west of the meridian, turn to “W”. This setting has only to be
changed when the observing site changes by more than 2-3°.
N-7 c) Loosen the RA setting circle locking screw (32, Fig 1 d), turn the
setting circle to “0” and tighten the screw again. In normal operation,
this screw should be loose!
N-7 d) Now loosen the RA lock and turn the RA axis until the actual date at
the month match with the local time. In the picture shown, this would
e.g. be November 24th, 22:00 CET.
N-7 e) Now adjust the mount using the azimuth and latitude knobs until
Polaris fits into the small circle between 40’ and 60’.
Observers on the southern hemisphere:
S-7 a) Look at the trapezoid association in the polar viewfinder’s reticle.
They build the stars Sigma, Tau, Chi and Ypsilon Octantis. Turn the RA
axis until the “real” stars roughly cover the edge points in the trapezoid
figure.
S-7 b) Probably both trapezoids may still be parallel shifted. Adjust this
offset by using the latitude and azimuth fine controls. Maybe an
additional RA correction is necessary.
Note:
Not all settings within the month/hour scale are possible because a
german equatorial mount is limited within its movements.
8. Tighten the RA wedging again and set the telescope to its polar home
position.
Note:
Don’t forget to switch off the reticle illuminatin after use.
Fig. 37: Detail: Polar viewfinder.
APPENDIX C: POLAR ALIGNMENT
Appendix D: Basic astronomy
In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller
than your Messier, turned it skyward instead of looking at the distant trees
and mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw,
has forever changed the way mankind thinks about the universe. Imagine
what it must have been like being the first human to see moons revolve
around the planet Jupiter or to see the changing phases of Venus!
Because of his observations, Galileo correctly realized Earth's movement
and position around the Sun, and in doing so, gave birth to modern
astronomy. Yet Galileo's telescope was so crude, he could not clearly
make out the rings of Saturn.
Galileo's discoveries laid the foundation for understanding the motion and
nature of the planets, stars, and galaxies. Building on his foundation,
Henrietta Leavitt determined how to measure the distance to stars, Edwin
Hubble gave us a glimpse into the possible origin of the universe, Albert
Einstein unraveled the crucial relationship of time and light, and 21st-
century astronomers are currently discovering planets around stars outside
our solar system. Almost daily, using sophisticated successors to Galileo's
telescope, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray
Telescope, more and more mysteries of the universe are being probed and
understood. We are living in the golden age of astronomy. Unlike other
sciences, astronomy welcomes contributions from amateurs. Much of the
knowledge we have on subjects such as comets, meteor showers, double
and variable stars, the Moon, and our solar system comes from
observations made by amateur astronomers. So as you look through your
Bresser Messier-Series telescope, keep in mind Galileo. To him, a
telescope was not merely a machine made of glass and metal, but
something far more—a window of incredible discovery. Each glimpse offers
a potential secret waiting to be revealed.
Objects in Space
Listed below are some of the many astronomical objects that can be seen
with your Messer series telescope:
The Moon
The Moon is, on average, a distance of 239,000 miles (380,000km) from
Earth and is best observed during its crescent or half phase when Sunlight
strikes the Moon’s surface at an angle. It casts shadows and adds a sense
of depth to the view (Fig. 50).
No shadows are seen during a full Moon, causing the overly bright Moon
to appear flat and rather uninteresting through the telescope. Be sure to
use a neutral Moon filter when observing the Moon. Not only does it pro-
tect your eyes from the bright glare of the Moon, but it also helps enhance
contrast, providing a more dramatic image.
Using your Messier-Series telescope, brilliant detail can be observed on
the Moon, including hundreds of lunar craters and maria, described below.
Craters are round meteor impact sites covering most of the Moon’s surfa-
ce. With no atmosphere on the Moon, no weather conditions exist, so the
only erosive force is meteor strikes. Under these conditions, lunar craters
can last for millions of years.
Maria (plural for mare) are smooth, dark areas scattered across the lunar
surface. These dark areas are large ancient impact basins that were filled
with lava from the interior of the Moon by the depth and force of a meteor
or comet impact.
APPENDIX D: BASIC ASTRONOMY
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
29
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
30
APPENDIX D: BASIC ASTRONOMY
Twelve Apollo astronauts left their bootprints on the Moon in the late
1960's and early 1970's. However, no telescope on Earth is able to see
these footprints or any other artifacts. In fact, the smallest lunar features
that may be seen with the largest telescope on Earth are about one-half
mile across.
Planets
Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate
the planets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy
magazine, such as Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. Listed below are the
best planets for viewing through the Messier-Series.
Venus is about nine-tenths the diameter of Earth. As Venus orbits the Sun,
observers can see it go through phases (crescent, half, and full) much like
those of the Moon. The disk of Venus appears white as Sunlight is reflec-
ted off the thick cloud cover that completely obscures any surface detail.
Mars is about half the diameter of Earth, and appears through the telesco-
pe as a tiny reddish-orange disk. It may be possible to see a hint of white
at one of the planet’s Polar ice caps. Approximately every two years, when
Mars is closest to Earth in its orbit, additional detail and coloring on the
planet's surface may be visible.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is eleven times the
diameter of Earth. The planet appears as a disk with dark lines stretching
across the surface (Fig. 43). These lines are cloud bands in the
atmosphere. Four of Jupiter’s moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto)
can be seen as “star-like” points of light when using even the lowest
magnification. These moons orbit Jupiter so that the number of moons
visible on any given night changes as they circle around the giant planet.
Saturn is nine times the diameter of Earth and appears as a small, round
disk with rings extending out from either side (Fig. 44). In 1610, Galileo, the
first person to observe Saturn through a telescope, did not understand that
what he was seeing were rings. Instead, he believed that Saturn had
“ears.” Saturn’s rings are composed of billions of ice particles ranging in
size from a speck of dust to the size of a house.
The major division in Saturn's rings, called the Cassini Division, is
occasionally visible through the Messier-Series. Titan, the largest of
Saturn’s moons can also be seen as a bright, star-like object near the
planet.
Deep-Sky Objects
Star charts can be used to locate constellations, individual stars and deep-
sky objects. Examples of various deep-sky objects are given below:
Stars are large gaseous objects that are self-illuminated by nuclear fusion
in their core. Because of their vast distances from our solar system, all
stars appear as pinpoints of light, irrespective of the size of the telescope
used.
Nebulae are vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust where stars are
formed. Most impressive of these is the Great Nebula in Orion (M42), a
diffuse nebula that appears as a faint wispy gray cloud. M42 is 1600 light
years from Earth. (Fig 45)
Open Clusters are loose groupings of young stars, all recently formed from
the same diffuse nebula. The Pleiades is an open cluster 410 light years
away (Fig. 46). Through the Messier-Series, numerous stars are visible.
Fig. 44: Saturn with its ring
system.
Fig. 44a: Saturn, in a higher
magnification. It has the most
extensive ring structure in our
Solar System.
Fig. 45: A favourite Winter object:
M42, the great Orion Nebula.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
31
Constellations are large, imaginary patterns of stars believed by ancient
civilizations to be the celestial equivalent of objects, animals, people, or
gods. These patterns are too large to be seen through a telescope. To
learn the constellations, start with an easy grouping of stars, such as the
Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Then, use a star chart to explore across the sky.
Galaxies are large assemblies of stars, nebulae, and star clusters that are
bound by gravity. The most common shape is spiral (such as our own
Milky Way), but galaxies can also be elliptical, or even irregular blobs. The
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest spiral-type galaxy to our own. This
galaxy appears fuzzy and cigar-shaped. It is 2.2 million light years away in
the constellation Andromeda, located between the large “W” of Cassiopeia
and the great square of Pegasus.
A “road map” to the stars
The night sky is full of wonders and miracles. Feel free to discover the
universe; You just need to follow a few helping lines on the “road map” to
the stars!
First, find the Big Dipper, which is part of the Ursa Major constellation. It
can be found the whole year through quite easily in Europe and Northern
America.
If you draw a line on the sky which prolongs Big Dipper’s handle back-
wards, you’ll finally reach the constellation of Orion. It is remarkable by the
“Orion Belt”: three stars in a line. The great Orion Nebula is located south
of the Orion Belt It is one of the most popular objects under amateur
astronomers.
Starting at the two “pointer stars” - both stars of the back part of Big
Dipper - draw a five times prolonged line north to the pole star. If you go
ahead, you’ll finally reach the big star square that is shared by Pegasus
and Andromeda.
The summer triangle is a remarkable region left of Big Dipper’s handle. It
consists of the three bright stars Vega, Deneb and Altair.
If you prolong the shaft, you get to the constellation of Scorpio. It is
bended like a Scorpion’s tail; it also looks like the letter “J”.
American amateurs performed the words “Arc to Arcturus and spike to
Spica”. They relate to stellar region that lies in the prolonge area of Big
Dipper’s handle. Follow the arc to Arcturus, the northern hemisphere’s
brightest star and “spike” downwards to Spica, the 16th-brightest Star of
the sky.
Fig. 46: The Pleiades (M45) is one
of the most beautiful open
clusters.
Difficult to imagine stellar distances?
Learn more on p. 34
APPENDIX D: BASIC ASTRONOMY
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye!
32
APPENDIX D: BASIC ASTRONOMY
Fig. 47: The Andromeda Galaxy
(M31), the biggest one in our local
group.
Fig. 48
Messier-Tipps
Star Charts
Star charts and planisphere are very useful
tools and are great aids in planning a night
of celestial viewing.
A wide variety of star charts are available in
books, in magazines, on the internet and on
CD Roms. For all Messier telscopes the star
chart software „Cartes du Ciel“ is included
with your purchase.
32


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