Carson RP-200 User manual

50668 005737 1
©2007 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carson-optical.com
MADE IN CHINA
©2009 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
MADE IN CHINA
©2009 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
MADE IN TAIWAN
©2010 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
MADE IN TAIWAN
©2010 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
MADE IN CHINA
©2011 CARSON OPTICAL
HAUPPAUGE NY 11788
www.carsonoptical.com
MADE IN CHINA
Carson Optical
35 Gilpin Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788-4723
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
For information, call toll-free: 1-800-967-8427
[email protected] / [email protected] / www.carsonoptical.com
RP-200 TELESCOPE
Instruction Manual

Box Contents
Figures 1-6 / Figure Key
Telescope Assembly
 •SettingupYourTripod
 •AttachingtheHorizonMount
 •AttachingtheSlowMotionCables
 •AttachingtheTelescopeTubetotheMount
 •AttachingtheFinderScope
 •AttachingtheEyepieces
 •AligningtheFinderScope
Calculating Power
UnderstandingCelestialMovement
Using the Telescope
CareandMaintenanceofYourTelescope
 •Cleaning
Specications
Warnings
CustomerService
Warranty Information
Congratulations on your purchase of a Carson RP-200 Red Planet SeriesTM
telescope.Thistelescopefeaturesaneasy-to-usedesignandhighperfor-
mance optics that are perfect for amateur astronomers looking to explore the
wondersofouterspace.Pleasereadthismanualcarefullytoensurethatyou
assembleanduseyourtelescopecorrectly.Whenusedproperly,yourRed
PlanetTM telescopeshouldprovideyearsofexcitingobservationsoftheuni-
verse.PleasenotethatthisRefractortelescopewasdesignedforbothterres-
trialandastronomicalviewing.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE YOUR RED PLANETTM TELESCOPE
TO LOOK AT OR NEAR THE SUN! DOING SO WILL CAUSE
INSTANT AND PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE.
Eachboxcontainsthefollowing:
 •CompleteOpticalTubeAssembly.
 •HorizonMount.
 •Heavy-DutyAluminumTripod.
 •9mmKellnerEyepiece(1.25”O.D.).
 •20mmKellnerEyepiece(1.25”O.D.).
 •45°CornerLens
 •8x21mmErectingFinderScope.
 •FlexibleCableControlsforBothAxes.
Pleaseunpackyourtelescopecarefullyandmakesurethatallaccessoriesare
includedinthebox.
3
4-7
8-9
10
10
10-11
12
12
13
13
13-14
3
Table of Contents:

Fig.1 Fig.3
Fig.2
54
Fig.4

Fig.6
Fig.5
76
Key to Figures 1-6:
1. ObjectiveLens
2. LensShade
3. Optical Tube Assembly
4. 8x21mmErectingFinderScope
5. Eyepiece
6. Focus Knobs
7. OpticalTubeSaddlePlate
8. AltitudeAdjustmentFlexibleCable
9. HorizontalAdjustmentFlexibleCable
10. HorizonMount
11. HorizonMountBase
12. TripodLegs
13. EyepieceHolderThumbScrew
14. OpticalTubeAssemblyTripodConnector
15. SaddlePlateLock
16. AltitudeDial
17. FocuserDrawTube
18. 45°CornerLens
19. MountLockingScrew
20. AltitudeLockKnob
21. FinderScopeBracketThumbscrews
22. FinderScopeFocusKnob
23. FocuserDrawTubeLockingScrew
24. FinderScopeBracketThumbScrew
25. FinderScopeBracket
26. 45°CornerLensThumbScrew
27. TripodTighteningRing
28. TripodBrace
29. EyepieceHolderSlots
30. TripodHook
31. TripodLegLockClosed
32. TripodLegLockOpen

AssemblyofyourRedPlanetTelescope:
Setting Up Your Tripod:
Thealuminumtripodcomespreassembledandready-to-use.Removethe
tripodfromtheboxandpullapartthelegs.Gentlypushdownthetripod
braces(Fig.6-28)untiltheyareinthelowestposition.Turnthetightening
ring(Fig.6-27)(locatedatthecenteroftheTripodBrace)clockwisetolock
thetripodintheopenposition.Youcanthenextendthelegstothedesired
heightbypullingopenthetaboneachleglock(Fig.6-32),slidingtheleg
downthedesiredamountandthenpushingtheleglockbackagainsttheleg
intothelockedposition(Fig.6-31).Repeattheprocesswitheachlegtrying
tokeepthetripodaslevelaspossiblewiththeground.Youwillnoticethere
areholesinthetripodlegbraces(Fig.6-29).Thesearedesignedtohold
eyepieces when not in use.
Attaching the Horizon Mount:
Removethehorizonmount(Fig.1-10)fromtheboxandplacethebottomof
themount(Fig.1-11)intotheholeinthetopofthetripodheadandsecure
withthemountlockingscrew(Fig.3-19).Pleasebecarefultomakesurethat
themountissecurelyattachedtothetripod.
Attaching the Slow Motion Cables:
Locatethetwoslowmotioncables(Fig.1-8,9).Loosenthescrewattheend
ofeachcablesothatitdoesnotprotrudethroughthehole.Slideonecable
ontotheshaftonthesideofthehorizonmount(Fig.1-9)(locatedclosestthe
bottomofthemount)andtightendownwiththelockingscrew.Slidethe
remainingcableontothealtitudeadjustmentshaft(Fig.1-8)(locatednearthe
middleofthemount)andtightendownwiththelockingscrew.Theseslow
motioncableswillallowyoutomakenepointingadjustmentstothe
telescopebothhorizontallyandvertically.Thiswillbediscussedinmore
detaillater.
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount:
Thetopoftheequatorialmountiscalledtheopticaltubesaddleplate(Fig.
1-7).Pullandholddownonthesaddleplatelock(Fig.2-15)andslidethe
bracketattachedtothebottomoftheopticaltubeassembly(Fig.2-14)into
thesaddleplateuntilthesaddleplatelockclicksintoplace.Tightenthe
saddleplatelocktosecuretheopticaltubeinplace.
Attaching the Finder Scope:
Therearetwonderscopebracketmountingbolts(Fig.4-24)locatedatthe
endoftheopticaltubeneartheeyepieceassembly.Removethenutsandset
aside.Placethenderscopebracket(Fig.4-25)ontothemountingbolts,
replacethenutsandtightendownsecurelytotheopticaltube.Makesurethe
bracketisfacingforwardasshowninFig.4.Slidethenderscope(Fig.1-4)
intothebracketfacingforward.
Attaching the Eyepieces:
Insertthe45°cornerlens(Fig.2-18)intothefocuserdrawtube(Fig.2-17)
andsecureintoplacebytighteningthecornerlensthumbscrew(Fig.5-26).
InserttheKellner20mmeyepiece(Fig.2-5)intothecornerlens(Fig.2-18)
andtightendownusingtheeyepieceholderthumbscrew(Fig.2-13).
YouhavenowcompletedtheassemblyofyourRedPlanetTM telescope.
Wewillnowneedtomakethenecessaryadjustmentsinordertouseyour
telescope properly.
Aligning the Finder Scope:
Thelowpowerandwideeldofviewprovidedbythe8x21mmnderscope
(Fig.1-4)providesaquickandeasywaytosightanobjectpriortolooking
throughthehigh-powertelescope.Thenderscopemustrstbeproperly
alignedwiththetelescopeinordertoworkproperly.Thisalignmentisbest
performedduringthedaylight.Followthestepsbelowtoalignyournder
scope properly:
 •PlacetheKellner20mmeyepiece(Fig.2-5)intothecornerlens(Fig.
2-18)ofthetelescope.
 •Loosenthealtitudelockknob(Fig.3-20)sothatthetelescopeswings
freely along both axes.
 •Pointthemaintelescopeataspeciclandobject200yardsormore
away.Lockdownthealtitudeaxis.Turntheslowmotioncables
(Fig.1–8,9)untiltheobjectiscenteredinthetelescopeeld.
 •Nowlookthroughthenderscope(Fig.1-4)andloosenortighten
thenderscopebracketscrews(Fig.4-21)untilthecrosshairsare
centeredonthesameobject.Focusbyturningthenderscopefo-
cusknob(Fig.4-22)untiltheimageinthenderscopeissharpand
clear.
 •Checkthealignmentatnighttimebyrepeatingthisprocesswitha
brightstarorthemoon.Makeanynecessaryadjustments.
Nowthatyournderscopeisproperlyaligned,anyobjectcenteredinyour
nderscopeshouldalsobecenteredinyourtelescope.
98

Calculating Power:
Themagnicationofatelescopedependsonboththefocallengthofyour
telescope as well as the eyepiece you use. There is a simple formula you can
usetodeterminethemagnicationyouareusingatanygiventime.Simply
dividethefocallengthofthetelescopebythefocallengthoftheeyepiece.
For example, if you are using the 20mm eyepiece with your TP-200 telescope
thepowerwouldbe:
Power = 500mm / 20mm = 25x
Usinganeyepiecewithasmallerfocallengthwillincreasethemagnication
ofyourtelescope.Itisalwaysbesttostartatthelowestmagnicationcon-
guration.Thewidereldofviewmakesiteasiertospotfarawayobjects.
Onceanobjectiscenteredinyoureldofviewyoucanswitchtothehigher
powercongurations.
UnderstandingCelestialMovement:
Inordertogetthemostenjoymentoutofyourtelescopeitisnecessaryto
knowthebasicsofhowcelestialobjectsmoveacrossthesky.Duetothero-
tationoftheearth,celestialobjectsappeartomovefromEasttoWestacross
thesky,muchliketheSun.Youwillnoticethismovementasanobjectin
yourtelescopeeldofviewwillslowlymoveacrosstheeldandoutof
view.Continuousadjustmentisneededtokeepanobjectintheeldofview.
Using the Telescope:
Onceyouhaveproperlyassembledandalignedyourtelescopeyouarenally
readytostartusingit.
 •Tolocateanobjectusingthetelescope,rstloosenthealtitudelock
(Fig.3-20)allowingthetelescopetorotatealongbothaxes.Look
throughthenderscope(Fig.1-4)tosighttheobjectyouarelook-
ingforandcenteritinthenderscopecross-hairs.Youmayneedto
focusthenderscopebyturningthenderscopefocusknob(Fig.
4-22).Thenre-tightenthealtitudelock.
 •Itisbesttousethelowestpowereyepiece(theKellner20mmeye-
piece)atrst.Thisallowsforawidereldofviewmakingiteasier
tolocateobjects.Oncetheobjectiscenteredintheeldofviewyou
canswitchtheeyepiecetohighermagnications.
 •Oncetheobjectiscenteredintheeldofview,turnthefocusknobs
(Fig.1-6)untiltheimageisclearandsharp.Ifthefocusknobsare
locked,loosenthefocuserdrawtubelock(Fig.5-23)beforeturning
the knobs.
 •Youwillnoticethattheobjectyouareviewingwillslowlymove
acrosstheeldofview(causedbytherotationoftheEarth).You
willneedtoturntheslowmotioncables(Fig.1-8,9)tokeeptheob-
jectcentered.
 •Theorientationoftheimageyouseethroughboththenderscope
andeyepieceofthistelescopeisnormal.Thisallowsyoutousethis
telescope effectively when viewing terrestrial as well as astronomical
objects.
Therearemanyconditionsthatmayaffectyourabilitytofocusorobserve
celestial objects clearly.
 •Brightlylitareas(lightpollution)willmakeitdifculttoseefaint
objectsinthesky.Itwillalsomakeitdifcultforyoureyestoadjust
tothedark.Youshouldtryandndadarkareaandallowyoureyes
toadjusttothedarkbeforemakingobservations.Usingaredltered
ashlighttoviewchartsandyourtelescopecomponentsisrecom-
mendedtopreserveyournightsight.Thebestviewingconditions
are when the sky is inky black.
 •Hazyskies,pollution,cloudsandmoisturecanallaffecttheclarityof
your viewing image.
 •Avoidtouchingtheeyepieceoropticaltubewhilelookingthrough
thetelescope.Thevibrationscausedbythiscontactwillcausethe
objectyouarelookingattomove.Youshouldalsomakesurethat
thesurfaceyouplaceyourtelescopeondoesnotvibrateormoveas
this will also cause your viewing object to move.
 •Youshouldavoidsettingupyourtelescopeinsidearoomlooking
throughanopenwindow.Thedifferenceinairtemperaturesmay
result in a blurry image.
 •Viewingthroughaclosedwindowmightalsoresultinadistortedim-
ageduetothevaryingdensitiesofwindowglass.
 •Avoidviewingobjectsthatarelowonthehorizon.Objectsthatare
higher up in the sky will appear much sharper.
 •Suddenchangesintemperaturemaycausecondensationtoappear
on the optical components of the telescope. It is best to set up your
telescopeaheadoftimeandthenwaitwhilethetelescopeadjuststo
the new temperature before using it.
1110

CareandMaintenanceofYourTelescope:
Cleaning:
 •Alwaysreplacedustcoversandlenscapswhennotinuse.Thiswill
minimizetheamountofdustanddebristhatgetsintoyourtelescope.
 •Cleaningshouldbeperformedonlyifabsolutelynecessary.Ifdust
hasbuiltupontheopticsuseasoftcamel’shairbrushorpressurized
air to gently remove it.
 •Toremovedirt,greaseorngerprints,cleanwithasoftcottoncloth
rubbing in a circular motion. Use of a coarse cloth or unnecessary
rubbingmayscratchthelenssurfaceandeventuallycausepermanent
damage.
 •Foramorethoroughcleaning,photographictypelenscleaninguid
maybeused.Alwaysapplytheuidtothecleaningcloth,never
directlyonthelens.
 •Avoidtouchingthesurfaceoftheobjectivelens.
 •Donotattempttotakeapartyourtelescopetocleanit.
Specications:
OpticalDesign:  Refractor
Aperture:   80mm(3.15”)
FocalLength:  500mm(19.69”)
Focal Ratio: 6.25
OpticalCoatings:  FullyCoated
FinderScope:  8x21mmErecting
Eyepiece1:   Kellner9mm
Magnication1:  56x
Eyepiece2:   Kellner20mm
Magnication2:  25x
Accessory:   45°cornerLens
Mount:   Horizon
Weight: 7.8 lbs.
Warnings:
 •Neverusethistelescope(oritsviewnder)tolookdirectlyator
nearthesun.Viewingthesuncancauseinstantandirreversible
eyedamage.
 •Alwayssupervisechildrenwhenusingthistelescope.
 •Donotleavetelescopeunattendedatanytime.Untrainedadultsor
childrenmaynotbefamiliarwiththecorrectingoperatingprocedure.
 •Donotpointthetelescopeatthesunevenwhenyouarenotlooking
throughit.Thiswillcauseinternaldamagetothetelescope.
 •Handlethistelescopewithcare.Roughhandlingmightknockthe
internal optical components out of alignment.
CustomerService:
We will be happy to help you with any problems you may experience
while using your telescope. Please call our toll-free customer service line at
1-800-967-8427.
Warranty Information:
ThisCarsonproductiswarrantedtobefreefromdefectsinmaterialand
workmanshipforaperiodofoneyearfromdateofpurchase.Duringthis
periodCarsonwill,atitsoptionandwithoutcharge,eitherrepairanypart
orassemblyofpartsfoundtobedefectiveinmaterialorworkmanship,or
replacethisCarsonproductwithaCarsonproductofcomparablevalueand
condition,subjecttothelimitationsandexclusionsnotedherein.
Thiswarrantyextendstotheoriginalpurchaseronlyandisnotassignableor
transferable.Itshallnotapplytoanyproductthathasbeensubjecttomis-
use,abuse,negligenceoraccident,ortoanydefectsordamagedirectlyor
indirectlycausedbytheuseofunauthorizedreplacementpartsand/orservice
performedbyunauthorizedpersonnel.
Thiswarrantygivesyouspeciclegalrights,andyoumayalsohaveother
rightswhichcouldvaryfromstatetostate.Somestatesdonotallowlimi-
tationsonthelifeofanimpliedwarrantyand/ordonotallowexcludingor
limitingincidentalorconsequentialdamages.Ifso,theabovelimitationsor
exclusions may not apply to you.
1312

Warranty Procedure:
Provideproofofpurchase.Areceiptorotherdatedproofofpurchasemust
beincludedwithmerchandisebeingreturnedforawarrantyclaimtobepro-
cessed.
Callorwriteforauthorization.Beforereturninganyproductforawarranty
claim,aReturnAuthorization(RA)numbermustbeobtained.Nomerchan-
disewillbeacceptedwithoutanRA,andfailuretoobtainanRAwillprevent
ordelayprocessingofthewarrantyclaim.ToobtainanRAcall631-963-
5000,orwritetoCarsonWarrantyService,35GilpinAve,HauppaugeNY
11788withadescriptionoftheproblem.Includeyourname,addressand
telephone number.
Packagethereturncarefully.Shipperswillnotreimbursefordamagesdueto
insufcientpackaging,evenifthemerchandiseisinsured.PrinttheRAnum-
ber prominently on the top of the package.
Prepayshipping.Insurethepackage.SendittoCarsonWarrantyService,35
GilpinAve.,HauppaugeNY11788.Merchandisemustbeshippedprepaid.
CarsonwillnotacceptmerchandiseC.O.D.
1514