Celestron StarSense Explorer DOB User manual

Quick Setup Guide
#22472 STARSENSE EXPLORER 12” DOBSONIAN
ENGLISH

2 | ENGLISH
What’s in the Box
A1
E
F
K1 K2
L1 L2
M
J1 J2
H1 H2 H3 H4 H5
G1 G2 G3
A2 B C D
Left side panel
Feet (x3)
Base
handle
Altitude bearing
cylinders (x4)
Rubber bumper
Screwdriver
INCLUDED TOOLS
ALTITUDE BEARING ASSEMBLY
HANDLE ASSEMBLY
FEET ASSEMBLY
Box 1 - Dobsonian Base
AZIMUTH PIVOT BOLT ASSEMBLY
EYEPIECE RACK ASSEMBLY
Crescent
wrenches (x2)
Hey keys (x2)
Bearing
screws (x4)
Eyepiece rack Rack
screws (x2)
Bolt Nut Steel
washers
(x2)
Hollow
plastic
cylinder
Teflon
washer
Feet
screws (x3)
Handle
screws (x2)
Feet screws
covers (x3)
Right side panel Front panel Top Plate Bottom Plate Base assembly
screws (x27)
Side supports
(x2)

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P
OQ
N2
R1
U
V W
N1
S
T
Box 2 - Optical Tube Assembly
Box 3 - Primary Mirror
Optical tube assembly with dust cover
Altitude
tensioning knob
32mm Omni
Plössl eyepiece
2” focuser
extension tube
2”-to-1.25” eyepiece
adapter with 1.25”
cover cap Collimation cap with
2mm hex key
Cosmetic knob
Primary mirror in mirror cell
BACKFRONT
Mirror cell screws (x6)
StarSense dock StarPointerTM
red dot finderscope

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1. Connect the side supports (E) to the left side panel (A1) and
right side panel (A2) using 8 of the base assembly screws (F).
The supports go on the on the same side of the panels as the
Celestron logos.
4. Connect the assembly to the top plate (C) using 11 of the base
assembly screws (F). Orient the top plate so the side with the
logo faces upward.
F
C
4
A1
E
F
A2
1
3. Connect the side panels (A1 & A2) to the front panel (B) using
8 of the base assembly screws (F). Make sure the Celestron
logos on the side panels face outward and the rubber bumper
on the front panel faces inward.
F
F
B
A1
A2
3
2. Attach the rubber bumper (M) to the interior surface of the front
panel (B). There is a small spot on the front panel that indicates
where to place the rubber bumper. Remove the adhesive backing
from the bumper and press the bumper firmly onto the spot.
M
B
2
SPOT MARK
Assembly

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6. Connect the assembly to the bottom plate (D). Place one of the
steel washers (H3) and the plastic cylinder (H4) onto the bolt
(H1). Then, insert the bolt through the central hole in the bottom
plate. Next, place the Teflon washer (H5) over the plastic
cylinder (H4) now protruding from the bottom plate. Take the
assembled base and lower it onto the bottom plate so that the
plastic cylinder goes through the central hole in the top plate.
Now, place the remaining steel washer (H3) on the end of the
bolt protruding from the top plate. Thread the nut (H2) onto the
bolt. Go to Step 7 for instructions to tighten the bolt.
8. Install the base handle (J1) onto the outside of the front panel
(B) using the 2 handle screws (J2).
7. Use the two crescent wrenches to tighten the nut onto the
bolt. Hold the head of the bolt stationary with one crescent
wrench while using the other crescent wrench to tighten the nut.
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE NUT! With some force, you
should still be able to move the steel washer underneath the
nut with your fingers. If the washer cannot be moved with your
fingers, slightly loosen the nut.
J1
B
J2
87
5. Attach the 3 feet (G1) to the bottom plate (D) using the 3 feet
screws (G2). Thread the screws firmly into the predrilled pilot
holes. Once installed, press the feet screw covers (G3) onto the
ends of the feet.
D
G1
G2
G3
5H2
H3
H4
D
H5
H3
H1
6
NUT
STEEL WASHER
TEFLON WASHER
PLASTIC CYLINDER
STEEL WASHER
BO LT

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O
9. Install the 2 rack screws (K2) onto the front panel, then install
the eyepiece rack (K1) by inserting the head of the rack screw
through the keyhole in the eyepiece rack, then push the rack
downwards.
NOTE: If you want to remove the rack after it has been installed,
simply pull it upward.
10. Install the altitude bearing cylinders (L1) onto the left and right
side panels (A1 & A2) with the altitude bearing screws (L2).
The bearings go on the interior surfaces of the side panels. The
flat end of the bearing—with no bevel on it—should be flush to
the surface of the panel.
11. Install the primary mirror cell (V) into the optical tube assembly
(O). First remove the plastic wrap and tissue paper that protect
the primary mirror during shipment.
12. Stand the optical tube assembly (O) up vertically so the front
end is on the ground and the exposed edge of the bottom of
the tube faces upward.
K1
K21
9
L1
L2
A1
A2
10
V
11 12
BEVEL
FLAT

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16. Install the altitude tensioning knob (N1) through the slot in the
left side panel (A1) and int o the threaded insert in the center
of the side hub on the optical tube assembly. The tensioining
knob (N1) is the one with the stepped bushing on its shaft.
N1 A1
16
15. Place the optical tube assembly (O) onto the assembled
Dobsonian base. The side hubs on the tube should sit on the
altitude bearing cylinders on the base.
13. Turn the primary mirror cell upside-down (V) (i.e., so the primary
mirror faces downward), align the threaded holes in the mirror
cell’s perimeter with the through holes in the end of the tube,
and place the mirror cell onto the tube.
14. Next, install the mirror cell screws (W) through the tube and
into the cell. Do not firmly tighten the screws yet because you
may need to make slight adjustments to the cell’s position to
precisely align the holes. Once all the screws are threaded into
the mirror cell, firmly tighten them in place.
O
13 14
O
15
V
W

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17. Install the cosmetic knob (N2) through the slot in the right side
panel (A2) and into the threaded insert in the center of the side
hub on the optical tube assembly. The cosmetic knob (N2) is
the one with the straight bushing on its shaft.
18. Install the StarSense dock (P). First, loosen the 2 thumbscrews
on the StarSense base on the tube. Insert the dock into the
base, and then retighten the thumbscrews.
N2
A2
P
1817
19. Install the StarPointer red dot finderscope (Q) onto the
optical tube assembly. First, loosen the thumbscrew on the
finderscope holder. Insert the base of the StarPointer into the
holder and tighten the thumbscrew.
20. Loosen the thumbscrews on the end of the focuser and
insert the 2” extension tube (S) into the focuser. Retighten
the thumbscrews.
Q
S
2019
THUMB SCREWS

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21. Loosen the thumbscrews on the 2” extension tube (S)
now installed in the focuser and insert the 2”-to-1.25”
eyepiece adapter (T). Retighten the thumbscrews on the
2” extension tube. The 2”-to-1.25” eyepiece adapter may
already be installed in the 2” extension tube.
22. Loosen the thumbscrews on the 2”-to-1.25” eyepiece
adapter (T) now installed in the focuser, place the 32mm
Omni Plössl eyepiece (R1) into the adapter, and retighten
the thumbscrews on the adapter.
S
T
T
R1
2221
CORRECT
Collimating the Optics
Collimation is the process of aligning the telescope’s optics. Since the primary mirror does not come installed in the optical tube, we recommend
collimating the optics before your first night out. It is easiest to collimate a telescope during the day with the telescope pointed toward a blank
wall. This will provide a high-contrast view, making it easier to determine which adjustments to make. Use the supplied hex key(s) to make
adjustments.
1. To check alignment of the mirrors, first remove any eyepieces.
Make sure the 2”-to-1.25” adapter is installed in the focuser.
Then, place the collimation cap (U) in the focuser.
2. Look through the small hole in the center of the collimation cap. If your
view matches the first image, your optics are collimated properly and
you are finished. If your view resembles the second image, you’ll need
to adjust the mirrors’ alignment. Continue to step 3.
1 2
U
INCORRECT

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Edge of
secondary
mirror
Reflection of
primary mirror
3. While making adjustments, position the tube horizontally. This
prevents anything from falling onto the primary mirror.
5. First, adjust the secondary mirror at the front of the telescope
using the 2mm hex key. Use the three socket-head setscrews
in the secondary mirror holder to adjust the tilt of the secondary
mirror.
a. Adjust one setscrew at a time. Make only small adjustments.
b. If one setscrew becomes too tight or too loose, make
adjustments to the other setscrews to compensate.
When you are finished, make sure all three of the setscrews
are snug.
4. You should be able to see the reflection of the entire primary
mirror centered within the secondary mirror as shown in Step
2. If you can’t, as shown above, the secondary mirror will need
adjustment.
34
SECONDARY
MIRROR
PRIMARY
MIRROR
5
2mm Hex Key
7. You won’t need any tools to tilt the primary mirror. Instead,
simply adjust the thumbscrews. The three smaller thumbscrews
are locking thumbscrews, while the larger three collimation
thumbscrews adjust the tilt. Start by loosening all three of the
locking thumbscrews.
7
Edge of
secondary
mirror
Reflection of
primary mirror
Reflection of
secondary mirror
6. Look through the collimation cap again to verify that the primary
mirror is centered in the secondary mirror as shown above. If
it is, the secondary mirror is collimated. Next, adjust the tilt of
the primary mirror until the reflection of the secondary mirror is
centered within the reflection of the primary mirror.
6
8. Adjust the collimation thumbscrews one at a time. Each
collimation thumbscrew is spring-loaded, so you can rotate it
clockwise or counterclockwise.
8
COLLIMATION
THUMBSCREW
LOCKING
THUMBSCREW