iOptron SmartStar iEQ45 Guide

iOptron Corporation, Woburn, MA 01801, USA
1
Instruction for iEQ30/45 Polar Scope
Focusing Adjustment and Polar Axis Alignment
8/2011, Revised 5/2012, 12/2012, 2/2014
Polar Scope is a very delicate optical component, especial its reticle which is made from a glass
and mounted on a plastic fitting. If your polar scope axis needs to be re-aligned to the RA axis of
your EQ mount, please do not use excess force onto the reticle adjustment screws.
Tool needed: 2mm Allen wrench
Polar Scope Parts Name:
♦Eyepiece: Adjustable, for reticle focusing
♦Objective Lens: Adjustable, for object focusing
♦Locking Ring: Lock the objective lens tube
♦Bubble Level: An easy indicator for polar scope dial position when they are aligned to each
other
♦Bubble Level Set Screws: M2 hex key setting screws for secure the bubble level
♦Reticle Adjustment Screws: M2 hex key setting screws for positioning and holding reticle in
place
How to align the bubble level to 12 o’clcok mark of the polar scope dial
1. Move the bubble of the Bubble Level to the center by using hand controller to rotate R.A.
axis;
2. Slightly loosen two Bubble Level Set Screws; (not the reticle adjustment screws!)
3. Turn the Polar Scope slowly to make the 12 o’clock mark at the top by using hand;
4. Secure the Bubble Level Set Screws again.
Objective Lens Lock Ring Eyepiece
Reticle Adj. Screws
Bubble Level
Bubble Level
Set Screws

iOptron Corporation, Woburn, MA 01801, USA
2
How to Adjust Polar Scope Focuser
1. Unscrew the Polar Scope from its host.
2. Point the Polar Scope to a far distant object. Adjust the Objective Lens by turning the tube to
get a clear image. Tune the lock ring to secure it.
3. Screw the Polar Scope back to the mount and tighten it. Adjust the Eyepiece to get a clear
picture of the reticle.
How to Align Polar Scope Optical Axis
If you are suspecting that the polar scope may be misaligned, you may check it by putting a star
in the center of the polar scope reticle cross hairs and rotating mount’s RA axis. If the star stays
in the center of cross hairs, the polar scope is aligned to the mount’s RA axis.
Bubble Level
Bubble Level
Set Screw
Reticle Adjustment
Screw

iOptron Corporation, Woburn, MA 01801, USA
3
In the event the polar scope optical axis needs to be adjusted, you can do this procedure at
night while pointing at Polaris. However, it is probably easier to do it during the daytime using a
distant point, such as a flag pole or top of a building a couple of hundreds away, as your target.
Please remove the telescope, the counterweights and counterweight shaft from the mount. Aim
the mount to the object. Use the Altitude Adjustment Knob and Azimuth Adjustment Knob to
center the object.
1. Power on the mount and set the slew
speed to Max. Rotate the mount along
the RA axis to the balance position,
dovetail saddle on the right side.
2. Loose Altitude Locking Screws and
Azimuth Locking Screws a little.
Centering the object on the cross hairs
by adjust ALT. Adjust. Knob and Azi.
Adjust. Knob.
3. Rotate the mount 180º to bring the
dovetail to the left side. Bring the
object half the distance to the center
by adjusting the reticle adjustment set
screws using a 2mm hex key. Keep in
mind that the image in the finder is
inverted. Loose one screw first, then
tighten the other screw(s). Only
loose/tighten one screw at a time and
a few turns each time to avoid the reticle totally lost its position. It may take a few
minutes to familiarize yourself with the screws that move the polar scope in the
appropriate direction. PLEASE do not over tighten the setting screws.
4. Adjust the ALT. Adjust Knob and Azi. Adjust. Knob t center the object.
5. Rotate the mount 180º to bring the dovetail back to the right side. If you are lucky
enough, the object will stay in center of the polar scope. Otherwise, repeat Steps 2 and 3
to further move the object to the center.
6. After few times, the object will stay in center when the mount is flipped from right to left.
If the Polar Scope does not has a bubble level
x
x
Rotate
Rotate
Center the object
Bring the object
half the distance
to the center
xx
xx
Rotate
Rotate
Center the object
Bring the object
half the distance
to the center
Objective Lens Lock Ring Eyepiece
Reticle Adj. Screws