NPZ TAL-1 User manual

1
TELESCOPES
TAL-1, TAL-1M, TAL-2,
TAL-150P, TAL-150P8
Instruction manual

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NPZ Optics State Corp.
(Novosibirsk Instrument-making plant)
D. Kovalchuk 179/2 Novosibirsk,
630049 RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Fax [phone]
[email protected];
www.npzoptics.com

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Page
General instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Technical specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Inventory list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Construction of the telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Preparing telescope for observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Assembling the telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Balancing the telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Aligning the nder scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Power supply and hand controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Polar alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Calibrating the setting circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Visual observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Astrophotography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Collimation (alignment) of the optics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Acceptance certicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Appendix A: Precise Polar alignment for the MT-1 and
MT-1C mounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Appendix B: Double stars list for telescope
image quality test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appendix C: Brightnest stars visible
in the Northern Hemisphere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Due to continuous product improvements, specications are subject
to change without notice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Warning!
Never observe the Sun directy through your telescope or its nder
scope - permanent eye damage could result.
The telescope is designed for visual observations of celestial
objects and for astronomical photography. It requires careful
treatment and some knowledge of astronomy. Only in this case
the use of telescope will bring satisfaction to its owner.
The telescope may be used at an ambient temperature ranging
from 30° to -30°C.
When buying the telescope inspect the package to make sure
that the original packaging is in good condition, and seals are
not broken or missing. Having opened the package, check the
presence of all components described in inventory list.
Read instruction manual rst before using the telescope.
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Specication TAL-1
Aperture, mm
Focal length, mm
Mirror Surface
Focal ratio
Diagonal mirror
diameter, mm
Telescope
magnication, x
Resolving power
Limiting visual
magnitude
Finderscope
magnication, x
Finderscope
aperture, mm
Focuser
Equatorial mount
150
1200
parabolic
1:8
30
48; 96;
160;320
1"
12.5m
8
50
1.25"; 2"
MT-3S
150
750
parabolic
1:5
40
30; 60;
100;200
1"
12.5m
8
50
1.25"; 2"
MT-3S
110
800
spherical
1:7.3
26
32; 64;
80;160
1.3"
11.5m
6
30
1.25"
MT-1
110
800
spherical
1:7.3
26
32; 64;
80;160
1.3"
11.5m
6
30
1.25"
MT-1C
150
1200
spherical
1:8
40
48; 96;
160;320
1"
12.5m
8
50
1.25"; 2"
MT-3S
TAL-1M TAL-2 TAL-150P TAL-150P8
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

6
Specication TAL-1
Right ascension
turning angle
Declination turning
angle
Latitude adjustment
range
Input
voltage V AC
Frequency, Hz
Power, Watts
Output voltage, V
Dimensions, mm:
OTA* length
Telescope height
OTA weight, kg
Telescope
weight, kg
360°
(24 h)
±90°
0...70°
220
(110)
50 (60)
10
12 DC
1200
1700
8.5
35
360°
(24 h)
±90°
0...70°
220
(110)
50 (60)
10
12 DC
770
1620
6.5
30
360°
(24 h)
±90°
0...70°
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-
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850
1780
4.5
20
360°
(24 h)
±90°
0...70°
220
(110)
50 (60)
10
12 AC
850
1780
4.5
22
360°
(24 h)
±90°
0...70°
220
(110)
50 (60)
10
12 DC
1200
1700
8.5
35
TAL-1М TAL-2 TAL-150P TAL-150P8
*Optical Tube Assembly

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INVENTORY LIST
Component TAL-1
Telescope
Finderscope:
6xx30
9xx50
Polar axis nderscope
6xx23
Equatorial mount:
MT-1 with counter-
weight 2.2 kg
MT-1C with counter-
weight 2.2 kg
MT-3S (MT-3S-2D)
with counter-weight
2.2 kg (2 units)
MT-3S (MT-3S-2D)
with counter-weight
3.7 kg (2 units)
Pier with legs:
C75 (800 mm)
C110 (770 mm)
Power supply:
direct current (DC)
alternating current (AC)
Hand controller:
for direct current
for alternating current
Power cord (10 m)
Spare parts and ac-
cessories:
Plössl eyepsiece f’=7.5mm
Plössl eyepiece f’=10mm
Plössl eyepiece f’=25mm
2x Barlow lens
Reticle
Camera holder
Plug for photographing
T-adapter M42x0.75
Sun projection screen
Instruction manual
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TAL-1М TAL-2 TAL-150P TAL-150P8
*Optional

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Component TAL-1
Optional accessories:
Tripod
Plössl eyepieces (1.25’’):
f’=6.3mm
f’=12.5mm
f’=17mm
f’=20mm
f’=32mm
f’=40mm
Super wide angle eye-
pieces (1.25’’):
f’=10mm (60°)
f’=15mm (65°)
f’=20mm (65°)
Ultra wide angle eye-
pieces (80°):
f’=15mm (1.25’’)
f’=20mm (2’’)
f’=24mm (2’’)
f’=25mm (2’’)
3x Barlow lens
Guide eyepieces
12.5mm (1.25’’)
Off-axis guider (2’’)
Color lters M28.5x0.6:
black
neutral
yellow
blue
red
green
Color lters M48x0.75:
black
neutral
yellow
blue
red
green
Power cord extension
cable with car adapter
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TAL-1М TAL-2 TAL-150P TAL-150P8

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CONSTRUCTION OF THE TELESCOPE
The telescope consists of three
main parts:
- Optical tube assembly (OTA)
(1),
- German equatorial mount (2),
- A pier or tripod (3).
The optical tube is a basic
component of the telescope. It
includes all main optical units such
as a primary mirror, a diagonal
mirror and a focuser.
A Newtonian Reflectors Teles-
cope: parallel beams of rays
enter the tube of the telescope
and is projected at the focal plane
of the eyepiece (3) with the help
of primary (1) and diagonal (2)
mirrors.
A standard set includes two
eyepieces and a Barlow lens,
which allow observing celestial
objects with various rate of
magnication.
The OTA supplied with a
nderscope, makes searching
for celestial objects easier.
The primary mirror is fastened in
a cell and installed in a tube.
The diagonal mirror is flat.
It is glued to the holder and
xed inside of the OTA with the
help of four vane spiders. Both
mirrors are made of a high quality
optical glass with high reection
aluminum coatings with protecti-
ve level.
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10
The eyepiece unit includes a
focuser with an eyepiece tube.
Focuser consists of rack and
pinion. The pinion axis has fo-
cus knobs, which help move the
eyepiece tube in order to focus
telescope.
To provide the smoothness of
TAL-1 telescope focuser, hold the
left focus knob (1) with one hand
and turn the right focus knob (2)
clockwise (with a little effort) with
other hand.
Fix the position of the focuser, if
necessary, using the same pro-
cedure.
For telescopes TAL-2, TAL-150P,
TAL-150P8 the smoothness of the
focuser can be adjusted with the
help of four screws (1).
The equatorial mount is designed
for pointing the telescope at the
celestial objects and tracking their
movement.
The equatorial mount consists
of two axes square with each
other: the polar axis and the
axis of declination. There is a
mounting plate with OTA rings on
the top point of the declination axis,
and a counter-weight shaft with
counterweights on the other side.
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11
It is possible to place all types of
the mounts on a pier or tripod.
Different models of telescopes are
provided with different mounts.
The mount MT-1 has manual slow-
motion controls on both axes and is
used with TAL-1 telescope.
For the rst sight-in on the object,
loosen the telescope,s Dec. and
R.A. locks (1) and move the
telescope to center an object in
the eld of view.
The ne alignment is done by
manual slow-motion controls (2)
within ±4° on each axis.
The polar axis is xed in a tripod
(pier) mounting head with a
latitude dial.
MT-1C mount is equipped with a
clock R.A. drive along with manual
slow-motion controls on both axes.
The clock drive enables tracking of
celestial objects.
For the rst sight-in on the object,
loosen the telescope,s Dec. lock
(1) and turn Dec. axis to move the
telescope in order to center an
object in the eld of view.
The ne alignment is done by
manual Dec. slow-motion control
(2) within ±4° on Dec. axis, and
R.A. slow-motion control (3)
embedded into the clock drive.
The design of the mount allows
manual corrections without
stopping the clock drive, and
also to use hand controller as an
additional accessory tool.
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12
MT-3S mount is used with
telescopes with primary mirror
diameter of 150mm and above.
The mount head has a clock drive
embedded, which enables tracking
of celestial objects with user dened
speed.
The speed is set by a hand controller
and has three tracking rates: solar,
lunar and stellar, as well as two
additional correction speeds -
acceleration and deceleration at
50%. Hand controller has a night
light lamp.
For the rst sight-in on the object,
loosen the telescope,s Dec. and
R.A. locks (1) and move the
telescope to center an object in
the eld of view.
The fine alignment is done by
manual Dec. slow-motion control
(2) on Dec. axis, and R.A. slow-
motion control (3) embedded into
the clock drive.
The polar axis has embedded polar
axis nderscope (optional) (4) and
is xed in a tripod (pier) mounting
head with a latitude dial.
The pier serves for holding an
equatorial mount with an OTA.
It consists of the tube and three
attachable legs.
The tripod can be better used
on a rugged terrain. For comfort
observing it is equipped with an
accessory shelf (1).
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13
PREPARING TELESCOPE FOR
OBSERVATIONS
ASSEMBLING THE TELESCOPE
Take a pier (1) and legs (2) out of
the package. Attach tightly three
legs to the bottom point of the pier
using the captive screws. The pier
must not swing on the legs.
Place the pier on a firm plain
surface.
Take the equatorial mount and
place it on the top of the pier.
When using MT-3S orient equatorial
head so that the pin (1) on the pier
lines up with the azimuth adjustment
knobs (2).
Turn the handle (3) clockwise to x
the mount on the pier tightly. Make
sure there is no wobbling of the
mount on the pier.
Thread the counterweight shaft (2)
into the base of the Declination axis
(6) of the equatorial mount and x
it with the lock-nut (5). Unscrew
the safety washer/knob (1) and
slide the counterweight (3) to the
midpoint on the counterweight shaft
and secure it in place with the lock
knob (4). Screw back in the safety
washer/knob (1), which will not
let the weight slide entirely off the
counterweight shaft if slipped. Fix
the tube rings (7) on the mounting
plate and lay the OTA in the rings.
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14
Place the finderscope bracket
(1) in the wedge slides for TAL-
2, TAL-150P, and TAL-150P8
telescopes. Tal-1 and TAL-1M
telescopes have finderscope
bracket mounted directly on the
OTA. Fix the nderscope with six
thumbscrews (2).
Place the polar axis in the
horizontal position (0° on the
latitude dial).
Enable unrestricted motion of the
polar axis with R.A. lock released.
Slide the counterweights along
the counterweight shaft until they
counterbalance the OTA.
For MT-1C mount polar axis
balancing release each of the
three screws (2) through the
cover (1).
After telescope balanced x the
screws (2) so that the polar axis
could not rotate.
Now with Dec. lock released,
loosen the tube ring lock clamps
and slide the OTA forward or back
in the tube rings until balanced.
Fix the tube ring lock clamps.
Fix the Dec. axis.
Repeat balancing each time when
placing additional accessories on
the telescopic tube, such as photo
and video cameras, eyepieces,
guides and other devices, which
enlarge the weight of the OTA.
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BALANCING THE TELESCOPE
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To provide a smooth motion of the telescope and reliable operation of
equatorial mount drives, the balancing of the telescopes is required.

15
Keep in mind that if the telescope
is not balanced properly, the
clock drive periodic error will
increase.
However, for the proper use of the
nder scope, it must be aligned with
the main telescope, so that both the
nder scope and the telescope point
at the same position in the sky.
Place the crosshair (2) into the
eyepiece f’=25mm (1) and then
insert the eyepiece in the focuser
tube (3).
Point the telescope at the distant
object (at least 400meters/yards
away), and then center it in the
telescopic field of view using
the reticle. Fix telescope in this
position with the R.A. and Dec.
locks.
Now, looking through the nder
scope and using the six alignment
thumbscrews, center the object on
the intersection of the crosshairs
of the nder scope.
In future, check the co-alignment
of the telescope and the nder
scope prior to observations.
ALIGNING THE FINDER SCOPE
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High magnication of the main telescope makes it difcult to nd a
required celestial object in the sky because of the small eld of view.
This is why the telescope is equipped with a low-power nder scope
with a wide eld of view. The nder scope makes it easier to locate
the object you want and then to observe it in the eld of view of the
telescope.
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16
Place the switch of the power
supply in the “0” position.
Connect the power supply 12V
output with the mount socket
using the power cord.
Plug in the power supply into the
220/110 V AC power outlet.
Place the switch of the power
supply in the “l” position. The LED
light on the power supply should
turn on.
For MT-1C mount place the left
switch in “*” position.
Turn on the mount clock drive
by placing the second switch in
“l” position. The LED light on the
power supply should turn on.
Connect hand controller to the
mount and place the left switch in
" " position (see picture).
Press one of the speed buttons
(1) to start the clock drive. The
LED light on the hand controller
should turn on (2). Push the same
button again to stop the clock
drive.
Press one of the two speed
correction buttons (3) while clock
drive is working, if necessary. The
LED light on the hand controller
should blink (2) while button is
pressed down.
POWER SUPPLY AND HAND CONTROLLER
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Warning!
Always connect power supply to the mount using the power cord
with power supply disconnected from the power outlet. Use only
original manufacturer,s power supply fuse or analogue (consult
your dealer). Always disconnect all the power, if replacing the
power supply fuse.

17
For MT-3S mount connect the
hand controller to the socket (1).
Then follow the same procedure
as for MT-1C mounts.
If the telescope is used in the
Southern hemisphere, the directi-
on of the clock drive rotation must
be changed.
For MT-3S mount open the hand
controller cover and place the
inside switch with "N/S" (North/
South) markings in the required
position.
Polar alignment of the telescope
allows more comfortable obser-
vations, because you can follow
objects by moving the telescope
about one axis, the polar axis (or
Right Ascension (R.A.) axis), which
is in parallel with the Earth,s axis.
See Appendix A for details.
Release the latitude lock (1).
Using latitude adjustment knob
(2), move R.A. axis up or down
in order to set the latitude of your
location (see latitude dial).
Re-tighten the latitude lock (1).
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POLAR ALIGNMENT
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Due to the Earth,s rotation, celestial objects move in the telescope
eld of view (the higher telescope magnication - the faster those
mo-vements appear).


18
For visual observations point the R.A.
(polar) axis of the telescope towards.
Polaris (α UMi). See the picture.
With this level of pointing accurary,
very little use of the Dec. slow-
motion control is necessary for
celestial objects tracking. Less
correction is required, when polar
alignment is done more precisely.
More precise polar alignment is
required for astrophotography.
MT-3S mount equipped with a polar
axis nder scope (1), for precise polar
alignment, with a reticle illumination.
The reticle also has major stars
of the Ursa Minor constellation,
including Polaris, depicted for the
Northern hemisphere, and stars
of the Octans constellation for the
Southern hemisphere.
Match stars depicted on the reticle
with the celestial objects in the sky,
using azimuth (2) and latitude (3)
adjustment knobs and rotating the
polar axis nder scope around its
axis.
For MT-1 and MT-1C mounts use
precise polar alignment procedure
described in Appendix B.
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Polaris
Polar axis
Ursa Major
Axis of dec-
linations

19
Level the Dec. axis (put it in the
horizontal position) and by rotating
R.A. setting circle put it in a "0"
(zero) position (see picture).
For the Dec. setting circle
calibration find bright star
from the star atlas, and bring
selected object to the center
of the telescopic eld of view.
Rotating Dec. setting circle,
set the Declination of the star
observed. Correct Dec. setting
circle calibration by selecting
next star.
CALIBRATING THE SETTING CIRCLES

R.A. and Dec. axes have setting circles, which enable observer to
locate an object in the sky by its celestial coordinates - right ascension
(R.A.) and Declination (Dec.). Calibration of setting circles is done
after polar alignment of the telescope.

20
OBSERVATIONS
To achieve maximum stability
of the visible image and best
performance of the telescope,
all parts of the telescope need
to reach thermal equilibrium with
the ambient air. For better air
circulation inside of the OTA the
primary mirror cell has special
holes. TAL-1 telescope has an
end cap, which needs to be
removed prior to observations
(see picture).
Please note that some nights
could have bad observation
conditions because of the atmo-
spheric turbulence. Even observ-
ing ne Moon surface details can
be difcult.
Avoid observations through a
window, because of the window
glass aberrations, and tempera-
ture differences between inside
and outside air, which will cause
images to look blurred and dis-
torted.
Put a soft cover on the telescope
and its power supply after obser-
vations, or to protect it from rain/
snow.
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When using higher magnication not only the visible image size ap-
pears larger in the telescope, but also blurring and distortion of the im-
age, star twinkle, caused by atmosphere become more signicant.