ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5 User manual

Orion®FunScope™Astro Dazzle
4.5 Altazimuth Reflector
#10075
IN 556 Rev. A 09/15
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Customer Support:
www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
Corporate Offices:
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 – USA
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
#10075
Copyright © 2015 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted,
without the prior written consent of Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.

2
Figure 1. Components of the FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5. (Not shown: 2mm Allen key and Starry
Night digital download coupon)
Eyepieces
Dust Cover
Optical tube
Moon map
Brochure
Focuser
EZ Finder II
Dust Cover
Collimation
Cap
Altazimuth base

3
Table of Contents
1. Unpacking and Assembly...............3
Parts List .................................... 3
Attaching the Optical Tube to the Base ............. 3
Installing the Battery in the EZ Finder II ............. 3
Attaching the EZ Finder II........................ 4
Inserting an Eyepiece........................... 4
2. Getting Started .......................4
Readying the FunScope Astro Dazzle for Observing... 4
Moving and Pointing the Telescope ................ 4
Focusing the Telescope ......................... 5
Using the EZ Finder II .......................... 6
Aligning the EZ Finder II with the Optical Tube........ 6
3. Using Your Telescope ..................6
Choosing an Observing Location .................. 6
How are the “Seeing” and Transparency? ........... 8
Tracking Celestial Objects ....................... 8
Eyepiece Selection............................. 8
What to Expect................................ 9
4. Care and Maintenance .................9
5. Aligning the Mirrors (Collimation) ........9
Specifications .........................10
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun with the
naked eye or with a telescope – unless you have
a proper solar filter installed over the front of the
telescope! Otherwise, permanent, irreversible eye
damage may result.
Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion FunScope™
Astro Dazzle 4.5 Altazimuth Reflector telescope. Besides hav-
ing the most dazzling appearance of any telescope on the mar-
ket, the FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5 is a great tool for kids and
adults alike to explore the night sky’s celestial treasures. It’s a
real telescope, not a toy, that will provide the whole family with
breathtaking views of the Moon, planets, and even more-distant
objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. These
instructions will help you set up and operate your FunScope
Astro Dazzle telescope; please read them thoroughly.
1. Unpacking and Assembly
The telescope will arrive almost completely assembled in
the box! You will just need to attach the tube to the base and
install a couple of accessories and you’ll be all set for astro
action. Make sure all the parts in the Parts List and shown in
Figure 1 below are present. If anything appears to be miss-
ing or broken, immediately call Orion Customer Support (800-
676-1343) for assistance.
Parts List
Qty. Description
1 Optical tube assembly
1 Altazimuth base
1 EZ Finder II reflex sight (with button cell battery)
1 10mm Kellner eyepiece, 1.25" barrel diameter
1 25mm Kellner eyepiece, 1.25" barrel diameter
1 MoonMap 260
1 Quick collimation capr
1 2mm Allen wrench
1 Starry Night SE digital download coupon
Attaching the Optical Tube to the Base
To attach the telescope optical tube to the base:
1. Orient the base as shown in Figure 2A, then loosen the
tube clamp knob on the dovetail saddle (2B).
2. Slide the dovetail mounting bar on the tube into the
dovetail saddle, then tighten the clamp knob to secure
the tube. The open end of the optical tube should be
facing forward, as in Figure 2C.
3. Tighten the altitude tensioning knob so there is no gap
between the side panel and the dovetail saddle hub, as
shown in Figure 3, but the telescope should move easily
up and down with light hand pressure.
Installing the Battery in the EZ Finder II
Before installing the EZ Finder II on the telescope, you will
need to insert the included CR2032 3V lithium button cell bat-
tery in the EZ Finder II. If there is a small plastic tab sticking
out from the battery compartment cover, you must remove it
for the battery to make contact with the EZ Finder’s electronic
circuitry. The tab can then be discarded
1. Turn the EZ Finder II upside down as shown in Figure
4A.
2. Insert a small, flat-blade screwdriver into the notch in the
battery compartment cover and gently pry it off.
3. Slide the battery under the retaining clip with the positive
(+) side facing up (touching the clip) (4B).
4. Then press the battery compartment cover back on.
Should the battery die, replacement CR2032 batteries are
available at many stores where small batteries are sold or
online.

4
Attaching the EZ Finder II
1. Remove the two metal thumbnuts near the focuser
(Figure 5A) to expose two screws.
2. Place the bracket of the EZ Finder II on the tube so that
the holes in the bracket slide over the two screws. The
EZ Finder should be oriented with the sight tube facing
forward, i.e., toward the open end of the telescope tube
(Figure 5B).
3. Thread the thumbnuts back onto the screws to secure
the EZ Finder II in place
Inserting an Eyepiece
The FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5 comes with two eyepieces;
one has a 25mm focal length and the other a 10mm focal
length. The 25mm eyepiece provides lower power, which is
better for locating objects to view. So, we’ll start by installing
the 25mm eyepiece.
1. Remove the dust cap on the focuser’s eyepiece holder.
2. Loosen the two thumbscrews on the focuser’s eyepiece
holder.
3. Insert the chrome barrel of the 25mm eyepiece into
the eyepiece holder, then lightly re-tighten the two
thumbscrews (Figure 6).
4. Keep the 10mm eyepiece close by for use later.
Your telescope is now fully assembled and should resemble
Figure 1. Remove the dust cap from the front of the telescope
when it is in use. Replace it when you are finished observing.
2. Getting Started
It’s best to get a feel for the basic functions of FunScope
Astro Dazzle 4.5 during the day, before observing astronomi-
cal objects at night. Find a spot outdoors where you’ll have
a clear view of some object or vista that is at least 1/4 mile
away.
The FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5 was designed specifically
for visual observation of astronomical objects in the night sky.
Like all Newtonian reflector telescopes, it is not well suited for
daytime terrestrial usage because the image in the eyepiece
is rotated from right-side-up
Readying the FunScope Astro Dazzle for
Observing
One of the great assets of the FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5 is
its extremely portable size. Due to its overall short height, you
– or kids especially -- may find that viewing while sitting down
on the ground next to the telescope is the most comfortable.
Or you may wish to raise it off the ground so that it can be
used while standing or sitting in a chair. In that case, set the
telescope on a sturdy platform, such as a milk crate, stool, or
picnic table.
Moving and Pointing the Telescope
The FunScope Astro Dazzle’s altazimuth base permits
motion along two axes: altitude (up/down) and azimuth (left/
right). Simply take hold of the telescope tube with one hand
and move it left or right so that the base rotates (Figure 7).
Move it up or down in the same manner. Both motions can be
made simultaneously and in a continuous manner for easy
Figure 2. To attach the tube to the base, A) Orient the base as shown, then B) slide the dovetail bar into the dovetail saddle
on the base, then C) tighten the tube clamp knob to secure the tube.
Dovetail mounting bar
Tube clamp knob
Dovetail saddle
ABC

5
Figure 3. If there is a gap between the side panel and the
saddle hub (A), tighten the altitude tensioning knob until the
hub is flush against the side panel, as in B. Set the tension
so that the tube can be moved freely up and down with light
hand pressure.
aiming. This way you can point the scope to any position in
the night sky, from horizon to horizon.
You may find it convenient to lightly hold the base with your
other hand to steady it while moving and aiming the telescope.
When moving the telescope up and down, you want the tele-
scope to move smoothly with just enough friction so that the
tube stays aimed where you point it, and doesn’t slip or drift
once you let go. It the tube is too hard to move easily, or too
loose to stay in place, you will need to adjust the altitude ten-
sion knob to achieve the desired friction (Figure 3).
Focusing the Telescope
With the 25mm eyepiece installed the focuser, aim the tele-
scope so the front (open) end is pointing in the general direc-
tion of an object at least 1/4-mile away. With your fingers,
slowly rotate one of the focus knobs (Figure 8) until the object
comes into sharp focus. Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until
the image starts to blur again, then slowly reverse the rotation
of the knob, just to make sure you’ve hit the exact focus point.
A
B
No gap
Gap
Side Panel
Saddle hub
Altitude tensioning knob
Figure 4. A) To install the CR2032 battery in the EZ
Finder II, first turn it upside-down and remove the battery
compartment cover. B) Install the battery with positive (+)
side facing up, as shown.
A
B
Battery
compartment
cover
Battery
Notch

6
Using the EZ Finder II
The EZ Finder II is a non-magnifying “red dot” finder scope
that rides piggyback on the main telescope. It’s designed to
help you locate celestial objects and center them in the main
telescope’s eyepiece.
The EZ Finder II works by projecting a tiny red dot onto a
lens mounted in the front of the unit. When you look through
the EZ Finder II, you line up the red dot with the star or other
object you want to view (Figure 9). The red dot is produced
by a light-emitting diode (LED), not a laser beam, near the
rear of the sight. The 3-volt lithium battery that you installed
previously provides the power for the red LED.
To use the EZ Finder II, turn the power knob clockwise until
you hear a “click” indicating that power has been turned on.
With your eye positioned at a comfortable distance behind the
EZ Finder, look through the sight tube with both eyes open to
see the red dot. The intensity of the dot can be adjusted by
turning the power knob. For best results when stargazing, use
the dimmest possible setting that allows you to see the dot
without difficulty. Typically, a dim setting is used under dark
skies and a bright setting is used under light-polluted skies or
in daylight.
At the end of your observing session, be sure to turn the
power knob counterclockwise until it clicks off.
Aligning the EZ Finder II with the Optical Tube
To work properly, the EZ Finder II has to be aligned with the
main telescope so that they both aim at exactly the same
point. When the EZ Finder II is so aligned, an object that is
centered on its red dot will also appear in the center of the
telescope eyepiece’s field of view. Alignment of the EZ Finder
II is easiest to do during daylight, before observing at night.
Here’s what to do:
1. Aim the telescope at a distant object at least 1/4 mile
away, such as a telephone pole or chimney, and center it
in the telescope’s eyepiece.
2. Now, turn the EZ Finder II on and look through it. The
object should appear somewhere near the red dot.
Note: Remember that the image in the eyepiece of
the FunScope will be rotated or upside-down. This is
normal for Newtonian reflector telescopes.
3. 3. Without moving the telescope, use the EZ Finder II’s
azimuth (left/right) and altitude (up/down) adjustment
knobs (Figure 10) to move the direction of the EZ
Finder II until the red dot is superimposed right smack
on the object. Then check to make sure that the object
is still centered in the telescope’s eyepiece. If it isn’t,
re-center it and adjust the EZ Finder II’s alignment
again. When the object is centered both in the telescope
eyepiece and on the EZ Finder’s red dot, the EZ Finder
II is properly aligned with the telescope.
Check the EZ Finder II’s alignment before each evening’s
observing session, and make any necessary adjustments.
Figure 5. To attach the EZ Finder II, A) first remove the two
thumbnuts near the focuser, then B) install the EZ Finder
II bracket over the two exposed screws, then replace the
thumbnuts.
3. Using Your Telescope
Choosing an Observing Location
When selecting a location for observing, get as far away as
possible from direct artificial light such as street lights, porch
lights, and automobile headlights. The glare from these
lights will greatly impair your dark-adapted night vision.
Avoid viewing over rooftops and chimneys, as they often
have warm air currents rising from them. Similarly, avoid
A
B

7
Figure 6. After removing the dust cap on the focuser, insert
a 1.25" eyepiece into the eyepiece holder, then lightly tighten
the two thumbscrews to secure it in place.
Figure 7. Move the telescope by grasping the tube and
moving it up or down (altitude) and left or right (azimuth). It
helps with doing this to place your other hand on the base to
prevent the telescope from tipping.
Figure 8. Focus the image in the eyepiece by slowly
turning one of the focus knobs until the image is sharp.
Eyepiece
Eyepiece
Thumbscrews
Focus knobs
Eyepiece holder
Thumbscrews
Eyepiece holder
A
l
t
i
t
u
d
e
A
z
i
m
u
t
h

8
observing from indoors through an open (or closed) window,
because the temperature difference between the indoor and
outdoor air will cause image blurring and distortion. If at all
possible, escape the light-polluted city sky and head
for darker country skies. You’ll be amazed at how many
more stars and deep-sky objects are visible in a dark sky!
How are the “Seeing” and Transparency?
Atmospheric conditions vary significantly from night to night.
“Seeing” refers to the steadiness of the Earth’s atmosphere
at a given time. In conditions of poor seeing, atmospheric
turbulence causes objects viewed through the telescope to
“boil”. If, when you look up at the sky with your unaided eyes,
the stars are twinkling noticeably, the seeing is bad and you
will be limited to viewing with low powers (bad seeing affects
images at high powers more severely). Planetary observing
may also be poor.
In conditions of good seeing, star twinkling is minimal and
images appear steady in the eyepiece. Seeing is best over-
head, worst at the horizon. Also, seeing generally gets better
after midnight, when much of the heat absorbed by the Earth
during the day has radiated off into space.
Especially important for observing faint objects is good “trans-
parency” -- air free of moisture, smoke, and dust. All of these
tend to scatter light, which reduces an object’s brightness.
Transparency is judged by the magnitude of the faintest stars
you can see with the unaided eye, e.g., 5th or 6th magnitude
is desirable. Magnitude is a measure of an object’s brightness.
The brighter a star is, the lower its magnitude will be. Consult
our online monthly star chart for magnitudes of specific stars.
Tracking Celestial Objects
The Earth is constantly rotating about its polar axis, com-
pleting one full rotation every 24 hours; this is what defines
a “day”. We do not feel the Earth rotating, but we see it at
night from the apparent movement of stars from east to west.
When you observe any astronomical object, you are watch-
ing a moving target. This means the telescope’s position must
be continuously adjusted over time to keep an object in the
eyepiece’s field of view. This is easy to do with the FunScope
Astro Dazzle 4.5 because it moves smoothly in both axes. As
the target object drifts slowly toward the edge of the field of
view, just lightly nudge the telescope to re-center it.
Figure 9. The EZ Finder II superimposes a tiny red dot on
the sky, showing right where the telescope is aimed.
Red dot
Objects appear to move across the field of view faster at high-
er magnifications. This is because the field of view becomes
narrower.
Eyepiece Selection
By using eyepieces of different focal lengths, it is possible to
attain different magnifications, or powers, with the FunScope
Astro Dazzle 4.5. Your telescope comes with two Kellner eye-
pieces: a 25mm, which provides a magnification of 20x, and
a 10mm, which yields a magnification of 50x. Other, optional
eyepieces can be used to achieve different powers. It is quite
common for an observer to own several eyepieces to access
a wide range of magnifications.
To calculate the magnification of a telescope-eyepiece com-
bination, simply divide the focal length of the telescope by the
focal length of the eyepiece.
Telescope Focal Length (mm) ÷ Eyepiece Focal Length
(mm) = Magnification
For example, the FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5 has a focal
length of 500mm. When used with the 10mm eyepiece, you
get:
500mm ÷ 10mm = 50x magnification
Whatever you choose to view, always start by inserting your
lowest-power (longest focal length) eyepiece to locate and
center the object. Low magnification yields a wide field of view,
which shows a larger area of sky in the eyepiece. This makes
finding and centering an object much easier. Trying to find and
center objects with a high power (narrow field of view) eye-
piece can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Once
you’ve centered the object in the eyepiece, you can switch to
a higher magnification (shorter focal length) eyepiece, if you
wish. This is recommended for small and bright objects, like
planets and double stars. The Moon also takes higher magni-
fications well.
Figure 10. The EZ Finder II’s On/Off and adjustment
knobs.
ON/OFF
Brightness control
Altitude
adjustment
control
Dovetail
tightening
thumb screws
Azimuth
adjustment
control
Battery
compartment
cover
Sight tube

9
The best rule of thumb with eyepiece selection is to start with
a low power, wide-field eyepiece, and then work your way up
in magnification. If the object looks better, try an even higher
magnification eyepiece. If the object looks worse, then back
off the magnification a little by using a lower-power (longer
focal length) eyepiece.
What to Expect
So what can you expect to see with your FunScope Astro
Dazzle 4.5? You should be able to see bands on Jupiter, the
rings of Saturn, craters on the Moon, the waxing and waning
phases of Venus, and many bright nebulas and star clusters.
Do not expect to see color in faint objects, however, as you do
in photographs of those objects. Unlike film or digital camera
sensors, our eyes are not sensitive enough to see color in
faint deep-sky objects except in a few of the brightest ones,
and in the planets.
But as you observe keep in mind that you are seeing these
cosmic denizens using your own telescope with your own
eyes! You’re seeing objects in the eyepiece in real-time, and in
many cases that light has traveled mind-boggling distances to
reach Earth, and over incredible lengths of time – sometimes
even thousands or millions of years. When you gaze at the
ethereal glow of the Andromeda galaxy (M31), for example,
you’re seeing ancient light – light that left the galaxy a cou-
ple million years before Neanderthals roamed present-day
Europe! In this way you can think of your telescope as a mod-
ern day time machine. How cool is that?
Orion carries a variety of useful maps and guides to help
you find your way around the night sky and get the most out
of your telescope. Visit www.OrionTelescopes.com and
browse our selection. You’ll also find plenty of helpful FREE
resources in the Community section of our website to get you
started in your astronomical pursuits.
Enjoy! And let us know if you need any assistance get-
ting up and running with your FunScope Astro Dazzle 4.5.
We’re always ready and willing to help! Send an email to
[e-mail] or call us toll-free at 800-676-
1343.
4. Care and Maintenance
Store your telescope in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe
from prolonged exposure to sunlight and humidity. Sunlight
can damage the printed vinyl finish of the telescope. Do not
store the telescope outdoors, although storage in a garage
or shed is okay. Small components like eyepiece and other
accessories should be kept in a protective box or storage
case. Keep the dust caps on the front of the scope and on the
focuser when the scope is idle.
You should not have to clean the telescope’s mirrors. Covering
the telescope with the dust cap when it is not in use will help
prevent dust from accumulating on the mirrors. Small specks
of dust or flecks of paint have virtually no effect on the visual
performance of the telescope.
5. Aligning the Mirrors
(Collimation)
Your telescope’s optics were aligned at the factory, and
should not need adjustment unless the telescope is handled
roughly. Accurate mirror alignment is important to ensure the
peak performance of your telescope. Aligning the mirrors – a
process called collimation -- is relatively easy to do and can
be done in daylight.
A collimation cap (Figure 1) and 2mm Allen wrench are
included with your telescope to aid in collimating the optics.
In addition, the telescope’s primary mirror is marked with an
adhesive ring. This ring is also of great help in collimating the
optics. The center ring sticker should not be removed from
the primary mirror. Because it lies directly in the shadow
of the secondary mirror, its presence in no way adversely
affects the optical performance of the telescope or the
image quality. That might seem counterintuitive, but it’s
true!
A detailed collimation procedure can be found on our website
in the support materials for this telescope.

10
Specifications
Primary mirror: Parabolic, center marked
Primary mirror diameter: 4.5 inches (114mm)
Secondary mirror minor axis: 33mm
Mirror coatings: Aluminum with SiO2 overcoating
Focal length: 500mm
Focal ratio: f/4.4
Focuser: Rack-and-pinion, 1.25"
Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm Kellner, 1.25"
Magnification: 20x (with 25mm), 50x (with 10mm)
Finder: EZ Finder II reflex sight
Mount: Altazimuth
Weigh, assembled: 10.9 lbs.
Dimensions, assembled: 12-3/4" D x 24" H
Other included accessories: Orion MoonMap 260, collimation cap
CPSIA certified: Yes
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076
Customer Support Help Line [phone] • Day or Evening
© Copyright 2015 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion product is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year
from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this
warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted
instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid. Proof of purchase (such as a
copy of the original receipt) is required. This warranty is only valid in the country of purchase.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or
modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not
intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or
national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.
For further warranty information, please visit www.OrionTelescopes.com/warranty.