Vixen SPHINX SXD User manual

Brand: Vixen

Model: SPHINX SXD

Category: Telescopes

Type: User manual

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SPHINX SXD MOUNT

Instruction Manual

Page 2

PREFACE We thank you very much for your purchase one or our series of the Vixen Sphinx (SX) or Sphinx

Deluxe (SXD) equatorial mounts for astronomical telescopes.

The SX and SXD equatorial mount series feature automatic slewing of celestial objects on

the large color LCD screen of the STAR BOOK hand controller and a variety of convenient

menus and functions that will help you enjoy your observation of the night sky.

This manual describes the functions of all the SX and SXD series mounts. You may occasionally find

descriptions in the text not relevant to your model; this depends on the model you purchased. You should refer

to the instruction manuals for your telescope together with this manual.

Read this instruction manual completely before use.

- Always keep the instruction manual near your telescope to ensure quick answers to any

questions.

- This instruction manual describes necessary precautions for the safe use of the product

to prevent possible injuries to yourself and others, as well as damage to the equipment.

WARNING! Never look directly at the sun with your naked eyes or through

this product. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.

Never connect the cable of the STAR BOOK to other equipment such as a PC. It may

cause a failure, heating, or electrical shock.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital

device, pursuant of Part 15 of the FCC rules.

Caution

- Do not try to restrain the movement of the mount when in operation, which may lead to

injures to you or damage to your equipment .

- Do not leave the optical tube uncapped in daytime. It may cause a fire from sunlight

passing through the objective lens or mirror of the optical tube or finder.

- Do not use the product while traveling or walking, as injuries may arise from stumbling,

falling or collision with objects.

- Keep tiny caps, desiccant, plastic and vinyl packing materials away from children. These

may cause choking or suffocation.

- Do not use the product in a wet environment.

- Do not turn on the power switch of the mount under circumstances when internal

condensation is suspected on the equipment. It may cause a failure by a short circuit.

Handling and Storage

- Do not leave the product inside a car in bright sunshine, or in hot places. Keep any

strong heat radiation sources away from the product.

- When cleaning, do not use solvent such as paint thinners.

- Do not expose the product to rain, water drops, dirt or sand.

- Avoid touching any lens or mirror surfaces directly with fingers. If a lens or mirror

becomes dirty with fingerprints or general smears, gently wipe it using a commercially

available lens cleaner and a lens cleaning paper, or consult your local Vixen dealer.

- Blow off dust on lens using a commercially available blower brush.

- For storage, keep the product in dry places, and do not expose to direct sunlight.

- Remove the batteries from the battery box if the product is not used for a long time.

Page 3

CONTENTS

PREFACE BASIC OPERATION

Moving the Telescope

WARNING ・ CAUTION Start Out with Terrestrial Viewing

Changing the Magnification

CONTENTS Aligning the Finder Scope

Observing the Moon

BEFORE USE

Checking Contents AUTOMATIC SLEWING

Parts Descriptions Process of Automatic Slewing

Legend on Screen Home Position

Flow of Operation Aligning the Telescope

Starting Automatic Slewing

PREPARATION

Inserting the Battery

Replacing the Battery

SETTING UP

Setting Up the Tripod

Attaching the Equatorial Mount

Installing the Counterweight

Attaching the Optical Tube

Installing the Finder Scope

Installing the Flip Mirror

Installing the Eyepiece

Balancing the Equatorial Mount

Connecting the STAR BOOK Cable

Connecting the Power Cord

INITIAL SETTING

Turning ON the Power

Setting Language

Setting Date & Time (Local Time)

Setting Location

Saving the Settings

Page 4

BEFORE USE

Checking Contents

The SX equatorial mount box (SXC and SXW mount) and the SXD equatorial mount box

contain the parts listed below. Make sure that your box contains all these parts.

Contents of SXD Contents of SXW Contents of SXC

SXD Mount SXW Mount SXC Mount

Counterweight 1.9kg Counterweight 1.9kg None*

Counterweight 3.7kg

STAR BOOK controller, cable with ferrite core

8x D-size battery box (without batteries)

Allen wench

Phillips head screwdriver

Instruction Manual (This booklet)

Serial number stickers

CR2032 battery for STAR BOOK’s built-in clock

*The counterweight bar and DEC clamp unit are optional and not provided for the SXC Mount.

What is an Equatorial Mount?

The equatorial mount is a telescope platform which is designed to rotate parallel to Earth’s

rotational axis. Due to Earth’s rotation, the mount moves to follow a celestial object.

Without this movement, stars and celestial objects move through the field of view of the

telescope as time elapses.

Basics of the Sphinx and Sphinx Deluxe Mounts

The STAR BOOK automatic GO TO controller controls the motion of the electrically-driven

equatorial mount. The mount functions smoothly and accurately when the weight of each

component is properly balanced. An unbalanced mount may cause a tracking error or a

failure. Make sure to balance the telescope accurately (A80A-SXC model is an exception).

Caution 1: Do not use force to manipulate the mount without loosening the clamps.

The SXW and SXD mounts come equipped with manual clamps to allow you to store the

mount neatly and quickly. Remember to loosen all the clamps on the mount when you

transport the mount and for storage.

Caution 2: Never connect the cable of the STAR BOOK with other equipment such as a PC.

The specifications of the STAR BOOK cable are not compatible with RS-232C connectors.

Page 5

Parts Descriptions

Safety Screw

Tube Attachment Base

Dovetail Plate Lock Screw

Decl. Clamp

RA Polar Axis Cap

(Polar Axis Finder

Eyepiece Cover)

Polar Axis Finder

SXD Only

Altitude Scale

Altitude Adj. Knob

(For Polar Alignment)

Altitude Adj knob

(For Polar Alignment)

RA Clamp

Power Switch

DC 12V - Power Connectin Port

Controller Cable

Connecting Port

Set Position Guidepost

Altitude Adjustment Clamp

(for Polar Alignment)

Dot Finder

Table Top Tripod

Decl. Clamp

R.A. Axis

Decl. Cap

Set Position Guidepost

SXD MOUNT

Motor Housing

Counterweight Bar

Clamp

Counterweight Bar

Counterweight Lock Screw

Counterweight

Counterweight Safety Thumb

screw

Decl. Axis

SXW MOUNT

Dew Shield

Obj. Lens

Dove Tail Tube Plate

SX Half Pillar

Fixing Knob (Lower)

Tripod Legs

Leg Bracket

Extension Clamps

Finder

Eyepiece

Flip Mirror

Draw Tube

Focus Knob

Fixing Knob

(upper)

Tension Screw

STAR BOOK

Tripod Leg Tips

Page 6

Descriptions of STAR BOOK Controller

4 " Color LCD Screen

Alignment

Zoom In

Obj Selection

Zoom Out

RA+

DEC+

RA-

DEC-

CHART/SCOPE

(Change Modes)

LAN Port (10Base-T Ethernet)

MOUNT Connecting Port

12 V Power Input

(When used as stand alone)

Auto Guider Port

Page 7

Flow of Operation

Take the following steps to use the SX and SXD equatorial mount series.

*The SX mount is shown here for explanations.

1 PREPARATION - Setting up and balancing the mount

2 INITIAL SETTING - Setting language

(The first time only)

- Setting date & time

(The first time only)

- Setting longitude & latitude

(The first time only)

3 BASIC OPERATION - Learning basic operation of the mount

4 GO TO SLEWING - Home position

Setting the telescope tube to the initial position

by using the STAR BOOK controller.

- Alignment

Setting two celestial reference points (or more)

for alignment.

- Automatic slewing

When alignment is complete, automatic slewing improves

your observing experience.

5 APPLICATIONS

Page 8

PREPARATION

The STAR BOOK controller has a built-in clock, which runs on a CR2032 battery. As the

battery is not installed in the STAR BOOK at Vixen’s factory before shipment, insert it when

you use the STAR BOOK for the first time. The provided battery is for factory inspection

and not designed for long term use.

Inserting the Battery

Remove the cover of the battery container on the back of the STAR BOOK by taking off the

screws with the provided screwdriver as shown in the figure.

Insert a fresh battery so that its positive polarity faces upward.

Screw the cover back in place.

Replacing the Battery

Remove the cover of the battery container on the back of the STAR BOOK by taking off the

screws with the provided screwdriver as shown in the figure.

Pull up the edge of the battery with the tip of a toothpick or a small plastic stick.

Push out the battery from the inner side as shown in the figure.

Insert a fresh battery so that its positive polarity faces upward.

Screw the cover back in palace.

Caution: Use a wooden stick or an object with non electric conductivity to avoid

malfunction or irreparable damage to the STAR BOOK when you remove the battery.

Page 9

SETTING UP

I Setting up the Tripod

Place the tripod on level ground for stable observing.

Loosen the extension clamp on the tripod leg so that the tripod leg can be adjusted.

Draw out of the tripod leg until it is at the desired height.

Tighten the extension clamp to hold the leg securely in place.

Installing a Half Pillar

(Proceed to the next section if your telescope doesn’t have a half pillar.)

(1) Screw the metal peg into the outer screw hole on the top of the half pillar by using a coin.

*The inner screw hole on the top of the half pillar is not used.

(2) After loosening the lock knob on the lower part of the half pillar, place the half pillar over

the tripod head. Attach the half pillar on the tripod head so that the metal peg on the

tripod head comes underneath the through hole on the bottom of the half pillar.

Screw the fixing bolt underneath the tripod head to secure the half pillar. Tighten the lock

knob on the half pillar.

II Attaching the Equatorial Mount

First, loosen the azimuth adjustment knobs on the equatorial mount.

Place the equatorial mount right above the tripod head and attach the equatorial mount on

the tripod head so that the metal peg on the tripod head comes underneath the middle of

the two azimuth adjustment knobs.

Make sure that the brass traveler nut is in the center of the threaded brass adjustment shaft.

Page 10

If your telescope has a half pillar

Attach the equatorial mount on the half pillar so that the metal peg on the top of the half

pillar comes underneath the middle of the two azimuth adjustment knobs.

Screw the fixing bolt on the inside of the half pillar to secure the equatorial mount. Then

tighten the azimuth adjustment screws.

If your telescope has a table top tripod

Attach the equatorial mount on the tripod head so that one of the legs comes underneath

the declination body as shown in the figure.

III Installing the Counterweight (Proceed to the next section if your telescope doesn’t have a

counterweight.)

The counterweight bar is in the declination body. Release the counterweight bar clamp to

draw out the counterweight bar. Lock the counterweight bar clamp with the

counterweight bar extended fully.

Loosen the lock screw on the side of counterweight.

Remove the safety screw on the end of the counterweight bar and install the counterweight

by sliding it onto the bar.

*Install the counterweight so that the lock screw on the counterweight is the opposite of the safety screw.

Tighten the counterweight lock screw and replace the safety screw on the end of the

counterweight bar.

WARNING! Be sure to handle the counterweight carefully as it is a very heavy item.

Page 11

IV Attaching the Optical Tube

Loosen the dovetail tube-plate lock screw and the safety screw before you attach the optical

tube.

Slide the dovetail tube-plate mounted optical tube onto the dovetail mounting platform of

the equatorial mount.

Tighten the dovetail tube-pate lock screw onto the dovetail tube-plate until snug. Tighten

the safety screw.

WARNING! Make sure that the dovetail tube-plate is flat against the dovetail mounting

block. Tightening the dovetail plate lock screw with a gap between these parts may result

in the optical tube falling off.

V Installing the Finder Scope

*The provided finder scopes differ depending on the telescope you purchased.

Installing a Dot finder

(1) Loosen the chrome setscrew of the bracket shoe on the telescope.

(2) Slide the dot finder onto the bracket shoe and tighten the chrome bracket setscrew.

The dot finder bracket is made of plastic. Never tighten it too much as it may crack.

Installing a 7x50 finder scope

(1) With an Allen wrench, loosen each of the rear three setscrews an equal amount on the

bracket ring that hold the finder scope. Loosen the front adjustment screws an equal

amount on the bracket ring to allow passage of the finder scope.

(2) Slide the finder scope into the bracket ring from its eyepiece end and tighten the

setscrews on the bracket ring lightly with the Allen wench. Tighten the three adjustment

screws equally to hold the finder scope steady.

(3) Loosen the chrome setscrew of the bracket shoe on the telescope. Slide the finder

scope onto the bracket shoe and tighten the chrome bracket setscrew.

Page 12

VI Installing the Flip Mirror

*The flip mirror shown here may not be provided for your telescope as a standard accessory.

Loosen the two setscrews on the black ring at the end of the drawtube until the tips of these

screws no longer extend into the inner diameter of the black ring. Slide the flip mirror as

shown in the figure. Tighten the two setscrews on the black ring to hold the flip mirror in

place.

VII Installing the Eyepiece

*The flip mirror shown here may not be provided for your telescope as a standard accessory.

Loosen the setscrew of the eyepiece adapter on the flip mirror. Slide the eyepiece into the

flip mirror’s eyepiece adapter as shown in the figure. When the flip mirror is provided with

the telescope, the eyepiece can be attached on either side; straight thru and right-angled.

Make sure that the light rays passing through the telescope enter your eyepiece by turning

the mirror shift knob.

VIII Balancing the Equatorial Mount

To balance the equatorial mount in declination:

Loosen the R.A. clamp while holding the counterweight bar and turn the telescope tube

until the DEC axis comes to horizontal as shown in the figure. Tighten the R.A. clamp and

loosen the DEC clamp.

Release the telescope gradually to see which way the telescope rotates around the

declination axis. Slightly loosen the knobs on the tube rings (or the knob that holds the

telescope to the dovetail mounting platform if your telescope is equipped with the dovetail

slide bar) and slide the telescope either forward or backward until it remains stationary

when the DEC clamp is loose. Tighten the knob(s) to hold the telescope in place.

Page 13

To balance the equatorial mount in right ascension:

Loosen the R.A. clamp while holding the counterweight bar and turn the telescope tube

until the DEC axis comes to horizontal as shown in the figure. Loosen the lock screw on

the side of the counterweight so that it can be moved to a point where it balances the

telescope. It is the point that the telescope remains stationary when the R.A. clamp is

loose.

Tighten the lock screw on the counterweight to hold it in place. Tighten the R.A. clamp on

the equatorial mount securely.

Page 14

IX Connecting the STAR BOOK Cable

Connecting to the Equatorial Mount

Plug one end of the STAR BOOK cable where no ferrite core is attached into the controller

cable connector of the equatorial mount. Secure the connectors with the screws.

WARNING! Never connect the STAR BOOK cable with other equipment such as a PC. It

may cause failure, over-heating, or electric shock.

Connecting to the STAR BOOK

Plug the other end of the STAR BOOK cable where the ferrite core is attached into the

controller cable connector of the STAR BOOK. Secure the connectors with the screws.

X Connecting the Power Cord

Confirm that the power switch is in the off position (i.e. the mark O on the switch is

pressed) and plug the power cord to the DC 12V input of the equatorial mount.

When you use the battery box which holds 8 D-size batteries, be sure to insert them with

the correct polarity. Do not mix up fresh batteries with used batteries.

Page 15

INITIAL SETTING

I Turning On the Power

(1) The power switch is set on the body of the equatorial mount only as shown in the above

figure.

(2) Confirm the Vixen logo is displayed on the screen of the STAR BOOK for a few seconds

when you turn on the power switch.

(3) The initial setting screen will be displayed.

To turn on the power, press I on the switch, and when you turn off the power press 0

on the switch.

On-screen soft keys

The group of buttons on the right side of the STAR BOOK corresponds to the lower right

on-screen soft keys, and the group of left buttons corresponds to the lower left on-screen

soft keys.

Hint 1 In the initial setting screen, contrast and brightness of the LCD screen can be

adjusted with the on-screen soft keys shown at the lower left of the screen. Adjust it with

the corresponding keys according to conditions of use.

Setting Language

The STAR BOOK can be operated with your choice of language with English, German,

French, Italia, Spanish and Japanese to choose from. Japanese is set as the default

language.

In the initial setting screen, choose 言語/Language with the

keys and press Select.

Choose your language with the keys and press Select.

The screen returns to the initial setting screen of your selected language.

Page 16

Setting Local Time

Enter the date and local time of your observing site by using the on screen soft keys shown

at the lower right of the screen. This task is required only the first time you use the STAR

BOOK. However, you will need to reset the date and time if you travel from your regular

observing site to a different time zone or if you reset your clocks for Daylight Saving time.

A deviation may arise between the initial clock of the STAR BOOK and your time, but a few

minute’s difference does not affect the slewing performance of the unit.

Choose Local Setting Time with the

keys and press Select.

To change the date and time, move the cursor with the

keys to the item where

corrections are needed. Then change the number with the

keys.

To finish the setting, move the cursor with the

keys to OK and press Select.

About Time Zone

The time zones are based on longitude bands 15 degrees wide, starting at Greenwich,

England. Set the time difference in hours between your local time and Greenwich Mean

Time (GMT). The sign is “plus” if local time is ahead of GMT (east of Greenwich) and “minus”

if local time is behind GMT (west of Greenwich). For example, the time zone for Los

Angeles (on Pacific Standard Time) is -8 hours.

Please note that the time zone setting is not converted to Daylight Saving time

automatically. When you reset your clocks for Daylight time, add one hour to the value in

the Time Zone setting, as in Los Angeles, change the setting from -8 to -7.

Page 17

Setting Location

Enter the longitude, latitude, and time zone of your observing site. Once the settings for

your location are entered and saved, you don’t need to change them unless you travel more

than 15 miles to a different observing location. The longitude and latitude of your

observing site can be checked on a map or with a GPS device. The initial location is set at

Tokyo.

Choose Location with the

keys and press Select to enter.

To change the longitude and latitude settings for your observing site, move the cursor with

the

keys to the item where corrections are needed. Then change the numbers with

the

keys.

To finish the setting, move the cursor to OK with the

keys and press Select. The

screen will go to the initial setting screen.

Saving the Settings

Save your time, language and contrast settings for the next use. Failure to do so will

result in having to re-enter these settings every time you turn on the power. Once you

save the settings, they will be stored in the memory of the STAR BOOK and you can simply

choose OK to advance the screen the next time you use it.

Choose Save Setting with the

keys and press Select to enter.

Next the confirmation screen is displayed. Move the cursor to OK with the

keys and

press Select to enter.

Now all the entered data is saved and the screen goes back to the initial setting screen.

Page 18

In the initial setting screen, move the cursor to OK with the

keys and press Select to

enter. The screen displays a warning on solar observation.

After reading the text, choose Confirm with the

keys and press Select to enter. The

warning continues on the screen when Not Confirm is chosen.

The screen advances to the home position setting as soon as you choose the Confirm key.

Do NOT press OK and stay at the home position setting screen.

Page 19

I Moving the Telescope

Make sure that the R.A and DEC clamps are tightened.

Press the

keys to see in what direction the telescope tube moves.

The

keys move the telescope left and right, and the keys move it up and down.

(The telescope may not move below the horizon.)

Note: The mount starts driving at sidereal rate (the speed of Earth’s rotation) as soon as the

OK key is pressed in the home position setting screen.

II Start Out with Terrestrial Viewing

Let’s have a look through the telescope. The best way to become familiar with a telescope

is to learn how to use it in the daytime. It is difficult for the novice telescope user to start

observing under a dark sky at night. Start out with terrestrial viewing.

WARNING! Never look directly at the sun with your naked eye or through any telescope or

its finder scope or guide scope. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.

(1) Place the telescope in an open area where you can view in excess of 200m/660ft away.

Make sure that there are no obstacles around the telescope. Using the telescope outdoors

is recommended.

Hint 2 When viewing through a window the image is often fuzzy or ‘doubled’. When there is

a temperature difference between indoors and outdoors the image may not be clear, as it

may be affected by turbulence from air flowing out/in through an open window. (Although

a drifting image may also be seen outdoors, it is considered very stable when compared

with indoors.)

(2) Remove the objective lens cap and

eyepiece cap. The location of the cap on

your telescope may differ from model to

model.

(3) Do you know where on the telescope to

look through? Do you know where the

front of the telescope is? Refer to the

figures shown on the above.

Page 20

(4) Astronomical telescopes need eyepieces (ocular lenses) to view images. Confirm where

on the telescope you insert the eyepiece. This may differ from model to model. Insert a

long focal length eyepiece (large number in millimeters, low power) into the eyepiece holder

and secure it with the setscrew.

(5) Press the

keys (the right on-screen soft keys on the STAR BOOK) to point the

telescope’s front end toward the target object you choose. (Targets should be in excess of

200m/660ft away); a building, antenna, tower, electric pole, etc.)

(6) Look into the eyepiece. The image will likely be out of focus at first. Turn the focus

knob slowly clockwise or counterclockwise to find a point where the image in the field of

view of the eyepiece becomes sharpest.

How will the image appear in the eyepiece? The image orientation of the target object

differs depending on what type of telescope and visual accessories are used. The image

may be inverted or tilted but this does not mean the telescope is out of order. There is no

up or down in space so image orientation is not so important.

Hint 3 When using an eyepiece with short focal length, the image will be dim and the range

of sharp focus will be small. The image will be harder to see so begin with an eyepiece with

long focal length. Dividing the focal length of the eyepiece into the focal length of the

telescope gives the magnification.

Hint 4 Astronomical telescopes produce upside-down images. The telescope’s image is

inverted when viewing straight-thru and mirror reversed during right-angled viewing (with

a star diagonal or a flip mirror). The non-erect orientation of a telescope’s image may be

difficult to get used to.

3 Changing the Magnification

Loosen the eyepiece setscrew and change the eyepiece with a higher power eyepiece

(smaller number in millimeters). Make sure that you tighten the setscrew after changing

the eyepiece.

Re-focus the telescope by turning the focusing knobs slowly as the

higher the magnification, the smaller the range of focus.

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Vixen SPHINX SXD User manual

Brand: Vixen

Model: SPHINX SXD

Category: Telescopes

Type: User manual

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Vixen SPHINX SXD User manual

Vixen SPHINX SXD User manual

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