LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE (01) PDF Document

Under no circumstances should you point the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE or the finderscope directly at the sun, a laser beam, or any other bright light source without using a professional solar filter that completely covers the front of the instrument. Doing so may cause PERMANENT RETINAL DAMAGE or BLINDNESS.

The use of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE by children should only take place under adult supervision.

All parts of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE are supplied in one package. Exercise caution during unpacking. It is recommended to keep the original packaging. If you need to transport the telescope to another location, packaging designed for transport will help protect the telescope from any damage. Check the contents of the packaging carefully, as some parts are small.

To prevent bending and shaking of individual elements, tighten the screws thoroughly, but be careful not to overtighten them, as this could cause the threads to strip.

During assembly (and at any time), do not touch the surfaces of the optical elements with your fingers. Optical surfaces have delicate coatings that can be easily damaged by touch. Do not remove the lenses or mirrors from the housings; failure to comply with this condition voids the product warranty.

Step 1. Slowly loosen the tripod lock knobs and gently extend the lower parts of the tripod legs. Tighten the screws to set the specified height for the legs (for the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE) (Fig. 2).

Step 2. Spread the tripod legs so that it stands straight.

Step 3. Adjust the height of each leg until the tripod head is leveled appropriately. Remember that after leveling, the height of the tripod legs may be different (for the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE).

Step 4. Install the accessory tray onto the bracket and secure it with the knurled knobs from underneath or attach the accessory tray with one screw in its central part (for the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE).

Step 1. Unscrew the altitude lock knob from the mount head.

Step 2. Place the optical tube of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE onto the alt-azimuth mount, aligning the holes in both elements.

Step 3. Insert the altitude lock knob through the holes in the mount head and the optical tube (check that the holes are not blocked before tightening the knob). Secure the tube by screwing in the altitude lock knob.

Step 1. The telescope tube is equipped with a mounting plate on the bottom. Place the plate into the recess in the upper part of the tripod.

Step 2. Tighten the knurled knob on the tripod head to secure the tube to the tripod.

Step 3. Screw the control arm into the threaded hole in the rear part of the mounting.

The LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE can be equipped with additional accessories, such as eyepieces, diagonal mirrors, or Barlow lenses. Accessories must be mounted in the specified order.

Step 1. Loosen the focusing knob on the focuser.

Step 2. Insert the diagonal mirror into the focuser tube and tighten the focusing knob to secure the diagonal mirror (Fig. 5a).

Step 3. Then insert the desired eyepiece into the diagonal mirror and secure it by tightening the focusing knob.

Step 4. If a Barlow lens is needed, mount it between the diagonal mirror and the eyepiece. To get an erecting image, an erecting eyepiece can be used.

A Barlow lens increases the magnification of the eyepiece while reducing the field of view. It expands the cone of focused light before it reaches the focus, causing the focal length of the telescope to increase relative to the eyepiece. Besides increasing magnification, the Barlow lens also helps increase the exit pupil distance and reduce the spherical aberration of the eyepiece. Therefore, using a Barlow lens with another lens often yields better results than using a single lens of the same magnification. The main advantage of the Barlow lens is the possibility of doubling the number of eyepieces you own.

Unscrew the two screws located on the rear part of the telescope tube. Place the finderscope base over the holes in the tube. Secure the finderscope in the correct position by tightening the screws (Fig. 4).

Finderscopes are extremely useful accessories. Proper alignment relative to the telescope allows for quick location of objects and centering them in the field of view. Alignment is best done outdoors during the day when locating objects is easier. First, you need to refocus the image in the finderscope (if necessary).

To align the finderscope, select an object at a distance of at least 450 m and point the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE at it. Adjust the telescope so that the object is in the center of the eyepiece’s field of view. Look through the finderscope and check if the object is also in the center of its crosshairs. Use the three adjustment screws (Fig. 7) to align the finderscope crosshairs with the object.

Slowly rotate the adjustment knobs until the image in the eyepiece is sharp. Due to slight temperature fluctuations, bending, etc., slight adjustment of the focus is usually necessary. Changing the focus is almost always necessary when changing the eyepiece or adding or changing the Barlow lens (refractor Fig. 6a).

The AZ mount is an altitude-azimuth mount that allows the telescope to rotate in the vertical and horizontal planes and change its altitude and azimuth. To adjust the horizontal setting, loosen the large lock knob under the mount base and rotate the tube relative to the left or right axis, then tighten the knob again. To adjust the vertical setting, loosen the altitude adjustment knob and rotate the tube. Rotate the slow-motion control knob on the altitude slow-motion control rod for more precise altitude adjustment. Then rotate the grooved wheel on the slow-motion control rod.

For more precise adjustment, use the altitude slow-motion control knob. Due to the Earth’s rotation, objects will continuously drift and disappear from the field of view, so adjusting the telescope’s position in altitude and azimuth will be necessary to continue observations.

Reference materials usually contain information about declination coordinates given in degrees, arcminutes, and arcseconds above or below the horizon line. Azimuth coordinates can be given according to compass directions (N, SW, ENE, etc.), but more often they are given on a 360-degree scale, where North is marked as 0°, East as 90°, etc. (Fig. 8).

The technical specifications for the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE are:

Maintenance for the LEVENHUK BLITZ 50 BASE includes:

Step 1. Never wipe a lens if it is fogged. Remove moisture by using a hairdryer or pointing the telescope downwards until the moisture evaporates on its own.

Step 2. Protect the instrument from falls from a height and excessive mechanical force.

Step 3. Do not touch optical surfaces with your fingers. Clean the lens surface with compressed air or a special soft cleaning cloth for lenses. Use only special wipes and tools for cleaning optics to clean the external surfaces of the telescope.

Step 4. The instrument should be stored in a dry, cool place, away from hazardous acids and other chemical substances, heaters, open flames, and other sources of high temperature.

Step 5. When the telescope is not in use, place the dust cap on its front end. Always place the eyepieces in protective cases and cover them with caps. This prevents dust from accumulating on the mirror and lens surfaces.

Step 6. Lubricate mechanical elements containing metal and plastic connectors. Elements requiring lubrication include:

Tube

Precision mechanisms (focuser guide, precise telescope tube focuser)

Mount

Worm gears, bearings, gears, threaded connections of the mount

Use universal silicone-based greases with an operating temperature range of -60 to +180°C.