LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE (01) PDF Document

Never, even for a moment, point the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE or the finderscope at the sun without using a professional solar filter that completely covers the front part of the instrument, as this can cause PERMANENT RETINAL DAMAGE or BLINDNESS.

Exercise special caution when the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE is used by children or persons not fully familiar with the instructions.

Do not attempt to disassemble the instrument yourself. For any repairs or cleaning, contact a service center.

Do not use the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE if the objective lens is fogged. Do not wipe the objective lens! Remove moisture using a hairdryer or by pointing the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE downwards until the moisture evaporates on its own.

Protect the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE from falls from a height and exposure to excessive mechanical force.

Do not touch the optical surfaces with your fingers. Clean the objective lens surface with compressed air or a special soft cleaning cloth for lenses. Use only special cloths and tools for cleaning optics to clean the exterior surfaces of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE.

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.

When the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE is not in use, place a dust cap on its front end. Always place eyepieces in protective cases and cover them with caps. This will prevent dust accumulation on the mirror and lens surfaces.

Lubricate mechanical parts that include metal and plastic connectors. Parts requiring lubrication include:

Tube

Precision mechanisms (focuser drawtube, precision focuser of the telescope tube)

Mount

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

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

If any part or battery is swallowed, contact a doctor immediately.

The use of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE by children must only take place under adult supervision.

Slowly loosen the tripod lock knobs and gently slide out the lower sections of the tripod legs. Tighten the screws to set the specified height for the legs (except for the Blitz 70s BASE) (Fig. 2).

Spread the tripod legs so that it stands upright.

Adjust the height of each leg until the tripod head is properly leveled. Remember that after leveling the mount, the height of the tripod legs may be different (except for the Blitz 70s BASE).

Install the accessory tray on the bracket and secure it with the knurled knobs from underneath or attach the accessory tray with one screw in its center part (except for the Blitz 50 BASE, Blitz 70s BASE).

Unscrew the altitude slow-motion control lock knob from the mount head.

Place the optical tube of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE onto the altazimuth mount, aligning the holes in both components.

Insert the altitude slow-motion control 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 optical tube by screwing in the altitude slow-motion control lock knob.

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

Tighten the knurled knob located on the tripod head to secure the tube to the mount.

Screw the fork mount arm into the threaded opening in the rear part of the mount.

Unscrew the lock screw from the altitude slow-motion control rod.

Insert the rod into the opening on the side of the fork mount.

Place the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE optical tube between the fork mount arms so that the holes in the tube align with the holes in the arms. Secure the telescope tube to the mount by tightening the knurled screws.

Attach the other end of the rod to the telescope tube by inserting the screw through the shaft and holes and tightening it.

Loosen the focuser’s knurled screw and insert the diagonal mirror into the focuser drawtube and tighten the knurled screw to secure the diagonal mirror (Fig. 5a).

Next, insert the appropriate eyepiece into the diagonal mirror and secure it by tightening the knurled screw.

If a Barlow lens is necessary, mount it between the diagonal mirror and the eyepiece. For a direct image, an erecting eyepiece can be used.

A Barlow lens increases the magnification of the eyepiece while simultaneously reducing the field of view. It expands the cone of focused light before it reaches the focal point, thus increasing the focal length of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE relative to the eyepiece. In addition to increasing magnification, the Barlow lens helps to increase the exit pupil distance and reduce the spherical aberration of the eyepiece. For this reason, using a Barlow lens with a second lens often yields better results than using a single lens of the same magnification. The most important advantage of a Barlow lens is the ability to double the number of eyepieces you own.

Unscrew the two screws located at 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 very useful accessories. Correct alignment with the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE 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, re-focus 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 60 BASE at it. Adjust the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE so that the object is centered in the eyepiece’s field of view. Look through the finderscope and check if the object is also centered in its crosshairs. Use the three adjustment screws to align the finderscope crosshairs with the object (Fig. 7).

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 6a, reflector 6b).

The AZ mount is an altitude-azimuth mount that allows the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE to rotate in the vertical and horizontal planes and change its altitude and azimuth.

To adjust the horizontal position, loosen the large lock knob under the mount base and rotate the tube relative to the left or right axis, then tighten the knob back.

To adjust the vertical position, loosen the altitude adjustment knob and rotate the tube. Rotate the slow-motion control knob for altitude for more precise adjustment. Then, rotate the grooved wheel on the slow-motion control rod.

Use the altitude slow-motion control knob for more precise adjustment.

Due to the Earth’s rotation, objects will constantly drift and disappear from the field of view, so adjusting the altitude and azimuth of the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE will be necessary to continue observations.

Reference materials usually provide information on declination coordinates given in degrees, hours, and minutes below or above 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 indicated by 0°, East by 90°, and so on (Fig. 8).

The technical specifications for the LEVENHUK BLITZ 60 BASE are detailed in the table below: