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THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE
We have one very important rule that
you should always follow when using
your telescope:
Have Fun!
Have a good time when you’re observing. You
may not know everything that there is to
know about a telescope or what all the
sights in the universe are, but that’s OK. Just
point and observe at first.
You will enjoy your telescope even more as
you learn more about it. But don’t be scared
off by difficult terms or complicated
procedures. Don’t panic! Just relax and enjoy
your scope.
You will begin to grow and learn more about
astronomy the more you observe. Go to
the library and read some books about the
stars and planets. Read about astronomers
of old. Many of them had telescope no bigger
than the one you are using right now.
Galileo, who is one of the first astronomers
to use a telescope, discovered four of the
moons of Jupiter with a telescope about the
same size as yours (and his didn’t even focus
very well!).
OBSERVING
Observe during the daytime
: Try out your
telescope during the daytime at first. It is
easier to learn how it operates and how to
observe when it is light.
Pick out an easy object to observe: A
distant mountain, a large tree, a lighthouse
or skyscraper make excellent targets. Point
the optical tube so it lines up with your
object. Objects will appear backwards in this
model telescope.
Unlock the lock knobs: To move the
telescope, you will need to unlock the
TOO MUCH POWER?
Can you ever have too much power? If the type of
power you’re referring to is eyepiece magnification,
yes you can! The most common mistake of the
beginning observer is to “overpower” a telescope by
using high magnifications which the telescope’s
aperture and atmospheric conditions cannot
reasonably support. Keep in mind that a smaller,
but bright and well-resolved image is far superior
to one that is larger, but dim and poorly resolved.
Powers above 400x should be employed only under
the steadiest atmospheric conditions.
Right Ascension (22, Fig. 5) and
Declination (23, Fig. 5) lock knobs
(just rotate to unlock or lock; when
locking, only tighten to a “firm feel,”
do not overtighten).
Use the red dot viewfinder: If you have not
done so, align the viewfinder (24) with the
telescope’s eyepiece (19) as described
earlier. Look through the red dot viewfinder
until you can see the object. It will be easier
to locate an object using the red dot
viewfinder rather than locating with the
eyepiece. Line up the object using the
viewfinders red dot.
Look through the eyepiece: Once you have
the object lined up in the viewfinder, look
through the optical tube’s eyepiece. If you
have aligned your viewfinder, you will you
see the object in your eyepiece.
Focus: Look through the eyepiece
and practice focusing on the object you
have chosen.
Try out the slow-motion flexible cable
control
: Practice using the right ascension
control cable (3) and declination control
cable (4) to move the telescope. These can
come in very handy, especially when you
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