40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 10:54 AM Page 8
OBSERVING
6Observe 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.
Unlock the lock knobs: To move the telescope, you will need to unlock the horizontal (6) and vertical (5) lock knobs (just
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
rotate to unlock or lock; when locking, only tighten to a “firm feel,” do not overtighten).
Use the viewfinder: If you have not done so, align the viewfinder (2) with the telescope’s eyepiece (1) as described earlier.
Look through the viewfinder until you can see the object. It will be easier to locate an object using the viewfinder rather than locating with the eyepiece. Line up the object in the viewfinder’s crosshairs.
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 coarse and fine adjustment controls: Practice using the fine adjustment control (16) to move the telescope. These can come in very handy, especially when you wish to move the telescope in very small (fine control) steps.
Observe the Moon: When you feel comfortable with the viewfinder, the eyepieces, the locks and the adjustment controls, you will be ready to try out the telescope at night. The Moon is the best object to observe the first time you go out at night. Pick a night when the Moon is a crescent. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, making it appear flat and uninteresting.
Look for different features on the Moon. The most obvious features are craters. In fact you can see craters within craters. Some craters have bright lines about them. These are called rays and are the result of material thrown out of the crater when it was struck by a colliding object. The dark areas on the Moon are called maria and are composed of lava from the period when the Moon still had volcanic activity. You can also see mountain ranges and fault lines on the Moon.
Use a neutral density filter (often called a “moon filter”) when observing the Moon. Neutral density filters are available from Meade as an optional accessory and enhance contrast to improve your observation of lunar features.