Orion PRO 120 EQ instruction manual Eyepiece Selection, What to Expect

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tion outside to cooler air (or vice-versa), a telescope needs time to cool to the outdoor temperature. The bigger the instru- ment and the larger the temperature change, the more time will be needed.

Allow at least 30 minutes for your SkyView Pro 120 EQ to equilibrate. If the scope has more than a 40° temperature adjustment, allow an hour or more. In the winter, storing the telescope outdoors in a shed or garage greatly reduces the amount of time needed for the optics to stabilize. It also is a good idea to keep the scope covered until the Sun sets so the tube does not heat greatly above the temperature of the outside air.

D. Let Your Eyes Dark-Adapt

Do not expect to go from a lighted house into the darkness of the outdoors at night and immediately see faint nebulas, gal- axies, and star clusters- or even very many stars, for that mat- ter. Your eyes take about 30 minutes to reach perhaps 80% of their full dark-adapted sensitivity. Many observers notice improvements after several hours of total darkness. As your eyes become dark-adapted, more stars will glimmer into view and you will be able to see fainter details in objects you view in your telescope. So give yourself at least a little while to get used to the dark before you begin observing. Also, exposing your eyes to very bright daylight for extended periods of time can adversely affect your night vision for days.

To see what you are doing in the darkness, use a red-filtered flashlight rather than a white light. Red light does not spoil your eyes’ dark adaptation like white light does. A flashlight with a red LED light is ideal, or you can cover the front of a regular incandescent flashlight with red cellophane or paper. Beware, too, that nearby porch and streetlights and automo- bile headlights will spoil your night vision.

Eyepiece Selection

By using eyepieces of varying focal lengths, it is possible to attain many magnifications with the SkyView Pro 120 EQ. The telescope comes with two high-quality Sirius Plössl eyepiec- es: a 25mm, which gives a magnification of 40x, and a 10mm, which gives a magnification of 100x. Other eyepieces can be used to achieve higher or lower powers. It is quite common for an observer to own five or more eyepieces to access a wide range of magnifications. This allows the observer to choose the best eyepiece to use depending on the object being viewed. At least to begin with, the two supplied eyepieces will suffice nicely.

Whatever you choose to view, always start by inserting your lowest power (longest focal length) eyepiece to locate and center the object. Low magnification yields a wide field of view, which shows a larger area of sky in the eyepiece. This makes acquiring and centering an object much easier. If you try to find and center objects with high power (narrow field of view), it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack!

Once you’ve centered the object in the eyepiece, you can switch to higher magnification (shorter focal length eyepiece), if you wish. This is especially recommended for small and bright objects, like planets and double stars. The Moon also takes higher magnifications well.

Deep-sky objects, however, typically look better at medium or low magnifications. This is because many of them are quite faint, yet have some extent (apparent width). Deep-sky objects will often disappear at higher magnifications, since greater magnification inherently yields dimmer images. This is not the case for all deep-sky objects, however. Many galaxies are quite small, yet are somewhat bright, so higher power may show more detail.

The best rule of thumb with eyepiece selection is to start with a low power, wide field, and then work your way up in magnifi- cation. If the object looks better, try an even higher magnifica- tion. If the object looks worse, then back off the magnification a little by using a lower power eyepiece.

What to Expect

So what will you see with your telescope? You should be able to see bands on Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, craters on the moon, the waxing and waning of Venus, and possibly hun- dreds of deep sky objects. Do not expect to see as much color as you in NASA photos, since those are taken with long-expo- sure cameras and have “false color” added. Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see color in deep-sky objects except in a few of the brightest ones.

Remember that you are seeing these objects using your own telescope with your own eyes! The object you see in your eyepiece is in real-time, and not some conveniently provided image from an expensive space probe. Each session with your telescope will be a learning experience. Each time you work with your telescope it will get easier to use, and stellar objects will become easier to find. Take it from us, there is big difference between looking at a well-made full-color NASA image of a deep-sky object in a lit room during the daytime, and seeing that same object in your telescope at night. One can merely be a pretty image someone gave to you. The other is an experience you will never forget!

A. The Moon

With is rocky and cratered surface, the moon is one of the most interesting and easy subjects for your scope. The best time to view it is during its partial phases when shadows fall on the craters and canyon walls to give its features definition. While the full moon may look like a tempting target, it is actu- ally the worst time for viewing! The light of a full moon is too bright and lacks any decent surface definition.

Use an optional Moon filter to dim the Moon when it is very bright. It simply threads onto the bottom of the eyepiece from the focuser (you must first remove the eyepiece from the diag- onal to attach the filter). You’ll find the Moon filter improves viewing comfort, and helps bring out the subtle features if the lunar surface.

B. The Sun

You can change your nighttime telescope into a daytime Sun viewer by installing an optional full-aperture solar filter over the front opening of a SkyView Pro 120 EQ. The primary attrac- tion is sunspots, which change shape, appearance, and loca- tion daily. Sunspots are directly related to magnetic activity in the Sun. Many observers like to make drawings of sunspots to monitor how the Sun is changing from day to day.

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Contents Orion SkyView Pro 120 EQ Finder scope Parts List Table of ContentsAssembly UnpackingAzimuth Balancing the Telescope Installing the Finder ScopeInserting the Diagonal and Eyepiece Focusing the Telescope Using Your TelescopeFocusing the finder scope Viewing with EyeglassesMagnification & Eyepieces Setting Up and Using the Equatorial Mount1000mm÷25mm= 1000mm÷10mm=100xPolar Alignment DeclinationUsing the Polar Axis Finder Scope Polar Alignment Using an Optional Polar Axis Finder ScopeAlignment of the Polar Axis Finder Scope Tracking Celestial Objects Understanding the Setting CirclesOptional Motor Drives for Automatic Tracking Calibrating the Right Ascension Setting Circle Calibrating the Declination Setting CircleFinding Objects With the Setting Circles H 35.4m Dec. -5Observing Tips Astronomical ObservingWhat to Expect Eyepiece SelectionDeep-Sky Objects How to Find Deep-sky Objects StarhoppingMoon Photography AstrophotographyPlanetary Photography Piggyback PhotographyCollimating Aligning the Optics Care and MaintenanceCleaning Lenses SpecificationsPage Page One-Year Limited Warranty

PRO 120 EQ specifications

The Orion PRO 120 EQ is a remarkable telescope designed for both amateur astronomers and seasoned enthusiasts. This telescope offers a perfect balance of performance, features, and affordability, making it an excellent choice for those looking to explore the wonders of the night sky.

One of the standout features of the Orion PRO 120 EQ is its 120mm aperture. This generous opening allows for an impressive amount of light to enter the telescope, enabling users to observe faint celestial objects with clarity. Whether observing craters on the Moon or distant galaxies, the optics deliver bright and sharp images. The focal length of 1000mm gives a versatile range for planetary and deep-sky observations, ensuring that users can explore various astronomical phenomena.

The telescope comes equipped with a sturdy equatorial mount, providing smooth and accurate tracking of celestial objects. This mount is essential for long exposure astrophotography as it allows for precise movements to follow objects as they traverse the night sky. The mount also features slow-motion controls, making it easy for users to make fine adjustments and focus on their targets.

The Orion PRO 120 EQ is designed with user-friendliness in mind. It includes a 1.25-inch focus mechanism compatible with various eyepieces and accessories, allowing for customization to enhance the observing experience. The telescope's optical design features fully multi-coated optics, which help to increase light transmission and reduce glare, ensuring vibrant images with high contrast.

Durability is another key characteristic of the Orion PRO 120 EQ. Its robust construction ensures stability during observations, and the compact size makes it relatively easy to transport, whether setting up in the backyard or heading to a dark-sky site. The telescope comes with a set of sturdy accessories, including a finderscope and a set of quality eyepieces, further enhancing its usability right out of the box.

Overall, the Orion PRO 120 EQ is a versatile telescope that excels in both beginner and advanced applications. Its combination of a large aperture, quality optics, and reliable mount makes it a fantastic choice for anyone looking to delve into the vast universe, making every stargazing session a memorable experience.