Astronomy with Your Spotting Scope

A spotting scope is nothing more than a telescope that produces correctly oriented images. That is why all Celestron telescopes and spotting scopes are so well-suited for looking around the Earth. But this in no way limits a spotting scope to terrestrial use. On the contrary, the 80ED spotting scope works well as an astronomical telescope for observing the sky.

Observing the Moon

In the night sky, the Moon is a prime target for your first look because it is extremely bright and easy to find. Often, it is tempting to look at the Moon when it is full. At this time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light is overpowering. In addition, little or no contrast can be seen at this time.

One of the best times to observe the Moon is during its partial phases (around the time of first or third quarter). Long shadows reveal a wealth of detail on the lunar surface. At low power you can see the entire lunar disk at one time. Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area.

Keep in mind that since you are not using a clock drive, the Earth’s rotation causes the Moon to drift out of your field of view. This effect is more noticeable at high power. You must manually adjust your tripod to keep the Moon centered. Consult your local newspaper or a current astronomy magazine to find out when the Moon is visible.

Observing the Planets

This same method used to observe the Moon applies to viewing the planets. You can see Venus go through its lunar-like phases. Mars reveals a host of surface detail and one, if not both, of its polar caps. You will be able to see the cloud belts of Jupiter and the great Red Spot (if it is visible at the time you are observing). In addition, you will also be able to see the moons of Jupiter as they orbit this gas giant. Saturn, with its beautiful ring system, is easily visible at moderate power. All you need to know is when and where to look. Most astronomy publications tell where the planets can be found in the sky each month.

Observing Deep Sky Objects

Deep sky objects are simply those objects outside the boundaries of our solar system. They include star clusters, planetary nebulae, diffuse nebulae, double stars, and other galaxies outside our own Milky Way. Because your spotting scope is not set up for serious astronomical observing, you will need to know where to look in the sky for these objects. The Celestron Sky Maps (#93722) will help you locate the brightest deep sky objects.

Once you start observing deep sky objects, there are a few things to remember. First, most deep sky objects have a large angular size. Therefore, low to moderate power is all you need to see them. Second, visually they are too faint to reveal any color that is common to photographs. Instead, they have a black and white appearance. And lastly, because of their low surface brightness, they should be observed from a dark sky location. Light pollution around large urban areas washes out most nebulae making them difficult, if not impossible, to see. An LPR (Light Pollution Reduction) Filter (#94126A) is available for use with 1 1 /4” eyepieces to allow urban use of the 80ED for looking at nebulae.