Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION | 3 |
ASSEMBLY | 6 |
Setting up the Tripod | 6 |
Moving the Telescope Manually | 7 |
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount | 7 |
Installing the Diagonal & Eyepieces ( refractor) | 8 |
Installing the Eyepieces on the Newtonians | 8 |
TELESCOPE BASICS | 9 |
Image Orientation | 10 |
Focusing | 10 |
Aligning the Finderscope | 10 |
Calculating Magnification | 11 |
Determining Field of View | 12 |
General Observing Hints | 12 |
ASTRONOMY BASICS | 13 |
The Celestial Coordinate System | 13 |
Motion of the Stars | 14 |
CELESTIAL OBSERVING | 15 |
Observing the Moon | 15 |
Observing the Planets | 15 |
Observing the Sun | 15 |
Observing Deep Sky Objects | 16 |
Seeing Conditions | 18 |
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY | 19 |
Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography | 19 |
Piggyback Photography | 19 |
Planetary & Lunar Photography with Special Imagers | 19 |
CCD Imaging for Deep Sky Objects | 19 |
Terrestrial Photography | 19 |
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE | 20 |
Care and Cleaning of the Optics | 20 |
Collimation of a Newtonian | 20 |
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES | 23 |
AstroMaster Specifications | 24 |
2