•Hazy skies, fog, and mist can also make it difficult to focus when viewing terrestrially. The amount of detail seen under these conditions is greatly reduced. Also, when photographing under these conditions, the processed film may come out a little grainier than normal with lower con- trast and underexposed.
•If you wear corrective lenses (specifically glasses), you may want to remove them when observing with an eye- piece attached to the telescope. When using a camera, however, you should always wear corrective lenses to ensure the sharpest possible focus. If you have astigma- tism, corrective lenses must be worn at all times.
Celestial Observing
With your telescope set up, you are ready to use it for observ- ing. This section covers visual observing hints for both solar system and deep sky objects as well as general observing conditions which will affect your ability to observe.
Observing the Moon
Often, it is tempt- ing to look at the Moon when it is full. At this time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light can be overpowering. In addition, little or no contrast can be seen dur- ing this phase.
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 great amount of detail on the lunar surface. At low power you will be able to see most of the lunar disk at one time. Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area. Choose the lunar tracking rate from the StarSeeker’s MENU tracking rate options to keep the moon centered in the eye- piece even at high magnifications.
Lunar Observing Hints
•To increase contrast and bring out detail on the lunar surface, use eyepiece filters. A yellow filter works well at improving contrast while a neutral density or polarizing filter will reduce overall surface brightness and glare.
Observing the Planets
Other fascinating targets include the five naked eye planets. You can see Venus go through its
Planetary
Observing
Hints
•Remember that atmospheric con- ditions are usually the limiting fac- tor on how much planetary detail will be visible. So, avoid observing the planets when they are low on
the horizon or when they are directly over a source of radi- ating heat, such as a rooftop or chimney. See the “Seeing Conditions” section later in this section.
•To increase contrast and bring out detail on the planetary surface, try using color eyepiece filters.
Observing the Sun
Although overlooked by many amateur astronomers, solar observation is both rewarding and fun. However, because the Sun is so bright, special precautions must be taken when observing our star so as not to damage your eyes or your telescope.
Never project an image of the Sun through the telescope. Tremendous heat
For safe solar viewing, use a solar filter that reduces the intensity of the Sun’s light, making it safe to view. With a filter you can see sunspots as they move across the solar disk and faculae, which are bright patches seen near the Sun’s edge.
Solar Observing Hints
•The best time to observe the Sun is in the early morning or late afternoon when the air is cooler.
•To center the Sun without looking into the eyepiece, watch the shadow of the telescope tube until it forms a circular shadow.
•To ensure accurate tracking, be sure to select solar tracking rate.
Observing Deep Sky Objects
Deep sky objects are simply those objects outside the bound- aries of our solar system. They include star clusters, planetary nebulae, diffuse nebulae, double stars and other galaxies out- side our own Milky Way. Most deep sky objects have a large angular size. Therefore,
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