Meade 114EQ-ASTR instruction manual Most Important Rule, Observing

Meade114EQASTR 3/28/07 9:33 AM Page 10

with-mounting may be rotated in a horizontal direction. Rotate the

8 telescope until it points due North. Use a compass or locate Polaris, the North

Star, as an accurate reference to North (See Fig. 7).

2.Level the mount with the horizon, if

necessary, by adjusting the heights of the three tripod legs.

3.Determine the latitude of your observing location by checking a road map or atlas. Release the latitude lock (9) and tilt the telescope mount so that the star "Polaris" is

Saturn’s rings of ice, dust and gas are huge and small at the same time. The main rings are so large they could almost reach from the earth to the moon. But they are only about a half of a mile

(just a few city blocks)

wide.

centered in the telescope's viewfinder eyepiece, then re-tighten the latitude lock.

4.If the above steps (1-3) were performed with reasonable accuracy, your telescope is now sufficiently well-aligned to the North Celestial Pole for visual observations.

Once the mount has been polar-aligned as described above, the latitude angle need not be adjusted again, unless you move to a different geographical location (i.e. a different latitude). The only polar alignment procedure that you need to perform each time you use the telescope is to point the polar axis due North, as described in step 1.

THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE

We have one very important rule that you should always follow when using your telescope:

Have Fun!

Have a good time when you’re observing. You may not know everything that there is to know about a telescope or what all the

sights in the universe are, but that’s OK. Just point and observe at first.

You will enjoy your telescope even more as you learn more about it. But don’t be scared off by difficult terms or complicated procedures. Don’t panic! Just relax and enjoy your scope.

You will begin to grow and learn more about astronomy the more you observe. Go to the library and read some books about the stars and planets. Read about astronomers of old. Many of them had telescope no bigger than the one you are using right now. Galileo, who is one of the first astronomers to use a telescope, discovered four of the moons

of Jupiter with a telescope about the same size as yours (and his didn’t even focus very well!).

OBSERVING

Observe 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

Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.