Figure 1 the telescope is pointed north as it would be during polar alignment. The counterweight shaft is oriented down- ward. But it will not look like that when the telescope is pointed in other directions. Let’s say you want to view an object that is directly overhead, at the zenith. How do you do it?
One thing you DO NOT do is make any adjustment to the lat- itude adjusting
Similarly, to point the telescope directly south, the counter- weight shaft should again be horizontal. Then you simply rotate the scope on the Dec. axis until it points in the south direction (Figure 5a).
What if you need to aim the telescope directly north, but at an object that is nearer to the horizon than Polaris? You can’t do it with the counterweight down as pictured in Figure 1. Again, you have to rotate the scope in R.A. so the counterweight shaft is positioned horizontally. Then rotate the scope in Dec. so it points to where you want it near the horizon (Figure 5b).
To point the telescope to the east (Figure 5c) or west (Figure 5d), or in other directions, rotate the telescope on its R.A. and Dec. axes. Depending on the altitude of the object you want to observe, the counterweight shaft will be oriented some- where between vertical and horizontal.
The key things to remember when pointing the telescope is that
a)you only move it in R.A. and Dec., not in azimuth or latitude (altitude), and b) the counterweight and shaft will not always appear as it does in Figure 1. In fact it almost never will!
6.Using Your Telescope - Astronomical Observing
Choosing an Observing Site
When selecting a location for observing, get as far away as possible from direct artificial light such as streetlights, porch lights, and automobile headlights. The glare from these lights will greatly impair your
If at all possible, escape the
Cooling the Telescope
All optical instruments need time to reach “thermal equilibri- um.” The bigger the instrument and the larger the temperature change, the more time is needed. Allow at least a
Aiming the Telescope
To view an object in the main telescope, first loosen both the R.A. and Dec. lock knobs. Aim the telescope at the object you wish to observe by “eyeballing” along the length of the tele- scope tube (or use the setting circles to “dial in” the object’s coordinates). Then look through the (aligned) finder scope and move the telescope tube until the object is generally cen- tered on the finder’s crosshairs. Retighten the R.A. and Dec. lock knobs. Then accurately center the object on the finder’s crosshairs using the R.A. and Dec.
Focusing the Telescope
Practice focusing the telescope in the daytime before using it for the first time at night. Start by turning the focus knob until the focuser drawtube is near the center of its adjustment range. Insert the star diagonal into the focuser drawtube and an eyepiece into the star diagonal (secure with the thumb- screws). Point the telescope at a distant subject and center it in the field of view. Now, slowly rotate the focus knob until the object comes into sharp focus. Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until the image just starts to blur again, then reverse the rotation of the knob, just to make sure you hit the exact focus point. The telescope can only focus on objects at least 50 to 100 feet away.
Do You Wear Eyeglasses?
If you wear eyeglasses, you may be able to keep them on while you observe, if your eyepieces have enough “eye relief” to allow you to see the whole field of view. You can try this by looking through the eyepiece first with your glasses on and then with them off, and see if the glasses restrict the view to only a portion of the full field. If they do, you can easily observe with your glasses off by just refocusing the telescope the needed amount.
Calculating the Magnification
It is desirable to have a range of eyepieces of different focal lengths, to allow viewing over a range of magnifications. To calculate the magnification, or power, of a telescope, simply divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece (the number printed on the eyepiece):
Telescope F.L. ÷Eyepiece F.L. = Magnification
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