Orion 9800 Care and Maintenance, B. The Planets, C. The Stars, D. Deep Sky Objects

B. The Planets

The planets don’t stay put like the stars, so to find them you should refer to Sky Calendar at our website (telescope.com), or to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, or other astronomy magazines. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. Your Aristocrat 60mm is capable of showing you these planets in some detail. Other planets may be visible but will likely appear star-like. Because planets are quite small in apparent size, optional higher-power eyepieces are recom- mended and often needed for detailed observations. Not all the planets are generally visible at any one time.

JUPITER: The largest planet, Jupiter, is a great subject for observation. You can see the disk of the giant planet and watch the ever-changing positions of its four largest moons - Io, Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede.

SATURN: The ringed planet is a breathtaking sight when it is well positioned. The tilt angle of the rings varies over a period of many years; sometimes they are seen edge-on, while at other times they are broadside and look like giant “ears” on each side of Saturn’s disk. A steady atmosphere (good see- ing) is necessary for a good view. You will probably see a bright “star” close by, which is Saturn’s brightest moon, Titan.

VENUS: At its brightest, Venus is the most luminous object in the sky, excluding the Sun and the Moon. It is so bright that sometimes it is visible to the naked eye during full daylight! Ironically, Venus appears as a thin crescent, not a full disk, when at its peak brightness. Because it is so close to the Sun, it never wanders too far from the morning or evening horizon. No surface markings can be seen on Venus, which is always shrouded in dense clouds.

MARS: The Red Planet makes its closest approach to Earth every two years. During close approaches you’ll see a red disk, and may be able to see the polar ice cap.

C. The Stars

Stars will appear like twinkling points of light. Even powerful telescopes cannot magnify stars to appear as more than a point of light.You can, however, enjoy the different colors of the stars and locate many pretty double and multiple stars. The famous “Double-Double” in the constellation Lyra and the gor- geous two-color double star Albireo in Cygnus are favorites. Defocusing a star slightly can help bring out its color.

D. Deep Sky Objects

Under dark skies, there are many deep sky objects that are bright enough to be viewed with your Aristocrat 60mm, includ- ing galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters. Most deep-sky objects

are faint, so it is important that you allow plenty of time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Do not expect these to look like the photographs you see in books and magazines.

To find deep sky objects in the sky, it is best to consult a star chart and planisphere. These guides will help you locate the brightest and best deep sky objects for viewing with your Aristocrat 60mm.

7. Care and Maintenance.

If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a life- time. Do not store the telescope outdoors. Small components like eyepieces and other accessories should be kept in a pro- tective box or storage case. Keep the dust covers on the front and rear of the telescope and finder scope when not in use.

The Aristocrat’s legs are made of Mahogany wood that has been lacquered for protection. As long as they are kept from excess moisture, they will not warp or bend. Should they be exposed to moisture, dry them with a towel as soon as possi- ble.

All the brass parts of the telescope have been treated to pre- vent tarnishing and discoloring. You will not need to polish the brass. Fingerprints and other marks should be wiped off with a soft cloth. The coating will also cause moisture that comes in contact with the brass to “bead” on the surface. Moisture on the brass parts should be wiped up immediately with a soft cloth.

Cleaning Lenses

Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens clean- ing fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to clean the Aristocrat 60mm’s objective lens or the exposed lenses of your eyepieces and finder scope. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid designed for eye- glasses

Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles off the lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily fingerprints and smudges may be removed using this method. Use caution - rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. For the larger surface of the objective lens, clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.

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