ly, until the telescope is centered on the new star.
Continue using stars as guideposts in this way until you are the approximate position of the object you are trying to find (Figure 15). Look in the telescope’s eyepiece, and the object should be somewhere within the field of view. If it’s not, sweep the telescope carefully around the immediate vicinity until the object is found.
If you have trouble finding the object, start the starhop again from the brightest star near the object you wish to view. This time, be sure the stars indicated on the star chart are in fact the stars you are centering in the finder scope and telescope eyepiece. Remember the telescope gives you inverted images, but the finder scope does not.
6 Care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a life- time. Store it in a clean, dry, dust free place, safe from rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Do not store the tele- scope outdoors, although storage in a garage or shed is OK. Small components like eyepieces and other accessories should be kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the caps on the front of the scope and on the focuser when it is not in use. For maximum protection during storage, we rec- ommend placing the telescope in a case to prevent any dust and moisture from accumulating on exposed surfaces.
The telescope requires very little mechanical maintenance. The optical tube is made of steel and has a smooth painted finish that is fairly
Refer to Appendix B for detailed instructions on how to clean the optics of the SkyQuest XT4.5.
7. Specifications
Focal Length: 900mm
Aperture: 114mm (4.5")
Focal Ratio: f/7.9
Mirror Coatings: aluminum with SiO2 overcoat, 89% reflective
Minor Axis of secondary mirror: 28mm
Weight: 17.6 lbs. (tube and base)
Tube Length: 35"
Tube Outer Diameter: 5.5"
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