Focal Length on Eyepiece

What you can see through the eyepiece of a good telescope is enough to keep you exploring the sky for many years. Here’s a bit of advice: when you unpack your first telescope and set it in the backyard on its premiere night under the stars, the first thing you should look at is the Moon! You won’t need high power (50x will be just fine.) Even at this power, you’ll be amazed at the view!

After observing the Moon, the first planet you should look at is either Jupiter or Saturn. (You may use the sky almanac on Astronomy Magazine or any Star Chart to help you find them!)

When you aim your scope at Saturn, be prepared for a remarkable sight. Most people utter an exclamation of "WOW" when they first see Saturn and its picture-perfect rings!

Even a 60mm aperture telescope will reveal the cloud belts on Jupiter. Over the course of several nights, you’ll see Jupiter’s four large moons as bright dots shuttling back and forth from one side of Jupiter to the other!

A telescope also allows you to follow the changing phases of Mercury and Venus, and to watch Mars grow and shrink in size as we approach them recede from the Red Planet every two years. And Mars really does look orange-red. When it is closest to Earth, a 100 power or 200 power of magnification will show its reddish disk, dark surface markings, and famous polar caps. You can continue to tour the solar system by tracking down Uranus and Neptune, although even in large telescopes they appear only as tiny blue-green dots. Satr like Pluto is within reach of backyard scopes but requires at least an 8-inch aperture instrument and very dark skies!

Beyond the solar system there are hundreds of star clusters, nebulas, and galaxies within reach of 60mm+ aperture scopes. Larger scope reveal these deep-sky objects in even more detail and bring thousands more deep-sky wonders within reach. However, don’t expect to see the colors you see in photographs. Most deep sky objects appear as misty, gray patches of light. However, some stars show colors your unaided eye cannot see, and many starts that appear as single to the naked eye appear split into two or more stars through a telescope—they are systems of alien suns orbiting each other.

If you want an idea of how far you can see with a telescope, you can actually explore the most distant reaches of the cosmos by hunting down elusive galaxies. Because of their immense distance, these islands of stars are typically very faint. Nevertheless, from a dark rural site a 3 or 4 inch reflector telescope will show many of these ghostly spots of light, enabling you to probe tens of millions of light years into space. All with a telescope within your reach!

Refractors vs. Reflectors

Advantages: Economical in smaller sizes; rugged; portable; easy to aim; usually provide sharp images.

Disadvantages: Small apertures have limited light-gathering power

Advantages: Large aperture for the money, small sizes are excellent scopes for serious beginner. Good all-purpose scopes.

Disadvantages: Can be very bulky and heavy in larger size ones; mirror require adjustment; mirror surfaces are exposed and can get dirty!

1. LEARN WHAT MAGNIFICATION EACH EYE-PIECE PROVIDES
2. ALWAYS START BY USING THE LOWEST POWER EYEPIECE YOU HAVE
3. KEEP THE MAGNIFICATION UNDER 50X PER INCH OF APERTURE
4. AVOID USING THE BARLOW LENS UNLESS NECESSARY
5. USE YOUR TELESCOPE FIRST DURING THE DAY
6. LINE UP THE FINDER SCOPE DURING THE DAY
7. DON’T LOOK THROUGH A WINDOW (TAKE IT OUT SIDE OF THE LIVING ROOM)
8. DON’T EXPECT TO SEE:

• Stars looking like disks
• Colors in nebulae and galaxies
• Planet view as seen on TV (or magazines)
• Apollo craft left on the moon

1. PICK A NIGHT THAT IS: clear / warm/ calm
2. DO NOT TRY TO USE YOUR TELESCOPE TO SEE THE SUN AT ANY TIME!!

MOON

By far the best target to aim your new telescope at on your first night out is the Moon. It is easy to find and provides a sight that is sure to impress. For the most dramatic views you might think the Full Moon would be ideal. But, in fact, the best time to look at the Moon is during the two weeks leading up to full. When the Moon is at crescent, First Quarter, or gibbous phase, you’ll see the lunar craters and mountains standing out in stark relief along the dividing line between the day and night sides of the Moon.

Each night as the Moon changes phase, you’ll see new features appear along that shadow line. But by Full, the dramatic shadows are gone, making the Moon appear flat and featureless.

Sometimes at full phase the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow, causing an eclipse of the Moon. If the eclipse is total, red sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere can turn the Full Moon a striking red color!

OTHER CELESTIAL OBJECTS

As a first step to enjoying, use the star charts to help you locate the planets (you may find it at bookstores or Astronomy magazine.) Turn the chart to match the direction you’re facing. If you are facing north, rotate the chart so that north is at the bottom (for example!)

The easiest pattern of stars to find is the Big Dipper. Then use the Dipper’s stars to point the way to their bright stars and constellations. During winter, the constellation Orion, marked by its three distinctive Belt stars, also serves as a good jumping off point to other stars!

SOME PICTURES & PARTS OF THE ----  P-3 ---- T- 5200A  ---- T45375

CLOSE UP OF THE P-3

P-3 COMPLETE SETUP

T-45375 FULL SIZE EQUATORIAL MOUNT

T-5200A SHOWING FINDER SCOPE

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