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magazine will give you the
locations of the planets as they change position from month to month. The
Internet is also an excellent source of information, offering star charts, maps, and more!
The popular and more familiar constellations often provide the easiest landmarks to help find the
planet’s locations and paths of orbit. Most people have looked up at the sky at night and seen some
of the planets without even realizing it. A planet looks like a bright star but does not twinkle like a star
does; it looks like a tiny ball. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the easiest planets to view.
Mercury is dimmer, usually below the horizon, and more challenging to find.
Each of the planets provides interesting views. Venus is covered with clouds so all that is visible is an
extremely bright light, the brightest next to the moon. However, Venus, like the moon, goes through
phases. As it travels around the sun, different areas of its surface are illuminated, producing crescent
shapes of varying sizes. Mars is the red planet. When it is above the horizon, it is noticeably red and
stands out like a beacon in the night sky. The apparent brightness of Mars varies as the planet orbits
around the sun and throughout its period of visiblity, it will look brighter or dimmer depending on its
distance from Earth.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and the second brightest next to Venus. Jupiter has
many moons, four of which are often visible through your telescope when viewing conditions permit.
As you watch them throughout the evening, you will see that they change position relative to each
other and to Jupiter. It is possible with careful planning to actually see one of the moons disappear
either in front of or behind Jupiter as it orbits around the planet. Another great feature of Jupiter is its
cloud belt. Jupiter is alive with weather activity and its clouds have formed over time into belts visible
through telescopes in the right atmospheric conditions.
Saturn, the second largest planet, is not as bright as Jupiter and so its moons are not as visible
through small telescopes. The large rings that encircle Saturn are spectacular to observe, however.
The planet and its rings appear pale yellow. The major division in the rings, the Cassini division, is
possible to see if you keep the telescope firmly in position.
Uranus and Neptune are the last of the solar system’s gas giants. They do not provide as spectacular
a sight as Jupiter or Saturn, but are nonetheless rewarding to see.
Beyond our solar system there are many more objects to be found. Galaxies, nebulae, and star
clusters abound!
7) About the Included Astronomy Software CD
Navigate the heavens like the professionals. TheSkyX First Light Edition makes an ideal companion
to best enjoy your new telescope. Its intuitive user-interface always keeps you grounded while
exploring the wonders of the night sky. Point and click to learn the names and coordinates of
celestial objects. Quickly create observing lists of the interesting objects that are visible from your
backyard with the What’s Up? feature. Print finder charts to assist locating those faint, fuzzy objects
in the eyepiece. Zoom in for up-close views of the planets, including the Moon, and Jupiter and
Saturn’s major moons. Watch animated tours demonstrating fascinating astronomical phenomena.
A descriptive digital user guide offers helpful tips, and in-depth descriptions on hundreds of celestial
wonders offer hours of edutainment for you and your family.
Summary of Contents for CDB1145EQ1
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