9
horizon at the time you plan to observe. A simple planisphere,
or star wheel, can be a valuable tool both for learning the con-
stellations and for determining which ones are visible on a
given night at a given time.
A good star chart or atlas will come in very handy for helping
find objects among the dizzying multitude of stars overhead.
Except for the Moon and the brighter planets, it’s pretty time-
consuming and frustrating to hunt for objects randomly,
without knowing where to look. You should have specific tar-
gets in mind before you begin observing.
Start with a basic star atlas, one that shows stars no fainter than
5th or 6th magnitude. In addition to stars, the atlas will show the
positions of a number of interesting deep-sky objects, with dif-
ferent symbols representing the different types of objects, such
as galaxies, open star clusters, globular clusters, diffuse nebu-
las, and planetary nebulas. So, for example, your atlas might
show a globular cluster sitting just above the lid of the “Teapot”
pattern of stars in Sagittarius. You then know to point your tele-
scope in that direction to home in on the cluster, which happens
to be 6.9-magnitude Messier 28 (M28).
You can see a great number and variety of astronomical
objects with your SpaceProbe 4.5" EQ, including:
The Moon
With its rocky, cratered surface, the Moon is one of the easiest
and most interesting targets to view with your telescope. The
best time to observe our one and only natural satellite is during
a partial phase, that is, when the Moon is NOT full. During par-
tial phases, shadows on the surface reveal more detail,
especially right along the border between the dark and light
portions of the disk (called the “terminator”). A full Moon is too
bright and devoid of surface shadows to yield a pleasing view.
The Planets
The planets don’t stay put like the stars (they don’t have fixed R.A.
and Dec. coordinates), so you’ll have to refer to charts published
monthly in
Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, or other astronomy mag-
azines to locate them. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the
brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. Not all four
of these planets are normally visible at any one time.
JUPITER
The largest planet, Jupiter, is a great subject to
observe. 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. If atmospheric conditions are good,
you may be able to resolve thin cloud bands on the planet’s disk.
SATURN The ringed planet is a breathtaking sight when it is
well positioned. The tilt angle of the rings varies over a peri-
od 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 may see a tiny, bright
“star” close by; that’s 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 bright-
ness. 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 If atmospheric conditions are good, you may be able
to see some subtle surface detail on the Red Planet, possibly
even the polar ice cap. Mars makes a close approach to
Earth every two years. During those approaches its disk is
larger and thus more favorable for viewing.
Stars
Stars will appear like twinkling points of light in the telescope. Even
powerful telescopes cannot magnify stars to appear as more than
points 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 the image of a star slightly can help bring out its color.
Deep-Sky Objects
Under dark skies, you can observe a wealth of fascinating
deep-sky objects, including gaseous nebulas, open and globu-
lar star clusters, and different types of galaxies. Most deep-sky
objects are very faint, so it is important that you find an observ-
ing site well away from light pollution. Take plenty of time to let
your eyes adjust to the darkness. Don’t expect these subjects
to appear like the photographs you see in books and maga-
zines; most will look like dim gray smudges. (Our eyes are not
sensitive enough to see color in such faint objects.) But as you
become more experienced and your observing skills get sharp-
er, you will be able to discern more subtle details.
Remember that the higher the magnification you use, the dim-
mer the image will appear. So stick with low power when
observing deep-sky objects, because they’re already very faint.
Consult a star atlas or observing guide for information on finding
and identifying deep-sky objects. Some good sources to start
with are the Orion DeepMap 600, Edmund
Mag 6 Star Atlas,
Turn Left at Orion, and The Universe From Your Backyard.
8. 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
cap on the front of the telescope when it is not in use.
Your SpaceProbe requires very little mechanical mainte-
nance. The optical tube is aluminum and has a smooth
painted finish that is fairly scratch-resistant. If a scratch does
appear on the tube, it will not harm the telescope. If you wish,
you may apply some auto touch-up paint to the scratch.
Smudges on the tube can be wiped off with a soft cloth and a
household cleaner such as Windex or Formula 409.
Cleaning Lenses
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens clean-
ing fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be
