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. Make sure to observe the Moon when it is well
above the horizon to get the sharpest images.
Use the included Moon filter to dim the Moon when it is very
bright. It simply threads onto the bottom of the eyepieces (you
must first remove the eyepiece from the focuser to attach a fil-
ter). You’ll find that the Moon filter improves viewing comfort,
and also helps to bring out subtle features on the lunar surface.
B. The Sun
You can change your nighttime telescope into a daytime Sun
viewer by installing an optional full-aperture solar filter over
the front opening of a SkyView Deluxe 6". The primary attrac-
tion is sunspots, which change shape, appearance, and
location daily. Sunspots are directly related to magnetic activ-
ity in the Sun. Many observers like to make drawings of
sunspots to monitor how the Sun is changing from day to day.
Important Note: Do not look at the Sun with any optical instru-
ment without a professionally made solar filter, or permanent eye
damage could result.
C. The Planets
The planets don’t stay put like the stars, so to find them you
should refer to Sky Calendar at our website (www.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 SkyView Deluxe 6" is capable of showing you
these planets in some detail. Other planets may be visible but
will likely appear starlike. 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. Higher-power eyepieces
should bring out the 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 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 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 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. To see surface detail on
Mars, you will need a high-power eyepiece and very steady air!
E. 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
gorgeous two-color double star Albireo in Cygnus are
favorites. Defocusing a star slightly can help bring out its color.
F. Deep-Sky Objects
Under dark skies, you can observe a wealth of fascinating
deep-sky objects, including gaseous nebulas, open and glob-
ular star clusters, and a variety of different types of galaxies.
Most deep-sky objects are very faint, so it is important that
you find an observing site well away from light pollution. Take
plenty of time to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Do not
expect these subjects to appear like the photographs you see
in books and magazines; most will look like dim gray
smudges. (Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see color in
deep-sky objects except in a few of the brightest ones.) But
as you become more experienced and your observing skills
get sharper, you will be able to ferret out more and more sub-
tle details and structure.
How to Find Deep-Sky Objects: Star Hopping
Star hopping, as it is called by astronomers, is perhaps the
simplest way to hunt down objects to view in the night sky. It
entails first pointing the telescope at a star close to the object
you wish to observe, and then progressing to other stars clos-
er and closer to the object until it is in the field of view of the
eyepiece. It is a very intuitive technique that has been
employed for hundreds of years by professional and amateur
astronomers alike. Keep in mind, as with any new task, that
star hopping may seem challenging at first, but will become
easier over time and with practice.
To starhop, only a minimal amount of additional equipment is
necessary. A star chart or atlas that shows stars to at least mag-
nitude 5 is required. Select one that shows the positions of many
deep-sky objects, so you will have a lot of options to choose
from. If you do not know the positions of the constellations in the
night sky, you will need to get a planisphere to identify them.
Start by choosing bright objects to view. The brightness of an
object is measured by its visual magnitude; the brighter an
object, the lower its magnitude. Choose an object with a visu-
al magnitude of 9 or lower. Many beginners start with the
Messier objects, which represent some of the best and bright-
est deep-sky objects, first catalogued about 200 years ago by
the French astronomer Charles Messier.
Determine in which constellation the object lies. Now, find the
constellation in the sky. If you do not recognize the constella-
tions on sight, consult a planisphere. The planisphere gives an
all-sky view and shows which constellations are visible on a
given night at a given time.
Now, look at your star chart and find the brightest star in the
constellation that is near the object you are trying to find. Using
the finder scope, point the telescope at this star and center it
on the crosshairs. Next, look again at the star chart and find
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