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consuming and frustrating to hunt for objects randomly,
without knowing where to look. You should have specific tar-
gets in mind before you begin looking through the eyepiece.
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 that there is a globular cluster sitting just above the lid of
the “Teapot” pattern of stars in Sagittarius. You then know to
point your telescope 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 Observer 60mm Ultra, 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
partial 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, so you’ll have to refer
to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope,
or other astronomy magazines 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 nor-
mally 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 period
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 probably 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 brightness. 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 You probably won’t be able to see any surface detail
on the Red Planet, but you will notice its ruddy color.
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 globular star
clusters, and some of the brighter 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. Don’t 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 such faint objects.) But as you become
more experienced and your observing skills get sharper, you will
be able to ferret out more and 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 find-
ing and identifying deep-sky objects. Some good sources to
start with are the Edmund Mag 6 Star Atlas, Turn Left at
Orion, and The Universe From Your Backyard.
7. terrestrial Viewing
Your Observer 60mm Ultra may also be used for long-dis-
tance viewing over land. For this application we recommend
substitution of an Orion 45° Correct-Image Diagonal (hybrid,
#8792) for the 90° star diagonal that comes standard with the
telescope. The correct-image diagonal will yield an upright,
non-reversed image and also provides a more comfortable
viewing angle, since the telescope will be aimed more hori-
zontally for terrestrial subjects.
For terrestrial viewing, it’s best to stick with low powers of 50x
or less. At higher power the image loses sharpness and clar-
ity because of unsteady air. That’s because when the scope
is pointed near the horizon it’s peering through the thickest
and most turbulent part of the Earth’s atmosphere.
And remember to aim well clear of the Sun, unless the front
of the telescope is fitted with a professionally made solar filter
and the finder scope is covered with foil or some other com-
pletely opaque material.
8. care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a lifetime.
Store it in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe from rapid changes
in temperature and humidity. Do not store the telescope out-
doors, although storage in a garage or shed is OK. Small
components like eyepieces and other accessories should be