3
TELESCOPE BASICS.....................................................................................................................33
Image Orientation ..................................................................................................................................33
Focusing.................................................................................................................................................34
Calculating Magnification .....................................................................................................................34
Determining Field of View .....................................................................................................................34
General Observing Hints .......................................................................................................................35
ASTRONOMY BASICS ...................................................................................................................36
The Celestial Coordinate System ...........................................................................................................36
Motion of the Stars.................................................................................................................................37
Polar Alignment (with optional Wedge).................................................................................................38
Finding the North Celestial Pole ...........................................................................................................39
CELESTIAL OBSERVING ..............................................................................................................40
Observing the Moon...............................................................................................................................40
Observing the Planets ............................................................................................................................40
Observing the Sun ..................................................................................................................................40
Observing Deep Sky Objects..................................................................................................................41
Seeing Conditions ..................................................................................................................................41
Transparency .........................................................................................................................................41
Sky Illumination .....................................................................................................................................41
Seeing.....................................................................................................................................................41
CELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY........................................................................................................43
Short Exposure Prime Focus Photography............................................................................................43
Eyepiece Projection ...............................................................................................................................44
Long Exposure Prime Focus Photography ............................................................................................45
Terrestrial Photography.........................................................................................................................47
CCD Imaging .........................................................................................................................................47
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE........................................................................................................48
Care and Cleaning of the Optics............................................................................................................48
Collimation.............................................................................................................................................48
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ...........................................................................................................51
APPENDIX A – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS...........................................................................55
APPENDIX B – GLOSSARY OF TERMS .......................................................................................57
APPENDIX C –LONGITUDES AND LATITUDES ..........................................................................60
APPENDIX D – RS-232 CONNECTION (for Computerized Hand Control) ................................65
APPENDIX E – TIME ZONE MAPS ................................................................................................66
SKY MAPS ......................................................................................................................................68
