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You can see a great number and variety of astronomical
objects with your Observer 60, 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, 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 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 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 differ-
ent colors of the stars and locate many pretty double and
multiple stars. The famous “Double-Double” in the constella-
tion Lyra and the gorgeous 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 glob-
ular star clusters, and a few 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
Mag 6 Star Atlas, Turn Left at Orion, and
The Universe From Your Backyard.
7. Terrestrial Viewing
Your Observer 60 may also be used for long-distance viewing
over land. For this application we recommend substitution of
an Orion 45° Correct-Image Diagonal (#8792) for the 90° star
diagonal that comes standard with the telescope. The correct-
image diagonal will yield an upright, nonreversed image and
also provides a more comfortable viewing angle, since the tel-
escope will be aimed more horizontally for terrestrial subjects.
For terrestrial viewing, it’s best to stick with low powers of 50x
or less. At higher powers 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 fil-
ter and the finder scope is covered with foil or some other
completely opaque material.
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
objective lens cap on the front of the telescope when it is not
in use.
Your Observer 60 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.