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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 (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 StarSeeker 60 is capable of showing you these planets in
some detail. Other planets may be visible but will likely appear
star-like. Because planets are quite small in apparent size,
optional higher-power eyepieces are recommended and often
needed for detailed observations. Not all the planets are general-
ly visible at any one time.
JUPITER: The largest planet, Jupiter, is a great subject for obser-
vation. 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.
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 seeing) 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 some-
times 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: 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.
D. The Stars
Stars will appear like twinkling points of light. Even powerful tele-
scopes 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.
E. 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 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 sub-
jects 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 subtle details and structure.
To find deep sky objects in the sky, it is best to consult a star chart
or Planisphere. These guides will help you locate the brightest
and best deep-sky objects for viewing with your StarSeeker 60.
Terrestrial Observing
The StarSeeker 60 can be used for long-distance viewing over
land. We recommend using an optional 45˚ correct-image prism
diagonal (#7216) instead of the included 90˚ mirror star diagonal.
The correct-image diagonal will yield upright, non-reversed
images and provide a more comfortable viewing angle.
For terrestrial viewing, it’s best to stick with low-powered eye-
pieces that yield a magnification under 80x. At higher powers,
images rapidly lose sharpness and clarity due to “heat waves”
caused by Sun-heated air.
Remember to aim well clear of the Sun, unless the front of the
telescope is fitted with a professionally made solar filter.
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
kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the caps on the
front of the telescope and on the focuser drawtube when not in
use.
Your StarSeeker 60 telescope requires very little mechanical
maintenance. The optical tube is aluminum and has a smooth
painted finish that is fairly scratch resistant. If a scratch does
appear, it will not harm the telescope.
Cleaning Lenses
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens clean-
ing fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be
used to clean the StarSeeker 60’s objective lens exposed
lenses of your eyepieces. Never use regular glass cleaner or
cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses
Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles
off the lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply
some cleaning fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics.
Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any
excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily fingerprints and
smudges may be removed using this method. Use caution -
rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. For the larger surface
of the objective lenses, clean only a small area at a time,
using a fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.
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