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Even at partial phases, the Moon is very bright. Use of an
optional Moon filter to helps to dim the view. It simply threads
onto the bottom of the eyepiece. You'll find the Moon filter
improves viewing comfort, and helps bring out the subtle fea-
tures of 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 the telescope. The primary attraction is
sunspots, which change shape, appearance, and location
daily. Sunspots are directly related to magnetic activity 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
instrument without a professionally made solar filter, or
permanent eye damage could result. Also, be sure to
cover the finder scope, or better yet, remove it altogether.
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 SkyView Pro 80mm ED EQ is capable of
showing you these planets in detail. Other planets may be vis-
ible but will likely appear starlike. 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 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 moon:
Io, Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede. Higher power eyepieces
should bring out the cloud bands on the planet's disk and the
Great Red Spot.
SATURN The ringed planet is a breathtaking sight. The tilt
angle of the rings varies over a period of many years; some-
times 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. Look closely and you may see the Cassini divi-
sion, a thin, dark gap in the rings. You should also see one
or more of Saturn's moons, which look like faint stars. The
brightest is the 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 The Red Planet makes a close approach to Earth
every two years. Observing Mars is most favorable at these
times. With good conditions, you may see a salmon-colored
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disk with some distinct dark patches, and you might be able
to spot a whitish polar ice cap. To see surface detail on Mars,
you will need a high power eyepiece and very steady air!
D. the stars
Stars will appear as tiny points of light. Even the largest tele-
scopes cannot magnify stars to appear as anything more than
pinpoints. 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 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; that is, objects that reside outside of our
solar system. These include gaseous nebulas, open and
globular star clusters, and a variety of different types of galax-
ies. For deep-sky observing 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. 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 from these fascinating objects.
Beginners are often surprised to discover that the deep-
sky objects they see through the eyepiece of a telescope
are mostly grayish, not colorful like those you see in long-
exposure photographs. The reason is that our eyes are not
sensitive to color in faint light. Still, there is something very
special about seeing an astronomical object in real time, with
your own eyes — "live," if not in living color.
How to Find Deep‑sky objects: starhopping
Starhopping, 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
closer 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
starhopping 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
magnitude 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 constel-
lations 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
visual magnitude of 9 or lower. Many beginners start with the
Messier objects, which represent some of the best and bright-
est deep-sky objects. These were first catalogued about 200
years ago by the French astronomer Charles Messier.
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