Orion StarBlast 4.5" Instruction Manual page 8

Focusing the Telescope: Try out the telescope during the day when you can see what you're
doing. Remove the dust caps from the eyepiece and telescope tube.
The "power" of a given telescope depends upon the eyepiece you use. This scope has a Zoom
eyepiece. Always start by using the telescopes' lowest-power (turn the body of the Zoom so the
pointer is at "24") to locate and center an object. Low magnification shows a larger area of sky in
the eyepiece, making finding and centering an object much easier.
With the eyepiece adjusted for low power (24 mm), aim the telescope in the general direction of an
object at least 1/4-mile away. Slowly rotate the focus wheels until the object comes into sharp
focus. Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until the image starts to blur again, then reverse the
rotation of the knob, just to make sure you've hit the exact focus point. When focusing on stars,
bring them to as small a point as possible.
Many "deep-sky" objects are big, but dim. Low magnification will be better for them. Once
you've centered an object in the eyepiece, you can switch to a higher magnification by twisting the
Zooms' barrel towards the "8". This is recommended for small and bright objects, like planets and
double stars. The Moon also takes higher magnifications well. You may have to refocus a little
after changing power.
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