Orion StarBlast 4.5 Instruction Manual page 6

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky is included with the telescope. It includes many things that will help
you to enjoy the night sky. Page references below refer to this field guide.
The Moon (pages 634 to 640 and plates 1 to 16) is one of the easiest and most interesting targets to view with any telescope. Lunar
craters, "seas", and even mountain ranges can all be clearly seen from a distance of 238,000 miles away! With its ever-changing
phases, you'll get a new view of the Moon every night it's up. Make sure to observe the Moon when it is well above the horizon to get
the sharpest images. The best time to observe is during a partial phase, that is, when the Moon is not full. During partial phases,
shadows are cast on the surface which reveals more detail, especially right along the border between the dark and light portions of the
disk (called the "terminator").
If the Moon is too bright for you (which it often is for many people when it is at full or gibbous phase), remove the small plug from
the dust cover and put the cover back on the telescope. This is called "stopping down" and reduces the light hitting your eye. The
Moon will still be visible but the brightness of it will be diminished
The Planets (pages 641 to 669 and plates 319 to 377) do not stay at "fixed" locations like the stars do. To find them you should refer
to the Sky Calendar (telescope.com), or to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, or other astronomy magazines
and web sites. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and the Moon and are very interesting to
observe.
• Jupiter's bands and its four Galilean moons
• Saturn's rings
• Venus' phases (like the Moon)
Constellations (pages 423 to 621 and plates 69 to 211) The sky is divided into 88 constellations. Each constellation consists of many
stars and other objects, including star clusters, nebulas and galaxies. Certain constellations are not visible from the northern
hemisphere and other constellations are visible only at various times throughout the year. A few constellations are visible all year
long. The field guide lists each constellation in alphabetical order.
To see which constellations are visible at specific times look at the Monthly Sky Charts (plates 22 to 68). Once you determine which
constellations are visible, look at what can be seen in specific constellations.
Objects to Observe:
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