Celestron Firstscope 80 AZ Instruction Manual page 12

WARNING!
Observing the Sun,
Moon, and Planets
Observing Deep-Sky
Objects
Although overlooked by many amateur astronomers, solar observation is both
rewarding and fun. However, because the Sun is so bright, special precautions must
be taken when observing our star so as not to damage your eyes or your telescope.
Never project an image of the Sun through the telescope. Tremendous heat build-up
near the back of the telescope can damage any accessories attached to the
telescope.
Use a Celestron solar filter to view the Sun in complete safety. These filters reduce
the intensity of the Sun's light making it safe to view. With these filters you can see
sunspots as they move across the solar disk and faculae, which are bright patches
seen near the Sun's edge.
Do not look through the Star Pointer finderscope while
pointed towards the Sun. Instead, look at the ground at the shadow cast by the
finder and position the telescope until the shadows are concentric.
In the night sky, the Moon is a prime target for your first look because it is ex¬
tremely bright. Often, it is a temptation to look at the Moon when it is full. At this
time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light can be overpowering. In
addition, little or no contrast can be seen at this time.
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One of the best times to observe the Moon is during its partial phases (around the
time of first or third quarter). Long shadows reveal a great amount of detail on the
lunar surface. At low power you will be able to see the entire lunar disk at one time.
Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area. Keep in mind
that the rotation of the Earth will cause the Moon to drift out of your field of view.
You will have to manually adjust the telescope to keep the Moon centered. This
effect is more noticeable at higher power. Consult your local newspaper or current
astronomy magazine to find out when the Moon is visible.
This same method can be used to observe the planets. You can see Venus go
through its lunar-like phases. Mars will reveal a host of surface detail and one, if not
both, of its polar caps. You will be able to see the cloud belts of Jupiter and the
great Red Spot. In addition, you will also be able to see the Moons of Jupiter as
they orbit this gas giant. Saturn with its beautiful rings is easily visible at moderate
power. All you need to know is where to look. Most astronomy publications tell
where the planets can be found in the sky each month.
Deep-sky objects are simply those objects outside the boundaries of our solar
system. They include star clusters, planetary nebulae, diffuse nebulae, double stars
and other galaxies outside our own Milky Way. The Celestron Sky Maps (#93722)
can help you locate the brightest deep-sky objects. You can "star hop" to an object
from an area with which you are familiar. Most deep-sky objects have a large
angular size. Therefore, low-to-moderate power is all you need to see them. Visu¬
ally, they are too faint to reveal any color. Instead, they have a black and white
appearance. And, because of their low surface brightness, they should be observed
from a dark sky location. Light pollution around large urban areas washes out most
nebula making them difficult, if not impossible, to observe. LPR filters enhance
deep sky viewing from light polluted areas by blocking unwanted light while
transmitting light from certain deep-sky objects. You can, on the other hand,
observe planets and stars from light polluted areas or when the Moon is out.
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