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ASTRO BASICS 1
Basic knowledge in handling telescopes
www.bresser.de
Expand your horizon

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  • Page 1 ASTRO BASICS 1 Basic knowledge in handling telescopes www.bresser.de Expand your horizon...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    The moon ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13 The planets ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 Deep sky objects ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15 A "road map" to the stars ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15 "You and the universe" ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17 Reference stars ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18 ® The name "Bresser" and the Bresser logo are registered trademarks� © 2021 Bresser GmbH, Germany...
  • Page 3: For This Reading

    The best way to get more detailed information and to exchange ideas with like-minded people is to visit astronomy meetings and/or to become a member of an astronomical club� We also provide a list of these in this brochure� And now have fun exploring our universe and fingers crossed for clear skies! Your BRESSER team...
  • Page 4: Optical Accessories

    ACCESSORIES Optical accessories A variety of adaptors and optical accessories are available for the different telescope types� The deeper you delve into the subject of "astronomy", the more you will learn or find out about other accessories and then perhaps Visibility conditions vary greatly also feel interested in trying them out�...
  • Page 5: Barlow Lens

    ACCESSORIES Barlow Lens The Barlow lens increases the telescope focal length and thus also the magnification by the specified factor (usually 3x or 2x)� A Barlow lens is inserted directly into the eyepiece holder or a zenith prism located in it� The desired eyepiece is then inserted into the Barlow lens� Barlow lenses can in principle be used in any type of telescope�...
  • Page 6: Telescope Basics

    TELESCOPE BASICS Telescope Systems When we speak of telescope systems here, we mean the entire construct of optics, mount and tripod that is needed in the for unrestricted obser- vations� The individual components of this overall construct are described in more detail below� For beginners, they are usually offered in coordina- ted bundles�...
  • Page 7: The Parallactic Home Position

    For this purpose, we have compiled some helpful information in an accompanying booklet, which you can download free of charge via the following weblink: http://www.bresser.de/download/astro-basics https://www.bresser.de/c/de/support/faq/astronomie Furthermore, we have listed below topics that are also worth taking a closer look at�...
  • Page 8: Astronomical Coordinates

    ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES Astronomical coordinates Align to the celestial pole When aligned to the celestial pole, the telescope is oriented so that the horizontal and vertical axes of the telescope coincide with the coordinate system in the sky (see figure)� If you want to point the MCX at the celestial pole, it is essential that you develop an understanding of how and where a cosmic object can be located as it moves through the sky�...
  • Page 9 ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES All objects of the sky can thus be precisely defined by their celestial coor- dinates in right ascension and declination� If you want to work with the pitch circles, you need a mature observation technique� If you are using the pitch circles for the first time, try jumping from one bright star (the guiding star) to another bright star whose coordi- nates you know�...
  • Page 10: Pitch Circles

    ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES circle represents a 3�3° increment, or the numbering for each 10°� The RA sub circuit runs from 0h to 24h (the 24h are not marked!)� Each graduation mark corresponds to a step of 10 min� IMPORTANT NOTE: The RA pitch circle has two rows of digits� So there are two series of num- bers running in opposite directions around the RA pitch circle�...
  • Page 11: Useful Tables

    USEFUL TABLES Useful tables Latitude table for all major world cities To support the procedures for "Aligning with the celestial pole" on page 25, the latitudes of various world cities are listed below� If you want to find the latitude of your observation site, which does not appear in this table, find a city that is close to you�...
  • Page 12 USEFUL TABLES Cleveland Ohio 41° N Dallas Texas 33° N Denver Colorado 40° N Detroit Michigan 42° N Honolulu Hawaii 21° N Jackson Mississippi 32° N Kansas City Missouri 39° N Las Vegas Nevada 36° N Little Rock Arkansas 35° N Los Angeles California 34°...
  • Page 13: Astronomical Basics

    ASTRO BASIC KNOWLEDGE Astronomical basics At the beginning of the 17th century In the mid-nineteenth century, the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei took a primitive telescope, considerably smaller than your Messier telescope, and instead of pointing it at distant trees and moun- tains, started looking at the sky�...
  • Page 14: The Planets

    ASTRO BASIC KNOWLEDGE The planets On their way around the sun, the planets constantly change their position in the sky� Consult a monthly astro magazine (Interstellarum, Astronomy Today, Stars and Space) to find planets in the sky or search the Internet� In the following you will find a list of the planets which are particularly suitable for observation with the Messier telescope: Venus:...
  • Page 15: Deep Sky Objects

    ASTRO BASIC KNOWLEDGE Deep sky objects In order to find constellations, single stars or "deep sky objects", the use of a star chart is recommended� In the following, various examples of deep sky objects are listed: The stars are huge gaseous objects that glow independently because they generate energy in their centre through nuclear fusion�...
  • Page 16 ASTRO BASIC KNOWLEDGE sion of the arc which is described by the drawbar of the Great Dipper� Follow the arc to Arkturus, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere, and then "point" down to Spica, the 16th brightest star in the sky� Fig�...
  • Page 17: You And The Universe

    ASTRO BASIC KNOWLEDGE "You and the universe" The distance between Earth and Moon Distance = 383,000 km Earth Moon Diameter = 12,664 km Diameter = 3,456 km The distance between the planets Sonne The distance between Earth and Sun is 149 million km or 1 astronomical unit (AU)� Mercury Venus Earth...
  • Page 18: Reference Stars

    REFERENCE STARS Winter Fig� 50 Sky view in winter (beginning of January, about 22 h ), direction south Fig� 50a: Sky view in winter (beginning of January, about 22 h ), direction north...
  • Page 19 REFERENCE STARS Spring Fig� 51: Sky view in spring (beginning of April, approx� 22 h ), direction south Fig� 51a: Sky view in spring (beginning of April, about 22 h ) , direction north...
  • Page 20 REFERENCE STARS Summer Fig� 52: Sky view in summer (beginning of July, about 22 h), direction south Fig� 52a: Sky view in summer (beginning of July, about 22 h ), direction north...
  • Page 21 REFERENCE STARS Fall Fig� 53: Sky view in autumn (beginning of October, about 22 h ), direction south Fig� 53a: Sky view in autumn (beginning of October, about 22 h ), direction north...
  • Page 22 NOTES...
  • Page 23 NOTES...
  • Page 24 © 2021 Bresser GmbH, 46414 Rhede, Germany. No part of this manual may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed or translated into any lan- guage in any form without the written permission of Bresser GmbH. Errors and omissions excepted. / Cover picture: storyblocks.com...