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13
es, you’ll get a new view of the Moon every night. The best time
to observe our one and only natural satellite is during a partial
phase, that is, when the Moon is not full. During partial phases,
shadows are cast on the surface, which reveal more detail, espe-
cially right along the border between the dark and light portions
of the disk (called the “terminator”). A full Moon is too bright and
devoid of surface shadows to yield a pleasing view. Make sure
to observe the Moon when it is well above the horizon to get the
sharpest images.
Use an optional Moon lter to dim the Moon when it is very
bright. It simply threads onto the bottom of the eyepieces (you
must rst remove the eyepiece from the focuser to attach a lter).
You’ll nd that the Moon lter improves viewing comfort, and also
helps to bring out subtle features on the lunar surface.
B. The Planets
The planets don’t stay put like the stars, so to nd them you
should refer to to the monthly starr charts at OrionTelescopes.
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. Other planets may be visible but will likely appear
star-like. Because planets are quite small in apparent size,
optional higher-power eyepieces are recommended and often
needed for detailed observations.
B. The Sun
You can change your nighttime telescope into a daytime Sun
viewer by installing an optional full-aperture solar lter over the
front opening of the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ. 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 lter, or per-
manent eye damage could result.
D. The Stars
Stars will appear like twinkling points of light. Even powerful
telescopes cannot magnify stars to appear as more than a point
of light. 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 gorgeous 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, including gaseous nebulas, open and globular star
clusters, and a variety of different types of galaxies. Most deep-
sky objects are very faint, so it is important you nd an observing
site well away from light pollution.
To nd deep-sky objects with your telescope, you rst need to
become reasonably familiar with the night sky. Unless you know
how to recognize the constellation Orion, for instance, you won’t
have much luck locating the Orion Nebula. A simple planisphere,
or star wheel, can be a valuable tool for learning the constella-
tions and seeing which ones are visible in the sky on a given
night. Once you have identied a few constellations, a good star
chart or atlas will come in handy for helping locate interesting
deep-sky objects to view within the constellations.
Do not expect these objects to appear like the photographs you
see in books and magazines; most will look like dim gray smudg-
es. Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see color in deep-sky
objects except in a few of the brightest ones. But 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.
8. Care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a lifetime.
Store it in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe from rapid changes
in temperature and humidity. Do not store the telescope out-
doors, although storage in a garage or shed is OK. Small compo-
nents like eyepieces and other accessories should be kept in a
protective box or storage case. Keep the dust cover on the front
of the telescope when it is not in use.
Your StarBlast II 4.5 EQ requires very little mechanical mainte-
nance. The optical tube has a smooth painted nish that is fairly
scratch-resistant. If a scratch does appear on the tube, it will not
harm the telescope. If you wish, you may apply some auto touch-
up paint to the scratch. Smudges on the tube can be wiped off
with a soft cloth and household cleaning uid.
Cleaning Optics
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning
uid specically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to
clean the exposed lenses of your eyepieces. Never use regular
glass cleaner or cleaning uid designed for eyeglasses. Before
cleaning, remove any loose particles or dust from the lens with
a blower bulb or soft brush. Then apply some cleaning uid to a
tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a cir-
cular motion, then remove any excess uid with a fresh lens tis-
sue. Oily ngerprints and smudges may be removed using this
method. Use caution; rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. On
larger lenses, clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh
lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.
You should not have to clean the telescope’s mirrors very often,
if ever. Covering the front opening of the telescope with the dust
cover when it is not in use will prevent dust from accumulating on
the mirrors. Small specks of dust or ecks of paint have virtually
no effect on the visual performance of the telescope.
You should rarely if ever have to clean the telescope’s mirrors.
Covering the telescope with the dust cap when it is not in use will
help prevent dust from accumulating on the mirrors. Light dust or
other particles on the mirrors have virtually no effect on the visual
performance of the telescope. Improper cleaning can scratch
mirror coatings. If either mirror does need cleaning please
email us at: [email protected] or contact Orion Technical
Support at (800) 676-1343 to learn the correct procedure.
When bringing the telescope inside after an evening’s viewing it
is normal for moisture to accumulate on the mirrors and lenses
due to the change in temperature. We suggest leaving the tele-
scope and eyepieces uncovered overnight to allow the conden-
sation to evaporate.
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