User manual CELESTRON FIRSTSCOPE 102 AZ REFRACTORS

[. . . ] Altitude lock - allows the telescope tube to be locked into place once a focused image has been set up, by tightening the two screws on the outside of the altazimuth mount. Focal length - the distance from the optical center of the lens to the point where the incoming light rays converge, creating a clear, focused image. Refracting telescope - a long, thin tube where light passes in a straight line from the front objective lens directly to the eyepiece at the opposite end of the tube. First, you need to take the time to familiarize yourself with the parts of your Firstscope telescope, then assemble it, following the easy instructions provided. [. . . ] This is a simple process using the azimuth and altitude control knobs located on 5 the side and bottom of the Star Pointer. The alignment procedure is best done at night since the LED dot will be difficult to see during the day. To turn on the Star Pointer, rotate the variable brightness control clockwise until you here a "click". To increase the brightness level of the red dot, continue rotating the control knob about 180º until it stops. Locate a bright star or planet and center it in a low power eyepiece in the main telescope. With both eyes open, look through the glass window at the alignment star. If the Star Pointer is perfectly aligned, you will see the red LED dot overlap the alignment star. If the Star Pointer is not aligned, take notice of where the red dot is relative to the bright star. Without moving the main telescope, turn the Star Pointer's azimuth and altitude alignment controls until the red dot is directly over the alignment star. If the LED dot is brighter than the alignment star, it may make it difficult to see the star. Turn the variable brightness control counterclockwise, until the red dot is the same brightness as the alignment star. This will extend the life of both the battery and the LED. Finding Objects 1. One of the best times to observe the moon is during its partial phases, such as a crescent or quarter moon. At these times, long shadows reveal a great amount of detail on the lunar surface. At low power, with the standard eyepiece, you'll be able to see the whole lunar disk at one time. Keep in mind that the rotation of the earth will cause the moon to drift out of your field of view. You'll have to manually adjust the telescope to keep the moon centered. Consult a current astronomy magazine or your local newspaper to find out the current phase of the moon. Lunar Observing Hint To increase contrast and bring out visible detail on the lunar surface, try using different eyepiece filters (available through your local Celestron dealer). Observing the Planets Other easy targets include the five "naked eye" planets of our solar system, so called because they can be spotted in the night sky by the unaided eye. Mars can reveal a host of surface detail and one, if not both, of its polar caps. You'll be able to see the cloud belts of Jupiter, perhaps even the great Red Spot. In addition, you'll be able to see the moons of Jupiter as they orbit the giant planet. [. . . ] This useful guide also includes beautiful constellation paintings, photographs, and clear, concise descriptions of stars, the planets, the sun, the moon, comets, black holes, galaxies and more. Planisphere (#93720) - A colorful rotating star map that indicates when specific constellations are visible, with removable markers for tracking the movement of planets. Available in three different latitudes: 30°, 40°, and 50° all ±10°. A full description of all Celestron accessories can be found in the Celestron Accessory Catalog (#93685). [. . . ]