Meade 114EQ-AR Instruction Manual - Page 16

Meade114EQAR 3/28/07 9:52 AM Page 16 and outside air. Also, it is a good idea to allow your telescope to reach the 14 ambient (surrounding) outside temperature before starting an observing session. When to observe: Planets and other objects viewed low on the horizon often lack sharp-ness-the same object, when observed higher in the sky, will appear sharper and have greater contrast. Try reducing power (change your eyepiece) if your image is fuzzy or shimmers. Keep in mind that a bright, clear, but smaller image is more interesting than a larger, dimmer, fuzzy one. Using too high a power eyepiece is one of the most common mistakes made by new astronomers. Dress Warm: Even on summer nights, the air can feel cool or cold as the night wears on. It is important to dress warm or to have a sweater, jacket, gloves, etc., nearby. Know your observing site: If possible, know the location where you will be observing. Pay attention to holes in the ground and other obstacles. Is it a location where wild animals, such as skunks, snakes, etc., may appear? Are there viewing obstructions such as tall trees, street lights, headlights and so forth? The best locations are dark locations, the darker the better. Deep space objects are easiest to see under dark skies. But it is still possible to observe even in a city. Surf the Web and visit your local library: The internet contains a huge amount of astronomical information, both for children and adults. Check out astronomy books from your library. Look for star charts-these are available on a monthly basis in Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines. HAVE A GOOD TIME, ASTRONOMY IS FUN! SPECIFICATIONS Optical tube focal length . . 900mm Primary mirror diameter . 114mm (4.5") Focal ratio f/8 Mounting type Equatorial What do the specifications mean? Optical tube focal length is simply a measurement of the length of the optical JOIN AN ASTRONOMY CLUB, ATTEND A STAR PARTY One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/ store to find out if there's a club in your area. Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky and Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star Parties around the United States and Canada. Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.