Celestron 44124 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MODEL #44124
Everything you need to begin exploring
the wonders of the microscopic world
[ Ages 8+ ]
Basic Microscope Kit

Basic Microscope Kit
Congratulations on your Celestron microscope purchase. Your new microscope is a precision optical
instrument, made of high quality materials to ensure durability and long life. It is designed to give you
a lifetime of enjoyment with a minimal amount of maintenance.
Before attempting to use your microscope, please read through the instructions to familiarize yourself
with the functions and operations in order to maximize your enjoyment and usage. See the microscope
diagrams to locate the parts discussed in this manual.
CAUTION!
NOTE: This kit may include chemicals that could be harmful if misused. This kit is NOT to be used by
children under 8 years of age, and ALWAYS should be used under adult supervision.
SPECIFICATIONS- MODEL #44124
Stage - Plain Stage with metal clips - 66mm x 73mm (2.6” x 2.8”)
Focuser - Coarse focus
Magnification - 100X, 600X and 1200X
Illumination - Adjustable bottom illuminator with mirror and incandescent light bulb
Nosepiece - 3-position with click stop
Power - Runs on 2 AA batteries (not included)
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WHAT’S IN THE BOX
A. 7 Blank Specimen Slides
B. 2X Magnifier
C. Extra Illuminator Bulb
D. 7 Slide Covers

Basic Microscope Kit
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E. Eyepiece
F. Body Tube
M. Mirror/Bottom Illuminator
I. Objective Lens
H. Objective Nosepiece
J. Stage Clips
K. Stage
G. Focus Knob
N. Base with Battery Holder
L. Filter Wheel
Figure 1

GETTING STARTED
Open the box and carefully remove the microscope placing one hand around the microscope arm and one
under the base. Place on a flat, sturdy surface.
1. Remove the plastic dust cap from the eyepiece (E).
2. Unscrew at least one screw holding in the rubber cover on the base (N) and install the two AA batteries
(not included) See Fig. 2
CAUTION: Take care to install the batteries in the correct orientation. Follow battery manufacturer’s precautions.
Do not install batteries backwards, or mix new and used batteries. Do not mix alkaline, standard (carbon-zinc),
or rechargeable batteries.
3. You are now ready to use your microscope!
OBSERVING
1. Lower the stage (K). Then rotate the objective
nosepiece (H) until the shortest objective (100X)
is over the stage opening as shown in Fig. 3.
2. Place a specimen of your choice on a slide (A)
and place the slide under the stage clips (J).
Position the specimen over the Stage opening.
3. Look through the eyepiece (E) and slowly
turn the focus knob (G) until the specimen
comes into focus.
4. Adjust the mirror or bottom illuminator (M)
to change the amount of light shining
through the specimen to optimize the image.
5. To increase the magnification, lower the
stage once again and rotate the nosepiece to
line up either the 600X or 1200X Objective.
HELPFUL TIPS
•Always make sure to lower the stage
before rotating the nosepiece to change the
objective power. This will ensure the objective
will not be damaged by contacting the stage.
•The view through the eyepiece will appear
upside down and reversed from left to right.
Take this into consideration when moving
the specimen slide around on the stage.
• Do not always assume that increasing
magnification will produce the best image for
viewing. Each time you increase the magnification,
the amount of light decreases, and the section
of the image you are able to view also decreases.
Experiment observing with all three objectives
for all specimens until you get a feel for the
magnification levels.
CAUTION: When finished observing using the light bulb illuminator, be sure to flip the Illuminator over
180°, turning off the lamp ensuring a long life of the bulb.
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Figure 3
Figure 2

Basic Microscope Kit
FUN OBSERVATIONS
1. Filter Wheel: Locate the filter wheel (L) on the stage of the microscope. The filter wheel has
7 positions. There are 4 color filters (Red, Yellow, Blue and Green) and 3 aperture filters
(9mm, 6mm and 3mm DIA). It’s fun to see how the image will change with each filter.
2. Make Your Own Slides: It is easy to make slides! A section of almost any material can be placed on
a slide and observed with a microscope. Your kit includes some of the items you will need, but you
will also need to gather the following typical household items:
• Scissors
• Petroleum jelly
• Natural uncolored toothpicks
• A few small bottle caps
• A wide mouth jar with a lid
• Paper cups, or similar small disposable container
• Paper towels
• Measuring cup
• Plastic dropper
• Scalpel
• Tweezers
Setup your work area on a flat open space, like a desktop. Label 3 cups as “Clean”, “Flush” and “Waste”.
Fill the “Flush” cup with clean water. You are now ready to find a specimen. Here is a suggestion for a
simple first slide - Crystals.
TIP: Start thinking like a scientist as you perform your experiments. Observe carefully, take notes,
and keep your equipment and work environment clean. Experiments work best with clean and
uncontaminated equipment.
3. Seeing Crystals: One of the easiest slides to make is a Crystal slide. Here’s how it’s done:
a. Use your measuring cup to measure one or two ounces of hot (not boiling) water and pour it into a
clean cup.
b. Slowly add as much table salt to the water as will dissolve. Stir continuously while pouring.
c. Use your plastic dropper to place one or two drops of the salt solution onto a clean slide as shown
in Figure 4.
d. Set the slide aside and allow it to dry completely.
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e. Clean your tools, using the “Flush” cup.
f. When the slide is completely dried, it
should be covered in a white substance.
Now place the slide on the microscope
stage and center it over the hole in
the stage.
g. Flip the illuminator over to turn on
the light bulb. Set the objective to the
shortest. Look through the microscope
eyepiece and focus in on the
specimen. You should see crystals!
h. Experiment with different objectives and note the changes.
i. Try other salts and sugars in the same manner to create other crystal slides!
4. Creating Smears:
a. Using a scalpel, gently scrape off small shavings from the surface of a freshly cut potato.
b. Smear the shavings onto a clean slide as shown in Figure 5.
c. This creates a very thin specimen that is ready to view under the microscope.
5. Preparing a Mount: Preparing a
mount refers to larger objects like
the petal of a plant or an ant leg.
a. Dip your scalpel in some clean water
and make a smear across a clean slide.
b. Use your tweezers to place a portion
of an insect wing, or other part, on
the slide.
c. Attach a cover slide (D) over the specimen and place the slide onto the microscope stage,
align and focus.
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Figure 4
Figure 5

Basic Microscope Kit
6. Life Under Glass:
a. Fill the wide mouthed jar with fresh water.
b. Drop a handful of grass and a pinch or two of dirt into the water.
c. Put the lid on the jar and place it in an area that will get moderate sunlight.
d. Let it stand for 3-4 days.
e. After 5 days, it is time to examine the water.
f. Make a specimen slide by using a clean slide and petroleum jelly.
g. Use a toothpick to make a ring with the petroleum jelly on the slide surface.
h. The ring should be smaller than a cover slip and half as thick as the slide thickness.
i. Put a drop of the jar water inside the ring.
j. Using the lowest power on the microscope (shortest objective), observe the specimen.
k. Take note of any microbial movement in the water.
l. Have fun and write down your observations.
CARING FOR YOUR MICROSCOPE: Your microscope is a precision optical instrument and when treated
with care, should provide years of use. Here are a few tips to keep your microscope in top shape:
• Always carry the microscope with two hands.
• Always remove slides from the stage before putting the microscope away.
• Cover the microscope or store it back in the box when not in use.
• Use lens cleaning tissue ONLY when cleaning the lenses.
• Never allow the objective lenses to touch the slide or the stage.
• Remove the batteries before storing the microscope for extended periods of time
(30 days or longer).
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FCC Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used
in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference
to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged
to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Model # 44124
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