ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS FunScope User instructions

TMTM
®
Setting-up and using your new telescope
IN 206 Rev. A

2
TMTM
®
Copyright © 2002 Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
All rights reserved
FunScope serves up bright,
sharp images of Moon
craters galore, Saturn’s rings,
magnificent star clusters,
and hundreds of other
mind-boggling cosmic
wonders!
FunScope serves up bright,
sharp images of Moon
craters galore, Saturn’s rings,
magnificent star clusters,
and hundreds of other
mind-boggling cosmic
wonders!

3
Setting Up Your FunScope
Care For Your FunScope
Carefully take the FunScope out of
its box. Remove the plastic wrap
from the FunScope, eyepiece, and
base.
Never point the FunScope at the
Sun! You can seriously hurt your
eyes!
Bring the FunScope inside when
you are finished using it. Treat your FunScope carefully. It could break if you drop it or treat it
roughly
Don’t touch or drop anything
inside the FunScope. Always hold
the eyepiece by its side; don’t
touch the lenses.
Place the “fat end” of the FunScope
on the base. Remove the front cap
and set it aside.
Remove the eyepiece cap and set it
aside. Insert the eyepiece by
twisting it clockwise into the
FunScope
Save the box! It makes a handy
carrying case.

4
Astronomical objects will move
slowly out of the eyepiece view.
This is because as the Earth rotates,
objects in the sky seem to move
from East to West. You can follow
them by gently moving the
FunScope.
Using Your FunScope
How to Use Your FunScope During the Day
Point your FunScope at what you
want to look at by swiveling it on its
base. Or hold it with both hands
and point it at the object.
When looking at things during the
day, you can use the FunScope on
its base. But things might be easier
if …
...you hold it in your hands. Or you
cradle it in your lap. Whatever you look at, it should be at least 15 feet away to focus
sharply.
Just remember, never point the
FunScope at the Sun!
Look into the eyepiece. Push the
“tube” of the FunScope up, down,
left or right to center your target in
the eyepiece.
If what you see is blurry, focus the
image by turning
the eyepiece.

5
Using the FunScope at Night: Part 1
Using the FunScope at Night: Part 2
Find a safe place without a lot of
lights. City and streetlights can
wash out stars in the sky.
Let your eyes adapt! The longer
you stay in the dark, the better
your eyes become at seeing dim
stars. Just watch how many stars
come into view as you hang
outside in the dark.
Keep your eyes open. If you close
one eye the other one may squint.
Instead, keep both eyes open and
cover one eye with your hand if
you need to.
Get to know the stars! Use a star
map or planisphere to help you
identify constellations and stars.
That way you’ll know what is
located where in the night sky.
Keep a journal of the things
you’ve looked at. Draw sketches
of what you see and compare
them to other objects you’ve
viewed.
Don’t look through a window. The
difference between the warm air
inside and the colder air outside
will spoil your views.
Don’t look over rooftops. The heat
rising from the house can mess up
your view.
Avoid nights with a full Moon. It
may seem like a good thing to
look at, but it’s all washed out.
You’ll see more craters when the
Moon is not full.

6
Planets! Saturn and Jupiter are best,
but don’t neglect Venus and Mars.
You’ll need an updated star map
from a computer program or
internet site to find the planets on a
particular night.
What Can I Look At?
How Does the FunScope Work?
Wildlife, birds, owls, butterflies, and
airplanes flying overhead! Just
about anything that you can see
can be seen up close with the
FunScope.
At the bottom of the FunScope
there is a specially curved 3” mirror.
This mirror can gather about 120
times more light than your own
eye.
The special curve of this mirror
(called a parabola) concentrates
that light so it will hit the smaller,
flat mirror near the top of the
FunScope.
The small mirror reflects the light
out to the eyepiece. The eyepiece
then focuses all that light so you
can see an image.
The eyepiece magnifies the object
by 30 times, compared to what
your eyes normally see.
The Moon! You’ll see tons of craters
and mountains. Remember, the
view is better when the Moon is
only partly full.
“Deep space” objects beyond our
solar system, such as star clusters,
glowing nebulas, and even the
Andromeda Galaxy!

7
Other Tips
Use a planisphere or star map to
help locate objects in the night sky.
Online planispheres and computer
programs can help with planets.
Dress warmly! It can get cold at
night and you can’t see well when
you’re shivering.
Practice! Practice! Practice! The
more you play with your
FunScope, the easier it will be to
use, and the more fun you will
have.
Attend your local astronomy
club’s meeting and star parties.
It’s one of the best ways to learn!

8
One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion FunScope is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of
purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes
& Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is
returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered,
proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does
it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which
vary from state to state. For further warranty service information, contact: Customer Service Department, Orion Telescopes
& Binoculars, P. O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; [phone].
Copyright © 2002 Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
All rights reserved