Orion starBlast 4.5 EQ User manual

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The Missoula Public Library
406-721-2665
And the Library Telescope Program of
The Western Montana
Astronomical Association
Orion StarBlast 4.5" Telescope
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your telescope or its finder scope — even for
an instant — as permanent eye damage could result. Do not point the telescope at the Sun, as
parts will melt! Children should use this telescope only with adult supervision.

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The Western Montana Astronomical Association
The WMAA is an educational organization that promotes public awareness of astronomy.
We hold public star parties, demonstrations, presentations, and discussions, all free of
charge.
Visit http://missoulasky.org for more information about club events and contact
information.Our meetings are typically the 2nd Friday of every month either at the Target
Range School Library or the Montana Natural History Center’s Native Garden Plant
Classroom. See the website for details about upcoming meetings.
The checkout program and telescope are modeled after a similar one in New Hampshire.
Visit http://nhastro.com/ltp.php for more details on our inspiration
The WMAA partially funded this telescope and is providing the library with ongoing help
in public education about astronomy and maintenance of this telescope.
We hope you enjoy using it!
Nick Wethington - WMAA Library Telescope Coordinator [email protected]

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Telescope Parts
1) Eyepiece (Zoom 8 to 24 mm)
2) EZ Finder with AA battery box
3) Telescope tube
4) Focuser
5) Tube Clamp
6) Altitude Clamp
7) Mirror Assembly
8) Support
9) Handle
10) Eyepiece rack (removed)

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Focuser Details
13) Focus wheels
14) Eyepiece securing screws (replaced with hex
screws)
EZ Finder Details

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Transporting the Telescope
The telescope comes in a hard carrying case to minimize damage while transporting the telescope
and bundle accompanying items along with it. It is easy to lift with one person, though two can be
helpful to navigate it through doors and into cars. Grab both handles securely and ensure that the
clasps on the front of the case are closed completely before lifting. The picture below illustrates
how the telescope should be fitted
into the case. Please flip the
telescope tube over on the mount so
that the eyepiece is pointing
downward into the case (don’t bind
up the strings that attach the caps to
the mount). Put the telescope into
the case as shown, close the lid
gently, and turn the clasps
clockwise to lock the lid shut. The
case should fit easily into the back
seat of a car or the trunk.

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Care and Maintenance
Aligning the Mirrors: Again, please don’t. If it seems that the telescope is in need of adjustment,
please tell a librarian.
Fog on the mirrors and eyepieces: One of the odd things that happens when star gazing is that
dew forms on pretty much everything (and everyone). The big mirror is tucked safely down at the
bottom of the telescope, and so it does not get much dew on it. Eyepieces, however, often have dew
form on them, making them useless until they warm up and dry out. If the eyepiece fogs up, wrap
your hands around it for a few moments. As it warms up, the fog should disappear. Please don’t
wipe the lens with a tissue or cloth as it has special coatings on it that could be damaged if you do.
Please ask people to not touch the lens… ever.
The Eyepiece chart on the telescope shows what magnification you will have for each setting of the
Zoom Eye piece. The “True Field” describes the width of the image in the eyepiece. A full Moon is
30 minutes of a degree (or !of a degree) wide, so you could fit about 4 full Moons in the field of
view when using the 8mm setting. Change the zoom setting until your target fits the eyepiece the
way you like. You will have to tweak the focus.

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Getting Started
Please read the instructions and practice with the telescope inside before you take it out in the dark.
The image will be much better if you let the telescope cool down to air temperature before you start
observing.
This is a “Push-to” telescope. Once you find what you are looking for, you can either watch the
object move through your “field of view” (what you see through the eye piece) and then reposition
the telescope, or keep pushing the scope to hold the object in the center of the eyepiece. Objects
appear to move across the field of view faster at higher magnifications. This is because the field of
view becomes narrower.
Like many reflector telescopes, the image in the eyepiece is upside-down. When looking at star
charts you will have to keep this in mind. The Moon map on this telescope is “flipped” so it
matches what you see in the eyepiece.
Do You Wear Eyeglasses? If so, you will probably be able to observe with your glasses off by just
refocusing the telescope to your unaided vision. If your eyes are astigmatic, images will probably
appear best with glasses on. This is because a telescope’s focuser can accommodate for
nearsightedness or farsightedness, but not astigmatism.

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This is important enough to say again:
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your telescope or its finder scope — even for an
instant - as permanent eye damage could result. This is one of the few really bad things you can do
to yourself twice. Young children should use this telescope only with adult supervision.
Focusing the Telescope: Try out the telescope during the day when you can see what you’re doing.
Remove the dust caps from the eyepiece and telescope tube.
The “power” of a given telescope depends upon the eyepiece you use. This scope has a zoom
eyepiece. Always start by using the telescopes’ lowest-power (turn the body of the zoom so the
pointer is at “24”) to locate and center an object. Low magnification shows a larger area of sky in
the eyepiece, making finding and centering an object much easier.
With the eyepiece adjusted for low power (24 mm), aim the telescope in the general direction of an
object at least 1/4-mile away. Slowly rotate the focus wheels until the object comes into sharp
focus. Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until the image starts to blur again, then reverse the
rotation of the knob, just to make sure you’ve hit the exact focus point. When focusing on stars,
bring them to as small a point as possible.

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Many “deep-sky” objects are big, but dim. Low magnification will be better for them. Once you’ve
centered an object in the eyepiece, you can switch to a higher magnification by twisting the zooms’
barrel towards the “8”. This is recommended for small and bright objects, like planets and double
stars. The Moon also takes higher magnifications well. You may have to refocus a little after
changing power.
If you find that it’s awkward to put your eye up to the eyepiece, you can rotate the telescope tube
by loosening the knob on the tube clamp and moving the telescope tube until the focuser is in a
convenient position. Be sure to tighten it again!
You may find that the telescope tube is either too hard to move or does not stay in place. Use the
altitude adjustment tension knob (it holds the telescope to the upright part of the base) to find the
right level of tension.
Operating the EZ Finder
A “finder scope” helps you point the scope, rather like a rifle sight. The EZ Finder works by
projecting a tiny red dot onto a screen mounted in the front of the unit, so that when you look
through the screen, the red dot will appear to float in space. Turn the power knob clockwise until
you hear a “click” indicating that power is on. With your eye positioned near the rear of the
telescope, look through the EZ Finder with both eyes open to see the red dot. The intensity of the

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dot can be adjusted by turning the power knob. Use the dimmest possible setting that allows you to
see the dot without difficulty. When the EZ Finder is properly aligned with the telescope, an object
that is centered on the EZ Finder’s red dot should also appear in the center of the telescope’s
eyepiece. Checking the alignment of the EZ Finder is easiest during daylight. Aim the telescope at a
distant object, such as the top of a telephone pole or chimney and center it in the telescope’s
eyepiece. Now, turn the EZ Finder on and look through it. The object should appear near or under
the red dot. If not: Without moving the telescope, use the EZ Finder’s left/right (azimuth) and up/
down (altitude) adjustment knobs to position the red dot on the object in the eyepiece. If the red dot
is centered on the object in the eyepiece, you’re done!
The finder scope has a battery pack attached to the telescope. At the end of your observing session,
be sure to turn the power knob counterclockwise until it clicks off.
What to Expect
Depending upon what is in the sky; Planets will look small, but you might be able to see cloud
bands on Jupiter or the rings of Saturn. Craters on the Moon will be clear and numerous, the
waxing and waning of Venus should be visible, and many bright deep-sky objects will fill the
eyepiece. Don’t expect to see color as you do in NASA photos as our eyes are not sensitive enough

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to see color in deep-sky objects, except in a few of the brightest ones. Remember that you are
seeing these objects using your own eyes! Each session with your telescope will be a learning
experience. Each time you work with the telescope, it will get easier to use, and stellar objects will
become easier to find.
Objects to Observe:
The Moon is one of the easiest and most interesting targets to view with your telescope. Lunar
craters, “seas”, and even mountain ranges can all be clearly seen from a distance of 238,000 miles
away! With its ever-changing phases, you’ll get a new view of the Moon every night it’s up. Make
sure to observe the Moon when it is well above the horizon to get the sharpest images. The best
time to observe is during a partial phase, that is, when the Moon is not full. During partial phases,
shadows are cast on the surface which reveals more detail, especially right along the border
between the dark and light portions of the disk (called the “terminator”). Use the Map on the
telescope tube to find the major craters and features.
If the Moon is too bright, or you want a bit more contrast, remove the small black plug from the
dust cover and put the cover back on the telescope. This is called “stopping down” and reduces the
light hitting your eye. Be sure to replace the plug in the cap when putting the telescope back in its
case.

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The Planets: They do not stay at “fixed” locations like the stars do. To find them you should refer
to Sky Maps (www.skymaps.com), or to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope,
or other astronomy magazines and web sites. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are the brightest objects in
the sky after the Sun and the Moon. The planisphere can also be used to find them.
Stars: Even powerful telescopes cannot magnify a star 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. (Look at the middle star in the handle of the Big Dipper, Mizar. It is really two stars very
close together.) Being able to see the two stars separate is called “Star Splitting”. The gorgeous
two-color double star, Albireo, in Cygnus is a favorite. Defocusing a star slightly can help bring out
its color.
Deep-Sky Objects: Under dark skies, you can see lots of fascinating deep-sky objects, including
nebulas, star clusters, and a variety of different types of galaxies.
Most deep-sky objects are very faint, so it is important that you find an observing site well away
from light pollution. Take plenty of time to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Do not expect these
subjects to appear like the photographs you see in books and magazines; many will look like dim
gray smudges. 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.

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Deep-Sky Objects, also referred to as “faint-fuzzies” are often hard to find at first. They are worth
the effort, being some of most wonderful things in the night sky. Many constellations have
numerous objects hidden within them that are only visible with a telescope or binoculars. Pay
particular attention to objects with a “Messier Number”, like The Orion Nebula (M-42) and the
Andromeda Galaxy (M-31). First published in 1774, Charles Messier made this list to help
observers identify objects that might be mistaken for comets. Messer’s list includes some of the
brightest and most attractive deep sky objects observable from the northern hemisphere
Star Clusters are particularly pretty, usually bright and easy to see. Note that some Messier Objects
are very faint, and will take a while to find and see. A few are very dim, but may seem to appear
like magic when you look at them “out of the corner of your eye”. This is called “Averted Vision”
and works well when looking at very dim objects.
Star Hopping: This term describes how one uses a star chart to find
objects too dim to see without a telescope. You likely already know how
to do this, if you can find the North Star by following the “pointer stars”
of the Big Dipper. To find a deep sky object, look for a pattern of stars
that can act as landmarks for it. For example: To find the Pinwheel Galaxy,
M 101, look for the last two stars of the Big Dippers handle. They make the base of
a triangle that has the M 101 at the top.

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You can also try a low-power (24 mm) scanning of the Milky Way: just cruise through the “star
clouds” of our galaxy. You’ll be amazed at the rich fields of stars and objects you’ll see!
When to go observing:
“Seeing” and Transparency: Atmospheric conditions vary significantly from night to night.
“Seeing” refers to the steadiness of the Earth’s atmosphere at a given time. In conditions of poor
seeing, atmospheric turbulence causes objects viewed through the telescope to “boil”.
In conditions of good seeing, star twinkling is minimal and images appear steady in the eyepiece.
Seeing is best overhead, worst at the horizon. Good “transparency” is especially important for
observing faint objects. Transparency is judged by the magnitude of the faintest stars you can see
with the unaided eye (Mag.1 is very bright, 2 is dimmer, and so on… 4th magnitude or fainter is
desirable).
Looking at the Little Dipper will show you how good the
viewing is. If you can see all the stars, you are doing
pretty well. Be sure to wait until your eyes adapt to the
dark

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One more time, and with Feeling! WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your telescope or its
finder scope — even for an instant — or permanent eye damage could result. Do not point the telescope at
the Sun, as parts will melt! Children should use this telescope only with adult supervision
If you go to http://cleardarksky.com/c/MissoulaMTkey.html?1, you will find the “Clear Sky
Chart” for Missoula. The chart is a time line for weather. If you click on the chart, it will link to a
detailed explanation. You will also find links to other charts. Pick the closest one to you for local
weather conditions. For example, let’s use the NHAS chart: The first 4 bars are the most important:
Is it cloudy? How clear is the sky? What is the “Seeing”, and finally, how dark is it? The deeper
blue the squares are, the better. In the chart below, both Thursday and Friday nights look clear and
relatively great for observing. The later at night, the better and darker it will be. Either night would
be great to borrow the telescope for!
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The Field Guide and Planisphere
The telescope is accompanied by both The National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky
and a planisphere. These are both very helpful tools to use to find out what’s in the sky no matter
what time of year. Don’t feel as if you have to read the whole book, though, to use or appreciate the
telescope and night sky. The best way to learn the night sky is to go out and look at it! The
planisphere is a handy way to find out what constellations are up at night by showing you the
brighter stars that should be visible from your location. A full set of instructions is on the back of
the planisphere, and once you get used to how to use it learning constellations will be easy.
Other Reference Materials
Of course, there are many other reference materials both at the library and online to help you learn
more about astronomy. Ask a librarian about books that may help you learn more about astronomy.
If you are looking for planetarium software to use on your computer, a great free one to download
is Stellarium. It works with almost any computer, is free to download and is one of the easiest to
learn how to use. See www.stellarium.org for more information.
Finally, if you find yourself either confused about the telescope and its operation or extremely
enthusiastic about learning more about astronomy, get in touch with the Western Montana
Astronomical Association at www.missoulasky.org.