Orion STARBLAST User manual

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WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through the 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.
Instruction Manual
Seaford Public Library
2234 Jackson Avenue
Seaford, NY 11783
[phone]
Please read
this BEFORE
using
Telescope

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Table of Contents
Page 3…. Telescope Parts
Page 4…. Transporting the Telescope
Page 4/5…. Care and Maintenance
Page 5/6…. Getting Started/Setting up
Page 6…. Focusing the Telescope
Page 7/8…. Operating the Finder Scope/ What to
Expect
Page 8/9…. Objects to Observe
Page 10….Sky Map (September 2021)
Page 11…. When to Go Observing
Page 12….Additional Information/Books

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TELESCOPE PARTS:
1. Zoom Eyepiece
2. EZ Finder Scope (turn off when not in use)
3. Telescope tube
4. Focus wheels
5. Tube Clamp; loosen to rotate
6. Altitude Clamp (do not turn)
7. Mirror assembly (do not turn screws)
8. Support
9. Handle
10. Eyepiece rack (removed)
11. Eyepiece (replace by zoom)
12. Feet on base
Focuser Details
13) Focus wheels
14) Eyepiece securing screws (glued in place please do not try to turn)
Use on a stable, sturdy table.

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CARE AND MAINTENANCE:
Store the telescope with the dust caps on and in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe
from rapid temperature changes and humidity. Do not store the telescope
outdoors. Please keep the dust cover and eye piece cap on the telescope when it’s
not in use. Keeping the telescope dry is most important.
TRANSPORTING THE TELESCOPE:
The easiest way to carry the telescope is to place your forearm under the telescope
tube when it is in a level position, and lift, holding the upright support against your
side. When in a car, place the scope on a seat and use a seatbelt to secure it. The lap
belt goes across the base, and the chest belt should cross the tube.

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Fog on the mirrors and eyepiece: Please do not wipe the eyepiece with a tissue
or cloth. One of the odd things that happens during stargazing is that dew forms on
almost everything (and everyone). The big mirror is down at the bottom of the
telescope and it does not get much dew. Eyepieces, however, often have dew form
on them, making them useless until they warm up and dry.
If dew is settling, it is best to take the telescope inside to warm up and dry off.
The eyepiece has special coatings that could be damaged if it is rubbed or scratched.
Please do not touch the glass on the eyepiece and Please don’t clean or adjust the
lenses or mirrors. Let the librarian know if the lenses seem dirty. The main
mirror can be quite dusty before anyone would notice the image becoming poor.
Eyepieces, however, can get dirty fairly quickly, particularly when poked with
fingers. If it happens, let the librarian know and she or he will have it cleaned.
GETTING STARTED:
Now that you have the telescope at home, please get familiar with the different parts
and functions shown on page 3. The brief explanation at the library should help to
get you started. Practice indoors with the telescope before going outside and try to
use it in the dark. When the telescope is not in use, please leave the eyepiece dust
cap and the front cover in place.
SETTING UP:
Set-up the telescope on a stable surface to help avoid vibrations. Do this while it is
still daylight to make it easy to see and to allow the mirror to reach ambient
temperature. The image will be much better if you let the telescope cool down to
outside air temperature before you start observing after dark, and it is much easier
to set-up in daylight, just before sunset.
The images will be upside down and backward when
viewing in the eyepiece. When seen at night, the objects in the sky are
light years away. That they are upside down really doesn’t matter. The
Zoom eyepiece is permanently mounted in the focuser. Remove the
dust caps from the eyepiece and front of the telescope tube.

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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. You can also observe with your
eyeglasses on.
This is important enough to say:
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through
the 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
with this telescope. 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. Remember to replace them
when done. The “power” of a given telescope depends upon the eyepiece you use.
This scope has a zoom eyepiece. Always start by using the telescope’s
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 the sky in the eyepiece,

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making finding and centering an object much easier.
With the eyepiece adjusted for low power (24mm), aim the telescope in the general
direction of an object at least ¼ 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 focus point. When focusing on stars, bring them to as small a point as
possible.
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 Zoom’s barrel towards the “8”. This is recommended
for small and bright objects, like planets and double stars. The Moon also takes
higher magnification as well. You may have to refocus a little after changing power.
OPERATING THE FINDER SCOPE:
The finder scope has a wider field of view than the telescope so that it is easier to
find what you want to see. Turn on the finder scope by turning the knob on the right
side. Remember to turn it off when not in use. Point the telescope towards the
object you wish to observe. Look through the finder scope and center the red dot on
the object you want to observe. It may be difficult at first to use the finder scope but
with a little experience it should become easy. Once an object is centered in the
finder scope it should be centered in the eyepiece as well. If it is not, then the finder
scope will need to be adjusted.
Inform the Librarian. Please do not try to adjust the finder scope yourself.

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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 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 the telescope will be a
learning experience.
OBJECTS TO OBSERVE:
The Moon: Is one of the easiest and most interesting targets to view. Lunar craters,
“seas”, and even mountain ranges can all be clearly seen from an
average 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 reveal more detail, especially right along the
border between the dark and light positions of the disk (called the “terminator”). If
the Moon is too bright, or you want a bit more contrast, remove the small plug from
the dust cover and put the cover back on the telescope. This is called “steeping
down” and reduces the light hitting your eye.
The Planets do not stay at “fixed” locations like the stars do. To find them you
should refer to the Sky Calendar (telescope.com) or to charts published
monthly in Astronomy, Sky and Telescope, or other astronomy magazines and
websites. (Please see pg. 12) Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are the brightest objects in
the sky after the Sun and the Moon.

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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 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 photos 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. Star clusters are particularly pretty,
usually bright and easy to see.

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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 lower
is desirable).
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.

12
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
www.spaceweather.com
https://astronomy.com/
www.eyesonthesky.com
www.skymaps.com
https://skyandtelescope.org/
https://www.education.slooh.com/parents
BOOKS
101 Objects to See in the Night Sky– By: Robin Scagell
Backyard Guide to Night Sky-By: Howard Schneider
Complete Guide to Stargazing– By: Robin Scagell
David Levy's Guide to the Night Sky– By: David H. Levy
Patterns in the Sky: An Introduction to Stargazing By: Ken Hewitt-White
The Practical Astronomer– By: Will Gater
Stars and Planets - By: Robert Dinwiddie
The Stargazer's Handbook: The Definitive Field Guide to the Night Sky– By:
Giles Sparrow
If you have any questions, please
call the Library at 516-221-1334