NATURE & DECOUVERTES mizar 60/700 Mode D'emploi page 23

mount that the refracting telescope is attached to (the Earth) moves around these fixed objects at a rate
of one turn in 24 hours. To keep these celestial objects centred in the field of the refracting telescope,
you just need to move it around its axes (vertical and/or horizontal). With higher magnification, the
celestial bodies appear to move across the field of the refracting telescope more quickly.
4. Avoid touching the eyepiece while you are using the refracting telescope for an observation. The
resulting vibrations will make the image move. Equally, avoid areas where vibrations of the ground
could be increased by the tripod. Observing from the upper levels of a building could also cause the
image to move.
5. Allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for a few minutes before starting any serious observation.
Use a torch fitted with a red filter to protect your night vision while you examine stellar maps, or while
checking any element of your instrument.
6. Avoid setting up the telescope in a room and observing through an open window (or worse, a closed
window). Images obtained this way will appear blurred or misshapen due to the difference in tempe-
rature between the air indoors and outdoors. Equally, it is good to allow your telescope the chance to
adapt to the ambient (surrounding) temperature before starting an observation session.
7. We must repeat the warning given at the start of this manual:
NEVER POINT THE TELESCOPE DIRECTLY AT THE SUN, OR EVEN IN ITS SURROUN-
DING AREA!
LOOKING AT THE SUN, EVEN FOR THE SHORTEST TIME, CAN CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE
DAMAGE TO YOUR SIGHT, AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE TELESCOPE ITSELF.
8. Certain atmospheric conditions can deform an image that you are trying to observe. The planets
particularly, when they are low on the horizon, often lack clarity. The same object, when observed
when high in the sky, will appear with better resolution and much better contrast. Equally, turbulence
in the upper atmosphere can make the image «dance» in the eyepiece. Reduce the magnification until
the image appears stable. Always bear in mind that a small but clear image with good resolution, is
much more interesting than an image that is larger but darker and more blurred.
9. The 60/700 model refracting telescope can last a lifetime for highly rewarding astronomical and ter-
restrial observations, but the foundation for the pleasure that the refracting telescope can bring us, is
good knowledge of its use. Carefully read the instructions above, until you have a clear understanding
of each piece and how the refracting telescope works. One or two observation sessions will allow you
to clarify all the points in your mind.
10. The number of fascinating objects that you can observe using your Mizar telescope is only limited
by your own enthusiasm. Astronomy software, or a good celestial atlas will help you to locate nume-
rous interesting celestial bodies. Among them:
• Cloud belts on the surface of Jupiter.
• The 4 main moons of Jupiter are visible around the planet, and move every night.
• Saturn and its famous rings.
• The Moon: a veritable treasure trove of craters, mountain ranges and fault lines. The best contrast
is obtained during a crescent moon. The contrast will be low during a full moon, due to the illumina-
tion angle.
• Interstellar space: nebulae, galaxies, multiple star systems, star groups - hundreds of similar ob-
jects are visible.
• Terrestrial objects: you can also use your refracting telescope to observe terrestrial objects in high
resolution. In this case, it must be noted that the star diagonal produces left - right inversion of images,
but not up - down inversion. To obtain a corrected image, you will need to attach piece ref. 931: "45°
star diagonal prism" (external diameter 31.75mm). A low-powered eyepiece (50x or less) can always
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