Orion FUNSCOPE Setup And User Manual

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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 giv es y ou 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; (800) 676-1343.
Copyright © 2002 Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
All rights reserved
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!
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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!
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