Orion 52598, Instruction Manual

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surface meets the dark portion. Due to the low angle at which 
sunlight strikes this part of the Moon, shadows cast by crater 
walls and other high-elevation features are elongated, thereby 
making such features stand out more vividly. Using a red flash-
light (sold separately) to read the MoonMap in the dark will be 
helpful; the red light will not spoil your eyes’ dark adaptation. 

What to Expect

So what will you see with your telescope? You should be able to 
see bands on Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, craters on the Moon, 
the waxing and waning of Venus, and many bright deep-sky 
objects. Do not expect to see color as you do in NASA photos, 
since those are taken with long-exposure cameras and have 
“false color” added. Our eyes are not sensitive enough to see 
color in deep-sky objects except in a few of the brightest ones. 
But remember that you are seeing these objects using your own 
telescope with your own eyes, in real time. And that’s pretty cool! 

Objects to Observe 

Now that you are all set up and ready to go, one critical decision 
must be made: what to look at?

A. The Moon

With its rocky surface, the Moon is one of the easiest and most 
interesting targets to view with your telescope. Lunar craters, 
maria, 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. The best time to 
observe our one and only natural satellite 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 
portions of the disk (called the “terminator”). A full Moon is too 
bright and devoid of surface shadows to yield a pleasing view. 
Make sure to observe the Moon when it is well above the hori-
zon to get the sharpest images. Use an optional Moon filter 
to dim the Moon when it is very bright. It simply threads onto 
the bottom of the eyepiece barrel. You’ll find that a Moon filter 
improves viewing comfort, and also helps to bring out subtle 
features on the lunar surface.

B. The Sun

You can change your nighttime telescope into a daytime Sun 
viewer by installing an optional full-aperture solar filter over the 
front opening of the SkyScanner BL. The primary attraction is 
sunspots, which change shape, appearance, and location daily. 
Sunspots are directly related to magnetic activity in the Sun. 
Many observers like to make drawings of sunspots to monitor 
how the Sun is changing from day to day. 

Important Note:

 Do not look at the Sun with this telescope 

without a professionally made solar filter installed on the front 
opening, or permanent eye damage could result. Do not use 
the red dot scope when solar viewing, either. 

C. The Planets

Planets, being in our own solar system and having their own 
orbits, do not stay at “fixed” locations like the stars do. So to 
find them you should refer to Sky Calendar at our website (tele-
scope.com), or to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky 
& Telescope, or other astronomy magazines. Venus, Jupiter, 

and Saturn are the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun 
and the Moon. Your SkyScanner BL is capable of showing you 
these planets in some detail. Other planets may be visible but 
will likely appear star-like. Because planets are quite small in 
apparent size, you will need to use high power (the 3X Barlow 
lens should come in handy here). Not all the planets are gener-
ally visible at any one time. 
JUPITER: The largest planet, Jupiter, is a great subject for obser-
vation. You can see the disk of the giant planet and watch the 
ever-changing positions of its four largest moons - Io, Callisto, 
Europa, and Ganymede. 
SATURN: The ringed planet is a breathtaking sight when it is 
well positioned. The tilt angle of the rings varies over a period of 
many years; sometimes they are seen edge-on, while at other 
times they are broadside and look like giant “ears” on each side 
of Saturn’s disk. A steady atmosphere (good seeing) is neces-
sary for a good view. You will probably see a bright “star” close 
by, which is Saturn’s brightest moon, Titan.
VENUS: At its brightest, Venus is the most luminous object in 
the sky, excluding the Sun and the Moon. It is so bright that 
sometimes it is visible to the naked eye during full daylight! Ironi-
cally, Venus appears as a thin crescent, not a full disk, when at 
its peak brightness. Because it is so close to the Sun, it never 
wanders too far from the morning or evening horizon. No surface 
markings can be seen on Venus, which is always shrouded in 
dense clouds.

D. The Stars

Stars will appear like twinkling points of light. Even powerful 
telescopes cannot magnify stars 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. The gorgeous 
two-color double star Albireo in Cygnus is a favorites. Defocus-
ing a star slightly can help bring out its color. 

E. Deep-Sky Objects

Under dark skies, you can observe a wealth of fascinating deep-
sky objects, including gaseous nebulas, open and globular 
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; most will look like dim gray smudges. Our eyes are 
not sensitive enough to see color in deep-sky objects. But 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. 
To find deep sky objects in the sky, it is best to consult a star 
chart or planisphere. These guides will help you locate the 
brightest and best deep-sky objects for viewing with your 
SkyScanner BL. You can also try low-power scanning of the 
Milky Way. Pop in the 25mm eyepiece and just cruise through 
the “star clouds” of our galaxy. You’ll be amazed at the rich fields 
of stars and objects you’ll see! The Milky Way is best observed 
on summer and winter evenings.