Z114, Z130
PORTABLE REFLECTOR TELESCOPE
9
objects often fall from view at higher magnifications,
since the image becomes dimmer. This is not an
unbreakable rule, since many galaxies are bright
enough for high magnification, but works as a decent
rule-of-thumb.
Regardless of the object, or what recommendations
are made, the best way to become familiar with
proper viewing magnifications is to experiment.
Always start with low magnification and wide field-
of-view and work your way up. If the view continues
to improve, continue increasing power. If the image
begins to degrade, back off the magnification and
use a lower-power eyepiece.
THE MOON
The Moon is one of the easiest and most rewarding
targets at which to point your telescope. Its rocky,
cratered surface is close enough to be rendered in
some detail, and allows for satisfying exploration. The
best time for lunar viewing is during its partial phases,
when shadows fall on the craters and canyon walls
to give them definition. Even though the full moon
may look like a tempting target, the light is too bright
and the definition too low for optimal viewing.
When viewed through a telescope, even a partial-
phase moon is very, very bright. Using a Moon filter
helps to dim the glare - these and other filters simply
thread underneath the bottom of the telescope
eyepiece.
THE STARS
Through your telescope, stars will appear much as
they do to the naked eye - as tiny points of light
against a dark sky. Even powerful telescopes cannot
magnify stars to appear as anything more than these
pinpoints. You can, however, enjoy the different colors
of their glow and locate many beautiful double- and
multiple-stars. Two popular targets are the “Double-
Double” in the constellation Lyra and the two-color
double star Albireo in Cygnus.
THE PLANETS
The planets are beautiful and popular targets for
astronomers, but they can be more difficult to
keep track of than the stars or moon. Planetary
position charts can readily be found online or in any
astronomical publication. Sun and Moon aside, the
brightest objects in the night sky are Venus, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn. With practice, you will be able to
render these in some detail. Generally, the apparent
size of planets is quite small, and higher-power
eyepieces are recommended for best results.
JUPITER
Jupiter is our solar system’s largest planet. Through
your scope, you can easily see the planet and observe
the changing positions of its four largest moons:
Io, Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede. With higher-
magnification eyepieces, you will be able to see cloud
bands wrapped around the planet and the famous
Great Red Spot.
SATURN
This infamously ringed planet can be a fantastic sight
through your scope. The tilt-angle of the rings varies
over a period of many years, so they may be seen
edge-on (like a thin line) or broadside (like giant “ears”
on each side of the planet). You will need a good
steady atmosphere to achieve a worthwhile view of
Saturn. If you look closely enough, you can see the
Cassini division - a thin, dark gap in the rings. You can
also often make out one or more of Saturn’s moons,
including the largest - Titan.
VENUS
At its brightest, Venus is the most luminous of all the
planets - so bright that it is occasionally visible in full
daylight. Venus appears as only a thin crescent at its
brightest, and it is never found far from morning or
evening horizon. No surface detail can be seen on
Venus as it is surrounded by dense cloud cover.
MARS
Mars makes a close approach to our planet once
every two years, which is the best time to observe it.
With your telescope, you’ll be able to see a salmon-
colored disk marked with dark patches and possible
a whitish polar ice cap. Surface detail on Mars is only
observable during prime conditions with a high-power
eyepiece.
DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
With dark skies, ideal viewing conditions, and a large
telescope like your Zhumell Dobsonian, you can
observe a huge number of amazing objects outside
our solar system - commonly referred to as “deep-
sky objects”. These include star clusters, galaxies,
gaseous nebulas, and more. Your Dobsonian is well-
equipped to gather the light necessary to view these
objects, but you will need to find a viewing site well
away from light pollution and give your eyes plenty of
time to fully dark-adapt. As you continue to view, your
eyes will become trained, and more and more subtle
details from these objects will become apparent. Don’t
expect to see color, however, as human eyes are not
sensitive enough to distinguish color from faint light.
