Orion STARBLAST 9814 - Manual (Page 6)

6
To use the EZ Finder II, turn the power knob clockwise until
you hear a “click” indicating that power has been turned on.
With your eye positioned at a comfortable distance, look
through the back of the reflex sight with both eyes open to see
the red dot. The intensity of the dot can be adjusted by turn-
ing the power knob. For best results when stargazing, use the
dimmest possible setting that allows you to see the dot with-
out difficulty. Typically, a dim setting is used under dark skies
and a bright setting is used under light-polluted skies or in
daylight.
At the end of your observing session, be sure to turn the
power knob counterclockwise until it clicks off. When the two
white dots on the EZ Finder II’s rail and power knob are lined
up, the EZ Finder II is turned off.
Aligning the EZ Finder II
When the EZ Finder II is properly aligned with the telescope,
an object that is centered on the EZ Finder II’s red dot should
also appear in the center of the field of view of the telescope’s
eyepiece. Alignment of the EZ Finder II is easiest during day-
light, before observing at night. Aim the telescope at a distant
object at least 1/4 mile away, such as a telephone pole or
chimney and center it in the telescope’s eyepiece. Now, turn
the EZ Finder II on and look through it. The object will appear
in the field of view near the red dot.
Note: Remember that the image in the eyepiece of the
StarBlast will be upside-down (rotated 180°). This is nor-
mal for Newtonian reflector telescopes.
Without moving the telescope, use the EZ Finder II’s azimuth
(left/right) and altitude (up/down) adjustment knobs to position
the red dot on the object in the eyepiece.
When the red dot is centered on the distant object, check to
make sure that the object is still centered in the telescope’s
field of view. If not, recenter it and adjust the EZ Finder II’s
alignment again. When the object is centered in the eyepiece
and on the red dot, the EZ Finder II is properly aligned with
the telescope. Figure 7 shows how the view through the EZ
Finder may look while you are aligning it.
Once aligned, EZ Finder II will usually hold its alignment even
after being removed and remounted. Otherwise, only minimal
realignment will be needed.
Replacing the EZ Finder II Battery
Replacement 3-volt lithium batteries for the EZ Finder II are
available from many retail outlets. Remove the old battery by
inserting a small flat-head screwdriver into the slot on the bat-
tery casing (Figure 6) and gently prying open the case. Then
carefully pull back on the retaining clip and remove the old
battery. Do not overbend the retaining clip. Slide the new bat-
tery under the battery lead with the positive (+) side facing
down and replace the battery casing.
Using your telescope
Choosing an Observing Site
When selecting a location for observing, get as far away as
possible from direct artificial light such as street lights, porch
lights, and automobile headlights. The glare from these lights
will greatly impair your dark-adapted night vision. Avoid view-
ing over rooftops and chimneys, as they often have warm air
currents rising from them. Similarly, avoid observing from
indoors through an open (or closed) window, because the
temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air will
cause image blurring and distortion.
If at all possible, escape the light-polluted city sky and head
for darker country skies. You’ll be amazed at how many more
stars and deep-sky objects are visible in a dark sky!
Light Pollution
Most of us live where city lights interfere with our view of
the heavens. As our metropolitan areas have become
more developed, the scourge of light pollution has
spread, washing out many stars and nonstellar celestial
objects from our sight. Faint deep sky objects become
difficult or impossible to see through the murk of light pol-
lution. Even bright nebulas like the Orion and Lagoon
Nebulas lose much of their delicate detail. The Moon and
planets are not affected; they require steady air more
than dark skies, so they remain good targets for city-
dwelling observers.
The International Dark-Sky Association is waging the
fight against light pollution. The IDSA was founded in
1988 with the mission of educating the public about the
adverse impact that light pollution has on the night sky
and astronomy. Through educational and scientific
means, the nonprofit IDA works to raise awareness about
the problem and about measures that can be taken to
solve it.
Do you need help dealing with local officials to control
street or building lighting in your area? The IDA’s exten-
sive support materials can show you how. Help preserve
dark skies, join the IDA today! For information, write to
IDA, 3225 N. First Ave., Tuscon, AZ 85719-2103 or visit
their website: www.darksky.org.
The best way to avoid immediate problems with light pol-
lution, however, is to take you telescope to where there
are dark skies. You will be amazed at how many stars
you can see when you get away from the city lights.
Figure 7. The
EZ Finder II
superimposes a
tiny red dot on the
sky, showing right
where the
telescope is
pointed.