I got a telescope and have lots of questions :)

I just got a telescope from a friend of mine. It's a 1965 model 307 Jason 400x Astronomical Telescope. It has the book from original purchase but it is not really informative. It has all the lenses and a wooden case as well.

I have never had a telescope and have always wanted one. I can't wait to use it!

I took some pics so if anyone has any suggestions on where I can find more information on it that would be great. I am not familiar with telescopes, heck I had it on upside down at first lol I don't know how to set up the lenses for viewing, the instructions are kind of old and not like instructions now a days.


Here is a link to my flickr account, it is too much of a pain to load them to ATS. I don;t have time to crop the pictures. I wish the media section did that automatically! It would make posting pics less of a pain

telescope


woohoo the moon

Nice old scope with a great array of eyepieces.

A quick search for "how to use a telescope" comes up with these and many more:

A Dozen Telescope Observing Tips For Beginners (optics planet)

How to Use a Telescope (wikihow)

How to Use a Telescope (eHow)

Have fun squinting.

reply to post by nerbot


Yay!! Thanks, yeah I have been sitting here for 2hrs trying to figure out how it works lol the instructions are horrible.

I would assume that most set up the same??

Thanks I missed the sun but I still have the moon tonight!

reply to post by mblahnikluver


NEVER attempt to look at the sun with a telescope unless you have special solar filters fitted.

EVER.

I'm sure there's plenty of advice out there online. You can even get free astronomy software to help plan your viewing and aid in identification.

Learn about your scope, experiment, record, have fun and share.

cool!
I'm excited for you!
A first telescope for anyone is very exciting!

A decent old scope to!

Even got a solar filter! Niice!
Just be careful with that one.

also a barlow lens, "it doubles(usually) the magnification of each eyepiece.
that is the long straight 'tube'/lens. The eyepieces go onto the top, while the bottom slides in the scope like a regular eyepiece.

This place will come in handy for you.
www.cloudynights.com...

It is a fantastic place for beginners and pros alike.

It's going to be a little weird/difficult to 'control' it for the first few times at least.

It has a fork mount, so no controls like an alt/az or equatorial mount, so you just have to use your hands to push the scope back and forth/up and down.

It will prolly take a little getting used to,
But you shouldnt have too much trouble getting on the moon!

Stars and nebulae will be a bit hard I think,
but some of those old scopes can surprise you!
I bet the moon will be great in it though.
and not too difficult to keep in sight.

Some sweet accessories you got with it man,
and Im embarrassed to admit im not sure what the one piece is.
The big fat round piece. lol
I thought maybe a colored filter changer, but I dont think so... hmm...
lol

damn, sweet deal!
Can't wait til you go check out the moon!

If you have some specific questions about it, ask away, and Ill answer what i can.

man... exciting!

I might break out my home scope tonight just to join ya'! haha

COngrats!

Originally posted by nerbot
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

NEVER attempt to look at the sun with a telescope unless you have special solar filters fitted.

EVER.

I'm sure there's plenty of advice out there online. You can even get free astronomy software to help plan your viewing and aid in identification.

Learn about your scope, experiment, record, have fun and share.

Oh yes I know not to look at the sun, it did come with filters to view the sun however.

I am going to visit the local planetarium here. They have a huge telescope and viewing nights and how to classes and they are free

It's perfect for my first one, someday I will have a really nice one.

I have looked online for instructions on each piece and so far nothing which is to be expected when then telescope is 45 years old

I had it set up and saw part of the moon then the clouds blocked it lol I will be out later to check it out some more. It will probably help me figure out all the attachments

Thanks

reply to post by Ahmose


Wow thanks! I will definitely check that site out.

Yeah the round barrel piece puzzles me lol I acutally called my friend after hours of searching online on how to use it. He told me fairly quickly but the barrel piece I couldn't understand. He said it attaches to the eye piece and then I would just put the lenses in there or so that is how I understood it.

I have always wanted a telescope and always told him when he doesn't want it anymore I do

Another friend wanted to mess with it and at first I freaked. I was like no I dont want anyone touching it until I figure it out. I know you have to be delicate with them and some people don't realize that so I would prefer nobody touches it but me. I know it's not brand new but it was a gift from a dear friend so it has personal meaning and it's my first telescope so I already love it as silly as that might sound. Anyone who knows me knows I sit on my balcony at night at stare at the sky lol now I have something to stare with!

I would like to look at nebulae that would be awesome!

Either way I am happy with what I got and I wish it would stop storming so I can go out and use it! Although I LOVE thunderstorms so it's a good trade off

Thanks for the help and I might be u2uing you

The big round thing is an erecting prism. Turns the image around 180 degrees so you can see terrestrial objects right-side-up.

Originally posted by wookiee
The big round thing is an erecting prism. Turns the image around 180 degrees so you can see terrestrial objects right-side-up.

wow really? Ive never seen one like that.
All the ones I see are V shaped, good lil things to have to.

Is that just how they made them 45 years ago? lol

Actually~ the piece in this picture of MBLuvrers photo,
in the top right hand corner, is an erecting prism.
next the the EP's. www.flickr.com...

So, what is the big round thing?
Gotta be somethin different, yea?
They dont look like they would even have the same function.

Here are erecting prisms,
www.telescopeplanet.co.uk...
like the one in her flickr pic i linked.

I dunno..
I'll ask one of the old pros tomorrow night. lol

mbluver~
No problem.

Yeah the barlow lenses (the barrel) lol
are really nice to have.
It basically turns each eyepiece into 2 eyepieces.

So say you only had a 25mm eyepiece, and a 9mm ep,
If you have a 2xBarlow,
you now have a 9mm , a 4.5mm, a 25mm, and a 12.5
The 'smaller' the number, the more magnification it is capable of.
[but more is not always better]

I understand the sentimental value of it, for sure!
My first scope was one like that that my mom got for me for xmas one year when I was a kid.
I still have it 25+yrs later.
Even though I never use it anymore, I wont get rid of it. lol
Doesnt sound silly at all.

Originally posted by Ahmose

mbluver~
No problem.

Yeah the barlow lenses (the barrel) lol
are really nice to have.
It basically turns each eyepiece into 2 eyepieces.

Cool! I have been googling like crazy for any info on this telescope, so far it's not easy lol

So say you only had a 25mm eyepiece, and a 9mm ep,
If you have a 2xBarlow,
you now have a 9mm , a 4.5mm, a 25mm, and a 12.5
The 'smaller' the number, the more magnification it is capable of.
[but more is not always better]

Haha I thought the bigger was better, explains why when I changed to the medium lens I saw more I will keep this in mind!

I understand the sentimental value of it, for sure!
My first scope was one like that that my mom got for me for xmas one year when I was a kid.
I still have it 25+yrs later.
Even though I never use it anymore, I wont get rid of it. lol
Doesnt sound silly at all.

The thing at the top right is a Star Diagonal! Not an erecting prism.

Star Diagonal = ease of viewing ... does not erect.

erecting prism = turns image around 180 degrees. Some are round, some are similar to S.D.'s but look closer at the pic and hopefully you'll see the difference.

This isn't subject to interpretation. They are what they are.

Sheeshe!

[edit on 8/20/2010 by wookiee]

[edit on 8/20/2010 by wookiee]