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The Instructions for the Sears Discoverer Telescope

The Sears Discoverer telescope provides high-quality views of the moon, planets and stars. The refractor telescope uses a two-lens optical system that, when paired with magnifying eyepieces, lets you see details in astronomical targets that are unavailable to the naked eye or simpler telescopes. You also can use the Sears Discoverer terrestrially to observe birds and other wildlife during the day, or attach the included sun filter to safely study the star at the center of our solar system.

Things You'll Need

Tripod
Long focal-length eyepiece
Medium or short focal-length eyepiece

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a suitable viewing site. Avoid streetlights, porch lights and any other brightly lit areas. Light pollution washes out the night sky, making it difficult to observe faint, diffuse objects such as galaxies and nebulae. You can find the best viewing sites in rural areas with minimal light pollution.
- 2
  Extend the legs on the tripod to a comfortable viewing height. Tighten the thumbscrews on each leg and stand the tripod upright. Attach the included accessory tray between the legs. Secure it to the tripod with the included screw and wing nut.
- 3
  Attach the telescope to the tripod mount. Tighten the two clamp knobs on the mount to secure the telescope.
- 4
  Insert a long focal-length eyepiece into the telescope's focuser. Long focal-length eyepieces typically measure between 20mm and 40mm. They provide lower magnifications when compared with shorter focal-length eyepieces. Manufacturers print measurements directly on the barrel, so examine the eyepiece if you are unsure of its focal length.
- 5
  Aim the telescope at an astronomical target. Begin with the moon if you have never used a telescope before. Because of its size and brightness, the moon makes an easy first target. Locating planets and other objects requires the use of star charts.
- 6
  Look through the telescope's finder. Turn the two slow-motion control knobs on the tripod to center the object in the finder's field of view. Turning these knobs will raise or lower the scope, and turn it left and right.
- 7
  Look through the eyepiece to view the object in detail. Adjust the focuser knob until the object appears sharp. Switch to a medium or short focal-length eyepiece to increase the magnification. Medium focal-length eyepieces typically measure between 10mm and 20mm, while short focal lengths are less than 10mm.

Astronomy