Orion Observer 9854 Users Manual

2015-02-05

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instruction Manual

Orion®
Observer™ 60mm AZ
#9854 60mm Altazimuth Refracting Telescope

Customer Support (800)‑676-1343
E-mail: support@telescope.com
Corporate Offices (831)‑763-7000

Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975

89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

IN 194 Rev. B 02/09

Welcome to the exciting world of amateur astronomy. Your new Observer 60 Altazimuth Refractor is a
quality optical instrument that will deliver countless hours of exciting stargazing, from magnified views of
the Moon, star clusters and nebulas to glimpses of Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings. The Observer 60
includes everything you need to go from box to backyard in less than half an hour.
These instructions will help you set up, use and care for your new telescope.

Table of Contents

2. Parts List

1. Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Qty.

Description

2. Parts List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Optical tube assembly (1)

3. The Basic Components

“Yoke” altazimuth mount (5)

of Your Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Altitude micro-motion control rod and thumbwheel (13)

4. Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Tripod legs (6) with attached accessory tray bracket (22)

5. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Accessory tray (7)

6. Using your Telescope-

EZ Finder II reflex sight (4)

Tripod attachment screws (21) with wingnuts and
washers

Accessory tray attachment wing screws

Leg lock knobs (23)

“Yoke” knobs (18)

25mm Kellner eyepiece (3)

10mm Kellner eyepiece

Dust cover

Astronomical Viewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

7. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

1. Unpacking
The entire telescope system will arrive in one box. Be careful
unpacking the box since some of the contents are small and
easy to overlook. We recommend keeping the original shipping
container. In the event you need to ship the telescope to another location, or return it to Orion for warranty repair, having the
proper shipping container will help ensure that your telescope
will survive the journey intact.
Make sure all the parts in the parts list are present. Familiarize
yourself with their features and compare them to the callouts
on Figures 1, 2, and 3 when possible. If anything appears to be
missing or broken, immediately call Orion Customer Support
(1-800-676-1343) for assistance.

Warning: Never look directly at the Sun through
your telescope or its finder scope—even for an
instant—without a professionally made solar
filter that completely covers the front of the
instrument, or permanent eye damage could
result. Young children should use this telescope
only with adult supervision.

Observer™ 60 Refractor

1
4
5
3

2
7

Figure 1. Observer 60 Components
4

3. The Basic Components of Your Telescope
Figure 1 shows the fully assembled Observer 60 . All the major components of the telescope are described and numbered to help
you identify each part and understand its use. Refer back to this figure when assembling the telescope.

Optical tube
This is the main optical component of the telescope. The
glass lens at the front of the tube gathers incoming light
and focuses it by bending (or refracting) the light rays.
The tube assembly has several parts built into it, which
are shown and discussed in detail in the next section.
90° Mirror star diagonal
The diagonal contains a mirror that reflects the light gathered through the optical tube to the eyepiece. The
diagonal is angled to allow you to view objects that are
high in the sky from a comfortable position.
25mm Kellner eyepiece
The eyepiece is the part of the telescope that you actually look through to see things. The focal length of the
eyepiece and the telescope determines the magnifying
power of the telescope. Magnification is discussed in
more detail in the Using Your Telescope section.

EZ Finder IITM reflex sight
This is a special “finder” that helps you aim the telescope
and locate objects in the sky for close-up viewing with
your telescope. The EZ Finder II generates a red LED
“dot” that shows where your telescope is aimed. The
use of the EZ Finder II is discussed in the Getting
Started section.
“Yoke” altazimuth mount
The mount couples the telescope to the tripod and allows
you to move the optical tube easily both up-and-down
and right-and-left.
Tripod legs
These aluminum tripod legs support the telescope and
keep it steady. They can extend from 27" to 50" long.
Accessory tray
This tray is a convenient place for holding extra eyepieces
and other small pieces of equipment.

Observer 60 Telescope Tube
8

Figure 2a. Optical tube components

3
16

15
2

Figure 2b. Observer 60 focuser detail

Details of the Optical Tube and Components
Figure 2a shows the details of the optical tube and its various parts. The optical tube is shown attached to the mount for clarity.
Figure 2b is a close-up of the focuser with even more detail.
8

Objective lens:
This is the main optical component of the telescope. It is
an achromatic, fully coated 60mm lens.
Glare/Dew shield:
This is a simple “hood” for the objective lens that prevents
dew from forming and stray light from hitting the lens.

14 Focuser drawtube:
This is where the 90° mirror star diagonal, or other optional
diagonal, is inserted. The drawtube is adjusted by the
turning the focus wheel, which adjusts a rack-and-pinion system to bring objects into focus.
15

Altitude castings:
These castings are built into the optical tube. The “yoke”
knobs thread into these castings through the holes in
the top of the “yoke” altazimuth mount to secure the two
parts together.

EZ Finder II mounting bracket:
The EZ Finder II is secured to this bracket located on the
optical tube.

Micro-motion rod attachment post:
This post is where the micro-motion rod will be attached to
the optical tube.

Altitude micro-motion control rod and thumb‑
wheel:
This allows fine adjustment of the telescope in the
altitude (up-down) direction. For more details, see the
Getting Started section.

Focus wheels:
These wheels, when turned, move the focuser drawtube
in or out. Use it to bring things into focus when you are
looking in the eyepiece.
Diagonal holder thumbscrews:
These two thumbscrews secure the 90° mirror star diagonal into the focuser drawtube. These should only be
loosened to remove or rotate the star diagonal.
Eyepiece holder thumbscrew:
This thumbscrew holds the eyepiece in position. Tighten
it after inserting an eyepiece; loosen it before removing
or changing eyepieces.
“Yoke” knobs:
These knobs secure the optical tube to the “yoke” altazimuth mount. They should always be securely
tightened.

Observer 60 Tripod and Mount
18

19
21

22
23

Figure 3a. Tripod and mount detail
Details of the Tripod and Mount
Figure 3a shows a close up of the telescope’s mount and tripod. Important features are pointed out for greater clarity and detail.
19

Altitude lock knob:
This locks the telescope in the altitude (up/down) direction. Keep this knob tightened unless you are moving
the telescope a significant distance in the altitude direction. For smaller altitude adjustments, use the altitude
micro-motion control rod and thumbwheel.

20 Azimuth lock knob:
This locks the telescope in the azimuth (left/right) direction.
Keep this knob tightened unless you are adjusting the
telescope in the azimuth direction.
21 Tripod leg attachment screws:
These screws attach the tripod legs to the “yoke” altazimuth
mount. Each screw has a wingnut and two washers.
22

Accessory tray bracket:
This bracket holds the accessory tray.

Leg lock knobs:
These knobs lock the tripod legs into place. Loosen them
to lengthen or shorten the tripod legs. Tighten them
once you have the legs at the desired length. Be certain that all three tripod legs are equally extended to
assure your telescope is level.

These items are included with your telescope, but are not
shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3.
10mm Kellner eyepiece: This is a second, high-powered eyepiece, providing 70x magnification. For more details
see the Using Your Telescope section.
Dust cover: Use this to cover the objective lens when the
telescope is not in use. It will prevent dust from collecting on
the objective lens.

4. Assembly

mount. Use the Phillips head screwdriver and/or your fingers to do this.

Assembling the telescope for the first time should take about
30 minutes. The only tools you will need are a Phillips head
screwdriver and a flat head screwdriver. As a general note,
tighten all screws securely to eliminate flexing and wobbling,
but be careful not to over-tighten and thereby strip the threads.
Refer to Figures 1 through 4 during the assembly process.

5. Attach the altitude micro-motion rod and thumbwheel (13)
to the optical tube by first removing the flat-head screw
from the micro-motion rod attachment post (12) on the side
of the optical tube. Slide the screw through the hole at the
end of the micro-motion rod and rethread the screw into
the attachment post. Make sure the screw is tightened.

During assembly (and any other time, for that matter), do
not touch the surfaces of the telescope objective lens or the
lenses of the finder scope and eyepiece with your fingers.
These optical surfaces have delicate coatings that can easily be damaged if touched. Never remove any lens assembly
from its housing for any reason, or the product warranty will
be voided.

The tripod is now completely assembled and the “yoke” altazimuth mount is ready for the installation of the optical tube

Begin set-up of the telescope by assembling the tripod and
mount first:
1. Lay the “Yoke” altazimuth mount (5) on its side. Attach the
tripod legs (6), one at a time, to the base of the mount by
sliding a tripod leg attachment screw (21) through the top
of a leg and through the holes in the base of the mount.
The washers should be on the outside of the tripod legs.
Secure the wing nuts finger-tight. Figure 3b shows a closeup detail of the screws attaching the tripod legs to the
altazimuth mount.
2. Install and tighten the leg lock knobs (23) on the bottom
braces of the tripod legs (6). For now, keep the legs at their
shortest (fully retracted) length; you can extend them to a
more desirable length later, once the tripod is completely
assembled.
3. Stand the tripod and mount upright and spread the tripod
legs apart as far as they will go, until the accessory tray
bracket (22) is taut. Connect the accessory tray (7) to the
accessory tray bracket (22) with the three wing screws
already installed in the tray. Push the wing screws up
through the holes in the accessory tray bracket and thread
them into the holes in the accessory tray.

6. To install the optical tube (1) in the “yoke” altazimuth mount
(5), first slide the altitude micro-motion control rod into its
receptacle, at the same location as the altitude lock knob
(19) on the side of the yoke. (Figure 4). Then, with the rod
in place in the receptacle, gently drop the optical tube into
the yoke so that the holes on the altitude castings (10) on
the side of the optical tube line up with the holes on the top
of the “yoke” altazimuth mount. Slide the yoke knobs (18)
through the holes on top of the mount and thread them
into the altitude castings on the optical tube. Tighten the
altitude lock knob (19) securely.
7. Attach the EZ Finder II reflex sight (4) to the EZ Finder II
mounting bracket (11). Loosen the two securing screws on
the EZ Finder II (Figure 6) and slide it onto the mounting
bracket. Tighten the two securing screws. You will align the
EZ Finder II later, in the Getting Started section.
8. Insert the chrome barrel of the 90° mirror star diagonal
(2) into the focuser drawtube (14). Secure the mirror star
diagonal with the diagonal holder thumbscrews (16).
9. Insert the chrome barrel of the 25mm Kellner eyepiece (3)
into the 90° mirror star diagonal. Secure the eyepiece in
the diagonal with the eyepiece holder thumbscrew (17).
The eyepiece and diagonal properly installed should look
like Figure 2b.
Your telescope is now fully assembled.

4. Tighten the tripod leg attachment screws (21) at the tops
of the tripod legs so the legs are securely fastened to the

21
20

21
6

Figure 3b. Observer 60 Tripod leg and mount attachment detail

Figure 4. Installing the optical tube in the “yoke” altazimuth mount

5. Getting Started
Now that your Observer 60 is assembled, you’re ready to begin observing. This section will instruct you on using your telescope
effectively.
Altitude and Azimuth (Aiming the Telescope)
The Observer 60 altazimuth mount permits motion along two
axes: altitude (up/down) and azimuth (left/right). See Figure 5.
Moving the telescope up/down and right/left is the “natural” way
people aim objects and this makes pointing the telescope intuitive and easy.
To move the telescope in the azimuth direction, loosen the azimuth lock knob, take hold of the telescope by the “yoke”, and
gently rotate the telescope to the desired position. Then re-tighten the azimuth lock knob. To move the telescope in the altitude
direction, loosen the altitude lock knob, take hold of the end of
the optical tube and move the tube up or down to the desired
position. Then re-tighten the altitude lock knob.
Note about the Altitude Micro-Motion Rod and Thumbwheel
Since making fine adjustments to the altitude of the telescope
can be tricky, the Observer 60 comes with an altitude micromotion rod and thumbwheel. By turning the thumbwheel, the
telescope will move very slightly either up or down, depending
on which direction you turn the thumbwheel. Since there is a
limit to how far the thumbwheel can turn in either direction, if you
need to make any large altitude movements to the telescope it is
best to simply loosen the altitude lock knob and move the scope
by hand.

Altitude

Focusing the Telescope
With the 25mm Kellner eyepiece inserted into the 90° mirror star
diagonal and secured with the thumbscrews, aim the optical tube
so the front (open) end is pointing in the general direction of an
object at least 1/4-mile away. Now, with your fingers, slowly rotate
one of the focus wheels until the object comes into sharp focus.
Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until the image starts to blur
again, then reverse the rotation of the knob, just to make sure
you’ve hit the exact focus point.

Do You Wear Eyeglasses?
If you wear eyeglasses, you may be able to keep them on
while you observe. In order to do this, your eyepiece must
have enough “eye relief” to allow you to see the entire field
of view with glasses on. You can try looking through the
eyepiece first with your glasses on and then with them
off, to see if the glasses restrict the view to only a portion
of the full field. If the glasses do restrict the field of view,
you may be able to observe with your glasses off by just
refocusing the telescope to your unaided vision.
If your eyes are astigmatic, images will probably appear
best with glasses on. This is because a telescope’s
focuser can accommodate for nearsightedness or farsightedness, but not astigmatism. If you have to wear your
glasses while observing and cannot see the entire field of
view, you may want to purchase additional eyepieces that
have longer
eye relief.
Short
eye relief
restricts
the field
of view for
eyeglass
wearers.

Azimuth

Figure 5 The Observer 60 has two axes of motion: altitude and
azimuth.

Long eye
relief allows
full field
of view to
be seen with
or without
eyeglasses.

Operating the EZ Finder II reflex finder
The EZ Finder II reflex finder (Figure 6) works by projecting a
tiny red dot onto a lens mounted in the front of the unit. When
you look through the EZ Finder II, the red dot will appear to float
in space, helping you locate even the faintest of deep space
objects. The red dot is produced by a light-emitting diode (LED),
not a laser beam, near the rear of the sight. A replaceable 3-volt
lithium battery provides the power for the diode.
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 eyes positioned a comfortable distance from the back of the
sight, 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 turning the power knob. For best results when stargazing, use
the dimmest possible setting that allows you to see the dot without 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 daylight,
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: The image in the eyepiece of the Observer 60 will be
reversed from left-to-right. This is normal for a refractor telescope using mirror star diagonal.
Without moving the telescope, use the EZ Finder II’s azimuth
(left/right) and altitude (up/down) adjustment wheels 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
Should the battery ever die, replacement 3-volt lithium batteries are available from many retail outlets. Remove the old
battery by inserting a small flat-head screwdriver into the slot
on the battery cover (Figure 6) and gently prying open the
cover. Then carefully pull back on the retaining clip and remove
the old battery. Do not overbend the retaining clip. Then slide
the new battery under the battery lead with the positive (+)
side facing down and replace the battery cover.
Figure 7.
EZ Finder II
superimposes a
tiny red dot on
the sky, showing
right where the
telescope is
pointed.

6.Using Your Telescope Astronomical Observing

to keep the object in the field of view. (Make certain the azimuth
lock knob is slightly loosened before moving the scope in the
azimuth position.) Objects will appear to move faster at higher
magnifications because the field of view is narrower.

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. Set up on a grass or dirt
surface, not asphalt, because asphalt radiates more heat, which
disturbs the surrounding air and degrades the images seen
through the telescope. Avoid viewing 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.

Remember that objects are reversed left to right in refractor
telescopes, so when you move the telescope in one direction in
the azimuth, the object will move in the opposite direction in the
eyepiece. This takes some getting used to, but becomes second
nature after a few nights out with the telescope.

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!
“Seeing” and Transparency
Atmospheric conditions vary significantly from night to night.
“Seeing” refers to the steadiness of the Earth’s atmosphere at
a given time. In conditions of poor seeing, atmospheric turbulence causes objects viewed through the telescope to “boil”. If,
when you look up at the sky with your naked eyes, the stars are
twinkling noticeably, the seeing is bad and you will be limited to
viewing with low powers (bad seeing affects images at high powers more severely). Planetary observing may also be poor.
In conditions of good seeing, star twinkling is minimal and images appear steady in the eyepiece. Seeing is best overhead, worst
at the horizon. Also, seeing generally gets better after midnight,
when much of the heat absorbed by the Earth during the day has
radiated off into space.
Especially important for observing faint objects is good “transparency” air free of moisture, smoke, and dust. All tend to scatter light,
which reduces an object’s brightness. Transparency is judged by
the magnitude of the faintest stars you can see with the unaided
eye (6th magnitude or fainter is desirable).
If you cannot see stars of magnitude 3.5 or dimmer then conditions are poor. Magnitude is a measure of how bright a star is
- the brighter a star is, the lower its magnitude will be. A good star
to remember for this is Megrez (mag. 3.4), which is the star in the
“Big Dipper” connecting the handle to the “dipper”. If you cannot
see Megrez, then you have fog, haze, clouds, smog, or other
conditions that are hindering your viewing. (See Figure 8).
Tracking Celestial Objects
The Earth is constantly rotating about its polar axis, completing
one full rotation every 24 hours; this is what defines a “day”. We
do not feel the Earth rotating, but we can still tell that it is at night
by seeing the apparent movement of stars from east to west.
When you observe any astronomical object, you are watching a
moving target. This means the telescope’s position must be continuously adjusted over time to keep an object in the field of view.
When viewing the with the Observer 60, you will need to give the
optical tube a light tug or push in azimuth (left or right) as well
as an occasional turn of the altitude micro-motion thumbwheel)

Figure 8. Megrez connects the Big Dipper’s handle to it's “pan”. It is
a good guide to how conditions are. If you can not see Megrez (a 3.4
mag star) then conditions are poor.

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
pollution. 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 citydwelling 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 extensive 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 pollution, 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.

Eyepiece Selection
By using eyepieces of different focal lengths, it is possible
to attain many magnifications or powers with the Observer
60. Your telescope comes with two Kellner eyepieces
(Figure 9): a 25mm, which gives a magnification of 28x,
and a 10mm, which gives a magnification of 70x. Other
eyepieces can be used to achieve higher or lower powers.
It is quite common for an observer to own five or more eyepieces to access a wide range of magnifications.
To calculate the magnification, or power, of a telescopeeyepiece combination, simply divide the focal length of the
telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece.

Telescope Focal Length (mm) ÷ Eyepiece Focal
Length(mm) = Magnification

For example, the Observer 60, which has a focal length
of 700mm, used in combination with the 25mm eyepiece,
yields a magnification of
700 ÷ 25 = 28x
Whatever you choose to view, always start by inserting your
lowest-power (longest focal length) eyepiece to locate

and center the object. Low magnification yields a wide field
of view, which shows a larger area of sky in the eyepiece.
This makes finding and centering an object much easier.
Trying to find and center objects with a high power (narrow
field of view) eyepiece is like trying to find a needle in a
haystack!
Once you’ve centered the object in the eyepiece, you can
switch to a higher magnification (shorter focal length) eyepiece, if you wish. This is recommended for small and bright
objects, like planets and double stars. The Moon also takes
higher magnifications well.
The best rule of thumb with eyepiece selection is to start
with a low power, wide-field eyepiece, and then work your
way up in magnification. If the object looks better, try an
even higher magnification eyepiece. If the object looks
worse, then back off the magnification a little by using a
lower-power eyepiece.

Magnification Limits
Every telescope has a useful magnification limit of about
2X per millimeter of aperture. This comes to 120X for
the Observer 60. Some telescope manufacturers will use
misleading claims of excess magnification, such as “See
distant galaxies at 640X!”. While such magnifications are
technically possible, the actual image at that magnification would be an indistinct blur.
25mm

10mm

Figure 9. The 25mm and 10mm Kellner eyepieces.

Moderate magnifications are what give the best views. It
is better to view a small, but bright and detailed image
than a dim, unclear, oversized image.

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.
Remember that you are seeing these objects using your own
telescope with your own eyes! The object you see in your
eyepiece is in real-time, and not some conveniently provided
image from an expensive space probe. Each session with
your telescope will be a learning experience. Each time you
work with your telescope it will get easier to use, and stellar
objects will become easier to find. Take it from us, there is
big difference between looking at a well-made full-color NASA
image of a deep-sky object in a lit room during the daytime,
and seeing that same object in your telescope at night. One
can merely be a pretty image someone gave to you. The other
is an experience you will never forget!
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,
marias, 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 horizon 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 eyepieces (you
must first remove the eyepiece from the focuser to attach a
filter). You’ll find that the 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 Observer 60. 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 any optical
instrument without a professionally made solar filter, or
permanent eye damage could result.

C. The Planets
The planets don’t stay put like the stars, so to find them you
should refer to Sky Calendar at our website (telescope.com),
or to charts published monthly in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope,
or other astronomy magazines. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and
Saturn are the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and
the Moon. Your Observer 60 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, optional higher-power eyepieces are recommended and often needed for detailed observations. Not all
the planets are generally visible at any one time.
JUPITER: The largest planet, Jupiter, is a great subject for
observation. 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 necessary 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!
Ironically, 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.
MARS: The Red Planet makes its closest approach to Earth
every two years. During close approaches you’ll see a red
disk, and may be able to see the polar ice cap.

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 famous “Double-Double” in the constellation Lyra and the
gorgeous two-color double star Albireo in Cygnus are favorites. Defocusing 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. 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
Observer 60.

7. Specifications

Terrestrial Viewing
The Observer 60 can be used for long-distance viewing over
land. We recommend using an optional 45° correct-image
prism diagonal instead of the included 90° mirror star diagonal. The correct-image diagonal will yield upright, non-reversed
images and provide a more comfortable viewing angle.

Objective lens diameter: 60mm

For terrestrial viewing, it’s best to stick with low-powered eyepieces that yield a magnification under 80x. At higher powers,
images rapidly lose sharpness and clarity due to “heat waves”
caused by Sun-heated air.

Optical tube: Aluminum
Objective lens: Achromatic, air-spaced, coated
Focal length: 700mm
Focal ratio: f/11.7
Focuser: Rack and pinion, accepts 1.25" eyepieces
Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm Kellner eyepieces, 1.25"
Magnification: 28x (with 25mm) and 70x (with 10mm)
Tripod: Aluminum

Remember to aim well clear of the Sun, unless the front of the
telescope is fitted with a professionally made solar filter.

Mount: Altazimuth yoke, fine adjustment for altitude

Care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a lifetime.
Store it in a clean, dry, dust free place, safe from rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Do not store the telescope
outdoors, although storage in a garage or shed is OK. Small
components like eyepieces and other accessories should be
kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the caps on the
front of the telescope and on the focuser drawtube when not
in use.

Finder: EZ Finder II reflex sight

Star diagonal: Mirror, 1.25"
Weight: 5.7 lbs.

Your Observer 60 telescope requires very little mechanical
maintenance. The optical tube is aluminum and has a smooth
painted finish that is fairly scratch resistant. If a scratch does
appear, it will not harm the telescope.
Cleaning Lenses
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be
used to clean the Observer 60’s objective lens and exposed
lenses of your eyepieces. Never use regular glass cleaner or
cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses.
Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles
off the lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply
some cleaning fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics.
Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any
excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily fingerprints and
smudges may be removed using this method. Use caution rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. For the larger surface
of the objective lens, clean only a small area at a time, using a
fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.

One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion Observer 60 Altazimuth is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period
of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only.
During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any
warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty
Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such
as a copy of the original invoice) is required.
TM

This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or
modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and
you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. For further warranty service information,
contact: Customer Service Department, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA
95076; (800)‑676-1343.

Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

Customer Support Help Line (800)‑676-1343 • Day or Evening
16

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