Expert: Paul Wagner - 3/20/2011

Question
My nephew was given a Jason Explorer 400 model 307 Astronomical Telescope. I do not know how to even begin to use it.Help, Please..

Answer
Hi Tracy

This isn't a really tough scope to use, but there are some great website that will get you started.  First of all, I would recommend a basic star chart--many newspapers have these now, but the best one is on the SKy and Telescope website, here:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/s?action=login

You'll have to log in, but it's free.  That should get him started on finding things in the sky.

And then there is the scope itself.  Read the manual (yes, I know---but really, you should do this) and then start by using the eyepiece with the highest number on it, and look at the moon.  Once you master that, the rest gets easier.  The lower numbers on the eyepieces mean higher magnification (yep, it's counter-intuitive!) so once you have the moon located, you can try these other eyepieces to see what they do.  

And then use that star map to find other good stuff. You should be able to see the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and quite a few nebulae and galaxies.  

By the way, you shouldn't send him to this site, but here is a great site about taking one of those scopes and making it a LOT better:

http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/index.php?page=fixing-the-department-store-...

Hope that helps!

Paul Wagner