The Bushnell NorthStar telescope is known to provide some fantastic views of space for would-be stargazing enthusiasts. This is why I decided to write this article for people who want to get started with this specific telescope.
The Bushnell NorthStar telescope is based on the original telescope design provided by Sir Isaac Newton. Although this product may appear a bit sophisticated on its first impression, it is pretty simple to use, provided you can follow instructions on getting started.
This article will talk about this telescope in-depth and highlight the instructions you need to follow to set up this amazing telescope. So, please read the entire article to find out how to use Bushnell NorthStar Telescope.
Table of Contents
Overview Of The Bushnell NorthStar Telescope
The Bushnell NorthStar Telescope is a Newtonian reflector telescope. These telescopes use a two-mirror optical system to gather all the light entering its tube and then direct this light to a magnifying eyepiece. This company includes two sets of magnifying eyepieces, a tripod, a Barlow lens, and a finder’s scope along with its telescope.
There is a low-powered eyepiece and a high-powered eyepiece. The eyepiece that uses low power is most optimal for viewing very large and extended objects. These could be star cluster systems or huge galaxies emitting a continuous light array. The magnifying eyepiece, which uses high power, is best for viewing the Moon and other planets.
How To Use The Bushnell NorthStar Telescope
First, you don’t need to use any tools to assemble the parts of your Newtonian telescope. Just remove all the components from the packaging and keep them in an organized fashion. Then you need to identify all the parts to know when to attach each part.
As this telescope relies on a precision optical system, you must be very careful while handling all the parts during assembly. Therefore, attention must be given to the eyepieces, computer, and telescope.
Step 1: Setup Tripod And Accessory Tray
At first, we need to locate the computerized star locator assembly and attach this to the tripod stand in an upright and balanced position. Then you need to spread the legs of the tripod towards a comfortable distance.
After that, you must fold the accessory tray down on the ground and put the ‘quick release accessory tray’ on the top of your braces.
Gently turn the accessory tray until it has snapped towards its designated place.
Bring out the tripod legs and adjust them to a suitable position by opening its lever, which will help you change the tripod’s height. Once you are done, use the clamp to fix the tripod legs shut.
Step 2: Attach Telescope Tube
Identify and then bring out the telescope’s main tube from the packaging.
Then you must remove the thumb nuts needed to fix the tube onto its position. You will find these nuts on the side of the telescope tube.
Attach the primary bolts of the tube attachment inside the bracket of the telescope tube, which will find on the top part of the computerized star locator assembly. You must be careful while carrying out this stop and ensure that the telescope is pointing in the right direction. Tip: the Bushnell NorthStar logo will be right-side up.
The final step involves reattaching the thumb nuts to the primary bolt attachments, which should be implemented after the computerized star locator assembly and the primary telescope tube are assembled.
Step 3: Attach The Remaining Telescope Accessories
Bring out the red dot finderscope from the packaging of the product. You will find the attachment nut bolts of the finderscope inside the primary telescope tube.
Put the finderscope assembly along with the attachment nut bolts, then reattach the finderscope mounted bolts with the thumb nuts. Tip: You can identify the correct assembly point if you face the large end of the red dot finderscope with the open end of the telescope tube.
Now you must assemble the low-powered or the high-powered eyepiece, depending on your application. There is a focusing mechanism inside the telescope where you must insert this eyepiece. You can do this by carefully backing out the set screw of the eyepiece and placing it entirely over the focusing mechanism.
Now you have to tighten all the set screws so that all accessories are fastened onto the position and firmly secure.
Finally, remove the objective dust cover placed on the open end of your telescope so that the entire diameter becomes visible.
How To Select The Ideal Eyepiece?
For the very first use, it is advisable to use the lowest powered eyepiece, which is the 20mm lens. This will get you accustomed to the magnification lenses and be easy on your eyes. Remember that the base power of every eyepiece can be identified only by the focal length of the objective lenses of the telescope.
This model comes with a Barlow lens which can be utilized to double or triple the magnification power of your telescope.
If you want to use a Barlow lens, put this between the focusing tube and the low-powered eyepiece. Remove the low-powered eyepiece for the high-powered one if you want to view other objects.
How To Experience Your Bushnell NorthStar Telescope In An Enjoyable Way?
Start With The Low Power Eyepiece
The first step to experiencing your brand-new telescope is identifying the object you want to view it with. Any bright planet or star in the night sky can be a great starting point. However, most stargazers start with the Moon, the closest to the Earth, appearing majestically in the night sky.
Once you get used to the Moon, you can move on to Mars, Mercury, Venus, and the other planets in our solar system. So, when you complete the assembly of your telescope, you need to position the targeted object, such as the Moon, into the central point of your red dot finderscope.
If you have done a decent job aligning the finderscope, a glance through the low-powered eyepiece will reveal your targeted object. The low-powered eyepiece will reveal the same image as the finderscope if you have assembled everything according to instructions. Do not move directly to the highest-powered eyepiece, as you still need some time to adjust to the sights.
As a newbie, the low-power eyepiece is the best option as it delivers a vast range of views, and its bright image will help you easily locate the targeted object. This is the first step towards enjoying your stargazing experience, but if you don’t see the same image on your eyepiece, you must readjust and align the finderscope again.
Once you get through this hurdle, you will see that for every object you target with your finderscope, you will be able to see on your eyepiece, thus ensuring a smooth stargazing experience. For example, you can use the low-powered eyepiece to view the Moon, other planets, stars, and even some constellations.
Moving On To The Higher Power Eyepieces
Once you get the hang of this eyepiece, you can try moving on to the higher powers. When the night sky is clear, you can use the high-powered eyepiece to aim at the Moon and view its light and darker lines in all its glory. You will be astonished to see that all the mountains and ridges become visible on your telescope.
You can also use the eyepiece with high power to look at other planets, but the low power is best for star formations and clusters, no matter what the conditions are in the night sky.
Space is an ever-changing field of planets and stars. The night sky changes hourly and yearly, which means you can view different phenomena across different months. This is why stargazers are never bored; they always have something new to point their telescope towards.
As the Earth constantly moves through space, you will notice that the objects you are viewing in your telescope also move every minute. This happens especially when you are using a low-powered eyepiece.
While using high-powered magnification, you will see that Jupiter and the Moon will race away from your field of view. Don’t be alarmed when this happens. Instead, move your telescope to compensate for this movement and track the targeted object on its path, such as the Moon.
Remember that the images on the telescope are inverted, so do not use them near street lights or porches as this may affect your viewing experience. Always wait for clear skies, away from light or noise pollution, for the best results. The light pollution of a town or city will make the images on your telescope blurry, so it’s best to avoid them.
Conclusion
As the Earth orbits around the Sun, you will see new stars and constellations. Distant planets will become visible once you get used to aiming your telescope correctly. This ever-changing billboard we know as space continues to enthrall us and our future generations.
This article has talked about using the Bushnell NorthStar telescope, one of the best Newtonian reflector telescopes that money can buy. This telescope was designed to make our stargazing moments as enjoyable as possible, so follow all the instructions for a fun experience.
