I have been given an ASPEN 700x60 Refractor Telescope with a box of tubes and two eyepieces but NO INSTRUCTIONS. Could anyone please tell me where I might get a manual for this or general starter book that will help me. Thanks

Commonly available astronomical telescope eyepieces are 1.25 inches in outside diameter. If the eyepiece tube on your scope is that dimension (inside diameter) then you will have no trouble finding lots of them in various focal lengths on Amazon or eBay. However, there are lots of "toy" telescopes that use proprietary eyepieces of smaller sizes, and these would be harder to get hold of.

This is a small refractor style telescope on a photo style tripod.

Put the small finder scope on the top of the main tube, put the diagonal into the back of the scope. Put the eyepiece with the largest number written on it into the diagonal.

Take the scope outside during the day time and line up the finder scope with the main tube on a distant object-- practice focusing on the same object.

Read my TIPS on my profile page.

It depends if it is a REFLECTOR or a REFRACTOR style telescope. You never said what you own??

On a reflector the focuser is on the front end of the telescope on the side of the tube. The eyepiece goes into the focuser.

On a refractor style telescope the focuser is on the small end of the tube, the main lens is on the UP side pointed toward the sky. The eyepiece goes into the focuser on the backend of the telescope. Sometimes you will have a "diagonal" which goes into the focuser first and then the eyepiece goes into the diagonal. The diagonal makes it easier to look through the scope when it is pointed UP high into the sky.

See my TIPS on my profile page and read this web site:

http://www.texasastro.org/telescope.php

All eyepieces go into the FOCUSER end of the telescope. You never said if this is a REFRACTOR or a REFLECTOR style telescope.

On a refractor you have a lens in the front and the focuser in the back.

On a reflector the focuser is on the SIDE of the telescope near the front end.

The diagonal goes in first --- and the eyepiece goes into the diagonal -- if this is a refractor style telescope. Here is a picture of the DIAGONAL.
http://www.telescope.com/control/accessories/telescope-diagonals/1*25-inch-orion-enhanced-mirror-star-telescope-diagonal

The lens cap is on the bigger end of the telescope take it off. The eyepieces go into the smaller end of the telescope.

Is this a reflector or a refractor style telescope. Does it have a MIRROR in the bottom?? or just a small lens in the front of the tube (refractor)????

there are 3 types of telescopes:
1)refractor, uses lenses
2)reflector, uses mirrors
3)catadioptric, uses both

try this and practice doing this during the day time, it's easier.

get your eyepiece, the one with the highest number on it (# mm); this is your lowest power eyepiece, always use this first (wider view and easier to see where you're pointing it), and place it in your telescope.

next, use the focusing knob to focus on a target (a faraway tree, lamp post, etc.). once you have it focused, and if you want to get a closer look, get the next highest number eyepiece and refocus on the target. this is how you change magnification.
if you have a barlow lens (2x or 3x) this will also change the magnification by 2x or 3x without having to buy other eyepieces, although you can still buy more.
put it together in this order:
eyepiece-->barlow lens-->telescope

use the star diagnal for land viewing.

if you have a reflector telescope,
the open part of the telescope tube next to the focuser points to your target. focus it the same as above.

oh, and sometimes, with refractors, you might have to use the
45 degree or 90 degree diagnal to focus the telescope.

and google how to use a telescope. there's nice observing tips :D

hope this helps :D

oh, and check out the moon at night. it's a very nice target.
best time to observe the moon is when it's not full.
you gotta check out the 'terminator' (area on the moon where the light and darkness is separated.

Call Galileo:
http://www.galileosplace.com/

All of Meade's manuals are listed here--
http://www.meade.com/manuals/index.html

Take it outside during the day time-- put the eyepiece with the LARGEST number written on it into the telescope--- this is the LOWEST magnification.

Point it at a distant object and practice focusing-- the moon should be your first night time object.

Measure the tube opening-- 1.25 inch is a common size for eyepieces.