Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
In this Discussion
- Betelgeuse February 20
- karl March 9
- slartybartfast March 8
Getting Started
-
Very new to this having purchased my first telescope in January (Celestron Astromaster 130EQ-MD). Can anyone give me some basic tips on lining it up. I've identified some of the constellations and planets but so far it takes me a good 10 minutes or more to lock onto Jupiter. I'm doing this by generally pointing it then trying to pinpoint without a lens in and then popping in a 20mm finder. I'm finding the "starfinder" quite hard to use. Any help ... much appreciated.
Finding it facinating though .. -
Hi Slartybartfast, welcome to the forum.
You'll need to set your finderscope. I think on your scope it's referred to as a 'star pointer'. The key is to set the star pointer view so it matches what you'll see in the eyepiece. Get something like Venus or Jupiter centred in a low powered eyepeice, then adjust your star pointer so the object also appears centred through it too, then lock/set the star pointer.
Then when you want to locate an object you just get it in your star pointer, and it should be also pretty much centred in your eyepeice too.
Hope that helps
-
Betelgeuse
Thanks ... I'll give it a go & see how I get on. Let's hope we have a cloudless night tonight !
Will report back .. -
Betelgeuse
Thanks for that ... been waiting for a clear night.
In addition to your tip I've rigged up a second sighter to line up with the star pointer and seems to be working well. At this stage it is merely a temporary arrangement being a bent paperclip with a small piece of card attached with a hole in it. I've attached this to one of the straps holding the tube. Now I know it works I'm going to make something more permanent in aluminium with adjustable screw threads so that I can get it even more accurate.
Thanks for your help.
