How do you use a telescope?

Question

Have a telescope with no directions. Don't seem to be able to get it to work.
Any help is helpful. Thanks.

It's a Meade

Answer 1

Couple of things to keep in mind. First, get used to using your telescope during the daytime when it is easier to aim, focus and generally see what you are doing. Once you are comfortable aiming it and focusing, you will be better prepared to use it at night. Start with lowest power eyepiece (this will have the largest number printed on its side, and usually the bigger lens). If your scope has a finder (a small telescope mounted alongside the main tube) this must be aligned to point in exactly the same spot as the telescope. This is also best done during the day. Looking through the main telescope, line up and focus on something pretty far away (telephone poles or streetlights can be good for this, but anything over 100 yds aways should suffice). With this object centered in the scope's view, adjust the little screws alongside the finder until it too is pointing at the same object. Keep in mind that the field of view is very narrow for most telescopes - meaning, you have to be aimed exactly at the star or planet you wish to observe. Also, unless you have a motorized scope properly aligned with the north pole (or south pole if you are south of the equator) the stars and planets will appear to move through the field of view of the telescope. This is due to the earth's rotation, and gets worse at higher magnifications. Start with simple things like the moon (best in crescent -> first quarter phase) and then you can move on to star clusters, planets and other cool things. Keep in mind, they are interesting looking first-hand, but never do they show the colors and detail that photographs taken by Hubble or the major observatories will show. The website below may offer some help. If the telescope is too frustrating, try a good pair of binoculars until you get more comfortable with the sky.

Answer 2

Gosh, we get this all the time.

Firstly to use an astronomical telescope it is essential you know your way around the sky. Obviously you don't.

Go away for a year and learn the sky like the back of your hand, then come back with the question if you still can't use the telescope.

Jeez, its like a 5 year old kid coming on and asking how to drive a car.

Answer 3

There are lots of different types of telescopes. Can you tell us more about the one you have?

There are lots of Meades, too, but their website would be a good source for info - they even have instructional videos for many of their scopes: http://www.meade.com/educational/index.html

Answer 4

I can only back up Apolitcal's answer for fact and desire to help.

Answer 5

wellu do seem extremilly dumb

well u if ur american

u have and exuse at elast

Answer 6

look in the little hole