How do I use an Equatorial Mount?

Question

I have a Meade 114EQ-ASTR. I got it couple of months ago and I could never get Jupiter or any other planets.... im guessing this will help me find Jupiter and the other planets, but I have no clue how to use it, i have read the manual over and over but no understanding. I am a beginner and Im starting to get very frustrated.

Answer 1

You'll probably find targets much easier once you start getting more familiar with the night sky. For example, I don't need an eq mount or even a star chart to know that Jupiter is the brightest object (other than the current just-past-full moon) in the sky if you are facing south and looking up about 45 degrees. Saturn is behind the sun right now, but will be in the morning sky soon, in a month or so. Mars looks like a reddish star high in the sky facing east in the early mornings right now, in fact I just took a picture of it yesterday while photoing the lunar eclipse thru my 6" Celestron reflector, great pics, better than most of the ones I saw on TV. But Mars is pretty tiny in scopes as small as ours.

Eq mounts are nice for tracking, but as for navigating, expect it to take some time. Better I think for you right now is to register your location and then print out some star charts from

http://www.heavens-above.com/

Start learning first the constellations that are visible right now. You could actually spend on and off about a year just doing that without a telescope, tho yeah, doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun. Then once you are at least somewhat capable of that, you can starhop your way around the sky.

Don't get impatient, it takes time to be even the most rudimentary astronomer. You can learn the details of EQ mount operation as you go, tho basically the first step is getting the polar axis properly aligned with Polaris, then learning how to go to coordinates by subtacting declination hours from your time zone while knowing what time it is. It's tricky for a beginner, but not very necessary for casual observing compared to starhopping. Be patient, you'll get there. Find a club in your area if you can, that will help tremendously.

Answer 2

I think the best thing to do is go outside with your telescope and try to figure out which way is North. If you know the sky then you should be able to find the North Star, but if you don't, then just get a general idea, maybe from Yahoo maps or something similar, which is good enough for starters. The Equatorial mount has two rotating axes at right angles to one another. The one that is attached closest to the mounting post is the polar axis. Point that axis in the direction of North that you have previously determined. Then loosen both axes and swing the telescope around and point it at the Moon. You should get down on the ground and site down the edge of your telescope like sighting down a gun barrel. When you have done this then put the longest focal length eyepiece into your scope and then go in a spiral around and around getting farther and farther out until you see the Moon flash into view. Once you have viewed the Moon, then try Jupiter, the brightest "star" in the southern sky right now, using the same technique. As you acquire more practice, you will get better and better at it. Have fun! I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Basically, you set the declination adjustment to your latitude, and set up the mount so its polar axis points due north. It doesn't need to be precise for visual use.

I'm not sure why you think this will help you find anything. the setting circles, if any, on this small mounts are not big enough to be of much use. The main advantage of the equatorial mount is the ability to track the sky by moving in only one axis.

Finding things in the sky is a matter of knowing the sky well enough to know where to look and what to look for, and having your finder aligned so you can use it to aim the telescope. If there's an astronomy club in your area, you'll find people there who will be glad to help you figure it out. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ can locate clubs in your area if you're in the US.

Answer 4

You're having the experience of many beginning astronomers: because you have a telescope, you think you should easily be able to find things in the sky. Your equatorial mount really won't help you find things in the sky: you have to learn your way around the sky to do that.

The two best books for learning your way around the sky are "NightWatch" by Terence Dickinson (Firefly) and "Star Watch" by Phil Harrington (Wiley). If you have difficulty learning from books, then joining an astronomy club will probably help.

Answer 5

Basically, point the polar axis at the north star. If the manual does not help you will need someone to help you in person. Seek out your local astronomy club. The members will be happy to help.