I need telescope help?

Question

I'm 15 and just got a cool telescope... http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=375869

I looked at the moon last night and I saw it...but it was just a big white orb... I couldn't see craters and I tried zooming in. Also, I looked at a star...I looked and saw the light...but the star wasn't moving when I looked through the telescope. Is that normal?

I just feel inexperienced...I need help??? And...why are there so many different telescopes? Is the one I got a good one?

I want to see planets and coolness. lol

You people have really good answers and thanks so much for you help!!! Maybe I'll hang out in the Astronomy & Space section more often! =)

Answer 1

First of all, wow, congrats on the telescope.

Secondly, seeing objects in the sky depends on a lot of things, but don't let that discourage you. The preparation behind setting up the telescope its self, and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness are key. It also doesn't help to get some filters for your eyepiece, you might wanna get one for the moon and light pollution. The filters allow you to see more surface features on the moon and help when viewing nebulas.

To be honest, I'm not too familiar with that sort of telescope. I have a 10' dob. But, what you can do, is make sure your maginifcation (i.e. eyepiece isn't too powerful). Stick with an eyepiece roughly around 25mm at first. If you do this, you'll be able to lock on to a target and focus. Once, you do this and decide you wanna see closer, get a eyepiece that's around 10mm and you'll be very pleased.

Make sure you take care of your equipment too, very important. Keep everything tighty, clean, and well-organized.
Have a plan before you go out, that way you aren't lost about where you wanna look and what you wanna see. Those anticipated celestial objects will come in due time. Be patient.

Have fun.
- Jansen

Answer 2

Congratulations! I go my first scope when I was 16.

The Moon is very close to full right now, which means that the light is coming from overhead, and there aren't many shadows to show relief. In a couple of days, the light will be more oblique, and you should see more. Does the edge of the Moon appear sharp or blurred. If it's blurred, your optics may need adjustment. The problem with buying a scoppe from a place like Sam's Club is that there's no one in the store who knows anything about telescopes...that's why we always recommed buying from a telescope store. You may be able to get help if you locate your local astronomy club:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/organizations

They are in the business of helping beginners.

A star should look like a point of light through a telescope. If it appears like a doughnut, then you need to adjust the focus. If it seems to have a tail like a comet, your optics may need adjustment. If you've aligned your scope properly, following the instructions for Autostar, it will be tracking the star automatically, so the star shouldn't move in the field of view.

Most astronomical observations are made with low magnifications, the eyepiece with the largest number (focal length) on it. I think that's 26mm with your scope. Only when you've seen all you can at that power, should you switch to the other eyepiece.

There are many different telescopes because there are many different astronomers. Different people have different needs. Yours is probably an OK beginner's telescope, though not one I would usually recommend, since much of the cost of your telescope has gone into the electronics rather than the optics. I'd rather have a telescope with better optics and no computer, for the same money.

Answer 3

The full moon is the worst time to look at it. The sun is "behind" you, so the shadows are very short, or not visible at all. Wait a couple more days and look along the terminator for good details. As the moon gets farther from full, shadows lengthen and reveal more.

I don't know what kind of telescope you have, but almost any instrument will reveal the moon's features in a way that you should find rewarding. Resolving details of planets or seeing deep sky objects will challenge the ability of your scope. That is when you need a higher quality instrument. Still, most should show Saturn's rings, the Galilean moons of Jupiter, and the phases of Venus.

Answer 4

Hi Cluemore -

Brant is right (as usual). The Moon looks much better during the crescent phase. You can look along the line between sun and shadow (called the terminator) and see all kinds of good crater and mountain details.

If you are in a not-too-frigid location, stay up late or get up early and take a look at Saturn. You will never forget it.

I also had no luck opening your telescope link. If you tell us what it is, we may be able to help you some more.

Answer 5

Most telescopes dont zoom in without changing the lens, so im assuming that you were actualy moving the focus, if your lens isnt seated all the way in the lens tube before you turn the set screw you may not be able to focus as was meant. Try to loosen the set screw and gently rock the lens to see if it drops in any further this has happened to me.