First use what am I doing wrong

[michaelg]

Hi

Ok so I took my 250px out tonight after earlier aligning the finder scope

I lined up with Venus and saw what looked like a bright golf ball with golf ball like bobbles all over

I then lined it up with mars and saw the same a bright white golf ball with the same bobbles all over

Am I doing something wrong

[sologuitarist61]

Not enough information. I know it is a silly question but did you focus it correctly? It sounds just like an out of focus image.

[richbyers]

yes i agree - for something that major to go wrong it would have to be most likely a focusing issue (or you could have done a me- kept the scope cap on )

[Marki]

I've not used that kind of scope, but sounds like what I see if my scope are well out of focus, so maybe it needs to be focussed more? I know on my refractors (and on my nexstar too) I have to work the focusser quite a lot to get it sharp - once its in the "zone", it'll only need minor adjustment then. I remember the first time I set up my nexstar I was really surprised how much I had to turn the focusser.

What ep do you have fitted?

[Woody]

Hello.

Something is not right there obviously. Are you using a Synscan handset or going manual? Another possibilty might be that your scope is way out of focus and no matter what you look at it will all be about the same.

Go back to Venus (or anything nice and bright) and have a play with the focus. Even easier is point at the moon and get that in focus.

[michaelg]

It is the first time I have ever used it I did fiddle a little with the focus but it stayed the same image

Can it take a while to focus it correctly and will it help if I power it up with the goto system

[Woody]

Powering up the goto won't effect the focus. If it is first light with your scope then the focus may be nowhere near where it needs to be.

[richbyers]

it sounds like it is way off focus- how much did you try and alter it?

[michaelg]

I didn't focus it much as wasn't aware that it was that causing the problem and it kept moving out of sight I think I will use the goto to track and will spend more time focusing next time out.

It is worth mentioning I have never used a telescope before so the fact my first attempt was not a success is probable not surprising I am an ultimate newb

[Marki]

Good luck Michael - I'm sure you'll get it next time out:)! As I said in my previous post, it took me a while to figure out I needed to turn the focusser way more than I expected first time out. And then with my second scope (the TAL) I had really problems with the focusser slipping and nearly falling out (nearly dropping £50 worth of ep on the concrete of my yard!), until I realised several days later I hadn't tightened the tension screw anything like enough:o!

And don't worry about asking what might seem "newb" questions - we were all newbs once and we've all had to start from somewhere! The only really dumb question is the question that doesn't get asked !

Let us know how you get on - you should get some great views with that scope soon !

[Woody]

I am also pretty new to it all mate so still learning all the time, but now you have one less thing to overcome!

Clear skies

Jeremy

[michaelg]

Thanks guys for all your replies

Everyone is so helpful it's a fantastic site

[Tribal-Wolf]

Make sure you haven't fitted both adapters to the focuser, there is one for 2" EPs and one for 1.25". Some people have had issues because they have fitted them both together.

[Glen]

hey, we've all been the mate I assure you. Did you notice a colour change form Venus to mars?

Even if it was out of focus this should've been noticeable.

[sologuitarist61]

Most scopes when they arrive have the focuser wound right in to save space in the box so I am wondering if you just need to wind it out further than you are?

[rwilkey]

Make sure you use the lowest power eyepiece to start with, this should be a 25mm or one with the highest number, again it would be helpful if you could advise what eyepiece you are using.

[michaelg]

Hi Robin,

I was using a 25mm eyepiece

[itlee]

Is there a piece of polystyrene in the way somewhere?

[knobby]

As Chris (tribal wolf ) said, its pretty common to have the 2" and 1.5" ep holder fitted, you only need the one otherwise focus point cannot be achieved

http://stargazerslounge.com/attachments/beginners-help-advice/84723d1334089607-skyliner-250px-baader-8-24-zoom-focus.jpg

should look like this