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My first telescope!

MaxMcKee

By MaxMcKee
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MaxMcKee

MaxMcKee

Posted
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Hi, I'm Max and have just bought a skywatcher 130AZ telescope. I've set up the tripod and got the scope attached but am now stuck! Not really sure what to do with either end of the telescope as they have covered openings and which lens to use etc? The manual seems a bit basic,any help great fully appreciated.

Cheers,Max

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WyomingRob

WyomingRob

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Just point the "big end" towards the sky, put in an eyepiece, focus, and enjoy.

Get a good star chart to help you find objects you want to look at.

Insofar as eyepiece choice, what you will use, depends on sky "conditions".

A good way to judge sky conditions, without use of instruments, is to simply look at the stars.

Lots of "twinkling" in the stars, conditions are on the poor side.  Use a less powerful eyepiece. (20mm to 30+mm)

Very little "twinkling", you can use a stronger one. (20mm or less).

The "trick" is not to "over power" the optics.  A common mistake made by "new" observers. ( I did it when I started out).

Your looking at Jupiter with a 15mm, so you put in a 5mm, thinking it will bring it in closer and bigger.

But all you see is a big, fuzzy, disk.  You over powered the scope for sky condition.

A better night and it may work better.  Experiment, you will learn what will work, what won't.

Also remember that a stronger eyepiece ( 5mm is stronger than a 10mm), will narrow your FOV ( field of view).

So the area of the sky you are looking at will be smaller.

Attend a Star Party, interacting with more experienced observers will increase your skills.

Also consider joining a local astronomy club, this will place you with "like minded" people, and share experiences.

Just some beginning "points" to start with.

And, Welcome to the forum!!

Rob C,

Cheyenne, WY. USA

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knobby

knobby

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Hi Max... One end is for adjusting mirrors (don't touch) the other end, near the focuser should have an easily removed cap. Point the end with the cap / focuser towards your target.

If you have different eyepieces start with the high number first while you are finding things then you can try the lower number to make things appear larger...

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ronl

ronl

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Hi Max welcome to the lounge,

whatever you do, do not unscrew anything, the front of the scope

has the dust cover, this will pull off and has no screws attaching it

to the scope, if you got a finder scope with it, this needs aligning with

your scope, set up outside in day light, take off the small cap which

covers the focuser, and place the 25mm eyepiece in tighten up the

screws, which hold the eyepiece in place, the try to find a target such

as a pylon or church spire and get to focus turning the knobs on the

focuser, once you get it focused look down the finder, using the cross

hairs in the finder, adjust the finder to get the target in the centre using

the small screws to adjust, this can take a little time, but it's worth the

effort, then you use the finder to do exactly that, when it's dark look down

the finder first to find your target, it should be the same when you look into

the eyepiece, you may need to adjust the focus slightly, but do it slowly.

hope you can understand this, and never point the scope anywhere near

the Sun.

Good Luck and Clear Sky's

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