Absolute novice

[Alixdavid]

Hi guys, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. As the title explains I am a total beginner who has just received a skywatcher 130 EQ2 telescope for Christmas (yes I am a Xmas newbie). I did manage to put it all together last night, and was amazed how big it is! Larger than my wardrobe in fact, but a few things have confused me. 1. How do I know what my local altitude is and does it actually matter? 2. do you have an easy explaination for aligning a finder scope. 3. How do I know it is properly balanced?

Thanks in advanced for any and all replies

[happy-kat]

Hi

1 use google to find the latitude etc. of where you live

2 there are some videos on youtube that explain aligning your finder probably better than any explanation. Use the furthest away object measured ideally in miles (not the sun).

[triton1]

Hi there and welcome to SGL Don,t worry about altitude but you can google your latitude about 52.6 I think.

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi and welcome.

[PeterCPC]

Hello and welcome. Balancing is here

Peter

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL.

[bomberbaz]

Hello AlixDavid. There are loads of video around to help you get started. This guy is the one I like. He is so damn cheesy but its also a janet and john type explaination so thats why I like it.

Regards

steve

[brantuk]

Nice Xmas pressie Alix - the 130 is a good starter scope. Congrats and welcome to SGL