How do you...?

[northcanadian]

Help...what is the best way to find your image on the laptop when you use barlows?

Thank you

[Demonperformer]

I would firstly preview it without the barlow(s). Make sure the object is in the centre and then add the barlow. Should still be pretty much there.

[BlueAstra]

I assume you are using a driven/tracking mount. Check with eyepiece that object is dead center without the barlow. Then check again with the barlow and adjust if necessary. Then turn up brightness / gain in software to full until you find the object. With the hand controller or computer, move the scope a small amount in one direction, then back to where you started. Try other directions, but always return to where you started. When found, reset to software suitable values. If you can't find it go back to the eyepiece and check centering. If you are using EQMOD you can execute a spirall search to find objects.

[Ant]

Don't forget that you'll also need to refocus once you've added the barlow and that the star will be fainter.

Crank up the exposure time and you might see the disc of the out of focus star - even if the star itself is slightly off the screen.

Cheers

Ant

[brianb]

Use a proper finder - one with magnification, not a Telrad or RDF. Line it up accurately - you can easily find the Moon even with a barlow on your webcam - use a crater you can identify easily. Now you should be able to place a planet behind the crosswires & find it in the camera field straight away.