Help - need advise on how to use my Scope

Hi

Sorry for the silly question. But I am completely lost.

I have the Lidl Skylux scope

How do I use the Mount to set up the scope for observing things highlighted in the software that came with the scope?

thanks

Alan

This could be a lenghty thread Alan! And welcome to the boards!

There are plenty of us here who have the scope (myself included), so help should not be far away.

A few pointers I suppose to start off with.

Make sure you have the scope on level ground. As it does not have a (bubble) level on it, glue one to the mount base. I got a circular bubble level, and with resin, I fixed it flat to the mount. While you have to use, and do this manually, it will be fairly good.

When you have the level 'mounted', make sure your angle is set to 52 or 53 degrees, whichever line of latitude you are at (consult an atlas or road map). Its not going to be exact as by the design of this mount, but get as accurate as your eyes and hands will allow.

Usually, equatorial mounts, once levelled and alligned parallel with the North Pole ('Earth's axis of spin' pole, not the magnetic one), are locked with the right-ascension (polar) axis pointing North - for us in the northern hemisphere by sheer coincidence, aiming it at Polaris is good enough! After this, the motion of the declination should be good enough to 'follow' a star as it moves across the sky.

With the Skylux, you can tighten 3 screw to keep it fixed - mount swivel plate, the declination axis (left to right motion), and the right-ascension (polar) axis. Generally, the swivel plate would be fixed in all professional telescope mounts, but no matter where you swivel it to, as long as you are on level ground and have the correct latitude angle locked, then your mount will perform in good equatorial motion!

I'm going to take a break and let someone else take over, so it doesn't look like I'm boring you with more details!



Seanie.

The software is 'Cart Du Ciel'.
Click on the object. It's name will appear
Double click on the name, all info will appears
For instance:

Star
HR 1457 HD 29139
Flamsteed Number: 87
Bayer Letter: Alpha
Constellation: Taurus
Visual Magnitude: 0.85
Color Index: 1.54
Spectral Class: K5+III
Annual Proper Motion: 0.063 -0.190
ALDEBARAN; Cor Tauri; Parilicium.

J2000 RA: 4h35m55.20s DE:+16°30'33.0"
Date RA: 4h36m12.80s DE:+16°31'09.7"

Dublin 2005-2-9 19h13m ( TU + 0h00m )
Sideral Time : 4h03m
Hour Angle : 23h26m
Azimuth :+167°00'
Altitude :+51°25'

Rise : 12h07m Azimuth:+59°43'
Culmination : 19h50m
Set : 3h33m Azimuth:+300°17'

Alan,
No such thing as a silly question here,
I dont have a skylux, but I'm sure those here who do will help you out.
You'll only find out by asking.

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http://www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/files/1102377431-setting_circles.jpg
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This pic helps.

What is the crack with the latitude settings? 53 degrees seems seriously high.. or am i readin it wrong?

It's where you are on the planet

You are on the planet , aren't you ?

See

This is the scale where you set the 53 or thereabouts
It's a line on the map running through your town (Wicklow ?)

Denis