Newbie Astronomer

Hi All, Just wanted to introduce myself.

Im a newbie to astronomy, i have always wanted to get a telescope and start exploring "The Night Sky" but kept putting it on the back burner, last week i picked up a 76mm Reflector telescope with equatorial mount in ALDI for €99. i know... probably a piece of junk but i thought it might be a cheap start.
I had my first WOW moment last night when i FINALLY was able to focus in on the moon, it was a great hour or so spent just checkin it out. my big problem is i cannot seem to be able to see anything else of the night sky with it, im not sure what i am doing wrong (and yes, i have removed the lense cap this time :oops: )

Im living near Enfield, Co. Meath, out in the wilderness with plenty of dark sky? Any help would be really appreciated?

HERE IS THE SCOPES SPEC

Traveler 76MM Refelector Telescope With Equatorial Mount
h8349.serverkompetenz.net/htdocs_travele...ontent.php?idcat=275

Technical Data:
h8349.serverkompetenz.net/htdocs_travele...ontent.php?idcat=276

Thanks
Git74

Hi,

Welcome aboard!

The scope isn't too bad to start out with. An inch more diameter in the mirror would usually be what's recommended to start, but once it gave you a WOW moment rather than just hours of frustration then its a good start

As for looking at other objects you'll need to first of all check that your finderscope and the telescope itself are lined up correctly. You can do this during the daytime, just aim at a distant tree or lamppost and make sure that the centre of what you see in the telescope matches what you see in the finderscope. If it doesn't you can adjust the finderscope until its right.

Then you need to find a bright star to test on. Just overhead at night now and a bit to the west is the bright star Vega. Line that up in your finderscope. Now with your lowest magnification eyepiece in the telescope see if you can see it. You should be able to focus it until it is just a point of bright light. If thats ok spin round to the bright red looking star low down in the north east - thats Mars. By changing eyepieces you should be able to make out that its a planet since its round and not just a point of light.

Hope that helps!
~Albert

Hi Albert,

Thanks for the info, I did notice that what i was seeing in the finder scope was not visible in the main scope but wasnt sure how to adjust it to match, its the only thing not discussed in the manual. The finder scope has two screws attaching it to the main scope, which only allow movement up and down the body, is this all i need to do?

Thanks
Gary

Hi Gary,
qwelcome along! My first scope was in fact the same type, albeit a Tasco on a simple altaz (up-down/sideways) mount. I was 11, and I thought it was the dogs understuff. I still have it, would you believe! So, like you (just 17 years ago), I was also starting out for the whole finderscope allignment, why can't I see more, and WOW, look at the Moon!.

You know, Tullamore AS is not too far away from you (thanks to the M4/N6). You can always pop down to us when we have an observing session (first Friday of each month, e-mail us for details), or even our next lecture night (November 6th) and ask questions, get tips, and pick up some observing aids.

But, these boards, with its wider audience, are also at your disposal.

Glad you finally made the leap into amateur astronomy!

Seanie.

Hi Seanie, I might take you up on that offer and drop down, Tullamore is only a little over half and hour away, i drove the new road for the first time the other night, its a big difference.

Anway, ill PM you to get the details.

Thanks
Gary

Hi Gary, welcome along I think that you will find plenty of advice and good chat on these boards. I too started out with a 3 inch diameter tasco telescope, all you gotta do is what Albert said: just pop the eyepiece in your scope and move the screws on the finder scope. The moon is getting larger this week, so it's a good tome to start !

Let us know how you get on, before you know it, you will be addicted

Keith..