Unable to work a C8 - SGT Telescope

Can anyone help me with a new Telescope that lve purchased within the past two weeks. Ive had enormous support from a committee member of the Astronomy Club in Cork, and much to my relief, she managed to set up the telescope properly on site. The only problem is that, despite having nights where the sky is full of stars - l cannot see anything through the telescope. Its a C8-SGT Advanced Telescope and despite setting up the date, and time each day and the scope is facing north and the altitude and longtitude are perfectly set - nothing works. If l point the scope at a bright star, l can see nothing through the star diagonal eye piece, which was aligned perfectly with the view finder. Ive read the manual that came with the Telescope over and over and still nothing works. Can anyone call out to my house in Douglas on a night where there is a clear sky, to try to sort out the problem. At this stage - lll probably have to send it back to Astronomy Ireland and get a refund, which would be a terrible shame. Thanks

Saphor

can you see anything at all through the scope? i.e. other stars?

If you can't, the first check would be making sure the optical path is clear. You can do that without needing a clear night or even aligning the scope for astronomical work - you can simply point it at a feature in the distance (a street light, a mountain, mobile phone mast etc). Best you do this without the diagonal - unless that is required for the eyepiece.

If you see light of any sort, your optical path is OK. If you can only see darkness, there's a problem.

If this test shows you're getting some light through the scope, it may be that when looking at stars, your focus position is so way off that you can see nothing. Simply alter the focus from one end of its run to the other. If the moon is up that's always a great way to roughly set up both focus and to see if there is a problem with the optical path.

HTH

Dave

Hi

Sent you a PM .. I live in Douglas and can help

John

can you see anything at all through the scope? i.e. other stars?

The view through the finder and the main tube is fine. I aligned the finder with the tube on Saturday for Dave and there were no problems whatsoever.

I suggested to Dave that he wait until the Moon is visible and that this would be a good way to get use to using the scope.

Apart from that,I can't think of why he can't see anything through either of them

Hi Saphor,

It's Carl here from A&S/Astronomy Ireland hope you are keeping well I just saw this post today, even though we spoke on the phone for the guts of an hour the other day I'm sorry to see you're still having trouble with the scope. I'm glad to see the Cork Astronomy club I put you in contact with have been able to help and taken you under their wing. I would like to thank Joanna for taking the time to give you hands on help to assemble the telescope. from speaking to Joanna today she feels the optics are fine.

I recommend on a clear night you set up the scope then take out the 32 mm eye piece and point it at the moon, turn the focus very slowly till it comes into focus. if the moon is not visible point the scope at any part of the sky and the trick here is to use a low power eye piece like a 40 mm or a 32 mm not a high power eye piece then focus very slowly. One other thing I want you to do is read the manual a few times.On your days off work practice setting up the scope and you will become more familiar with it. Stick with Cork Astronomy club they will help you as much as they can and I'm always on the end of the phone if you want to have a chat about the scope.


Carl.