Basic Knowledge: Aligning the Finderscope

Aligning the finderscope with the primary optics.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• astronomy
• telescope
• align
• finderscope

[chwillcutt]

Is that an old sky chief? I have a sky chief I from sometime in the 50s and a newer 120mm achromat. It's neat to see other of those old scopes. Great Video!

[truemartian]

@chwillcutt I'm not sure what you call it but I do think its an old Meade scope. It was given to me by a friend. It was his first scope. I keep it for the sentiment.

[hiracocoa12]

What is a finderscope used for? I just bought a telescope, and i can't figure it out what its used for

[truemartian]

@hiracocoa12 The finderscope helps you bridge the gap between naked eye observation and the view through the eyepiece. Its generally used to give you a wider view of the star patterns around your target object to make it easier to home in.

[rayunseitig]

Yyour set this demo up great.

I see what you mean about the value of mounts. One would have to be an acrobat and an atheleteto keep from knoking the scope all around while doing the alignmets. How about affixing the scope to one of those set ups that are use on machine shop tools like lathes and mills? The you could nail it down and use the wheeley dials to move it. Perhaps look for a sale on old machines sold by the pound. LOL.

Your lens on the video camera is fantastic. Zoom in on lil twig.

[whiteboyjimmy20]

Hey Truemartian, what do you do for a living? Are you an Astronomer? Sorry if its a little personal. YOU RULE!

[truemartian]

@sailcat9 That is an excellent suggestion! Thanks for sharing.

[sailcat9]

@WatchmenDrManhattan If I may be so bold as to offer another choice outside the range of possibilities you have listed, as a starter setup I always recommend a pair of good 10x50 binoculars, a planisphere, and a good book such as Binocular Astronomy by Crossen & Tirion. With this setup you will become accustomed to the night sky, you will learn how to observe, and you will see an amazing number of deep sky objects with the binoculars. Even now, I still enjoy going out with my binoculars.

[truemartian]

@WatchmenDrManhattan If you can find a dobsonian it will serve you better. However, if these are your only choices I would definitely go with the PowerSeeker 114EQ. Its the largest of them all and that is important. It will also be the more complex to operate because it has an equatorial mount. But as long as you are persistent at learning how to use it properly it will show you what you want to see. They are all budget scopes and as such some sacrifices in design/quality have been made.

[WatchmenDrManhattan]

As a beginner wich telescope should I choice

Celestron FirstScope, reflector newtonian

Celestron Travel Scope 70, refractor

Celestron CLST-C70, Mini Mak Spotting Scope

Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ, reflector newtonian

[truemartian]

@nmidura You shouldn't have to collimate a new small telescope. The factory setting usually does the trick and as long as you take care of it the scope shouldn't need collimated for a very long time. Small scopes rarely need it.

[truemartian]

@nmidura There should be a removable dust cap on the open end of the telescope located on the end of the scope closest to the eyepiece. You can remove the dust cap and look down inside to see the whole mirror. Once you have verified the dust cap is off you should be able to align the finderscope.