View Single Post
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 12-January-2004, 05:36 PM
traztx traztx is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Dallas
Posts: 561
Send a message via Yahoo to traztx
Default Re: Basic telescope usage question from a beginner

Does your scope have setting circles? If I have a good polar alignment, then I don't really need the finderscope as much. I use the finder to locate something easy and low (less neck yoga). Then I calibrate the setting circles and use them the rest of the night.

The easiest way for me is to use my widest eyepiece (32mm). No matter what I use, I always switch back to 32mm before jumping to the next object. Then I follow these steps:
1. Fix the RA circle to the hours/minutes of the current object.
2. Swing to the new RA coordinate.
3. Swing to the new dec coordinate.
4. Look for it in the 32mm.

The reason for step 1 is that after viewing the object for a while and tracking it with the scope, time passes... so you can fix it back on the official coordinate and go from there.

And like all things... it gets better with practice.
Reply With Quote