How To Use A Celestron Telescope

Telescopes are fun toys that help people see things in the sky that they couldn’t see before.

But, you need to know how to use them correctly. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions when you get your first telescope.

We want to help people who want to get into astronomy. Here at Love the Night Sky we have a simple aim.

Our goal is to share with you the simple tricks, tips, and techniques which will take you from a complete novice to a competent backyard astronomer.

Read on to find out how to use a Celestron Telescope.

How Do I Use My Telescope Eyepieces?

Eyepieces come in different sizes. Higher numbers mean lower powers.

The lowest power is the easiest to focus on and has the widest field of view. You should start with the lowest power eyepiece.

Higher powers are harder to focus on and have narrower fields of view.

Using a Barlow lens doubles the magnification of an existing eyepiece.

Longer focal length eyepieces generally need less eye relief than shorter ones, so using a Barlow to magnify them will make them easier to view.

Here’s how to use an eyepiece: Insert your lowest power eyepiece into the scope and tighten in place.

Then place your eye just behind it.

Don’t put your eye right up against the eyepiece because it will block out light and make it hard to see.

Make sure there is at least 15 mm of space between your eye and the eyepiece.

You should use the knob on the left to adjust the focus.

You can use different types of lenses to make your telescope more powerful.

For example, if you want to see objects further away, you should use a bigger lens.

Also, if you want to get closer to an object, you should use a smaller lens.

Part What To Expect When Using A Telescope

Astronomers should expect to spend a lot of time observing the sky. They should also expect to spend lots of money on equipment.

But, they shouldn’t expect to get great views or beautiful pictures.

Instead, they should expect to get frustrated and disappointed when their equipment doesn’t work properly.

This first section will help you set realistic expectations about what you’ll be able to do with your new telescope.

Setting Up A Telescope Will Take Some Getting Used To

A simple telescope requires a lot of work to be used. You need to align the viewfinder first, then adjust your focus.

This process takes time and effort. There are many things you should know about using a telescope before you start looking at the sky.

You should first align your finder scope or eyepiece. Next, you should align your mount. Then, you should collimate your primary mirror.

Finally, you should polar align your telescope. These are the basics you need to know before you begin observing.

Astronomy Can Be A Cold Hobby!

A telescope needs a clear view of the sky. When you point it through a window or into a building, it won’t be as effective.

You’ll also notice that telescopes aren’t made for sheds. There is no alternative: you must go outside to be an astronomer!

For most of us, this means cold and discomfort at some times of the year if you aren’t well prepared, so thermals and a thermos are essential.

Don’t forget, it will also take your eyes quite some time to adjust to the dark too.

Time To See Your First Planet

Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury are easy to see. They are the next brightest objects in our sky after the Moon.

They are also open to the most powerful telescopes. Mercury is always very close to the sun and Mars is quite faint.

Spring on Mars (source) instead, aim to see one…

You’ll see Jupiter’s moon Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Saturn’s rings are also visible.

Your Telescope Will Soon Not Be Good Enough

You will be able to see more details than before because you bought a better telescope.

Your telescope will give you a wider view of the sky. You will also be able to see more stars and planets.

Telescopes are great tools to help us observe the sky. But if we’re going to use them, we should be careful about what we buy.

We shouldn’t spend too much money on a telescope. And we shouldn’t buy something that isn’t really useful.

You should buy more than one pair of eyepieces. You need at least three pairs of eyepieces to view the moon and planets, stars, and galaxies.

Your first pair of eyepieces should be large enough to see the deep sky and faint objects, while your second pair should be medium size to view star clusters and nebulæ.

Finally, your third pair should be small enough to view the moon and planet Jupiter.

A zoom eyepiece is an excellent choice for beginners because it allows them to get a closer view without having to move the whole telescope around.

You can use this type of eyepiece for any telescope, but it is especially useful for smaller telescopes.

You can buy an inexpensive tripod to hold your telescope steady. This will help you get better images.

In a city, you won’t be able to see as many stars and planets because there are too many lights.

Your telescope will also not work well if you live near a lot of pollution.

You should use a dark sky filter when you observe the stars. This will make it easier to see them.

Telescope Buying Advice

Telescopes have different characteristics depending on how long the tube is.

A short focal length offers a wide field of view but a small image.

A large focal length provides a narrow field of view and a bright image.

Telescopes come in many different sizes. A telescope with a shorter focal length provides a wide field of view.

This allows you to see more of the sky. However, this also means that you won’t be able to see as much detail.

On the other hand, a telescope with a longer focal length gives you a smaller field of view but allows you to see more details.

Refractors are telescopes with lenses made of glass or other transparent materials.

Their main advantage is that they are cheap and easy to use.

However, they have a narrow field of view and require a lot of light to see objects.

Reflectors are telescopes with mirrors instead of lenses. They have a wide field of view and are more powerful than refractors.

However, they are much heavier and more expensive. Catadioptrics are telescopes with both lenses and mirrors.

They combine the advantages of refractors and reflectors.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing to remember when buying a telescope is that it needs to fit into your budget.

If you’re not sure what kind of telescope will suit you best, then take a look at our guide to choosing between a refractor, reflector, or catadioptric telescope.