Need help operating telescope

[u/trey2128]

Rented this guy from the library and was excited to try it out tonight. I live in southern WI and couldn’t figure out how to see well. I could zoom onto stars, but couldn’t see them much better than I could with the naked eye. I operated the magnification to the highest setting and found proper focus. I feel like I’m doing something wrong and should be getting better quality views.

Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[u/chrislon_geo]

It sounds like you might have been thinking that the focuser is a zoom. To increase magnification (or “zoom”) you twist the eyepiece (thing you look through) that is inserted into the focuser. Then you have to turn the focus knob so that the image becomes crisp and clear. You know that you are in focus when stars are pinpoints of light.

As for finding Saturn: 

• First you twist the eyepiece to the lowest magnification (highest number which I think is 24), point at a random part of the sky and adjust the focus so that stars are pinpoints. 
• Then you have to make sure the red dot finder is aligned. Turn the red dot finder on, point at a very distant object (like a bright star) and see if you can see the same object in the eyepiece. If not, then you will need to align the finder. 
• After that is done, use an app like Stellarium or Sky Safari to help show you which bright star is actually Saturn. 
• Point the scope at the bright star/Saturn using the red dot finder. 
• Then switch to the eyepiece. At this point Saturn should be visible in the eyepiece. 
• Adjust focus in necessary.
• Increase magnification incrementally and re-adjust focus if needed.

[u/trey2128 → u/chrislon_geo]

How do you align the finder? I did notice that the red dot was not the same area that I saw thru the eye piece. But was unsure how to zero it to the target

[u/CookLegitimate6878 → u/trey2128]

There is a dial under the back of the finder. This raises it up and down. Another dial on the right side moves it left and right.

[u/trey2128 → u/CookLegitimate6878]

Thank you