Using a new telescope

First, don’t rush and enjoy the experience of learning a new skill. It will take time as this is a slow hobby.

Check your telescope over indoors. Make sure you can adjust the vertical and horizontal position, that you know how the focuser works and how to change and secure the eyepiece.

Don’t try and observe through a window or from balcony. Hot rising air (heat haze) will spoil your views. Avoid concrete as well if possible. A lawn is much better.

Take the telescope outside in the daytime and fit the lowest power eyepiece. This will be the one with the highest focal length written in mm on the side. It will be around 25mm. Fit the 1.25” adapter only. If you try and use the 2” extender, you will not be able to focus.

Move the focuser in and out slowly while you look at a distant tree. It will take time to get sharp views at first but over time you will find it easier. Just start with your lowest-power eyepiece.

If you have a reflecting telescope like a Dobsonian, check that’s it is collimated by following this guide.

If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, practice focussing it in the daytime by pointing at a distant object like a tree or aerial but definitely not the sun.

If you have a finder scope, learn how to align it so that the crosshairs match what you see through the lowest power eyepiece:

Point the telescope at a distant tree or object like a tv antenna.
Using your lowest power eyepiece and looking through the main telescope, turn the focus until the object is sharp.
Now look through the finder and adjust the small screws one at a time until the cross-hairs are also looking at the same object as in the main telescope.
Check the object is still in the eyepiece and if necessary move the telescope so that it is centred again. Then tweak the finder again.

Learn how to find things that may be upside down and swapped left to right.

“The longer you look through an eyepiece the more you will see.”

When you use your telescope take it outside (don’t try using it on a balcony or through a window) as hot air rising will ruin your view. For the same reason grass is a better surface than concrete.

If you have different eyepieces, learn how to keep them clean (don’t touch them) and work out which is the strongest by looking at the number on the side.

Find out here what happens to the light as it passes through your telescope. If you have a telescope with mirrors (a reflector like a Dobsonian) you can find that information here. You will also need to ensure those mirrors are pointing at one another.

When you are ready to use your telescope at night, target the moon first. Then the Pleiades, the Orion Nebula and some colourful double stars. Use SkySafari or Stellarium to find them. More information

Tweak the alignment of your finder once in a while to make sure it agrees with your telescope where it is pointing.

Keep the main aperture covered with a cap when you are not using your telescope and do the same for the eyepieces. Avoid getting dust and marks on your eyepieces as well as your mirrors or main lens if using a refractor.

Some nights, dew can be a major problem, especially on eyepieces. I keep my eyepieces in a sealed box when I am not actually using them. A few minutes in a warm coat pocket will remove dew from an eyepiece.

Your eyes need to become dark-adapted so allow at least half an hour in complete darkness before you try and observe. An eyepatch over one eye will work indoors.

A reflector/Dobsonian will need 30 minutes or more to acclimatise (cool down) before you can start getting good views.

A local astronomy club is a great way of getting hands on advice.