Telescopes have been used for centuries now, albeit they have gone through extensive advancements and adaptations over time. However, what they have always been excellent at is observing things from long distances. In this article, we detail how to use a telescope.

How To Use A Telescope

Indeed, you’ll probably be using your telescope to view outer space and look for stars, moons and other celestial objects. It looks complicated right?

Luckily, we’ve written this guide that shows you the easiest and most efficient way to use a telescope. So, get your telescope ready with your notebook and let’s get started! 

Telescope Set-Up Step By Step 

We’ll now show you the step by step guide for properly setting up your telescope so you can use it most efficiently. Let’s dive in!

1. Align The Finder-Scope To The Eyepiece

The first thing you must do if you want to set up your telescope correctly is to align the finder-scope to the eyepiece. It’s best to perform this step during the day as it will make things much easier. If you have an equatorial mount, you can find detailed instructions on how to set it up in our article called How to Setup a Telescope Equatorial Mount.

Aligning finder scope with telescope. Telescope is larger image.

Start by pointing your telescope at an object in the distance, but only to around a quarter of a mile. A great option is to aim at the top of a tree or a streetlight. If you have difficulty seeing anything in the eyepiece you may need to focus the telescope.

Once you’ve got your chosen object centered in the field of view, you will now need to go over the finder-scope and adjust the appropriate knobs or screws (depending on your model of telescope), until the crosshair or focus dot is correctly centered at your chosen object.

The photograph on the right show how the image in the main telescope (main image) should match the image in the finder scope (insert). Don’t be concerned if your image is upside down. The image on the right has been rotated for easier viewing.

This is important because a properly and effectively aligned finder-scope can make all the difference when it comes to your observations later on. The alignment does not to be overly accurate. The aim is to get the finder-scope image to be similar to the main scope image so that the target is in the frame.

As you can imagine, we say to do this during the day because it is a lot easier to adjust your centered sight with more visibility than it is at night time. 

2. Familiarize And Orientate Yourself To The Telescope

Too often people believe that you can perform the previous step and everything will be fine. The fact is that you need to understand your specific telescope. Different telescopes will produce different orientated imagery.

For example, some will give a mirrored image, some will provide a backwards or upside down image etc. This is why doing the previous step and then this step in the day time makes things much easier. 

Point your telescope at an object you will know, such as a car’s license plate. You will be able to understand the orientation then, for example if the plate appears upside down.

3. Consider Your Location

Despite how well telescopes can deal with the outdoors, you must be aware of your location and where you plan to mount your telescope. You will want to avoid placing the telescope on hilly or uneven terrain, as this will cause the telescope to bounce during use.

Of course, this means that your observations will be affected, and generally, you will find yourself making plenty of mistakes – and overall becoming extremely frustrated.

One of the best surfaces to place your telescope, especially upon first use is the lawn in your yard, assuming you have a flat, well-kept lawn. You will also want to avoid being too near artificial lights, like street lights or sports stadiums.

Finding a way to shield the telescope from other forms of light is important too, even things as basic as security lights. If you can’t shield your telescope from this, consider using a dew shield over the aperture or even a large, black towel. 

4. Get The Telescope Used To The Outdoors

This is a point that is often overlooked when it comes to telescopes. Some people may not realize that the air temperature inside the telescope will be different from the air temperature outdoors. 

As a result, it’s very common for the mirrors to fog up and cause poor visibility. Some telescopes offer anti-misting technology, although these are often difficult to find or costly.

It’s a good idea to leave your telescope outdoors for around thirty minutes before you start your observations. The time it takes to “de-mist” depends on the telescope model. However, thirty minutes is a general rule. 

5. Consider The Conditions

It probably comes as no surprise that you will find it much easier to observe when the skies are clear, and the weather conditions allow for it. While some telescopes are weather-resistant, observing in clear conditions is always better. 

We should also point out that it’s a good idea to avoid nights such as the 4th of July when plenty of fireworks should be around. 

Other Things To Consider

There are some other points to consider, but the five steps above are the best way to use a telescope! 

1. Read The Manual

When you purchase a telescope, it should come with a user manual. This manual will show you the best way to use your telescope and troubleshoot if you are in trouble.

2. Choose The Right Telescope

Beginners should choose their telescope wisely. If you are unfamiliar with telescopes, try to avoid using a large aperture, for example. You should also know the properties of your instrument.

3. Always Make Notes

Once you are up and running with your telescope, you should begin to make notes about your observations, including what you are seeing and where specifically, using the coordinates shown on your telescope. 

4. Speak With An Expert

If you enjoy using a telescope, speak with an expert online or in person about the best areas to use your telescope and what to look out for! Astronomy clubs are a great place to get valuable information.

5. Use Planetarium Software to Locate Objects

Planetarium software plot the location of objects in the night sky. It is important to learn how to use such software. There are paid as well as free software. Our suggestion is to start with the free program called Stellarium. Once you have learnt the basics, it is easy to use.

Final Thoughts 

And that is all you need to know about how to set up and use a telescope! We hope we have helped.

You may also like How To Use A Celestron Telescope if you have a Celestron telescope.

Jason Anderson
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