How to Use a Dobsonian Reflector Telescope

Dobsonian refers to the kind of mount - inexpensive, but cumbersome - on which the telescope sits. It moves the telescope on an XY axis, which is to say, up and down and left to right.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Sky Charts
• Notebooks
• Pens
• Telescope Carrying Cases
• Telescope Eyepieces
• Telescope Filters
• Telescope Focal Reducers
• Telescope Tripods
• Telescopes

1. Familiarize yourself with star charts. The altazimuth mounting of a Dobsonian reflector requires that you have a map of the night sky in your head, because it will not automatically track the night sky.
2. Plot your subject with the use of star charts.
3. Position your telescope for viewing.
4. Notice that the eyepiece is located near the top of the telescope, close to where it gathers light.
5. Use the telescope when light pollution is at a minimum, because this kind of telescope is a "light bucket."
6. Aim the telescope at the sky and find your subject.
7. Position your eye over the eyepiece and focus.
8. Remember to take notes of what you saw and when so you can track the movement of the stars over time.

Tips & Warnings

• This telescope is inexpensive, because it uses mirrors instead of lenses (see the eHow on refracting telescopes) to gather light. This is the ideal telescope to build yourself.