How to Use Setting Circles to Find Objects With the Celestron Telescope

It's easy to find objects in the sky using setting circles for right ascension and declination. You will find the objects' coordinates in star charts or atlases.

Things You'll Need

• Celestron FirstScope 114 Short Newtonian Equatorial Telescope

Instructions

1. Align the right ascension setting circle by choosing a bright star in a star chart and writing down its coordinates.

2. Locate the star in the Star Pointer first and the telescope second. Maneuver the right ascension circle until it matches the star's coordinates.

3. To find objects, move the telescope in declination to the declination coordinate as given by a star chart or atlas. Now maneuver the telescope in right ascension until the indicator is pointing to the coordinate.

4. Look through the lower eyepiece to determine if you have found the object. Center the object in the telescope's eyepiece. If you cannot see the object through the eyepiece, use the right ascension and declination cables until the object comes into view.

Tips & Warnings

• The right ascension circle is in minutes; the declination setting is in degrees.

• The circles are intended to help you find the object but will not land you directly on it.

• Your setting circles are only as accurate as your polar alignment.

• The declination setting circle is factory set, so you need not adjust it.