How to Use a Telescope

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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If you or your child is interested in astronomy, you will want to purchase a telescope sooner or later. There are basically three different types of telescopes you can buy; reflectors, refractors and catadioptric telescopes. Do your research and purchase a telescope that you can use and enjoy for years to come.

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Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Telescope
Area to place telescope
Item to view

Step 1

Find an area where the items you wish to view aren't obstructed by trees to set up your telescope so that you get a clear view of the sky.
Step 2

Look to see if your telescope has a polar axis. If it does, it will track whatever you are looking at. If you have a telescope with a polar axis, follow your manufacturer's directions on how to align the polar axis and the finder scope.
Step 3

Select the eyepiece with the lowest magnification that you have. Always start with the lowest magnification eyepiece until you become more experienced in using your telescope.
Step 4

Locate the item in the night sky that you wish to observe and focus in on it. Move the planet or star you are viewing as close to the center of the field of view in the eyepiece as possible.
Step 5

Remove the low magnification eyepiece and replace it with an eyepiece with a higher magnification.
Step 6

Readjust the alignment of the telescope when the planet or star drifts out of view if you have a manual telescope mount.
Step 7

Continue in this manner, observing different visible planets and stars.

Tips & Warnings

A low magnification eyepiece is easier to use because it gives you a wider field of vision than a high magnification eyepiece so it is easier to find what you are looking for.
If you lose the item you are viewing when exchanging eyepieces to the higher magnification piece, just put the low magnification eyepiece back on the telescope and try it again.
As the magnification of the eyepiece increases, the brightness of the image will decrease.
You can attach a Barlow lens to your eyepiece to double or triple the magnification of the eyepiece.