Guide to Using a Small Telescope for Beginners

To use a telescope, observers must understand their specific telescope design and implement an eight-step process. By ensuring precise calibrations, optimizing optical components and knowing how to use a telescope, observers will obtain a clear and detailed observation.

Beginners must acquaint themselves with their telescope’s primary components and calibration processes to optimize their observations. Recognizing the distinct features of different brands allows observers to determine the best telescope for their observational goals. Knowing the mechanics specific to refractors, reflectors, and compound telescopes also ensures clarity in observations by promoting optimal application. Environmental factors, such as light pollution and atmospheric disturbances, also impact the required optics and adjustments, impacting how a telescope is used.

Here, we present the tips from an experienced stargazer known as a telescope guy as he handled a lot of telescopes in his entire life. This thing can be second nature to him, but it can be a challenge for the people who are not familiar with this. Here are some great little tactics what can make your first experience of handling a telescope far more hassle-free.

1. First thing that most people ignore is to feel that it is necessary for the optics and the air inside to adjust with the temperature difference between your house and the outside world. Or else the lenses can fog up and demean the view and then most people think that this is the problem of the telescope he uses. To avoid this, put the telescope outside where you want to sit for night gazing at least half an hour before you start using it and put off the cover if it has any.
2. Find the darkest area to set your telescope for sky observation. Try to get away from any house or road light. It will clarify the telescope view and give you an amazing experience of night sky observation. Obviously, your eyes will take time to adjust slowly, but at the end this will make a big difference in what you are able to see.
3. Generally, the tripods of cheaper telescopes are not very stable. It can sometimes be a little bit shaky. Do your best to make it stable and find a solid flat surface to put your telescope. If you put it on a wooden deck, it will vibrate when people walk on the deck or even talk. Keep in mind that a telescope amplifies the views more than a hundred times, so a tiny shake or disturbance will also be magnified more than a hundred times.
4. Make sure that the night you have chosen for stargazing is not a full moon night. If you do so, you will not get a good view of the moon. On this night, there is no shadow on the moon, and the light from it will flush out the other objects in the sky. You can choose the night with the waning crescent moon as the thin moon has the shadow on it and you will get enough darkness too.
5. You should collect some data before the night of observation from the internet or a book. Make a list from your data on the objects you want to observe at that night. We have attached a list for example at the end.
6. If you get more than one eyepieces with your telescope, start using the eyepiece with the lowest power at first. It helps your eyes to get used to the magnifications and understand the differences.
7. Before starting looking through the telescope, give it some time and let your telescope be stabilized after moving it. Do not touch the telescope while looking through it, because it may start shaking.

How to Use a Telescope as a Beginner?

Using a telescope effectively requires understanding the specific steps and the purpose of each procedure. Beginners should follow a systematic approach to ensure accurate and clear observations. To optimally prepare and use a telescope, follow the directions below.

1. Set up the telescope
2. Align the finderscope 
3. Use the eyepiece
4. Find the object
5. Focus the telescope 
6. Look through the telescope
7. Adjust the eyepiece
8. Track the object

1. Set up the telescope 

The first step in working a telescope is to set it up. As a beginner, you must set up and attach the telescope on a stable tripod or mount. 

To set up the telescope, one must first ensure the mount or tripod is positioned evenly on the ground. Once the platform stands firm, the telescope’s main tube is to be attached, often using specialized clamps or screws. Every component, from the optical tube to the mount, should be meticulously checked for secure fastening. A steady setup reduces vibrations, ensuring that you obtain a stable and unobstructed view. 

2. Align the Finderscope 

To use a telescope effectively, you must align the finderscope with the main telescope. A finderscope is a smaller auxiliary telescope mounted on the main one. This component provides a wider field of view to simplify the location process of celestial objects, which is especially helpful for beginners. 

To align the finderscope, first center a recognizable object, like a bright star or a distant landmark, in the main telescope. Then, adjust the finderscope until the same object is centered in its crosshairs. Proper alignment of the finderscope with the main telescope ensures that when you locate an object in the finderscope, it will also be in the view of the main telescope, resulting in precise and efficient observations.

3. Use the Eyepiece 

After setting up and aligning the telescope, one must use the eyepiece to optimize the magnification and clarity. An eyepiece is essentially a set of lenses located at the focal point of the telescope, which magnifies the image captured by the telescope’s main lens or mirror. 

To use the eyepiece, select one that provides the desired magnification and field of view, and insert it securely into the eyepiece holder. It’s essential to familiarize oneself with different lenses, as each offers distinct magnifications for varied observational experiences. Properly selecting and using an eyepiece ensures that observers obtain the best possible magnification and clarity from their telescope.

4. Find the Object 

The next step is to locate your desired celestial object. For beginners, it’s often recommended to begin with a recognizable object such as the moon. The moon serves as an ideal starting point due to its prominent size and brightness.

To find an object, manually move the telescope in the direction of your target until it comes into the field of view of the finderscope. Once centered in the finderscope, the object should also be visible in the main telescope. This method allows observers to become accustomed to the movement and alignment of the telescope. Locating and observing familiar celestial bodies like the moon will boost confidence and pave the way for locating fainter or more distant objects in subsequent observations.

5. Focus the Telescope

After locating the desired celestial object, the next step is focusing the telescope to achieve a sharp and clear image. For novice astronomers, mastering this aspect is especially important as it dictates the clarity and quality of an observation.

To focus the telescope, gently turn the focus knob, typically located near the eyepiece, until the image in the telescope’s view becomes crisp. Due to differences in distance and atmospheric conditions, different celestial objects require slight adjustments in focus. It’s imperative to adjust the focus slowly and patiently. Proper focusing ensures that details of celestial bodies, from the craters of the moon to the rings of Saturn, are distinctly visible, leading to a more immersive and enlightening observation.

6. Look Through the Telescope 

Upon successful alignment, eyepiece selection, and focusing, the observer will then look through the telescope using the eyepiece. This step is the culmination of your efforts, allowing you to observe astronomical sights

To look through the telescope, position your eye close to the eyepiece, ensuring a comfortable distance to avoid any strain. As you observe, it’s beneficial to keep both eyes open initially, allowing for a more natural and relaxed viewing experience. Proper sighting techniques enhance the clarity and quality of the viewing experience, offering a more profound understanding of our universe.

7. Adjust the Eyepiece 

Once you’re comfortably observing through the telescope, changing the eyepiece will allow you to optimize the quality of the observation. The eyepiece is especially relevant when shifting between different celestial objects that require varying magnification. This is because the eyepiece plays a critical role in determining the magnification and field of view.

To adjust the eyepiece, you must choose an eyepiece with your desired magnification level. Rotating the eyepiece slightly will also fine-tune the field of view and clarity. Adjusting the eyepiece, or swapping it out entirely, ensures that observers get the most detailed and expansive view possible, improving the quality of their observation.

8. Track the Object

Once you’ve located and observed a celestial object, the next challenge is to track its movement. This is necessary because stars and planets ‘shift’ due to Earth’s rotation. This consistent tracking is essential for a prolonged and uninterrupted viewing experience.

To track an object, many modern telescopes come equipped with “Go-To” systems or altazimuth mounts. A “Go-To” system is a computerized mechanism that automatically points the telescope to the celestial objects selected from its database and then tracks them. Due to their simplicity and convenience, “Go-To” mounts are generally better for beginners. On the other hand, altazimuth mounts allow manual adjustments along the vertical (altitude) and horizontal (azimuth) axes to follow the object’s path across the sky. While altazimuth mounts are more difficult to use, they will enhance a beginner’s understanding of sky movements. 

Are Telescopes From Different Brands Used Differently?

Yes, telescopes from different brands are used differently, because different brands utilize unique construction and functionalities. These unique aspects influence how one uses the telescope. For example, Celestron, Gskyer, National Geographic, Bushnell and Meade are similar telescope brands but employ unique features that impact their use.

Celestron often features advanced computerized “Go-To” systems in their higher-end models, such as the NexStar telescopes. This system automatically locates and tracks celestial objects, making the stargazing experience smoother. The interface and setup process will vary from other brands, making it essential for users to familiarize themselves with the particular software and hand control associated with these scopes. 

Gskyer is known for offering affordable telescopes most suitable for beginners. They often provide a sturdy build, albeit with manual controls instead of computerized systems. Many Gskyer telescopes, such as those in their refractor series, utilize an altazimuth mount. This requires the user to adjust the telescope’s position manually in both vertical and horizontal directions. Due to the more manual nature of these telescopes, understanding the basics of alignment and tracking becomes crucial.

The National Geographic line of telescopes is generally geared towards beginners and educational endeavors. These telescopes often come with unique features, like smartphone adapters, allowing budding astronomers to capture their discoveries. The build tends to be more user-friendly with clear markings and simpler controls. However, because these telescopes are primarily used by beginners, they lack some of the advanced features or customization options available in more professional brands.

Bushnell is a brand commonly associated with binoculars and sports optics, but their venture into telescopes offers users straightforward and durable options. While the build is robust, Bushnell telescopes often lean on the simpler side with manual controls. Their reflector telescopes, for instance, need regular collimation due to the use of mirrors. This process will require a steeper learning curve for beginners. However, once mastered, this leads to enhanced clarity and sharper images.

Meade telescopes, particularly the LX series, often incorporate advanced technologies like AutoStar, a computerized system similar to Celestron’s “Go-To.” This allows for automated tracking of celestial objects. The Audiostar handbox is another feature unique to some Meade models, which provides educational audio clips about celestial objects. While the brand offers a broad range of telescope types, each has specific setup and usage instructions that users must acquaint themselves with for optimal performance.

Each brand and type carries its own nuances in the way the telescope is constructed and used, resulting in a unique observational experience for each.

Is There a Difference in Use Between Types of Telescopes?

Yes, there is a difference in Use between types of telescopes. Different types of telescopes are categorized by their optical design and come with distinct usage and maintenance nuances. These variations between reflector, refractor and compound telescopes, as well as their subtypes, will impact the overall observation experience.

Refractor telescopes use lenses to gather and focus light. The primary lens sits at the telescope’s front, channeling light to the eyepiece at the back. Their straightforward design means fewer complications in setup and use. This simplicity makes refractors a go-to choice for beginners. While they are robust and need minimal upkeep, refractors typically shine in lunar, planetary, and double-star observations. However, the cost is generally higher per inch of aperture when juxtaposed with reflectors.

On the other hand, reflector telescopes, often known as Newtonians, employ mirrors. Incoming light reflects off a primary mirror at the base and then off a secondary mirror, directing the light to an eyepiece on the side. The key thing with reflectors is understanding collimation — the process of adjusting mirrors for perfect alignment. Given their open design, they are more vulnerable to dust and need more frequent cleaning. In terms of advantages, reflectors are generally more cost-effective, providing brighter images for the same price point as refractors, though they do ask for more hands-on maintenance.

Compound telescopes, or catadioptrics, meld features from refractors and reflectors. They employ both lenses and mirrors, offering compact designs and versatile viewing capacities. Notably, they are less prone to optical aberrations. Popular compound variations include the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain. While they are more user-friendly, particularly for astrophotography, they are generally pricier than their counterparts.

For newcomers, refractor telescopes stand out for their simplicity and ease of use. Their straightforward design coupled with minimal upkeep makes them attractive. Reflectors offer greater value in terms of observation but require more hands-on care. Compound telescopes, with their blended features, offer broad observational capabilities, but they come with a steeper price tag. The best telescope to use will depend on personal experience, budget and conditions. 

What are the Ideal Conditions to Use a Telescope?

The ideal conditions for using a telescope are clear skies, low atmospheric turbulence, minimal light pollution, stable temperatures and timing. 

Clear skies are fundamental because clouds, fog, or haze obscure celestial objects, diminishing the quality of observations. Low atmospheric turbulence ensures that stars appear as steady points of light rather than twinkling. This steadiness is essential for distinguishing details on planets and other celestial bodies.

Light pollution, emanating from artificial lighting in urban areas, hampers the visibility of faint stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Observing from a location far from city lights will significantly enhance the clarity and contrast of celestial objects. 

Stable temperatures are crucial as fluctuating conditions lead to the formation of tube currents inside the telescope. These currents distort the image, especially when observing objects at high magnification.

The time of observation plays a role. For instance, when observing the moon, its phase and position in the sky impact visibility. A first-quarter moon, for example, is best observed in the early evening, offering a detailed view of lunar craters, mountains, and valleys due to the shadows cast at this phase. 

How to Use a Telescope at Nighttime?

To use a telescope at nighttime, one must consider proper positioning, acclimatization, moon phase and environmental concerns.Nighttime, in the context of telescopes and astronomy, refers to the period post-astronomical twilight, when the sun has dipped far enough below the horizon to ensure the sky is sufficiently dark. This darkness is paramount for the optimal observation of celestial bodies, especially those that are fainter, such as distant galaxies or nebulae.

When using a telescope at nighttime, positioning is crucial. It’s vital to ensure the telescope is set up in an area free from artificial light pollution. Artificial lights, like those from streets or houses, introduce glare and significantly diminish the contrast of the celestial object in view. This is particularly relevant for planets where extraneous light obscures detailed features.

Another consideration is the telescope’s acclimatization. Telescopes, especially those with substantial mirrors or lenses, require time to adapt to the ambient night time temperature. Failing to allow this adjustment results in temperature variations inside the telescope, causing visual distortions and a lack of clarity in the image.

The choice of celestial objects during nighttime is expansive, but the phase of the moon will also influence the quality of observations. The brightness of the moon impacts the visibility of fainter objects. The moon’s luminance generally impedes the viewing of distant stars or galaxies, but planetary observation remains less affected.

Lastly, dew formation is a common concern during nighttime observations. As temperatures drop, moisture accumulates on the telescope’s optics, impacting visibility. Utilizing tools like dew shields or heaters mitigates this issue, ensuring clear, uninterrupted viewing. 

Can You Use a Telescope During the Daytime?

Yes, it is possible to use a telescope during the daytime. Daytime, as it pertains to telescope usage, refers to the interval between sunrise and sunset when the sun illuminates the Earth.

However, there are specific considerations and precautions to be aware of. First, one should never point a telescope directly at the sun without specialized solar filters, as this poses a severe risk of permanent eye damage. It’s also crucial to ensure that anyone using or near the telescope is informed about this hazard.

Using a telescope during the daytime primarily limits the observer to terrestrial or solar observations. Celestial objects, such as stars, are generally not visible due to the sun’s overpowering brightness. Terrestrial viewing provides amplified, detailed visuals of distant landscapes, buildings, or wildlife.

If aiming to observe the sun, specialized solar telescopes or solar filters for regular telescopes are necessary. These devices permit safe viewing by filtering out harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation and reducing the sun’s brightness to a safe level. Observers are then able to witness solar phenomena such as sunspots, solar flares, or solar prominences.

How to find celestial bodies easily?

The first and the biggest challenge a stargazer faces is to move the telescope to find out the things in the sky in the first few trials. As it is magnifying the celestial bodies, it gets difficult to find out the thing the observer wants to observe. If you move the telescope just an inch in any direction, the whole view moves a long way in the sky. Here are some techniques on how you can find things easily and use the telescope smoothly on your first hand.

Fig 1: The different parts of a telescope you should know.

1. First, choose any object from nearby on the earth like a tree, a remote house or beacon and point your telescope at that.
2. Then look at the object through the finderscope. If your object is right at the center of the crosshairs of the tiny finderscope, then the setup of the telescope is done. If the object is not in that position then loosen the screws on the finderscope and fix it again so that the object is right in the crosshairs.
3. Before looking through the big telescope, look for the object through the finderscope first. It will make finding the object through the big telescope much easier. 

How to use different eyepieces?

It is a good idea to start observing the sky with the lowest power eyepieces. Because according to the rule of thumbs, the greater the power of the eyepiece, the smaller the little lens is. It is better to work with a larger lens at the beginning. When you will get used to handling or managing this little lense, you will be able to handle the tinier lens later.

Fig 2: Picture of telescope view of while using lowest power eyepiece

When you use the lowest power eyepiece, you can see more sky than the higher power eyepiece just like the picture above. Assume that the circle is the circumference of the view you can see through the telescope. The swirly thing is the object you want to find and the others are stars.  

Fig 3: Picture of telescope view of while using higher power eyepiece

But this picture above shows the view when we fit a higher power eyepiece in the telescope. If you notice, you will see that this view shows less stars than the previous. That means it is displaying less area of the sky compared to the previous one. But it is not needed to say that it is easy to move the telescope around to find the swirly object when we can see the larger area of the sky. Because as you see a smaller portion of the sky, small movement of the telescope moves the view a lot which makes it challenging to find the objects.

This is why one should begin the observation with the lowest power eyepiece. Once the object is detected and centered in the view, then the observer can change the eyepiece and fit the higher power eyepiece to have a closer look.

List of the sky objects you can observe with a telescope

 If you own a telescope for the first time in your life, you can start looking at objects that can easily be detected from nearby. I assure you that you will have an awesome experience. Here is the list of such objects you can observe on the first nights.

1. The Moon- This is the most spectacular thing you can explore on the first night you hold a telescope. You will be able to see a more clear view of the surface of the moon with craters. But keep in mind that you should watch it when it is half or less. You will get a clear view then. Otherwise, the light of the moon will obscure the view. The smaller the moon, the larger the shadows and the better the view with craters.
2. The Planets- Our own solar system has 8 completely different planets which are unique in their look and the characteristics. Point your telescope to the Jupiter, and you will see the four moons moving around it and the extraordinary bands right across the middle of the planet’s surface. Turn your telescope to Saturn, and you will be able to witness the amazing ring surrounding it. With the cheaper telescope, the views may not be well defined, but you will be able to detect them. You will be able to look at the red planet Mars and the bright planet Venus too. Explore them and understand our own solar system with your own telescope.
3. The Galaxies- Our solar system is at one arm of our galaxy Milky Way. With your telescope, you may see the other part of our galaxy. Besides, you also can find the M31 Galaxy looks like a spiral cotton ball which is in the constellation of Andromeda pretty easily. For this, locate the galaxies on a star map and then try to find it in the night sky with a telescope. 
4. Star Clusters- Though you might have to locate this on the map before and look for it in the night sky, it is not difficult to have a look at some of the star clusters. In the Constellation of Hercules, you will find a nice cotton ball which is actually a star cluster named M13. You may even be able to specify the individual stars too.

If you just follow the techniques and know how to apply them, your inexpensive and tiny telescope can give you an unbelievably great experience.