SingAstro

Hi Evryone ,

I just bought a Powerseeker 60 EQ from Science Center Astro at $245.
Im new to telescopy and need some advice on setting up this gadget.
I spent hours trying to view the sky at night but saw nothing. Any advice
are appreciated.

Thanks

Hi,
Welcome to SingAstro!!

Have you aligned your finderscope?? Don't use anything that will move to align your finderscope, such as the stars or the Moon. You can use those red aircraft warning light above building to do that.

After you aligned your finderscope, try it on the Moon.

Have a nice day.

Join our Bedok obs team.. lots of people will show u how.

Edwin, Nic or Fred - where are you?

Cheers!

I stay in Bedok Reservoir. When ans where will u guys be having an obs session? I will surely join to enjoy the gazing madness!

Hi Weixin,

Can you advice me on how can I align the finderscope. Maybe its not aligned properly casuing me not to be seeing anything.

Thanks!

Hi,
You should be able to find specific instruction for your scope in the manual that come with it, but should be something like below:
1) First, select a non-moving ground object that is at least 100m away (the further the better) which you can easily recognize, such as the aircraft warning light or lightning rod on top of building and etc.

2) Use the lowest magnification eyepiece (the longer the eyepiece focal length, the lower the magnification) you had and aim your scope at the selected object. You need to use the lowest magnification eyepiece because generally it should give you the widest Field of View, so that will be easier to find the selected object in the field of view. Remember to use the star diagonal as you'll be using the star diagonal during actual obversation.

3) Once you find the selected object in the field of view, centre the selected object in the field of view using the mount's slow motion control. Once the selected object is in the centre of the field of view, use a high mangification eyepiece (the shorter the eyepiece focal length, the higher the magnification) and check that the object is still in the centre of field of view. If not in the centre, use the mount's slow motion control to center it.

4) Now you'll start to align your finderscope so that it point to the same object as your scope. Look through your finderscope and make sure you can see a clear image on far object. If not, focus the finderscope until it does. Now, using only the 2 or 3 adjustment screws on the finderscope holder to adjust the finderscope so that the centre of the cross in the finderscope field of view overlap the selected object. Remember, be careful not to move your scope or use the slow motion control when aligning the finderscope.

It's very easy once you get used to it. You can practise in the day time until you are very familiar with it before you do it in the night time. Once the finderscope is aligned to the main scope, you should be able to use the finderscope to help you to find and point at object that you interested to view.

By the way, remember to check the alignment of the finderscope at the start of every session to ensure that it is aligned properly.

Have a nice day.

Hi msuhaimi
Welcome to singastro. I can appreciate your frustrations being a newbie and not able to see anything on your first trip. 60mm is a relatively small aperture for viewing in Singapore. I think M6 and M7 would have been appropriate targets for this scopebut currently the main one should be M42, Orion Nebula.

Follow weixing's instructions to sey up your scope first, then try something simply like the moon. That helps motivate your passion because its something you can see.
Because of your situation, I normally recommend that newbies get goto scopes first but having a manual scope is also a fun way to begin your journey to view back in time...
Since you bought the scope from astro science, do talk to albert. they conduct sessions on the main observatory on many fridays ,so you can set up and ask him for some guidance. if you live near Tampines, join weixing for his Tampine CSN (Clear Sky Network). he will be able to guide you too. he is by far the most active observer here..

Other CSN :

Bedok CSN - Tachyon.

Dempsey CSN - CC has not organised a Dempsey CSN since when police wore short pants....hopefully he will soon!

Toa Payoh CSN - Zong

Choa Chu Kang CSN - Clifford, Richard II, Clement.

Serangoon CSN - Chris Yeo

Jurong CSN - David Lian (MIA these days..)

cheers

Just to update: Clifford and Clement stays in Toa Payoh, and I don't really do a CSN, though anyone is welcome to join me anytime for obbing.

Also, note that the Singapore Science Center opens the Observatory 16" telescope for public virewing on all Fridays from 7.45pm to 9.45pm.

Yeap, I am at TP and normally ob with Zong

Welcome to Singastro! Start with the moon, Saturn and the brighter star clusters and I am sure you will be delighted. Just remember to use relatively low power of 60 or less to get the largest FOV to make hunting easier.