Getting planets in a telescope manually. + Astronomy thread

>>8876940
Power Seeker 80EQ*

>>8876940
Doesn't your scope have a finder? If so, make sure it's pointing at the same thing the scope is. So find the Moon in the scope, then check the finder to see if it's pointing at the same place. You should be able to adjust it. Then use the finder to point the scope towards the planet, and it should appear somewhere within the field of view.

File: 1493517514439.jpg (596KB, 1920x1878px) Image search: [Google]

596KB, 1920x1878px

Pic related is what I see through my telescope. It's a 4.31^38 cm diameter mirror of my own design that folds up into a backpack. Took it orbital last week, shit was cash.

>>8877065
Yeah it's got a finder, that's how I get the moon. It's still really hard to get a planet, cause it's so small. My finder is nothing fancy, just some cross airs.

I have an 8" dob telescope in a somewhat light-polluted area. I was thinking of hauling it off to a pretty dark spot, was thinking the Adirondack park somewhere. What do you guys think would be interesting to look at, as far as DSOs go, through an 8" reflector in a relatively dark sky area? I've seen the nebula in orion (pretty fuckin awesome) and Andromeda (somewhat disappointing, hazy smudge).

>>8877125
The sun with sun protection lens.

>>8877128
Is this bait? I have heard sun lenses have a tendency to crack and cause blindness in those unfortunate enough to use them.

>>8877147
I believe he meant a filter.

>>8876940
>I have to get the planet in my scope while there's other stars around

If you've got the general area of the planet, it shouldn't be too hard to get it. Just fiddle with elevation and windage until you've got the biggest blurry thing in view that doesn't look the same as everything else (which are your starts). Then focus.

>>8876940
The Earth moves pretty fast. Resolving planets is really difficult, I would recommend against it if possible and use a motor.