So, you got the Telescope…

Any of you out there get a telescope for Christmas? I hope you have taken it out, OK, maybe it’s been too cold so you’re chomping at the bit.

No matter what telescope you received, there are some important things to do to get the most out of your scope.

Get the full manual. Many telescopes and telescope kits come with a guide, not a complete manual. Go to the company (it’s the name on the telescope) website and download the manual for your scope. Even if it came with a full manual download it anyway. It’s insurance.

Read the manual. Read it again…and again. The manual is THE critical element for understanding the operation of your telescope, especially the mount. Want to frustrate yourself? Just jump into trying to use it. Even a simple kit will be easier to use if you know something about it ahead of time.

Have a test run. Put it together in the house, then disassemble it, then put it together and disassemble again. If its computer controlled and uses GPS, if you turn it on it might start looking for an alignment star and get confused. The manual should have instructions to bypass that function so you can try out the controls. If it is computer controlled, if necessary, you can enter some or all pertinent information (date and time, latitude and longitude, etc.) via the hand controller, or connected smart phone.  Follow the manual’s instructions. Assemble the scope completely with eyepieces and accessories. This will give you a little experience and importantly reveal any issues with its mechanics, electronics, or heaven forbid, missing parts. Mechanical, electrical problems and missing parts are warranty items so it’s important to notify the company whose name is on it (Meade, Celestron, etc.), not the seller (like Amazon, Adorama, Highpoint Scientific, Agena Astro, Astronomics, etc.). Today’s equipment is reliable, but exceptions occur.

When you’re ready, take your kit outside and set it up – if possible, away from tall trees and other tall obstructions and bright lights. If you need to use a tall obstruction to block bright light, do it.

It it’s an equatorial mount telescope you will need to point the RA axis toward the North Star (did you read the manual to know what the RA axis is?). Depending on the scope, you might need to level it too. If it is an altitude-azimuth mount telescope and computerized, you might need to point it north and level it.

Follow the manual’s instructions for basic operation.

If you encounter frustrating situations that the manual does not address, contact the New Braunfels Astronomy Club and ask (astronomynbtx.org). Or get on the Facebook group Astronomy Friends New Braunfels and ask. Someone will respond.

What’s in the Sky?

Mars and Jupiter are up most of the night. Venus sets about an hour after sunset.

January 2-4; after dark; look toward Mars and the Pleiades: The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks but a waxing gibbous Moon interferes.