Help! Confused.....

soddy1979

Hi,
I just bought my first telescope (Celestron Astromaster 90EQ) and I'm having trouble using the equatorial mount. Can someone explain to me how to use it? I thought that celestial objects were mapped as DEC & R.A. from the celestial north pole. Is this right? I thought the celestial north pole was found by pointing your scope north with the tube inclined at the same degrees as your latitute. If so though the celestial objects can't be quoted as DEC & R.A. because they are continually changing position in the sky....

Flukey

Don't worry too much about the technicalities of it. Once you decide what you want to look at and have found it yourself, confirmed with binoculars, then just line up the telescope with the viewfinder on it, and enjoy the view. The technicalities can be worked on another time.

soddy1979

Thanks for that....but let's say I want to look at Saturn or Jupiter. How can I know I'm looking in the right direction? Thanks.

Flukey

There are plenty of sources to tell you where they are, on the net and elsewhere. Jupiter rises in the southeast late at present and in the early hours of the morning you'll see it. The big 4 planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars are always much brighter than anything in the sky. You'll know Jupiter when you see it. Saturn is currently near Leo and Mars in Gemini. Those are the 3 to look for. They're worth seeing.

soddy1979

Cheers Flukey!

davidoco

soddy1979 wrote: »

Thanks for that....but let's say I want to look at Saturn or Jupiter. How can I know I'm looking in the right direction? Thanks.

The disk with the software (name escapes me) that comes with the Celestron is very handy for locating the general position of the planets/stars. Take a print out and head out. As said above just use the pin pointer. Saturn and it's moons is available to view now, Mars also but small enough in your 90EQ , but Jupiter is too low and two early in the morning to view.

A good thing to do with that telescope is too browse around the Milky Way (low all along the East) and you will see stars everywhere that you cannot see with the naked eye.

soddy1979

Thanks for that davidoco!