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Main
Date: 04 Jul 2007 21:10:11
From: Hibb
Subject: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
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My wife bought me this unit several years ago. It is a TASCO #58T/
302058.
When I first got it, I assembled it and could not figure out how to
view anything through the main telescope.
Tonight, just before dusk, I saw a something very bright high in the
western sky here in Michigan. I got curious and decided to assemble
the TASCO and give it another try.
I got it together and was able to spot the star/planet of whatever in
the crosshairs of the Finderscope and lokced the unit in place but
when I tried to look at it through the telescope, all I saw was white
(I did take off the lense cover) and nothing changed when I moved the
Focus Tube in or out.
I assume I assembled the viewing lenses wrong but I have no idea what
I did wrong.
Does anyone have any Idea what I could have done wrong?
Help!
David (Unencumbered by the thought process)
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Date: 08 Jul 2007 14:00:40
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 7, 1:14?am, ko57 <k...@mobiletel.com > wrote:
> "I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal
> viewer
> but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
> where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
> lens fits in very loose."
>
> David, I'm thinking you mean your eyepieces (eps), and wondering if
> they are not .965" in diameter and you might have a diagonal with a
> 1.25" diameter for those sizes of eyepieces. If your focuser is .965"
> diameter and somehow you'd gotten hold of a .965" to 1.25" hybrid
> diagonal (.965" at focuser end, 1.25" to be able to use 1.25" eps),
> just wondering about how they are smaller then your diagonal's
> diameter. ??
>
> ko
You seem to be correct in your description of my problem. All the
adapters and supplies I have are what came with the scope. I will try
to look around the Tasco website again and see if I can buy the parts
I need.
Thanks, David
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Date: 08 Jul 2007 18:22:58
From: Mike Boschat
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
Hello:
You can look on eBay for telescope items that should
be able to attach to your telescope.
Also, why not focus on a distant object about a mile or so away
so when you take out your telescope it will be somewhat focused
and then you can adjust it for viewing the planets. That will
help you to figure out how to focus on stars and planets.
--
Clear skies
----
Michael Boschat
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Halifax Center
Astronomy page: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~aa063
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Date: 08 Jul 2007 13:53:50
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 8, 10:46?am, Grim Reaper <pilgriminabarrenl...@hotmail.com >
wrote:
> On Jul 6, 10:29 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 6, 9:24?am, Grim Reaper <pilgriminabarrenl...@hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > > On Jul 5, 10:46 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > > > On Jul 5, 1:18?pm, ko57 <k...@mobiletel.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > David,
> > > > > I'll say like Larry, try the lowest power ep you have, hopefully a 20
> > > > > or so like he mentioned. Let us know how you did, and that did sound
> > > > > like Venus.
>
> > > > > After a search on Google that seems to be a refractor, a 60mm f/11.7
> > > > > or so, I saw both red and black models.
>
> > > > > I have a small 60mm Tasco refractor, an f/15, it is capable-don't
> > > > > listen to all the "Trashco" stories-along with a few other small 60mm
> > > > > telescopes, it does well. You should get some nice moon views, the
> > > > > planets-Venus, Saturn & Jupiter and some of their moons, double stars,
> > > > > and a host of other objects in the sky.
>
> > > > > If you don't have any books, I'd get at least something like "Turn
> > > > > Left at Orion", a good book on starhopping, perhaps a night sky atlas.
> > > > > I use the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky", and
> > > > > I just saw at Amazon: "The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier's
> > > > > Objects", it gets 5 stars from all 8 reviewers, looks like something I
> > > > > could use:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1928771122/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/103-6022...
>
> > > > > I enjoyed seeing your post and others from beginners as it takes me
> > > > > back a few short years ago when I first started into this hobby. I'm
> > > > > in no way advanced as far as ID'ing objects but have fun none the
> > > > > less. I haven't been out lately but hopefully will do so tonight or
> > > > > very soon.
>
> > > > > Keep us posted...
>
> > > > > ko
>
> > > > Thanks Larry G and KO.
>
> > > > I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
> > > > able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
> > > > be much more than that.
>
> > > > I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
> > > > lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
> > > > work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
> > > > to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
> > > > started eating me up.
>
> > > > There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
> > > > practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
> > > > also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
> > > > best viewing conditions.
>
> > > > I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal viewer
> > > > but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
> > > > where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
> > > > lens fits in very loose.
>
> > > > Also, I need to figure out how to align the finderscope with the main
> > > > scope. They are not even close at this point.
>
> > > > It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
> > > > calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
>
> > > > Thanks, David- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > > To align the finderscope with the scope -- use a fixed, immovable
> > > terrestrial object and do it during the day. Find an object that's a
> > > few miles away -- a TV or radio broadcast tower, a cell tower, a
> > > unique tree on a ridgeline, some unmistakable object that's a few
> > > miles away. Then -- use your lowest power eyepiece -- that's the one
> > > with the largest number, 25mm -- and center the distant object in the
> > > main scope. This will take some time, just be patient. THEN -- be
> > > very careful not to bump the scope -- and fiddle with the adjustment
> > > knobs on the finderscope to pull it into alignment. This whole
> > > process will take some time -- plan at least half an hour -- because
> > > you'll bump the main scope out of alignment, then you'll have to find
> > > the object again, then fiddle with the finder, etc., etc., etc.
>
> > > Don't try to push that scope to maximum magnification. In another
> > > post, someone told you the focal length of the scope -- I don't recall
> > > what it is. Magnification = focal length of scope/focal length of
> > > eyepiece. So -- if the scope focal length is 800mm, with a 25mm
> > > eyepiece, the magnification is 800/25 = 32X. A focal length of 900mm
> > > with the 25mm eyepiece = 900/25=36X, etc., etc.
>
> > I followed yours and some others advice and got the main scope
> > aligned with the finderscope better today.
>
> > Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
> > using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
> > with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
> > supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
>
> > Thanks, David
>
> > > Maximum mag is approximately 50 X scope aperture in inches. So -- a
> > > 60mm scope is approx 2.5 inches. 2.5 X 50 = 125X -- which means that
> > > 125X is about the best you'll do with this scope.
>
> > > 125X is perfectly fine for planets -- Venus -- which you have already
> > > located -- goes through phases like the moon -- it becomes full and
> > > round, then slowly becomes a crescent. You should be able to clearly
> > > see the crescent shape at something like 40X.
>
> > > Try to locate Jupiter -- after about 10:00 pm local time, look in the
> > > southern sky, about 30 degrees above the horizon -- Jupiter is the
> > > brightest object there -- it may be slightly SE or SW depending on the
> > > time. Start with lowest power. You'll see Jupiter -- a big ball --
> > > and four little, tiny dots of light around Jupiter -- these are
> > > Jupiter's four Galilean moons. Their position relative to Jupiter
> > > will change every day as they orbit around Jupiter.
>
> > > The Tasco scope is not a top-quality scope but if it's what you have,
> > > it's what you have. Use it and ignore the self-appointed purists who
> > > turn up their noses at it.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> It sounds as though you do not have the scope focused. When an object
> is IN FOCUS, it will be at its smallest -- that is -- find an object
> in the scope and run the focussing knob in and out. You will see the
> object grew larger as it goes OUT OF FOCUS and smaller as it goes INTO
> FOCUS.
>
> I checked out Venus last night -- it's a nice, sharp crescent.
> Jupiter is a sharp, round disk with four tiny dots (the Galilean
> moons) aligned around it.
>
> A lot of beginners make the mistake of thinking they will see a large
> object in their scope -- not so -- when the object is in focus, it
> will be small and sharply defined- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I was trying that last night. I was moving the focussing knob in and
out. I still did not see jupiter as a sharply defined disk as I saw in
the example pics another poster posted links too.
I thought Saturn was near and lower in the sky to Jupiter but I was
not able to view any of those other stars/planets very well so I came
in and checked the star chart that came with my scope. I found that
Saturn was over in the western sky near Venus and when I went back out
to take a look, Venus and all the stars near it were not visible tot
he naked eye. There must have been some light clouds moving through
the area. I will see how it goes tonight.
I still seem to be missing a piece that holds the eye piece in the 91
degree viewing adapter. I don't know if that is causing me any
problems with focus or not. Are there any suppliers that might have
such a piece that I can buy seperate? They don't even list my model of
scope on the Tasco web stite any more.
David
|
| |
Date: 08 Jul 2007 07:46:08
From: Grim Reaper
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 6, 10:29 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com > wrote:
> On Jul 6, 9:24?am, Grim Reaper <pilgriminabarrenl...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 5, 10:46 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Jul 5, 1:18?pm, ko57 <k...@mobiletel.com> wrote:
>
> > > > David,
> > > > I'll say like Larry, try the lowest power ep you have, hopefully a 20
> > > > or so like he mentioned. Let us know how you did, and that did sound
> > > > like Venus.
>
> > > > After a search on Google that seems to be a refractor, a 60mm f/11.7
> > > > or so, I saw both red and black models.
>
> > > > I have a small 60mm Tasco refractor, an f/15, it is capable-don't
> > > > listen to all the "Trashco" stories-along with a few other small 60mm
> > > > telescopes, it does well. You should get some nice moon views, the
> > > > planets-Venus, Saturn & Jupiter and some of their moons, double stars,
> > > > and a host of other objects in the sky.
>
> > > > If you don't have any books, I'd get at least something like "Turn
> > > > Left at Orion", a good book on starhopping, perhaps a night sky atlas.
> > > > I use the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky", and
> > > > I just saw at Amazon: "The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier's
> > > > Objects", it gets 5 stars from all 8 reviewers, looks like something I
> > > > could use:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1928771122/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/103-6022...
>
> > > > I enjoyed seeing your post and others from beginners as it takes me
> > > > back a few short years ago when I first started into this hobby. I'm
> > > > in no way advanced as far as ID'ing objects but have fun none the
> > > > less. I haven't been out lately but hopefully will do so tonight or
> > > > very soon.
>
> > > > Keep us posted...
>
> > > > ko
>
> > > Thanks Larry G and KO.
>
> > > I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
> > > able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
> > > be much more than that.
>
> > > I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
> > > lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
> > > work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
> > > to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
> > > started eating me up.
>
> > > There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
> > > practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
> > > also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
> > > best viewing conditions.
>
> > > I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal viewer
> > > but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
> > > where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
> > > lens fits in very loose.
>
> > > Also, I need to figure out how to align the finderscope with the main
> > > scope. They are not even close at this point.
>
> > > It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
> > > calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
>
> > > Thanks, David- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > To align the finderscope with the scope -- use a fixed, immovable
> > terrestrial object and do it during the day. Find an object that's a
> > few miles away -- a TV or radio broadcast tower, a cell tower, a
> > unique tree on a ridgeline, some unmistakable object that's a few
> > miles away. Then -- use your lowest power eyepiece -- that's the one
> > with the largest number, 25mm -- and center the distant object in the
> > main scope. This will take some time, just be patient. THEN -- be
> > very careful not to bump the scope -- and fiddle with the adjustment
> > knobs on the finderscope to pull it into alignment. This whole
> > process will take some time -- plan at least half an hour -- because
> > you'll bump the main scope out of alignment, then you'll have to find
> > the object again, then fiddle with the finder, etc., etc., etc.
>
> > Don't try to push that scope to maximum magnification. In another
> > post, someone told you the focal length of the scope -- I don't recall
> > what it is. Magnification = focal length of scope/focal length of
> > eyepiece. So -- if the scope focal length is 800mm, with a 25mm
> > eyepiece, the magnification is 800/25 = 32X. A focal length of 900mm
> > with the 25mm eyepiece = 900/25=36X, etc., etc.
>
> I followed yours and some others advice and got the main scope
> aligned with the finderscope better today.
>
> Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
> using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
> with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
> supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
>
> Thanks, David
>
>
>
>
>
> > Maximum mag is approximately 50 X scope aperture in inches. So -- a
> > 60mm scope is approx 2.5 inches. 2.5 X 50 = 125X -- which means that
> > 125X is about the best you'll do with this scope.
>
> > 125X is perfectly fine for planets -- Venus -- which you have already
> > located -- goes through phases like the moon -- it becomes full and
> > round, then slowly becomes a crescent. You should be able to clearly
> > see the crescent shape at something like 40X.
>
> > Try to locate Jupiter -- after about 10:00 pm local time, look in the
> > southern sky, about 30 degrees above the horizon -- Jupiter is the
> > brightest object there -- it may be slightly SE or SW depending on the
> > time. Start with lowest power. You'll see Jupiter -- a big ball --
> > and four little, tiny dots of light around Jupiter -- these are
> > Jupiter's four Galilean moons. Their position relative to Jupiter
> > will change every day as they orbit around Jupiter.
>
> > The Tasco scope is not a top-quality scope but if it's what you have,
> > it's what you have. Use it and ignore the self-appointed purists who
> > turn up their noses at it.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
It sounds as though you do not have the scope focused. When an object
is IN FOCUS, it will be at its smallest -- that is -- find an object
in the scope and run the focussing knob in and out. You will see the
object grew larger as it goes OUT OF FOCUS and smaller as it goes INTO
FOCUS.
I checked out Venus last night -- it's a nice, sharp crescent.
Jupiter is a sharp, round disk with four tiny dots (the Galilean
moons) aligned around it.
A lot of beginners make the mistake of thinking they will see a large
object in their scope -- not so -- when the object is in focus, it
will be small and sharply defined
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 22:14:05
From: ko57
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
"I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal
viewer
but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
lens fits in very loose."
David, I'm thinking you mean your eyepieces (eps), and wondering if
they are not .965" in diameter and you might have a diagonal with a
1.25" diameter for those sizes of eyepieces. If your focuser is .965"
diameter and somehow you'd gotten hold of a .965" to 1.25" hybrid
diagonal (.965" at focuser end, 1.25" to be able to use 1.25" eps),
just wondering about how they are smaller then your diagonal's
diameter. ??
ko
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 20:40:42
From: Jason H.
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 6, 9:29 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com > wrote:
...snip...
> Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
> using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
> with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
> supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
> Thanks, David
Hi, all of the following shots were taken in a recently made 60mm
Tasco of the same focal length are are what you should expect to see
in yours:
MOON
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon1.jpg
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon2.jpg
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon3.jpg
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon4.jpg
SATURN
http://www.setisociety.org/tasco60mmSaturn.jpg
JUPITER
http://setisociety.org/jupiter60mmTascoTwo.jpg
http://setisociety.org/jupiter60mmTasco.jpg
MERCURY (USING PROJECTION METHOD, AS YOU KNOW, DO NOT VIEW SUN
DIRECTLY THROUGH EYEPIECE!)
http://www.comsketch.com/mercurytransit2006.jpg
SUNSPOT (USING PROJECTION METHOD, BOTTOM IMAGE IS TASCO, TOP IS SOHO)
http://setisociety.org/sunspotcombinedwithsoho42607.jpg
You can also view a large number of objects that binocular observers
like to target (some of which require or look better from a darker-
than-urban location.) Perhaps some people won't find these too
impressive through such a small scope, but my favorites include the
Andromeda galaxy (M31) (~2.5 million light years away!), the Orion
Nebula (look in Orion's sword for a faint dusty grey glow with
stars),
the double cluster (NGC 884 AND NGC 869) which looks great in any
scope, the Pleiades (M45), The star Betelgeuse (the top left one in
Orion's shoulder) and the larger/brighter globular clusters like M13
in Hercules, M3 and M5 (which all will only be faint fuzzballs in
your
scope except for the globular cluster known as Omega Centauri if you
should ever be South enough to see it, like here in Florida; it looks
amazing in any scope!)
Have fun! Jason H.
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 20:37:15
From: Jason H.
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 6, 9:29 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com > wrote:
...snip...
>
> Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
> using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
> with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
> supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
>
> Thanks, David
>
Hi, all of the following shots were taken in a recently made 60mm
Tasco of the same focal length are are what you should expect to see
in yours:
MOON
http://www.comsketch.com/moon1january2507
http://www.comsketch.com/moon2january2507
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon1.jpg
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon2.jpg
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon3.jpg
http://www.setisociety.org/tascomoon4.jpg
SATURN
http://www.setisociety.org/tasco60mmSaturn.jpg
JUPITER
http://setisociety.org/jupiter60mmTascoTwo.jpg
http://setisociety.org/jupiter60mmTasco.jpg
MERCURY (USING PROJECTION METHOD, AS YOU KNOW, DO NOT VIEW SUN
DIRECTLY THROUGH EYEPIECE!)
http://www.comsketch.com/mercurytransit2006.jpg
SUNSPOT (USING PROJECTION METHOD, BOTTOM IMAGE IS TASCO, TOP IS SOHO)
http://setisociety.org/sunspotcombinedwithsoho42607.jpg
You can also view a large number of objects that binocular observers
like to target (some of which require or look better from a darker-
than-urban location.) Perhaps some people won't find these too
impressive through such a small scope, but my favorites include the
Andromeda galaxy (M31) (~2.5 million light years away!), the Orion
Nebula (look in Orion's sword for a faint dusty grey glow with stars),
the double cluster (NGC 884 AND NGC 869) which looks great in any
scope, the Pleiades (M45), The star Betelgeuse (the top left one in
Orion's shoulder) and the larger/brighter globular clusters like M13
in Hercules, M3 and M5 (which all will only be faint fuzzballs in your
scope except for the globular cluster known as Omega Centauri if you
should ever be South enough to see it, like here in Florida; it looks
amazing in any scope!)
Have fun! Jason H.
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 19:31:45
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 6, 5:17?pm, Margo Schulter <mschul...@web1.calweb.com > wrote:
> G a z . <S...@noemail.com> wrote:
>
> > David,
>
> > You will need to set up your telescope during the day, in order to get
> > better result at night!
>
> Hi, David, Gaz, and all.
>
> To this advice and the method described, I might just add a standard caution
> found in manuals that if you do align the finder scope with the telescope
> during the day, you must be very careful NOT TO POINT EITHER MAIN TELESCOPE
> OR FINDER SCOPE AT OR ANYWHERE NEAR THE SUN.
>
> This is vital both for the protection of your vision, which can be
> permanently damaged by even the briefest exposure to the Sun through an
> optical aid like a telescope, finder, or binoculars; and to avoid the
> possibility of damage to the optics or having the concentrated rays of
> the Sun start a fire.
>
> I realize that this is such a familiar caution that it might almost go
> without saying, but thought it might not hurt to mention it.
>
>
>
>
>
> > So when you have got a bit of time to spare (during the day), use the main
> > scope and find a land mark of some kind, a building, telephone mast, TV
> > transmitter or a water tower.
>
> > Once you have located a landmark with your main telescope, then using the
> > finder scope (attached to your telescope), locate the same landmark!
>
> > Make sure that the two scopes are correctly aligned, for example:
>
> > The top of the building (in the centre of your telescope view).
>
> > Then just adjust the finder scope until the red dot/cross hairs are centred
> > on the same thing.
>
> > All being well, you should then be able to use the finder scope to find
> > something and then be able to view it with your scope.
>
> > Best Wishes,
>
> > Gaz.
>
> Most appreciatively,
>
> Margo Schulter
> mschul...@calweb.com- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I have had some very good cameras so I knew not to point any lens and
the sun unless it is made for that specific purpose. It never hurts to
point out things like that just in case, tho.
Thanks, David
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 19:29:17
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 6, 9:24?am, Grim Reaper <pilgriminabarrenl...@hotmail.com >
wrote:
> On Jul 5, 10:46 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 5, 1:18?pm, ko57 <k...@mobiletel.com> wrote:
>
> > > David,
> > > I'll say like Larry, try the lowest power ep you have, hopefully a 20
> > > or so like he mentioned. Let us know how you did, and that did sound
> > > like Venus.
>
> > > After a search on Google that seems to be a refractor, a 60mm f/11.7
> > > or so, I saw both red and black models.
>
> > > I have a small 60mm Tasco refractor, an f/15, it is capable-don't
> > > listen to all the "Trashco" stories-along with a few other small 60mm
> > > telescopes, it does well. You should get some nice moon views, the
> > > planets-Venus, Saturn & Jupiter and some of their moons, double stars,
> > > and a host of other objects in the sky.
>
> > > If you don't have any books, I'd get at least something like "Turn
> > > Left at Orion", a good book on starhopping, perhaps a night sky atlas.
> > > I use the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky", and
> > > I just saw at Amazon: "The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier's
> > > Objects", it gets 5 stars from all 8 reviewers, looks like something I
> > > could use:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1928771122/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/103-6022...
>
> > > I enjoyed seeing your post and others from beginners as it takes me
> > > back a few short years ago when I first started into this hobby. I'm
> > > in no way advanced as far as ID'ing objects but have fun none the
> > > less. I haven't been out lately but hopefully will do so tonight or
> > > very soon.
>
> > > Keep us posted...
>
> > > ko
>
> > Thanks Larry G and KO.
>
> > I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
> > able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
> > be much more than that.
>
> > I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
> > lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
> > work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
> > to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
> > started eating me up.
>
> > There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
> > practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
> > also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
> > best viewing conditions.
>
> > I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal viewer
> > but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
> > where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
> > lens fits in very loose.
>
> > Also, I need to figure out how to align the finderscope with the main
> > scope. They are not even close at this point.
>
> > It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
> > calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
>
> > Thanks, David- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> To align the finderscope with the scope -- use a fixed, immovable
> terrestrial object and do it during the day. Find an object that's a
> few miles away -- a TV or radio broadcast tower, a cell tower, a
> unique tree on a ridgeline, some unmistakable object that's a few
> miles away. Then -- use your lowest power eyepiece -- that's the one
> with the largest number, 25mm -- and center the distant object in the
> main scope. This will take some time, just be patient. THEN -- be
> very careful not to bump the scope -- and fiddle with the adjustment
> knobs on the finderscope to pull it into alignment. This whole
> process will take some time -- plan at least half an hour -- because
> you'll bump the main scope out of alignment, then you'll have to find
> the object again, then fiddle with the finder, etc., etc., etc.
>
> Don't try to push that scope to maximum magnification. In another
> post, someone told you the focal length of the scope -- I don't recall
> what it is. Magnification = focal length of scope/focal length of
> eyepiece. So -- if the scope focal length is 800mm, with a 25mm
> eyepiece, the magnification is 800/25 = 32X. A focal length of 900mm
> with the 25mm eyepiece = 900/25=36X, etc., etc.
I followed yours and some others advice and got the main scope
aligned with the finderscope better today.
Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
Thanks, David
>
> Maximum mag is approximately 50 X scope aperture in inches. So -- a
> 60mm scope is approx 2.5 inches. 2.5 X 50 = 125X -- which means that
> 125X is about the best you'll do with this scope.
>
> 125X is perfectly fine for planets -- Venus -- which you have already
> located -- goes through phases like the moon -- it becomes full and
> round, then slowly becomes a crescent. You should be able to clearly
> see the crescent shape at something like 40X.
>
> Try to locate Jupiter -- after about 10:00 pm local time, look in the
> southern sky, about 30 degrees above the horizon -- Jupiter is the
> brightest object there -- it may be slightly SE or SW depending on the
> time. Start with lowest power. You'll see Jupiter -- a big ball --
> and four little, tiny dots of light around Jupiter -- these are
> Jupiter's four Galilean moons. Their position relative to Jupiter
> will change every day as they orbit around Jupiter.
>
> The Tasco scope is not a top-quality scope but if it's what you have,
> it's what you have. Use it and ignore the self-appointed purists who
> turn up their noses at it.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
|
| | |
Date: 07 Jul 2007 16:45:51
From: William Hamblen
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:29:17 -0700, Hibb <whatsamatayou@aol.com >
wrote:
>Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
>using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
>with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
>supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
Venus looks like a bright, white, crescent moon. The crescent will
gradually become narrower as Venus draws closer to the Sun. Saturn is
just to the right of Saturn tonight, July 7. You should be able to
make out the rings.
Jupiter shows a couple of bands, with up to four moons near the
planet.
The 25 mm eyepiece gives you 28 power, which is about the
magnification of the strongest telescope Galileo used to make his
discoveries. Your telescope is much better than any of his.
Bud
--
The night is just the shadow of the Earth.
|
| | |
Date: 07 Jul 2007 02:51:51
From: John Nichols
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
"Hibb" <whatsamatayou@aol.com > wrote in message
news:1183775357.550648.39740@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> I followed yours and some others advice and got the main scope
> aligned with the finderscope better today.
>
> Tonight I viewed Venus and Jupiter. My best view seemed to be when
> using the 25mm lense. What I saw on both planets is a dull grey disk
> with dark blotches Darker blotches were on Jupiter. Is that whay I am
> supposed to be seeing when viewing those planets through my scope?
>
>
> Thanks, David
>
>
You aren't going to see much detail on Venus no matter what, as it's
perpetually cloud covered. At the moment, you probably should see it as a
cresent.
Depending on the seeing, and your acquired skill with this scope, you should
be able to make out the bands, especially the bigger ones. Look for some
_very_ tiny bright lights either to your right or left (they can be on both
sides) that are extremely close, less than a degree. These will be the four
largest moons of Jupiter, otherwise known as the Gallilean moons; these are
Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Depending on the time you may see one
of them as a dark spot on Jupiter's surface, this is actually the shadow of
a moon transiting Jupiter, sometimes you may see a tiny bulge or blip right
on the edge, this will be a moon coming from behind Jupiter.
Good luck, and have fun.
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 19:19:04
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 6, 4:01?am, Margo Schulter <mschul...@web1.calweb.com > wrote:
> Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com> wrote:
> > Thanks Larry G and KO.
>
> > I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
> > able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
> > be much more than that.
>
> > I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
> > lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
> > work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
> > to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
> > started eating me up.
>
> Hello, there, and what I've seen on the Web agrees with the previous
> poster who suggested that this Tasco 58T/302058 has an aperture of 60mm
> and a focal length of 700mm.
That seems to be the scope I have.
>
> Now we come to some basics, which previous remarks may have suggested,
> about the advantages of eyepieces with lower powers, or longer focal
> lengths.
>
> A basic caution is that while a 60mm scope like this literally _can_
> provide a magnification like 525X with the right combination of
> eyepiece and Barlow or other devices, the _useful_ magnification is
> much lower. A usual guideline is that the useful maximum is around
> 2X the aperture in millimeters; so here we take 60mm and multiply
> by 2 for a useful maximum of somewhere around 120X.
>
> This is why telescopes advertised by power, and especially advertised
> for powers far beyond the useful range for the scope's aperture, have
> negative reputations -- although the scope might be quite useful as
> long as the magnification is kept in a reasonable range. The utility
> can vary, as with any scope, depending on the quality of the optics
> and also the stability of the mount -- but choosing a power within
> the useful range of the aperture is a key to success.
>
> An important point is that you can calculate magnification by taking
> the focal length of your telescope, evidently 700mm, and dividing
> by the focal length of eyepiece.
>
> How about 25mm, which people have wisely recommended? That's 28X,
> which could be really nice for viewing objects beyond our Solar System
> like bright star clusters; lower powers mean a wider field. Many
> valuable observations were made in the 17th and 18th centuries with
> telescopes at around this power or a bit lower.
>
> At 12.5mm, or half the focal length for the eyepiece, you'll get
> twice the power: 700 divided by 12.5mm or 56X, still well within
> the reasonable range of the scope.
>
> If we take 120X as the likely useful limit for this scope, then
> this would be produced by a 5.83mm eyepiece. The 25mm plus the
> 3X Barlow would yield 84X, which might be nice for lunar or
> planetary viewing, assuming that the Barlow is of reasonable
> quality.
>
> It follows that a 4mm eyepiece at 175X is likely a bit beyond
> the useful range, and apt to exceed the available resolution of
> the scope so that you actually see less detail rather than more
> in comparison to the highest magnification within the useful
> range -- although, if it were going to be useful (or not too
> counterproductive), the Moon might best withstand it.
>
> A combination of the 12.5mm eyepiece plus a 2X Barlow, if the
> latter type of Barlow were available for your eyepiece and
> scope, would yield the equivalent of a 6.25mm eyepiece, or
> a magnification of 112 -- which I'd guess might be close to
> the useful maximum, and of interest for lunar and planetary
> viewing.
>
> However, given the eyepieces and lens I've seen mentioned,
> I might guess that the following could be useful:
>
> 25mm 28X
> 12.5mm 56X
> 25mm + 3X Barlow 84X
>
> > There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
> > practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
> > also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
> > best viewing conditions.
>
> Just a note that while the Moon is, of course, a natural attraction
> to see what a telescope can do, trying that 25mm eyepiece on a moonless
> sky, especially in an area with less light pollution, might be quite
> impressive. If you look into the Messier objects, you'll find that some
> are quite bright and cover a rather large area of the sky, which is
> where lower magnifications with a wider field can be really nice. In
> this season, something like M7 or M8 in the southern sky could be really
> beautiful -- and in winter, of course, there are the Pleiades, also known
> as M45, and the Great Nebula in Orion or M42, to mention some favorites.
>
> [...]
>
>
>
> > It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
> > calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
>
> Please let me just say that it's a delight when a telescope actually gets
> used. Galileo used around 30X for some of his discoveries, and I hope
> that you find the scope both exciting and educational, with the help of
> more experienced people here also.
>
> Most appreciatively,
>
> Margo Schulter
> mschul...@calweb.com
Thank you for your help.
David
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 18:21:12
From: G a z .
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
In article <1183608611.371349.258490@o61g2000hsh.googlegroups.com >,
whatsamatayou@aol.com says...
> My wife bought me this unit several years ago. It is a TASCO #58T/
> 302058.
>
> When I first got it, I assembled it and could not figure out how to
> view anything through the main telescope.
>
> Tonight, just before dusk, I saw a something very bright high in the
> western sky here in Michigan. I got curious and decided to assemble
> the TASCO and give it another try.
>
> I got it together and was able to spot the star/planet of whatever in
> the crosshairs of the Finderscope and lokced the unit in place but
> when I tried to look at it through the telescope, all I saw was white
> (I did take off the lense cover) and nothing changed when I moved the
> Focus Tube in or out.
>
> I assume I assembled the viewing lenses wrong but I have no idea what
> I did wrong.
>
> Does anyone have any Idea what I could have done wrong?
>
> Help!
>
> David (Unencumbered by the thought process)
>
>
David,
You will need to set up your telescope during the day, in order to get
better result at night!
So when you have got a bit of time to spare (during the day), use the main
scope and find a land mark of some kind, a building, telephone mast, TV
transmitter or a water tower.
Once you have located a landmark with your main telescope, then using the
finder scope (attached to your telescope), locate the same landmark!
Make sure that the two scopes are correctly aligned, for example:
The top of the building (in the centre of your telescope view).
Then just adjust the finder scope until the red dot/cross hairs are centred
on the same thing.
All being well, you should then be able to use the finder scope to find
something and then be able to view it with your scope.
Best Wishes,
Gaz.
|
| | |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 21:17:44
From: Margo Schulter
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
G a z . <Spam@noemail.com > wrote:
> David,
>
> You will need to set up your telescope during the day, in order to get
> better result at night!
Hi, David, Gaz, and all.
To this advice and the method described, I might just add a standard caution
found in manuals that if you do align the finder scope with the telescope
during the day, you must be very careful NOT TO POINT EITHER MAIN TELESCOPE
OR FINDER SCOPE AT OR ANYWHERE NEAR THE SUN.
This is vital both for the protection of your vision, which can be
permanently damaged by even the briefest exposure to the Sun through an
optical aid like a telescope, finder, or binoculars; and to avoid the
possibility of damage to the optics or having the concentrated rays of
the Sun start a fire.
I realize that this is such a familiar caution that it might almost go
without saying, but thought it might not hurt to mention it.
> So when you have got a bit of time to spare (during the day), use the main
> scope and find a land mark of some kind, a building, telephone mast, TV
> transmitter or a water tower.
>
> Once you have located a landmark with your main telescope, then using the
> finder scope (attached to your telescope), locate the same landmark!
>
> Make sure that the two scopes are correctly aligned, for example:
>
> The top of the building (in the centre of your telescope view).
>
> Then just adjust the finder scope until the red dot/cross hairs are centred
> on the same thing.
>
> All being well, you should then be able to use the finder scope to find
> something and then be able to view it with your scope.
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Gaz.
Most appreciatively,
Margo Schulter
mschulter@calweb.com
|
| |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 06:24:58
From: Grim Reaper
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 5, 10:46 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com > wrote:
> On Jul 5, 1:18?pm, ko57 <k...@mobiletel.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > David,
> > I'll say like Larry, try the lowest power ep you have, hopefully a 20
> > or so like he mentioned. Let us know how you did, and that did sound
> > like Venus.
>
> > After a search on Google that seems to be a refractor, a 60mm f/11.7
> > or so, I saw both red and black models.
>
> > I have a small 60mm Tasco refractor, an f/15, it is capable-don't
> > listen to all the "Trashco" stories-along with a few other small 60mm
> > telescopes, it does well. You should get some nice moon views, the
> > planets-Venus, Saturn & Jupiter and some of their moons, double stars,
> > and a host of other objects in the sky.
>
> > If you don't have any books, I'd get at least something like "Turn
> > Left at Orion", a good book on starhopping, perhaps a night sky atlas.
> > I use the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky", and
> > I just saw at Amazon: "The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier's
> > Objects", it gets 5 stars from all 8 reviewers, looks like something I
> > could use:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1928771122/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/103-6022...
>
> > I enjoyed seeing your post and others from beginners as it takes me
> > back a few short years ago when I first started into this hobby. I'm
> > in no way advanced as far as ID'ing objects but have fun none the
> > less. I haven't been out lately but hopefully will do so tonight or
> > very soon.
>
> > Keep us posted...
>
> > ko
>
> Thanks Larry G and KO.
>
> I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
> able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
> be much more than that.
>
> I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
> lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
> work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
> to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
> started eating me up.
>
> There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
> practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
> also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
> best viewing conditions.
>
> I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal viewer
> but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
> where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
> lens fits in very loose.
>
> Also, I need to figure out how to align the finderscope with the main
> scope. They are not even close at this point.
>
> It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
> calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
>
> Thanks, David- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
To align the finderscope with the scope -- use a fixed, immovable
terrestrial object and do it during the day. Find an object that's a
few miles away -- a TV or radio broadcast tower, a cell tower, a
unique tree on a ridgeline, some unmistakable object that's a few
miles away. Then -- use your lowest power eyepiece -- that's the one
with the largest number, 25mm -- and center the distant object in the
main scope. This will take some time, just be patient. THEN -- be
very careful not to bump the scope -- and fiddle with the adjustment
knobs on the finderscope to pull it into alignment. This whole
process will take some time -- plan at least half an hour -- because
you'll bump the main scope out of alignment, then you'll have to find
the object again, then fiddle with the finder, etc., etc., etc.
Don't try to push that scope to maximum magnification. In another
post, someone told you the focal length of the scope -- I don't recall
what it is. Magnification = focal length of scope/focal length of
eyepiece. So -- if the scope focal length is 800mm, with a 25mm
eyepiece, the magnification is 800/25 = 32X. A focal length of 900mm
with the 25mm eyepiece = 900/25=36X, etc., etc.
Maximum mag is approximately 50 X scope aperture in inches. So -- a
60mm scope is approx 2.5 inches. 2.5 X 50 = 125X -- which means that
125X is about the best you'll do with this scope.
125X is perfectly fine for planets -- Venus -- which you have already
located -- goes through phases like the moon -- it becomes full and
round, then slowly becomes a crescent. You should be able to clearly
see the crescent shape at something like 40X.
Try to locate Jupiter -- after about 10:00 pm local time, look in the
southern sky, about 30 degrees above the horizon -- Jupiter is the
brightest object there -- it may be slightly SE or SW depending on the
time. Start with lowest power. You'll see Jupiter -- a big ball --
and four little, tiny dots of light around Jupiter -- these are
Jupiter's four Galilean moons. Their position relative to Jupiter
will change every day as they orbit around Jupiter.
The Tasco scope is not a top-quality scope but if it's what you have,
it's what you have. Use it and ignore the self-appointed purists who
turn up their noses at it.
|
| |
Date: 05 Jul 2007 19:46:37
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 5, 1:18?pm, ko57 <k...@mobiletel.com > wrote:
> David,
> I'll say like Larry, try the lowest power ep you have, hopefully a 20
> or so like he mentioned. Let us know how you did, and that did sound
> like Venus.
>
> After a search on Google that seems to be a refractor, a 60mm f/11.7
> or so, I saw both red and black models.
>
> I have a small 60mm Tasco refractor, an f/15, it is capable-don't
> listen to all the "Trashco" stories-along with a few other small 60mm
> telescopes, it does well. You should get some nice moon views, the
> planets-Venus, Saturn & Jupiter and some of their moons, double stars,
> and a host of other objects in the sky.
>
> If you don't have any books, I'd get at least something like "Turn
> Left at Orion", a good book on starhopping, perhaps a night sky atlas.
> I use the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky", and
> I just saw at Amazon: "The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier's
> Objects", it gets 5 stars from all 8 reviewers, looks like something I
> could use:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1928771122/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/103-6022...
>
> I enjoyed seeing your post and others from beginners as it takes me
> back a few short years ago when I first started into this hobby. I'm
> in no way advanced as far as ID'ing objects but have fun none the
> less. I haven't been out lately but hopefully will do so tonight or
> very soon.
>
> Keep us posted...
>
> ko
Thanks Larry G and KO.
I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
be much more than that.
I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
started eating me up.
There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
best viewing conditions.
I am wondering if I am missing a piece tho. I used the Diagonal viewer
but the Lenses don't seem to fit in the viewer very good. The place
where the lens inserts into the diagonal viewer is much bigger so the
lens fits in very loose.
Also, I need to figure out how to align the finderscope with the main
scope. They are not even close at this point.
It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
Thanks, David
|
| | |
Date: 06 Jul 2007 08:01:28
From: Margo Schulter
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
Hibb <whatsamatayou@aol.com > wrote:
> Thanks Larry G and KO.
>
> I played with it some more today and figured some things out. I was
> able to view Venus. It was a blurry blob tho. I did not expect it to
> be much more than that.
>
> I think this one is a 525X scope when using the 3X extender with 4mm
> lens. I started out with the 25mm lens tonight and once I got that to
> work I moved up to the 12.5mm and then tried the 4mm but I did not get
> to the 1.5X erecting eyepiece or the 3X Barlow before the "skeeters"
> started eating me up.
Hello, there, and what I've seen on the Web agrees with the previous
poster who suggested that this Tasco 58T/302058 has an aperture of 60mm
and a focal length of 700mm.
Now we come to some basics, which previous remarks may have suggested,
about the advantages of eyepieces with lower powers, or longer focal
lengths.
A basic caution is that while a 60mm scope like this literally _can_
provide a magnification like 525X with the right combination of
eyepiece and Barlow or other devices, the _useful_ magnification is
much lower. A usual guideline is that the useful maximum is around
2X the aperture in millimeters; so here we take 60mm and multiply
by 2 for a useful maximum of somewhere around 120X.
This is why telescopes advertised by power, and especially advertised
for powers far beyond the useful range for the scope's aperture, have
negative reputations -- although the scope might be quite useful as
long as the magnification is kept in a reasonable range. The utility
can vary, as with any scope, depending on the quality of the optics
and also the stability of the mount -- but choosing a power within
the useful range of the aperture is a key to success.
An important point is that you can calculate magnification by taking
the focal length of your telescope, evidently 700mm, and dividing
by the focal length of eyepiece.
How about 25mm, which people have wisely recommended? That's 28X,
which could be really nice for viewing objects beyond our Solar System
like bright star clusters; lower powers mean a wider field. Many
valuable observations were made in the 17th and 18th centuries with
telescopes at around this power or a bit lower.
At 12.5mm, or half the focal length for the eyepiece, you'll get
twice the power: 700 divided by 12.5mm or 56X, still well within
the reasonable range of the scope.
If we take 120X as the likely useful limit for this scope, then
this would be produced by a 5.83mm eyepiece. The 25mm plus the
3X Barlow would yield 84X, which might be nice for lunar or
planetary viewing, assuming that the Barlow is of reasonable
quality.
It follows that a 4mm eyepiece at 175X is likely a bit beyond
the useful range, and apt to exceed the available resolution of
the scope so that you actually see less detail rather than more
in comparison to the highest magnification within the useful
range -- although, if it were going to be useful (or not too
counterproductive), the Moon might best withstand it.
A combination of the 12.5mm eyepiece plus a 2X Barlow, if the
latter type of Barlow were available for your eyepiece and
scope, would yield the equivalent of a 6.25mm eyepiece, or
a magnification of 112 -- which I'd guess might be close to
the useful maximum, and of interest for lunar and planetary
viewing.
However, given the eyepieces and lens I've seen mentioned,
I might guess that the following could be useful:
25mm 28X
12.5mm 56X
25mm + 3X Barlow 84X
> There was no moon tonight so I think I might have better luck
> practicing viewing the moon since it is closer and brighter. It was
> also a little hazy with some light clouds tonight so it was not the
> best viewing conditions.
Just a note that while the Moon is, of course, a natural attraction
to see what a telescope can do, trying that 25mm eyepiece on a moonless
sky, especially in an area with less light pollution, might be quite
impressive. If you look into the Messier objects, you'll find that some
are quite bright and cover a rather large area of the sky, which is
where lower magnifications with a wider field can be really nice. In
this season, something like M7 or M8 in the southern sky could be really
beautiful -- and in winter, of course, there are the Pleiades, also known
as M45, and the Great Nebula in Orion or M42, to mention some favorites.
[...]
>
> It looks like my wife bought this for me around 1998 since there was a
> calender of astronomical events for 1998 and 1999 in the box.
Please let me just say that it's a delight when a telescope actually gets
used. Galileo used around 30X for some of his discoveries, and I hope
that you find the scope both exciting and educational, with the help of
more experienced people here also.
Most appreciatively,
Margo Schulter
mschulter@calweb.com
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Date: 05 Jul 2007 10:18:40
From: ko57
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
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David,
I'll say like Larry, try the lowest power ep you have, hopefully a 20
or so like he mentioned. Let us know how you did, and that did sound
like Venus.
After a search on Google that seems to be a refractor, a 60mm f/11.7
or so, I saw both red and black models.
I have a small 60mm Tasco refractor, an f/15, it is capable-don't
listen to all the "Trashco" stories-along with a few other small 60mm
telescopes, it does well. You should get some nice moon views, the
planets-Venus, Saturn & Jupiter and some of their moons, double stars,
and a host of other objects in the sky.
If you don't have any books, I'd get at least something like "Turn
Left at Orion", a good book on starhopping, perhaps a night sky atlas.
I use the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky", and
I just saw at Amazon: "The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier's
Objects", it gets 5 stars from all 8 reviewers, looks like something I
could use:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1928771122/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/103-6022153-8641448?ie=UTF8
I enjoyed seeing your post and others from beginners as it takes me
back a few short years ago when I first started into this hobby. I'm
in no way advanced as far as ID'ing objects but have fun none the
less. I haven't been out lately but hopefully will do so tonight or
very soon.
Keep us posted...
ko
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Date: 05 Jul 2007 08:11:36
From: Hibb
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
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On Jul 5, 10:50?am, Jim Klein <jamesekl...@earthlink.net > wrote:
> Buy a copy of Sky and Telescope. Then give the telescope to a 10 year
> old as they are generally smart enough to use one.
>
> Jim Klein
> James E. Klein
> jamesekl...@earthlink.net
>
> Engineering Calculationshttp://www.ecalculations.com
> ecalculati...@ecalculations.com
> Engineering Calculations is the home of
> the KDP-2 Optical Design Program
> for Windows.
> 1-818-507-5706 (Voice and Fax)
> 1-818-823-4121
>
> "KDP2, not quite easy enough for a Caveman to use" :-)
Does your mommy know you are using the computer?
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Date: 05 Jul 2007 14:50:15
From: Jim Klein
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
Buy a copy of Sky and Telescope. Then give the telescope to a 10 year
old as they are generally smart enough to use one.
Jim Klein
James E. Klein
jameseklein@earthlink.net
Engineering Calculations
http://www.ecalculations.com
ecalculations@ecalculations.com
Engineering Calculations is the home of
the KDP-2 Optical Design Program
for Windows.
1-818-507-5706 (Voice and Fax)
1-818-823-4121
"KDP2, not quite easy enough for a Caveman to use" :-)
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Date: 05 Jul 2007 01:07:46
From: LarryG
Subject: Re: Need help setting up my TASCO Telescope
|
On Jul 4, 11:10 pm, Hibb <whatsamata...@aol.com > wrote:
> My wife bought me this unit several years ago. It is a TASCO #58T/
> 302058.
>
> When I first got it, I assembled it and could not figure out how to
> view anything through the main telescope.
>
> Tonight, just before dusk, I saw a something very bright high in the
> western sky here in Michigan. I got curious and decided to assemble
> the TASCO and give it another try.
>
> I got it together and was able to spot the star/planet of whatever in
> the crosshairs of the Finderscope and lokced the unit in place but
> when I tried to look at it through the telescope, all I saw was white
> (I did take off the lense cover) and nothing changed when I moved the
> Focus Tube in or out.
>
> I assume I assembled the viewing lenses wrong but I have no idea what
> I did wrong.
>
> Does anyone have any Idea what I could have done wrong?
>
> Help!
>
> David (Unencumbered by the thought process)
It is very hard to know what the problem might be with so little
information.
The Tasco website does not list a scope with the model number you
cite.
So, you might relate what kind of scope you have - refractor,
reflector, catadiaoptric, etc. Also please note the objective
diameter and focal length.
Off hand, it sounds like you tried to start viewing with the maximum
amount of magnification - a typical beginner's mistake. If so, try
viewing first with the lowest power eyepiece - the one with the
largest number (example: 20mm) printed on the lens housing.
The bright object you saw was probably Venus.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Larry G.
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