Your First Telescope – Part 2 – Finding Objects

Here are links to more information on the SSE system:

https://www.celestron.com/pages/starsense-explorer-technology

 

https://www.celestron.com/collections/starsense-explorer-smartphone-app-enabled-telescopes

 

(Plain Text Version)

I hope that the information in my previous post has been helpful.  Today, I would like to discuss methods of aiming the telescope, and a remarkable new entry into the market.

Your first telescope will provide wonderful views of objects like the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn.  However, this is only the beginning of the fun.  There are many more things to see, but finding them is not obvious.  Here are some basic methods:

1. Sky Charts and Star-Hopping.  The telescope has no electronic devices or motors.  Objects are found by matching the eyepiece view with a map (on paper or on a screen).

2. Digital Setting Circles.  The   user locates two bright stars, and a digital system keeps track of the scope position.  The name of the object of interest is entered, and the system tells you which way to move the scope.  To compensate for Earth’s rotation, the scope must be moved by hand.

3. “Go-To” System.  This is digital setting circles with a pair of motors which aim the scope automatically.  Once the scope locks onto the object, it automatically keeps it in view.

Less than a year ago, a new aiming method came on the market.  It is made by Celestron and is called StarSense Explorer.  It is used on four different low-priced telescopes.  StarSense Explorer (SSE) uses a smartphone (user-supplied) to take an image of the sky.  The scope position is calculated by analyzing the positions of the stars in the image.  A sky map appears on the screen, with an arrow to show which way to move the scope to the desired object.  It is very easy to set up.  With SSE, the scope can be carried to a new location and used immediately.

SSE has a low price tag, although the smartphone must be compatible and have a good camera.  The scope has no motors, so it needs to be manually moved to keep the object in view.

I don’t mean to recommend Celestron over suppliers, but no one else offers anything like the SSE system.

Remember, don’t look at the Sun through an ordinary telescope or binoculars.