<p>You have to set your equatorial axis to tilt to match your latitude eg if you were at 5 degrees North then the axis needs to tilt to 5 degrees. Then you need to find an object of known RA and declination (at my latitude I always used Polaris as it didn't move) and then set the setting circles (the dials) to those, then direct the telescope to the RA and declination you seek.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T22:25:47.327Z
2014-04-30T22:25:47.327Z
adrianmcmenamin
<p>I am a beginner interested in astronomy. I bought a Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescope. It's a Newtonian Reflector and it's not computerised. I did manage to see the Moon in some magnifications but my real question is this:</p>

<p>Suppose I want to see Proxima Centauri and I know it's coordinates, like Right ascension is 14h 29m 43.0s and Declination is -62° 40' 46". Having three analogue dials on my telescope (<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/6bk213cggel5x25/20140420_111105000_iOS.jpg" rel="nofollow">picture from the front</a>) (<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/nrrgik4pa1ia3x8/20140420_111123000_iOS.jpg" rel="nofollow">zoomed in</a>), how do I adjust my telescope with the help of the dials with the coordinates so I can view them from my telescope? </p>

<p>If I am wrong that these are the dials I have to use to adjust my telescope to the coordinates then please explain how.</p>

<p>I hope this question will also be useful to other amateur astronomers. Thanks.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-20T15:28:07.613Z
Search for "How to align an equatorial mount"
There are some excellent YouTube links which can help you.

It is in general the hardest part of skywatching and I am doubtful that a textual answer will capture the power of a YouTube video.

Refer this anyway:http://bushnell.com/getmedia/5a750638-428a-4cfe-9504-7874387a8d09/78-4502.pdf?ext=.pdf
Cheeku
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T23:56:34.730Z
Just a note: Proxima Centauri is not visible at all from the Northern hemisphere. You'd pretty much have to be near the Equator, or south of it, to observe Proxima.
Florin Andrei
<newtonian-telescope><star-gazing>
How to use a telescope to find a specific celestial body?
kkmonlee
# How to use a telescope to find a specific celestial body?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-20)

I am a beginner interested in astronomy. I bought a Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescope. It's a Newtonian Reflector and it's not computerised. I did manage to see the Moon in some magnifications but my real question is this:

Suppose I want to see Proxima Centauri and I know it's coordinates, like Right ascension is 14h 29m 43.0s and Declination is -62° 40' 46". Having three analogue dials on my telescope ([picture from the front](https://www.dropbox.com/s/6bk213cggel5x25/20140420_111105000_iOS.jpg)) ([zoomed in](https://www.dropbox.com/s/nrrgik4pa1ia3x8/20140420_111123000_iOS.jpg)), how do I adjust my telescope with the help of the dials with the coordinates so I can view them from my telescope?

If I am wrong that these are the dials I have to use to adjust my telescope to the coordinates then please explain how.

I hope this question will also be useful to other amateur astronomers. Thanks.

**Tags:** newtonian-telescope, star-gazing
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Search for "How to align an equatorial mount" There are some excellent YouTube links which can help you.  It is in general the hardest part of skywatching and I am doubtful that a textual answer will capture the power of a YouTube video.  Refer this anyway:http://bushnell.com/getmedia/5a750638-428a-4cfe-9504-7874387a8d09/78-4502.pdf?ext=.pdf  
> **username_2**: Just a note: Proxima Centauri is not visible at all from the Northern hemisphere. You'd pretty much have to be near the Equator, or south of it, to observe Proxima.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-30. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

You have to set your equatorial axis to tilt to match your latitude eg if you were at 5 degrees North then the axis needs to tilt to 5 degrees. Then you need to find an object of known RA and declination (at my latitude I always used Polaris as it didn't move) and then set the setting circles (the dials) to those, then direct the telescope to the RA and declination you seek.


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