How to Adjust the View on a Telescope

Conduct the initial setup of the telescope during late afternoon, when there will be less haze and glare from the sun, but still enough of light to see clearly.

Mount the telescope to its tripod according the manufacturer's instructions. Open the legs of the tripod so the legs are spaced evenly apart. Set the tripod on a solid, level surface.

Twist the horizontal adjustment knob that holds the telescope stationary on the tripod, until the telescope will rotate freely. Loosen the vertical adjustment knob on the side of the telescope's mounting bracket.

Locate a distant object, such as a billboard, wireless tower or the tallest tree on a mountain top, not in a direct line with the sun. Rotate the telescope in the general direction of the distant object.

Look through the eyepiece of the telescope. If the telescope has an adjustable magnification, turn the magnification adjustment knob to set the magnification to the telescope's lowest setting.

Move the telescope vertically and horizontally until the distant object lines up in the middle of the telescope's eyepiece. Tighten both of the telescope's vertical and horizontal adjustment knobs, locking the telescope in place.

Loosen the adjustment knobs of the finder scope, the small tube mounted to the top of the telescope. Move the finder scope horizontally and vertically until the distant object is lined up in the center of the finder scope. Tighten the finder scope's adjustment knobs.

Recheck that the distant object is still lined up in the center of the eyepiece of the telescope. If so, the initial adjustments are now complete. If not, repeat the process until the distant object is centered in both the eyepiece and the finder scope. Once the initial setup is complete it will allow you to locate an object quickly through the finder scope, which has a far greater field of view than the telescope itself.

Locate an object in the sky, after dark, such as the moon or a planet. Loosen the horizontal and vertical adjustment knobs on the telescope, but do not move the adjustment knobs for the finder scope.

Look though the finder scope and move the telescope until the object you wish to view lines up in the center of the finder scope. Tighten the adjustment knobs on the telescope, locking the telescope in place. The object should be perfectly aligned in eyepiece of the telescope.