How to Use a Refracting Optical Telescope

Lay the altitude-azimuth mount on the ground. Extend each tripod leg to the same height, and then secure the locking thumbscrews to secure them in place. Stand the tripod upright on a flat, level surface.

Unscrew the locking thumbscrews on the tripod's mounting bracket. Slide the telescope's mounting plate into the bracket and tighten the thumbscrews. Slide the finder scope into the telescope's mounting bracket and secure it with the locking thumbscrews.

Aim the telescope at a bright celestial object, such as a star, the moon or a planet. Look through the finder scope. Adjust the orientation of the telescope to center the object in the finder scope's field of view.

Insert a low-power eyepiece into the telescope's focuser. Tighten the set screw to lock it in place. Look through the eyepiece and check whether the celestial object is centered in the field of view. If not, center it by adjusting the direction of the telescope.

Look through the finder scope. Turn the horizontal and vertical adjustment knobs on the side of the finder scope to center the celestial object in the field of view. Look through the eyepiece and finder scope again and verify that the object is now centered in both fields of view. You will need to perform this procedure every time you observe to align the finder scope and telescope.

Study the object at low magnification before switching to a high-power eyepiece. Use low-power eyepieces in combination with the finder scope to locate observing targets.

Remove the low-power eyepiece and insert the high-power eyepiece. Tighten the set screw to lock it into the telescope's focuser. You may need to re-center the object in the finder scope after switching eyepieces.