I almost sounds like your focus is way off for some reason. If the focus is
not right, the stars quickly blur and vanish. It is fairly critical. During
the day, focus the scope on something as far away as you can see. Leave this
setting and at night very carefully move the focus control. I do no know if
that scope has a fine and course focus. During the day experiment a little
and see if there is a fine focus. Get a feel for how far you have to move
the control. This can also be thrown off if for some reason you are not
getting the eye peice seated properly.

--
Ted

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"screamingchild" wrote in message
om...
I have had a Bauch & Lomb 4.5" Telescope for several years now and
haven't had a chance to use it (had babies right after I bought it).
Well, I was so excited to check out Mars tonight but I just can't
figure out how to use it. I feel so stupid!!! I've got Mars directly
in the crosshairs of the finderscope, and the lowest eyepiece in
(25mm) but when I look through the main telescope I can't see a thing
. . .just gray fuzz. It's pitch black out, no lights at all. When I
put my hand in front of the main tube I can see it through the
eyepiece . . . quite clearly. A higher powered eyepiece makes it look
farther away. ARG!!!! What am I doing wrong (well, other than putting
my hand in front of the telescope)? I can't believe that I am going
to miss this. I am so mad at myself.

Any advice would be appreciate.

Thanks!
Diana