"Steve & Lizzie" wrote:

I have a Skywatcher 130P (130mm reflector) and a reasonable pair of 10x50
binoculars. My recognition of objects and constellations is improving but I
am finding it hard to recognise things in my scope.

For instance, I am pretty confident that I can locate M81 and M82 with the
binoculars (I can't see any details - just two points of light where I would
expect them to be), I use the plough to help me locate these. When using the
scope however I can't find them! Because of the equatorial mount I can't
follow the alignment of certain stars to point me in the right direction.

Am I doing something wrong here or is it just the matter of experience?

Hi Steve,

M81 and M82 should not look like "just two points of light" (like
stars) with 10x50 binoculars. They should look like small, nebulous,
oval, extended objects. An experienced observer under a dark sky
might call them "bright." Under poorer skies the same observer might
call them "faint" or "extremely faint" -- depending on just how poor
the sky is.

There's more than one way of finding celestial objects:

A 1x finder such as a Telrad or one of the many variations of red-dot
finders, if you don't already have one, ought to make it easier to
point your telescope at celestial objects. Some observers use these
finders in addition to a magnifying finder (such as a 9x50 finder).

It helps to use star atlase(s) that show the same stars that are
visible in your finder(s) -- (atlas and finder having a similar
limiting magnitude). Being able to successfully point a telescope is
easier with these basic tools (finder(s) + matching star charts).

You could also make use of your equatorial mount to help you find
objects: If your mount is properly polar aligned you could point the
scope at a star that's at the same RA (or Dec) as the object, then,
while looking in a low powered eyepiece, sweep in RA (or Dec) toward
the object.

After a little practice, and knowing the true fields of view of your
finder(s) -- as well as your eyepieces as used with your telescope,
you could make use of stars that are 'reasonably close' to the same RA
(or Dec) and use the same procedure outlined in the previous
paragraph.

After a bit of experience (stars can sometimes be better than deep sky
objects to practice finding techniques on) you'll discover one or more
finding technique that works well for you.

Also I've recently attempted to collimate the scope - previously when I've
de-focused on stars the surrounding rings were greatly to one side - these
are now central. However the number of rings varies greatly depending on
over focus / under focus - I'm not sure the rings are perfectly round
either! Have I collimated incorrectly?

It sounds like you've collimated correctly. Eventually, especially
for high powered planetary work, you'll want to make sure the rings
*are* perfectly round; but for now it sounds like you're close enough
for the kind of observing you're doing.

Willie R. Meghar