Faulty second hand telescope

Jon Isaacs wrote:

Howdie all......total newbie here looking for some advice regarding a
second hand telescope I picked up (to be used by my family) for $20
Canadian.

Tasco 140 Power
Reflection Telescope
D=3"
F=700mm
Coated Optics
Model # 3T


This scope should be capable of providing some interesting views, the moon, the
planets, various clusters. There are better scopes, but it is serviceable.

Thanks....that's good to know! Nice clear skies here in British
Columbia, Canada tonight and so will be giving it a tryout. Seems the
"problem" I was experiencing was due to my lack of knowledge concerning
the cover cap over the light receiving end of the tube; I thought it
was needed for focusing the light into the tube! grin


It seems as if you have checked it over carefully and that everything is
probably in reasonable alignment.

Have you tried using it during the day? It might just be that you are not
focusing it correctly. Try to look at something in the distance. Also, keep
that eyepiece in the 18mm position, that will provide the sharpest, brightest
view with the largest field of view.

The magnification at the 18mm position will be Focal length scope/focal length
eyepiece = 700/18=39X.

Jon

Thanks for the tips, Jon....much appreciated! :-)