Everything is blurry

[RobboEK]

Hi all

I will start off by saying i am new to this please go easy on me, i am still learning.

I have just bought my first telescope (Tasco Galaxsee 114mm 375x)

However i believe i have set it up correctly (By the manual) but using anything but the included 20mm Eyepiece, everything seems to be blurry.

Even looking at the moon through the 10mm or SR4mm there doesn't seem to be any real clarity to what i'm looking at (kind of a big blurry blob) . however with the 20mm its quite sharp.

I maybe new but i do know of the focus :lol: and this doesn't help.

Any help would be appreciated.

[erick]

Good news that you can get to a sharp focus with the 20mm eyepiece. The 4mm eyepiece will probably never be any better. With the 10mm eyepiece, is the problem that the best focus point (that is, it gets worse on either side of that) still produces a blurry image?

[RobboEK]

Hi Eric,

Thanks For your reply, however im sorry i don't quite understand what you mean about "the best focus point (that is, it gets worse on either side of that)"

[erick]

As you wind your focus knob to move the focusser tube in and out, do you go through the best focus point (even if it is still blurry) - or does it keep getting better until you reach one end or the other?

[RobboEK]

Thanks eric, it kind of gets better about mid way through winding then gets real blurry again.

[erick]

But the 20mm comes to a fairly sharp focus?

OK, have a good look at the 10mm eyepiece - at the front and back glass surfaces. No gunk, plastic coating or fingerprints all over them? Nothing stuck inside the barrel of the eyepiece - a lump of polystyrene? Look through it by itself at a bright window or light (not the Sun). Nice bright circle of light seen (all out of focus of course)?

If that all checks out OK, then it may be that air conditions ("seeing", "transparency") weren't good enough to get a sharp image with the 10mm.

Try the scope during the day - looking at distant trees or buildings - and see what you learn about the eyepieces. The air will be less stable (especially you have it hot over there now?) but the image is not moving (like the Moon/stars) and is full of detail across the entire field of view.

Try the 4mm eyepiece during the day as well - I suspect you will find it will be a poor performer.

[RobboEK]

Thanks for the info Eric, i will check it out tonight and see how it all goes.

[Barrykgerdes]

My first real telescope many years ago was a Tasco 114mm reflector advertised at 375 x magnification. Forget the 375x they are good for a maximum of about 100x using a top quality 9 mm eye piece but of the supplied eyepieces only the 20mm is actually usable. In fact It was recomended that I buy a 40mm eyepiece. This gave a magnification around 25x with marvelously clear views even though they were small.

Barry

[RobboEK]

Hi Barry,

Thanks for your input. even with the 20mm i am seeing quite a few things in the sky, however it is not as much as i would like to see.

I thinking maybe i should just buy a 8" - 10" dobsonian as these are easier to use from reading.

I think i want something that is going to give a clear picture of whats out there, for example with the the Tasco what i think was venus just looked like a smudge. i'm starting to think that i'm not going to get a good look at saturn or jupiter with this scope.

[erick]

Easier and much much better! Good on you. We'd been biting our tongues! :D

[RobboEK]

I just don't really understand about dobsonians, like the collapsable type and so forth i was looking at the star watcher and saxons on ozscopes.com.au however i also don't know how much i should be paying for what and i dont wanna be ripped off.

[erick]

Robert

Read as much as you can. There are good articles here:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-260-0-0-1-0.html

Most good retailers have sections on their websites on choosing telescopes. Search them out and read those.

Then come back here with your questions. :)

[Barrykgerdes]

HI Robbo

That is exactly what I did 20 years ago. I saw a view of saturn through an 8" Dob at 250 Mag and I was hooked. I went out and bought an 8" Dob kit for close to $2000. I have spent close to $60000 on telescopes and accessories since then so be warned! I still have my 114mm Tasco and use it sometimes.

Baz

[Gemini2544]

If your telescope is a REFLECTOR ( With a mirror) can I suggest reading the forums about COLLIMATION. I have just gone through this process with my new 203mm reflector. COLLMINATON to the first time newbie looks blurry & nothing seems to fix it.

Good luck with your new hobby.

[erick]

I'd been avoiding the topic of collimation, Robert, but it is worth a try. What does your manual say about collimation?

BTW, I just found this:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=41,358,0,0,1,0
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=15842

[Gemini2544]

Hey Eric,
My scopes sharp as a razor now. I feel I'm now a COLLIMATION expert.

[erick]

Great news! See what detail you can see on Jupiter, in Saturn's rings and, dare I say, on Mars! That will be a good test.

[Gemini2544]

Last night I saw in great detail M-42 (Again) & LMC NGC 2070. :eyepop: