[OzRob (Rob)]

Originally Posted by bojan

I believe the knowledge of how to use the setting circles provided on mounts is essential for understand the basics of celestial geometry..
just like the knowledge of how to add and subtract without the help pocket calculator.... You dont do it every time but it good to know what it means.

No denying that! My thinking is that when you are starting off you are better concentrating on what you need to start looking at objects and getting that WOW factor going. Getting bogged down in the finer details just may push beginners into the 'it's all too hard' frame of mind. Knowing the Dec and RA of an object is not essetnial to finding and viewing it...