|
The numbers are coordinates that can be set on the setting circles on your mount. However, the mount needs to be polar aligned for the settings to work. The section on basic astronomy in the manual tells you all about this and is well written.
However, if you just want to look at planets you can find them by eye and point the scope at them with the finder - the only ones that are easily and safely visible right now are Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter is the first "star" that you will see at dusk if you look a bit east of north and about 1/3 of the way up from the horizon. It will be the star that doesn't twinkle at all. Your scope should easily show the disk, some bands (if seeing is OK) and the four big moons). Saturn is visible in the morning before dawn, rising pretty much due east and about 1/3 of the way up at dawn. It also will not be twinkling, except when very low down. You should see the rings quite easily if the seeing is OK.
The other close planets are currently hanging around the sun so they are difficult/dangerous to look at for now and Uranus and Neptune are too small to be of much interest in your scope, although it will be fun to find them when you have got the hang of finding your way around the sky.
It is also worth collimating your scope if you want the best images of the planets. The manual has a very well explained section on how to do that.
|