When I look through my finders scope all that I see is white. whats wrong?

The "finder-scope" as they are called can be lined up by putting a low-power eyepiece in the scope, and moving the scope (on its mount) to view a distant object such as a streetlight. An EP which gives you about the same magnification as the finder-scope is a good choice. They are mostly about x8 power.


Centre the object in the eyepiece view and then adjust the finder-scope until the object is centred in that view as well.


Repeat this with a higher power EP, then move the scope onto a bright star, and use the highest magnification EP you have to finally do the last tiny adjustment to the finder-scope.

Since you did not reply with make and model see the following general rules below. Always start with the highest number eyepiece (lowest magnification) and do NOT use the barlow until you get comfortable with the scope

1. Get Stellarium or another fine astronomy program
2. During the day, point the telescope at a part of the landscape about 100 yards away.
3. Use the lowest power eyepiece (highest number) in the focal tube.
4. Center the landscape object in the telescope.
5. Align the finder scope so that it points exactly where the main telescope is.
6. At night, leave the scope out to reach thermal equilibrium (about an hour for small reflectors and refractors)
7. If the scope is on a EQ mount, polar align.
8. Point the finder at the moon. The moon should be in the main scope also.
9. Practice finding the moon before you start on the planets
10. Once you are comfortable with the moon and planets, you can go for the deep sky objects

1. During the daylight point the telescope towards an object (water tower, building ) something about 1/2 mile away.
2. Locate the object in your finder.
3. Use the 12.5mm lens (50x) and look through the telescope. Do not use the erect prism
4. Align the finder to what you see in the scope.
5. You can use the 4mm to fine adjust the finder.
6. On a good, clear night.Leave the scope out to reach thermal equilibrium ( about a hour) Point the finder towards the moon
7. Use the 12.5mm and then focus on the moon.

Note: This is NOT a quality scope. Avoid any scope with .965 eyepieces and silly magnifications! Max power on this scope on a PERFECT night is 200x and Huygens (H12.5) eyepieces give very narrow and poor viewing. Do not use the 3x barlow or the erecting prism. the erecting prism is for terrestrial viewing only and the barlow, although it increases the eyepiece by 3x, will also narrow the view.
Good Luck!

You need to do two things before you take it out at night.

1. Align the small finder scope with the main tube. During the day time focus on a distant object like the top of a telephone pole. Without moving the main tube-- adjust the finder scope so the crosshairs point at the exact same spot.

2. Practice focusing during the daytime on distant objects.

Objects in the night sky are tiny-- smaller than the tip of your finger held at arm's length. The scope must be pointed directly at them,. Download a free monthly star chart at:
www.skymaps.com


www.telescopeman.org
www.telescopeman.us
www.telescopeman.info

You are NOT focused properly. Take the scope out side during the day time and practice focusing on a distant object. Put the eyepiece with the largest number written on it into the focuser.

By the way in the picture shown on your post-- FIXYA has the scope mounted BACKWARDS and pointed at the ground. The focuser and small finder scope are on the UP end of the telescope.

YOU MUST align the small finder scope with the main tube.

Point the scope at a distant object like the top of a telephone pole. GET the top in the center of the eyepiece in the main scope.

Then without moving the scope-- adjust the cross-hairs in the small finder scope so they line up on the same object.

Your finder scope is NOT lined up with the main tube. Get a distant object like the top of a telephone pole into the eyepiece of the main telescope tube.

Without moving the scope adjust the crosshairs or the red dot onto the exact same spot. Now your finder scope is lined up with the main telescope tube.

That was probably a finder scope. If it is a real Gilbert the company went out of business about 40 years ago. Here read this:
http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

They also made kid's chemistry sets:
http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

Here are some finder scopes:
http://www.agenaastro.com/Straight-Finder-Telescope-s/74.htm

Many internet stores sell finder scopes---

http://www.optcorp.com/

http://www.telescope.com/control/main/

Here are two---

point the telescope at some thing during the day and adjust the finder scope and at night point at a star look through the eye piece and center the object in the eye piece then adjust the finder scope.