When I use my telescope and lock in the coordinates all I can see is the cross hairs covering up what planet im looking at.

You must ALIGN the finder scope with the main tube FIRST! During the daytime focus on the top of a distant telephone pole or a distant building.

Lock down the main scope and do not move it-- then adjust the cross hairs on the same distant object.

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.

That is the secondary mirror. You are not in focus-- or you did not PUT and eyepiece into the focuser.

Go to meade.com

I think this is a link to your telescope with instructions and pictures.
http://www.spacegazer.com/index.asp?pageid=97160

You must align the finder scope with the main telescope tube--

During the daytime look at something far away in the main scope-- without moving the scope center the cross hairs on the finder scope.

Good luck

I'm not sure of which telescope and finder you have but I can give you some general instructions.

If your finder scope is is the type that is like a tiny telescope then you should see a set of cross hairs when you look into it. The goal is so that when the object is in the center of the cross hairs you should be able to find it in your telescope eyepiece.. To do this you need to align the finder scope,

I usually use a terrestrial object to do this. I use these because they don't move like stars do. You can choose road sign, a spot on a tree or a street light though that can disturb your night vision. Aim your finder at this object and center it in the finder. Check to see if it is in the eyepiece of your telescope. Use a low power eyepiece to give you a wider field. The low power eyepieces have higher numbers such as 25mm. If the object is not in your eyepiece find it and center it. Check your finder again. You need to adjust the finder so that the object is in the center of the cross hairs.

There are usually 1 to 3 thumb screws to adjust this. If there a three you go back and forth until it is centered. Check your eyepiece again to make sure the scope is still centered. You can use a higher power eyepiece (lower number) to refine this since it displays a narrower field. Just repeat the process.

Once this is done, you find the object in the sky in your finder and center it and it should be there in your eyepiece.

Clear skies!

-jodair

look up edmund scientific they have a planet locator for about $4.00, once you know where to look you can see them good luck ..........larry

Put in an eyepiece that doesn't have cross hairs, those are for finding only.

It's not in focus--- turn the focus knob slowly in and then out until you get a sharp image....... use the lowest magnification eyepiece first-- that's the one with the LARGEST number written on it.