If you’ve just gotten your first Bushnell telescope, you might be wondering how to work a Bushnell telescope. It’s a common starting point for many new astronomers. These telescopes are great tools for viewing the moon, planets, and even distant galaxies. But without a little guidance, setting it up can feel confusing. This guide will walk you through everything in simple, clear steps. You’ll be observing the night sky in no time.
How To Work A Bushnell Telescope
Working your telescope involves more than just looking through the eyepiece. It means knowing how to set up the tripod, align the finder scope, and choose the right lens. We’ll break down each part of the process. First, let’s make sure you have all the pieces ready to go.
Unboxing and Identifying Your Telescope Parts
Before you head outside, lay out all the components in a well-lit room. Your Bushnell box should contain several key items. Check for these parts:
- The optical tube (the main body of the telescope).
- A tripod with legs that extend.
- The mount that connects the tube to the tripod.
- One or more eyepieces (these are the lenses you look through). They often have numbers like 20mm or 10mm on them.
- A finder scope (a small, low-power telescope attached to the main tube).
- Maybe a diagonal mirror (for refractor models) or a star diagonal for easier viewing.
- The instruction manual is also very helpful to keep nearby.
Familiarizing yourself with these parts is the first real step. Knowing what each piece is called will make the instructions much easier to follow.
Assembling the Tripod and Mount
The tripod provides a stable base, which is absolutly critical for clear viewing. Start by extending the tripod legs to a comfortable height. Make sure you tighten the leg locks securely. A wobbly tripod will make everything you look at shake. Next, place the mount head onto the tripod’s central column. Usually, this involves a simple bolt or screw mechanism. Tighten it firmly. Some Bushnell models use an alt-azimuth (up-down, left-right) mount, while others may have an equatorial mount for tracking stars. Your manual will specify which type you have.
Attaching the Optical Tube
Now, carefully place the optical tube onto the mount. There are typically rings or a mounting bracket that clamps around the tube. Loosen the clamps, set the tube in place, and then tighten them again. Don’t overtighten, but ensure the tube is held securely and cannot slide or rotate. The tube should be balanced so it moves smoothly when you gently push it.
Aligning the Finder Scope
This is one of the most important steps, and it’s often overlooked. The finder scope helps you locate objects because the main telescope’s view is very narrow. You must align it during the daytime. Point your main telescope at a distant, stationary object like a telephone pole or a chimney. Center that object in your main telescope using your lowest-power eyepiece (the one with the highest mm number, like 25mm). Once it’s centered and in focus, look through the finder scope. You’ll see crosshairs. Adjust the small screws on the finder scope’s bracket until the crosshairs are centered on the exact same object. Now your finder is aligned. This makes finding night sky targets so much easier.
Understanding Eyepieces and Magnification
Eyepieces determine how much you magnify the image. Magnification is calculated by dividing the telescope’s focal length (found in the manual, e.g., 900mm) by the eyepiece’s focal length (e.g., 20mm). So, a 900mm scope with a 20mm eyepiece gives 45x magnification. A 10mm eyepiece would give 90x. Start with the lowest power (highest mm number) eyepiece. It gives a wider field of view and is brighter, making it easier to find things. You can switch to higher power later for a closer look, but remember, higher power also magnifies atmospheric blur and any shaking.
How to Focus Your Telescope
Focusing seems obvious, but it can be tricky in the dark. First, insert your eyepiece into the focuser drawtube. Point the telescope at a bright star or the moon. Look through the eyepiece and slowly turn the focus knobs, one way and then the other. You will see the object go from a blurry disk to a sharp point (for a star) or a crisp cratered surface (for the moon). If you wear glasses for astigmatism, you might need to keep them on. If you’re nearsighted or farsighted, you can usually adjust the focus to compensate, so you can observe without glasses.
Finding Your First Celestial Objects
Start with an easy target: the Moon. It’s big, bright, and easy to find. Use your finder scope to point the telescope at the moon. Then, look through the main eyepiece and fine-tune the aim. Focus until the details are sharp. Your next great target is Jupiter. You can often see its cloud bands and its four largest moons. Saturn with its rings is another breathtaking sight. To find planets, you can use a free astronomy app on your phone. The app shows you where they are in the sky relative to the moon or constellations.
- Always let your telescope adjust to the outside temperature for about 30 minutes before observing.
- Allow your eyes to adapt to the dark for at least 15-20 minutes for best viewing of faint objects.
- Be patient. Finding tiny, faint objects takes practice.
Maintenance and Care Tips
Taking good care of your Bushnell telescope will ensure it lasts for years. Always put lens caps on when the telescope is not in use. Store it in a dry place to prevent mold on the lenses. If the optical surfaces get dusty, use a soft brush made for camera lenses or a can of compressed air. Avoid touching the glass directly with your fingers. For stubborn smudges, use lens cleaning fluid and special microfiber cloths very gently. Never use household glass cleaner. When transporting the telescope, try to keep it in its original box or a padded case.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Even with careful setup, you might encounter a few issues. Here’s how to solve common ones.
Everything Looks Blurry
First, check that you’ve removed any lens caps from the front of the tube and the eyepiece. Then, double-check your focusing. Make sure you’re not using too high a magnification for the atmospheric conditions. On a night with lots of turbulence, even the best telescope will show a blurry image.
I Can’t Find Anything Through the Eyepiece
This usually means the finder scope is not aligned. Go back and re-align it on a distant daytime object as described earlier. Also, start with your lowest-power, widest-field eyepiece. It’s the easiest to look through when trying to locate something.
The Image is Upside Down or Mirrored
This is normal for astronomical telescopes! They are designed for viewing the sky, where there is no definitive “up.” They often show images inverted or mirrored to provide the best optical path. You’ll get used to it. Some models come with an erecting prism for terrestrial viewing, which corrects the image.
Taking Your Skills Further
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can try more advanced techniques. You can learn to use setting circles if your mount has them, for finding faint deep-sky objects. Experiment with different eyepieces or even a Barlow lens, which doubles or triples the power of your existing eyepieces. Consider keeping an observation log to note what you see and when. Joining a local astronomy club can be incredibly rewarding. You can learn from others and get a chance to look through different telescopes.
FAQ Section
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about using Bushnell telescopes.
What can I see with my Bushnell telescope?
You can see a lot! Start with the Moon’s craters, Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, and bright star clusters like the Pleiades. With practice and dark skies, you can find nebulae like the Orion Nebula and even distant galaxies like Andromeda.
Why is my view shaky?
A shaky view usually comes from an unstable tripod. Ensure all leg locks and mount connections are tight. Also, avoid touching the telescope while looking through it. Use slow-motion control knobs if your model has them. Even a light wind can cause vibration, so try to shield the scope if possible.
How do I clean the lenses?
Only clean lenses when absolutely necessary. Use a blower bulb first to remove loose dust. For fingerprints or smudges, apply a small drop of lens cleaning solution to a microfiber cloth—never directly to the lens—and wipe gently in a circular motion from the center outward. Be very gentle to avoid scratching the coatings.
Can I use my telescope to look at things on land?
Yes, you can. However, remember that the image will likely be upside down or mirrored, which can be disorienting for terrestrial viewing. Some Bushnell models include a correct-image diagonal for this purpose. Check your accessories.
What does the “mm” number on my telescope mean?
The main number, like “700mm” or “900mm,” is the focal length of the telescope’s main mirror or lens. It’s a key factor in determining magnification. A larger focal length generally means higher potential magnification, while a smaller number (like 114mm on the tube) is the aperture, or diameter, which determines how much light it gathers.
My finder scope is hard to look through. Any tips?
Some finder scopes are “straight-through,” which can require awkward neck positions. Try using a red dot finder as an accessory—they project a red dot onto the sky and are often easier to use. Also, make sure the finder scope’s bracket is tight so it doesn’t shift out of alignment easily.
Learning how to work a Bushnell telescope is a journey. Don’t get discouraged if things seem fiddly at first. Each time you set it up, you’ll get faster and more confident. The key is to start simple, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the process of learning the sky. With these steps, you have a solid foundation to begin your astronomical observations. Clear skies!