Can't see anything but moon
I got my Vivitar Telescope back in December last year only had it 3 in an half to 4 months i can't see any thing but the moon, it says you can see stars, the moon and 100x greater into space, no instructions or manual just the paper that tell the name of each part, i thought it was spossed to be a 50x/100x leans whats with the 5mm and 12mm leans, i also broke off one of the turn nobes at the back just by turning it. it cost me $30 bucks, i going to see if i can return it to the store i bought it from good thing i keep recites for a year no matter what.
Optics - Vivitar - (1607225) Telescope
Answers & Comments
You apparently broke the focus knob-- in that small telescope you will be lucky to ever get 100x--- use only the lower power eyepiece, or return it as you said.
Here is the telescope that I recommend to beginners-- they come in various sizes depending on how much you want to spend. BIGGER costs more.
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=09804
Sounds like vivitar have some problems....I only get an upside down view through mine, lol
Read my TIPS on my profile page and stop buying $69 telescopes at Wal Mart! This is considered a toy telescope. It is not very useful for Astronomy. Actually a pair of 10x50mm binoculars is more useful than these low cost telescopes.
Here are two telescopes that we recommend for beginners--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEs_MMcJ7...
http://www.ehow.com/video_4975414_telesc...
You can buy a nice beginner 6 inch DOB for about $200 or so.
These type of scopes are hard to use. They do what is advertised but you have to work at it and it takes some under standing of how it works. If you did get to look at the moon you will remember how fast it leaves the view, constant moving. Now you want to look at starts Millions of miles away, think how small and quick they move out of view, your scope- has whats called field of view. the higher the power the smaller the field. Like trying to look at a needle on a turtles back in your back yard. You have to make adjustments to keep up. Start out with the lowest power lenses you have (largest hole to look thru) Then practice looking at the moon (its the easiest to find) and focus, move up a bit in power (try different lens) until you get the hang of hunting for your star. The easy way is to use any software that may have came with the scope to find general direction of planets. look for them first. say Saturn, Jupiter these are the easiest start with, Then use the low power lens and work up be patient. It takes time to find a planet and time to follow it with the scpoe.