Holiday guide

Your first night with a new smart telescope

Prepare in daylight, start with a bright object high in the sky and give it time to build up. December and January have the longest nights of the year, with about 12 hours of full darkness at 52° N, and objects such as M45 Pleiades and M42 Orion Nebula are well placed in the evening.

In daylight: four things to do first

1. Charge everythingCharge the telescope and your phone fully. Cold nights drain batteries faster than you expect.
2. Install the app and updateInstall the maker’s app, create the connection and install any firmware update in daylight. Updates need Wi-Fi and can take a while.
3. Pick your spotChoose a level spot with an open view, away from direct street lights. Check which parts of your horizon are blocked by roofs and trees.
4. Take it outside earlyPut the telescope outside before full darkness, so it can adjust to the outside temperature while you set up.

Good first targets this winter

These objects are well placed in the evening and work from a town or suburb. Start with one at the top of the list.

When the sky is darkest

The darkest evenings are around new moon: 9 December and 7 January. Around full moon (24 December and 22 January) faint nebulae and galaxies fade; star clusters and the bright Orion Nebula still work well.

On the night

1. Start bright and highPick an object high in the sky for your first session. It is the quickest way to see what your telescope can do.
2. Give it timeThe image builds up as the telescope stacks frame after frame, so it keeps improving for many minutes. Do not judge the result after the first frame.
3. Stay closeKeep your phone near the telescope; most smart telescopes connect over their own Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
4. Dress warmWinter nights are long and cold. Set the telescope going, then check on it from indoors if its range allows.

The usual first-night problems

The telescope cannot find its position

Smart telescopes find their position by recognising stars. Make sure the lens cap is off and part of the sky above it is clear.

Clouds rolled in

Check the cloud forecast for your own place before you set up, and look for a clear window later in the evening.

The image looks washed out

A bright Moon or street lights wash out faint objects. Try a star cluster or the Orion Nebula, or wait for a darker evening.

The lens fogs up

On humid nights dew can form on the lens. Check whether your model has a built-in dew heater and how to switch it on.

Plan your next nights

• Check what your own sky shows tonight →
• This month’s night sky →
• See how stacking builds an image →
• Still choosing a telescope? Gift guide →