Tracking stars and planets

Finding stars can be tricky without stellar landmarks that point the way

A Go-To equipped telescope, or one equipped with setting circles on an equatorial mount, can be used to find planets and stars in daytime. In either case, if the Moon is near to your target, calibrate on it first then offset to put the target in the eyepiece. You can also use the Moon to focus first, as an even slightly out of focus planetary disc or star can be virtually impossible to see.

If the Moon is not available, you can still spot the five brightest planets and bright stars with care by using a Go-To system or with setting circles. With the latter you may have to use the Sun as a guide instead, but ensure you use safe solar filters. Then when you have moved the scope to the position of the target, remove the filter as long as the target is at least 90° away from the solar disc.

It’s worth checking the elongation of the planet from the Sun by using one of the many planetarium phone apps or computer programs (for example, SkySafari Pro for a mobile or Stellarium on a PC) that gives the position for the planets and any other object during daytime.

In most cases your finderscope may pick them up too, helping you to place them in the eyepiece.

Using the Moon to focus before moving to a nearby object (such as Venus shown here) is an effective way to observe in daylight