One of the biggest hurdles that beginners face with their first telescope is not being able to locate objects within the field of view of their telescope. Often times, it is so frustrating that people give up on the hobby before they’ve even really started.
The number one culprit in this scenario…the finder scope is not aligned to show/to point to the same spot in the sky. While this may sound silly, the typical size of the patch of sky you can see through your telescope with a modest eyepiece is about 1/2 of a degree. That is about the size of the full moon and the width of your thumb with your arm fully outstretched.
Most beginners expect that the manufacturer of the telescope has already completed the alignment but in practice, no manufacturer does this.
Checkout my how to video below. After you’ve done it a few times, it will become second nature for you.
