Can anybody help me setup my tasco 114 telescope from Southern Hemisphere, Durban?

Question

I have a tasco 114 with the goto function, but when ever I try setting it up using the goto computer function it points to the ground as though the star I have chosen ie. Rigel is on the other side of the earth. Tasco website has been of no help, not even responding to my emails. any suggestions? I live in Durban South Africa.

Answer 1

Rigel currently rises after local midnight from Durban.  Try Archernar (alpha Eridani).  That will at least be up in the evening.

Unfortunately, without a model number, i'm not able to figure out what scope this is.  So, for example, i don't know if it's an EQ mount, or a Dob, and have no idea how the computer might work.

Orion is upside down for you.  Must be nice.

Answer 2

That's because Rigel IS on the other side of the Earth! Unless you're observing late at night, Rigel is a poor choice, since it doesn't rise until 11:35 p.m. in Durban at present, and isn't really high enough to observe until 1 a.m. A better place to start observing would be the planet Jupiter, which is high overhead all night and will let you see its four bright moons and dark cloud bands. Good alignment stars would be Alpha Centauri, Acrux and Antares.