qRight-angle fi nders are a bit more diffi cult
to modify because the eyepiece is in the way,
but there’s usually room for a pair of posts or a
peep sight on one side or the other.
above the main fi nder’s optical axis as
the tip of the arrow. The lens focuses
the arrow at infi nity, so it stays put
when you move your head around, just
as a Telrad, Rigel Systems QuikFinder,
or other red-dot fi nders do with their
glowing reticles.
With any of these designs, the goal
is the same: Get the scope to within a
few degrees of your target before look-
ing through the optical fi nder to refi ne
your aim. In many cases you’ll discover
that the fi nder fi nder is good enough on
its own, but if not, you’ve got backup.
(And when your optical fi nder dews up,
you’ve got reverse-backup, too.)
Finder fi nders can save hours of
frustration, and they’re simple to make.
Every optical fi nder should have one.
■ Contributing Editor JERRY OLTION is
a fi nder fanatic.
SHARE YOUR INNOVATION
º Do you have a telescope
or ATM observing accessory
that S&T readers would enjoy
knowing about? Email your
projects to Jerry Oltion at
[email protected].skyandtelescope.org • JUNE 2020 73
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