Black dot. Why is there a black dot on every star i look at. Please help i am a beginner with telescopes

Put the eyepiece with the largest number written on it into the focuser, do not use the 2x barlow. TRY AGAIN-- during the day time and practice focusing on a distant object.

The end with the FOCUSER is the UP end of the tube-- the mirror is on the bottom of the tube. Many beginners mount these BACKWARDS.

Here ?r? a few web pages w?t? ?οοd information ο? beginner's telescopes:

http://www.gaherty.ca/tme/TME0702_Buying_a_Telescope.pdf

http://www.scopereviews.com/b????.html

http://observers.org/beginner/j.r.f.beginner.html

Fοr more advanced information, read Phil Harrington's Star Ware, 4th edition (Wiley).

http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~VIEW_INDEX=0/~VIEW_SIZE=1000000

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?class1=1&class2=106

Did you try this during the day time. Stars are always just points of light no matter what telescope you use.

Try for the moon and or Jupiter which is up in the sky right now after dark. It looks like a BRIGHT star.

The black dot means you are way out of focus.

In an ETX90 Mars will always be a TINY disk, except under extreme magnification.

Jupiter is also a small disk but a little bit bigger.

Next time you try for Jupiter focus on the MOONS until they are tiny points of light like little stars.

Also certain eyepieces have this as an unwanted trait. Try another eyepiece -- start with the one with the largest number written on it which will be your LOWEST magnification.

Did you try focusing during the day time on a distant object?

Objects in the sky are very tiny, smaller than the tip of your finger held at arm's length. The scope must be pointed directly at them to see anything----- and your scope also has a VERY small field of view. That's why we recommend binoculars to a beginner. The wider field of view makes it easier to find objects in the sky at night.

Download this free monthly star chart:
http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

Locate a local Astronomy club and attend their star parties and meetings. They will help you.

Read my tips on my profile page for more information.

This is a 60mm telescope not much bigger than a 10x50mm pair of binoculars. Your maximum magnification will be about 100 power. Yes I know they said 200-300 power on the box. This was a lie.

Do not use the 2x barlow. Probably be just too much magnification. Put the eyepiece with the largest number written on it into the telescope; then try the same eyepiece with the 1.5x barlow. That is probably all the magnification the scope can handle.

Stars are always pinpoint light sources, no matter how large the telescope. They are hundreds or thousands of light years away.

The "red dot" should be pointed at exactly the same spot as what is in the eyepiece. Center a bright star in the eyepiece, then without moving the telescope... center the red dot on the star. Now you can use the red dot to POINT the telescope exactly to a sky object.

This web site may also help you:
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=810

A telescope only shows about 1 degree or LESS of sky-- this about the size of the tip of your finger held at arms length! Point it at the moon and practice focusing the telescope.

Sounds like a collimation problem!! do you know how to collimate the optics?

The problem is you are way out of focus. Turn the focus knob alot, until the star image gets much much smaller. Keep going until it looks like a pin point or a star!. The spider vane and center black dot will disappear. This black dot is actually the secondary diagonal mirror reflection in the primary mirror. The peace signs are the secondary supports. Use the lowest power eye pieces. I would not use the Barlow lens that comes with this scope as it very poor quality. Also, using this high power with this small an aperature (tube diamter) & unstable mount will be very difficult indeed. Invest in some wide angle, long eye relief low power lens. Use these for a while before going to higher powers.