Omegon Radiant Finder with 0.5, 2, and 4 Degree Target Circles

Omegon Radiant Finder with 0.5, 2, and 4-Degree Target Circles: Reading Distances in the Sky

While a standard red dot finder projects a single dot, the Radiant displays target circles of 0.5, 2, and 4 degrees. This turns the finder into a measuring instrument rather than just an aiming device.

Why those circles help

On a star chart, distances are given in degrees. If you are looking for an object that is three degrees below a bright star, you can directly measure that distance against the sky using the circles. Without a reference, three degrees is a guess; with circles, it is a measurement.

Faint objects without GoTo

Precisely deep-sky objects that you cannot see with the naked eye are found this way: you aim at a bright star and move a known number of degrees. That makes the Radiant an inexpensive compromise between blind searching and a GoTo system.

Featured accessories

The projection is continuously dimmable; a mounting base is included. Works well with a Dobson, where manual searching is the norm.

For whom yes and for whom no

• ✓ How to find faint deep-sky objects without GoTo
• ✓ Observers working with star charts
• ✓ Dobson owners
• ✗ Anyone aiming only at bright objects: a standard red dot suffices
• ✗ Anyone wanting magnification: choose an optical viewfinder

Specifications

You can find more accessories for this brand at the Omegon brand page.