How to sort telescope setup tutorials by length for amateur astronomers in 2026

Learn how to put telescope setup tutorials in shortest-first order, compare sorting methods and avoid changing the learning order of astronomy lessons.

By XP Daily · 2026-11-02

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

To sort telescope setup tutorials by length, list each video's duration, put the shortest first and check that the new order still makes sense for learning. You can do this with a paper list, a spreadsheet or YTSort, which reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

Option	How it orders videos
Paper list or sticky note	You rank video durations by hand.
Spreadsheet	You sort a duration column that you fill in.
YouTube playlist	Check whether YouTube allows manual playlist reordering.
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Putting telescope setup tutorials in length order can make it easier to plan an evening of learning, especially when the available time is limited.

A playlist you can change. Gather the telescope setup videos in one place and check that you have permission to change the order of that playlist.
The length of each video. Write down how long each tutorial runs, since the length is what you will rank them by.
A clear learning goal. Telescope setup involves several subjects, including mounting equipment, balancing a telescope, aligning the finder and getting ready to observe. Decide whether shorter videos should come first or whether some lessons need to stay together.
A place to record the order. A paper list, spreadsheet or the playlist itself can hold the revised sequence.
A web browser. This is needed if you want to use a browser-based sorting tool.

It also helps to know which tutorials cover equipment already owned and which explain unfamiliar parts. A short introduction may be useful before a longer demonstration, even if another video has a shorter duration.

Step by step

Open the telescope setup playlist. Find the collection of tutorials you want to organize. Check that you have permission to change its order before you try to rearrange it.

List every tutorial and its duration. Record each video title and how long it runs. Check that every video in the playlist is on your list, not only the ones you can see on screen.

Identify the subject of each video. Note whether a tutorial explains tripod setup, mount assembly, telescope balancing, finder alignment, focusing or another part of preparation. The title alone may not explain how the lesson fits into the process.

Mark lessons that depend on earlier lessons. Some telescope procedures build on previous steps. For example, a tutorial about balancing equipment may make more sense after an introduction to the mount. Keep related lessons together when changing their order could make the instructions harder to follow.

Rank the remaining videos by duration. Put the shortest tutorials first and the longest last. If the goal is to find a quick explanation before an observing session, this arrangement makes shorter material easier to reach.

Decide what to do with longer tutorials. A detailed demonstration of assembling or aligning equipment may need more attention than a brief introduction. Keep those videos available for a longer learning session rather than treating their length as a measure of importance.

Review the proposed order. Read the titles from top to bottom. Check that essential setup instructions still appear in a sensible sequence and that related lessons have not been separated unnecessarily.

Apply the new order. Reorder the videos manually or use a tool that arranges a playlist by duration. If the tool offers a preview of the result, review it before applying it.

Start with the first tutorial. Watch the shortest appropriate video and follow its instructions at a pace that allows time to understand each step.

Review the arrangement after watching. If a short introductory video leaves important questions unanswered, move the relevant follow-up lesson closer to it. The order should help you learn to use the telescope, not just produce a list of short videos.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software to arrange telescope setup tutorials by length. Here are options to consider.

Paper list or sticky note. Write each video title and duration, then rank the tutorials by hand. Add a note beside lessons that explain related equipment or procedures. This approach gives you a written reference while learning, although the durations and order need to be recorded manually.

A spreadsheet. Create columns for video title, duration and subject. Once the durations have been entered, sort the list from shortest to longest. A subject column can help you recognize tutorials that belong together. Check how the spreadsheet behaves on your phone if you plan to refer to the list while setting up a telescope. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

The YouTube playlist. Check whether YouTube allows you to manually reorder videos in the playlist. If it does, review each position carefully when arranging lessons that cover different stages of telescope setup.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] It can show the before and after order for review before applying changes. ^[1] It also sorts the full playlist rather than only the videos loaded on screen. ^[1]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, a browser script or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1]

YTSort can also sort videos within a selected length range and move the remaining videos to the end. ^[1] Its playlist information includes total, average, shortest and longest video duration. ^[1] It can also export a CSV file, a plain file that opens in a spreadsheet, listing each video's position, title, duration and video address. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Putting duration ahead of learning order. A short video about a later setup procedure may not make sense before the introductory material. Keep lessons together when one depends on another.

Ignoring the subject of each tutorial. Two videos can have similar lengths but cover very different tasks. Record what each one teaches so that a short video about an unfamiliar piece of equipment does not become the first lesson by accident.

Sorting only the visible videos. A playlist can hold more videos than are on screen at once. Check whether every video has been included before relying on the new order.

Forgetting the longer demonstrations. Moving long videos to the end can make them easy to overlook. Set aside a suitable learning session for detailed equipment instructions.

Assuming the shortest tutorial is always sufficient. A brief introduction may not explain every step needed to prepare a telescope. Check whether a longer demonstration covers details that matter before observing.

Applying changes without reviewing them. Read the proposed sequence before committing to it. Look for lessons that have become separated from their introductions or supporting explanations.

Never updating the playlist. As new tutorials are added, review the order again. A useful arrangement should reflect the equipment and procedures currently being learned.

Frequently asked questions

How can amateur astronomers sort telescope setup tutorials by length?

List each tutorial with its duration, then arrange the videos from shortest to longest. A paper list or spreadsheet works for a manual approach. YTSort can also reorder a YouTube playlist you own by video length, with the shortest or longest videos first. ^[1] Review the subject of each lesson before applying the new order.

Can YTSort sort telescope setup videos from shortest to longest?

Yes. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, either shortest first or longest first. ^[1] The sorting applies to the full playlist rather than only the videos loaded on screen. ^[1]

Can YTSort show the new playlist order before applying it?

Yes. YTSort shows the before and after order so the proposed arrangement can be checked before changes are applied. ^[1] Review the titles and make sure important introductory material still appears before the procedures that build on it.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The YTSort extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script add-on such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey to your browser. ^[1] It can also be run from a bookmark. ^[1] Check the instructions for the chosen installation method before using it to reorganize a playlist.

Is YTSort free for organizing telescope tutorials?

Yes. YTSort is free, and all installation options include the same features. ^[1] It is also open-source software released under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] The tool reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video duration, so telescope tutorials can be arranged with shorter lessons first or longer lessons first. ^[1]

Should telescope setup tutorials always be watched shortest first?

No. Video length does not necessarily indicate which lesson should come first. An introduction to tripod assembly or mount setup may be important before a later demonstration, even when that introduction is longer. Sort by duration as a way to organize the collection, but keep related instructions together when their order matters for understanding the equipment.

Can YTSort sort only short telescope setup tutorials?

YTSort can sort videos within a selected length range and move the videos outside that range to the end. ^[1] The playlist information also includes total, average, shortest and longest video duration. ^[1]

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)