If one of the Galilean Moons is transiting, if you look at just the right time, you can see them gradually stick out of the side of Jupiter like a pimple. If any of the Galilean Moons are passing directly in front of Jupiter, it is possible to see their shadows being projected on the face of Jupiter – a solar eclipse is occurring on the planet. Io’s shadow will move the fastest over time, while Ganymede’s shadow will be the largest. 400x and above – If the seeing conditions are great, then it is possible for you to begin seeing very tiny “swirls” in the lines between the light and dark colored cloud bands.
With whatever telescope you have at your disposal, use as much magnification as it will handle when you look at the planet. Generally, a magnification of times the aperture of your telescope (in inches) works well on nights of average seeing. If you have an 8″ scope, try 240x to 400x. Again, experiment to get the best view each night. It changes according to the conditions of the atmosphere. For even longer focal ratios and focal lengths, and therefore larger images, the razor-sharp optics of a good Maksutov-Cassegrain are a good choice for serious planetary and lunar observers. Unlike Schmidt-Cassegrains, these scopes rarely require alignment and have smaller secondary mirrors for higher image contrast. The 127mm, 150mm, and 180mm Mak-Cass scopes from Sky-Watcher are excellent planetary performers.
It gathers enough light for you to view the best features of our solar system, and it provides enough power for you to begin exploring deep-sky objects. In addition, this model has an electronic GPS database preloaded with almost 40,000 celestial objects, so after you calibrate the scope, it can scan the skies for you. Spotting scopes, like binoculars, have prisms that flip the image before it reaches your eye so that up is up and down is down.
As with so much in space (and on Earth), the appearance of Saturn’s rings from Earth is cyclical. In 2017, the north side of the rings opened up most widely (27 degrees), as seen from Earth. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
Most research telescopes are designed to operate at the smallest magnification possible, to examine a larger piece of sky. Discover the best telescope for adults right here. bought a new spotting scope from B&H, primarily for astronomical observation. It’s highly portable and can be set up and ready to use in literally a minute or two. Spotting scopes offer unmatched versatility and durability for primarily terrestrial viewing (think birding) and some astronomical viewing. Telescopes give you a superior view of the heavens, but are less portable, less durable, and slightly more difficult to use than a spotting scope.
These were all questions posed to us by the Rose City Astronomers; many of them have gotten fed up more than once trying to help a beginner navigate their fancy, tech-heavy telescope. This guide’s original writer, Colin Rosemont, grew up around telescopes and has had a longtime interest in astronomy, but he still considers himself a beginner. His relative lack of expertise allowed him to get a fresh perspective on each telescope model he tested. He was able to flail and make mistakes when setup instructions were not clear, and he learned to operate each telescope as if he were a complete novice—exactly the group we wanted to write this guide for. While researching what makes the best telescope, we consulted numerous experts for guidance.
Some people have seen the “ashen light,” which is when the night side of Venus seems to glow. This is often thought to be a myth like Bigfoot, but it could be caused by lightning or excited gas particles in Venus’ upper atmosphere. The Sun, Moon, one asteroid, and 6 of the 7 observable planets can be seen with the naked eye. With most of the planets, finding them is easy as they remain the brightest objects in the night sky, and it is easy to consult the Internet or other astronomers for reference. And this is where the “all things being equal” argument comes into play. Just as the turbulence in the atmosphere can affect what you see, so can the thermals inside your telescope tube.
My career in the astronomy industry began with the latest flyby of Halley’s Comet over 35 years ago. Since then, I have worked for both telescope retailers and manufacturers alike, and have had a variety of roles, from sales and… The equipment that you will use to observe the night sky is just one part of the equation for a successful evening of exploration.