Expert: Paul Wagner - 3/23/2004

Question
i have a cheap small telescope that works very well when looking at the moon and objects on the earth. . . but when i try looking at planets i can not focus it. it says that it goes to several hundred time magnification but i cant seem to foucs it. the object starts big and then gets real small and focus and then gets large and blurry. any sudgestions? or is that all that your going to get out of a cheap scope?

thanks

Answer
Dear Steve:

You have the hardest combination right now--a small telescope, and the planet Venus.  Even my large scope won't show any detail on Venus....it's just covered with clouds.  

No scope will really perform well above about 40X the aperture in inches.  My guess is that yours is a 2 inch scope, so you should use a maximum of 80x.  At that point, Jupiter should show its four moons, and the north and south equatorial belts.  Focus the scope on the moon first, and make sure it is in perfect focus.  Then go to Jupiter.  That will help you get it right.  ANd take your time observing.  The heat waves in the air make any image blurry at times, and you have to wait for things to settle down.  Don't observe over the tops of houses...they make it even worse.  

You won't get views but you should be able to see the bands of Jupiter, and the rinds of Saturn.  And you will be amazed.

Paul Wagner