For most purposes, a telescope’s maximum useful magnification is
50 times its aperture in inches
(or twice its aperture in millimeters) . So you’d need a 12-inch-wide scope to get a decent image at 600×. And even then, you’d need to wait for a night when the observing conditions are perfect.
What magnification telescope do I need to see planets?
Experienced planetary observers use
20x to 30x per inch of aperture
to see the most planetary detail. Double-star observers go higher, up to 50x per inch (which corresponds to a 1⁄2-mm exit pupil). Beyond this, telescope magnification power and eye limitations degrade the view.
What can you see with 100x magnification telescope?
100x – This is a great all around
view of Jupiter
, as you can see cloud detail on the planet, and see all four moons all in the same FOV. The Great Red Spot can also start being seen as well as a tiny orange colored dot on the planet (if it’s on the side facing Earth).
What is the magnification power of the most powerful telescope?
As a rule of thumb, the maximum usable power is equal to
50-60 times the aperture of the telescope
(in inches) under ideal conditions. Powers higher than this usually give you a dim, lower-contrast image. For example, the maximum power range on a 90mm telescope (3.6 in aperture) is 180x-216x.
What magnification is best for planets?
To look at planets like Jupiter and Saturn, you will need a magnification of
about 180
; with that you should be able to see the planets and their moons. If you want to look at the planet alone with higher resolution, you will need a magnification of about 380.
What magnification do I need to see the rings of Saturn?
It took a telescope magnifying 25 times to see Saturn’s true shape, though even then no detail was visible. I generally use magnifications of
150 to 250 times
to see the details of Saturn and its ring system. Saturn really has multiple rings, of which the brightest are the outer A ring and the inner B ring.
What magnification do you need to see Venus?
Your eyes are all you need to enjoy Venus’s beauty, even from the city in heavy light pollution, but a binocular or telescope will surely enhance the view. Use a telescope of at least 60mm (2.4”) aperture or greater with
at least 50x magnification
to observe the planet and note any changes over time.
What magnification do you need to see a nebula?
A telescope places the Orion Nebula at center stage — no competition from constellations or immediate surroundings! Even a common 2.4-inch refractor magnifying at just
30x to 50x
captures impressive detail.
What magnification do you need to see bacteria?
While some eucaryotes, such as protozoa, algae and yeast, can be seen at magnifications of 200X-400X, most bacteria can only be seen with
1000X magnification
. This requires a 100X oil immersion objective and 10X eyepieces.. Even with a microscope, bacteria cannot be seen easily unless they are stained.
What magnification do you need to see Pluto?
Note that Pluto is at BEST at
magnitude 13.64
. You just can’t see this planetoid with the naked eye.
What is the most powerful telescope for home use?
- Celestron NexStar 8 SE – 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with GOTO mount and tripod.
- Celestron CPC 800 GPS XLT – Computerized package with 8-inch Schmidt-Cassesgrain telescope.
What is a rich field telescope?
As the name implies, a Rich Field Telescope is
one that will show the observer the maximum possible number of stars within the field of view when looking
, say, towards the Milky Way.
What does 50x magnification mean?
The magnification power of a telescope essentially indicates the size of an object observed inside the eyepiece relative to the size of that object when observed with the naked eye. For example, when observing Mars at 50x magnification, the
red planet will appear 50 times larger than
if you looked at it with your eyes.
How much magnification do you need to see Mars?
In general, the best magnification for viewing Mars is
35x per inch of aperture
when using a telescope of up to about 7′′, and roughly 25x to 30x per inch of aperture for larger telescopes.
What magnification do you need to see Mercury?
The crescent phases of Mercury can be seen in telescopes as small as 50 mm in aperture, while a 75 mm telescope will allow you to detect all phases of the planet. To see surface detail on the planet, a magnification of
at least 200 to 250x
is recommended.
How much magnification do you need to see the moon?
Managing magnification
A low magnification of around 50x will show you the whole moon and give you the “big picture.” But to see the moon at its best, try a high magnification,
at least 150x
. The moon can tolerate high magnification better than any object in the sky.
