After 5 weeks of getting my telescope, i finally had Venus in my telescope using a 8mm eyepiece but it was just a ball of light. Am I doing something wrong?
2007-02-03 10:23:08 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
So, what kind of telescope did you get, and with what accessories? I have a 31.75 cm (12.5 in) dobsonian reflector. Venus is nearly at full phase so there is *not* much to see. Even in the largest telescops Venus is generally just featureless clouds. Later in the year as our relative orbital position change, venus will be more interesting to look at. Sometime in June or July you will see the famous venusian crescent.
Depending on where you live in the world, Saturn will offer a nice view. Find it first by eye, then in the lowest power you have. Examine it closely at low power, and slowly step up the powers; at each step see if you can tell the difference in details from the lower powers. With luck, you'll get still air high up and you can turn to your highest powers.
HTH
Charles
2007-02-03 13:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by Charles 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no.
8mm is a very high powered eye piece and it generally takes a very steady mount and very good atmospheric conditions to use. In addition, it may simply be too high powered for your telescope.
You should generally stick to lower powered eyepieces. They will offer nicer views.
Venus is covered by a thick cloud cover that reflects much of the light that hits it. As a result, it generally does look like a bright blob with little or no visible cloud detail. Because of the location of Venus relative to the Earth, it does go through phases just like the moon though and you should easily be able to observe this in your telescope.
2007-02-05 14:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by minuteblue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are doing everything right. The surface of Venus is obscured by clouds, so you will be unable to see much detail in your eyepiece. Using a telescope, Venus will appear to have "phases" similar to the phases of our moon.
Saturn is a better choice for a beginner with a small telescope. You will be able to see the planet's rings.
2007-02-04 01:34:27 · answer #3 · answered by Aspasia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, what you saw is about all there is to see of Venus right now. Venus is covered in featureless clouds, so all there is to observe is its phase. Currently, Venus is very close to full phase. It will get more interesting as the year goes on. By June it will be a fat crescent.
The best planetary observing right now is Saturn, which is high in the southeast in the evening.
2007-02-03 20:24:10 · answer #4 · answered by injanier 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looking at Venus is frustrating in a regular telescope.. The only interesting thing are the phases similar to the Moon.
I will recommended to look to Saturn you can see it clearly at midnight ( at least in my area). Look for the moon of Titan and the shadow of the rings in the planet.
Good look.
2007-02-03 18:37:11 · answer #5 · answered by Lost. at. Sea. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It might not be powerful enough. What power is it? If it's one of those 100x telescopes that won't cut it. It may not be capturing enough light. It also depends on what kind of telescope you have? Is it a refractor or a reflector? What you paid for it may also depend on the quality. If it's one of those cheap telescopes, that won't really do too much.
2007-02-03 22:43:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
YOu might not be looking at venus or it is heading around (or coming around) from the back of the sun.
At GREATEST ELONGATION (when it is 45 degrees over the west or East) it should be a half or semi circle. At greatest brilliancy it should be a crescent.
If you look at what you see now closely it should be GIBBOUS (or 70% not 100% circular).
2007-02-03 18:45:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋