The Perfect viewing Expierence?

Question

If I was to go out into a dark field,where theres no light pollution on a clear night with an 8"Meade LX90GPS with an Autostar finder,would I be able to observe Planets and Galaxys?,and is there a way to get a Galaxy in full colour looking through a telescope?

Answer 1

You would definitely be able to see planets and galaxies. I used to use an 8" telescope to view the planets all the time. You'll be able to see the rings of Saturn (even the Cassinni Division when the angle is right), the spots and clouds of Jupiter and I was able to see the polar ice cap on Mars when it was prominent.

Mercury is too close to the Sun (in our sky), so a telescope is of little use. Venus, will look more like a bright disc. But, you will be able to watch it go through phases, as the Moon does.

As far as galaxies go, it just depends on the galaxy. You can actually see the Andromeda Galaxy naked eye. And, it is better to view the Andromeda Galaxy through binoculars than through a telescope (you need the wide view).

You will also be able to see things like the Ring Nebula.

Contact your local university or astronomy club to look through their telescopes to get an idea of what you'll see, before buying.

Color is seen, but limited, through a telescope. It won't be like the pictures in magazines that are almost always color enhanced. The amazing thing about viewing through a telescope is what you are seeing. The vast distances. Other worlds. Other galaxies. Truly awe inspiring!

Learn all you can about astronomy, and you'll be very, very happy with an 8" telescope. It's your knowledge that makes astronomy come to life. Someone who can't grasp the magnitude of what they're seeing will be impressed by the views, but they may not be in awe.

Answer 2

Planets are observable even with severe light pollution. Except for a few very bright ones, galaxies require a dark sky free of light pollution. An 8" telescope will give you fine views of both planets and galaxies (and a great deal more!) Colours are not visible in galaxies because the human eye isn't sensitive enough to their faint light. The only colours visible in a telescope are from bright objects like planets and double stars. I've seen colour in planetary nebulae with large apertures (22" to 74"), but never in galaxies.

Answer 3

You can observe several planets with the naked eye. Venus is visible even in the city with light pollution and haze. Galaxies are usually fainter, but you can see some with a small telescope. I'm not sure what you mean by "full colour," but whatever you do, don't expect to see something like the spectacular images captured by Hubble that you can find online. That telescope cost millions of dollars for a reason.

Answer 4

Some technical limitations (I am assuming a perfect 8-inch objective). 8" = 200 mm

Limiting visual magnitude = 2.7 + 5*log(200) = 14.2
(the bigger the magnitude number, the fainter the object. You are looking for objects with a magnitude number smaller than 14).

This will give you all planets, plus a handful of the major asteroids and dwarf planets; but not Pluto (it reached a maximum brightness at 13.9 in June -- wait until the next opposition in Summer 2008). If you do see Pluto, it will only appear as a tiny, faint dot.

You should be able to see the galaxies that are listed in the Messier Catalogue (not all M objects are galaxies, but all M objects are visible and identifiable in an 8"). You may be able to "see" other galaxies, but only as tiny blotches of light.

Maximum usable magnification = 2*(200) = 400. Above that, you are only magnifying your system's distortions.

Best theoretical resolution (ability to separate two close objects) = 116/200 seconds of arc = 0.58". However, the atmosphere rarely lets you get better than 1". Again, if you try to push magnification, then you'll magnify air turbulence.

However, I do not know what you mean by Galaxy in Full Colour. Most of the colours found in photographs are the result of long exposure with special cameras and filters.

You will be able to see some features on Mars, the bands on Jupiter, the ring divisions at Saturn and you may be able to see Uranus and Neptune as disks rather than just points (but no details).

You will see the 4 main satellites of Jupiter and up to 5 or 6 around Saturn. If you are lucky, you may get one or two around the outer gas giants.

And of course, you should be able to see lots of craters on Earth's Moon.

Answer 5

Yes.

No.

Planets are bright and can bee seen just fine from the city. Galaxies are never colorful to your eye because they are too dim. Even in a large professional telescope they are just dim, gray smudges to your eye. It takes long exposure photography to show them like the pictures you have seen.

Answer 6

Near the Pegasus Constellation you can see the Andromeda Galaxy with your naked eye, although it is very faint and you have to know exactly where to look. With a decent telescope you can see it quite well.