I think the telescope is broken!? Helperz!!!?

Question

My little brother in law got a telescope (reflector 50x100) and everything looks further. There isn't A LOT of light polution outside. Just a little. I can't see anything! If I do, it's like this tiny tiny dot.

I was trying to look at the moon!

Answer 1

Are you looking through the eyepiece or the big objective lens? The big lens should be aimed at the moon, and you peek through the little eyepiece lens at the other end...

Answer 2

A 50x 100mm reflector? It sounds like we are talking about a Celestron Explorascope.

If so, then the biggest problem with this scope is that it doesn't have a view finder; and, unless you have purchased some of the optional eyepieces you only have the 50x. The optics on these scope are actually pretty good, however, 50x is a very high magnification to use for finding objects. Your field of view is pretty small, and the funny shape of the scope doesn't make it easy to eyeball it.

You probably were focused on a star, and those cannot be made to look bigger by any available telescope. They are so far away that they remain tiny pinpoints at 1/50 the distance. I would suggest you give it another try; but, go slow and exercise an abundance of patience. This is the wrong season for Jupiter; but, Saturn will be low to the East after midnight, and rising earlier as the weeks progress. Go slow and you will eventually see them.

Answer 3

If you are looking to the stars don´t worry. The stars look like points of light almost in any telescope. But, if you are looking to the Moon and this happens, you better check the eyepieces out.

If it is a refractor telescope check the lens, if it is a reflector telescope check the mirrors.

Finally use a 25 mm eyepiece to watch the moon. You should be watching craters, if you can´t see them get this telescope back to the store.

Answer 4

It may not be that telescope broken, but it is also possible if focal length of Objective lense ot eye piece is disturbed,

Answer 5

Try it out on the moon.