7 replies to this topic

[jacobblanco]

I need some tips from my people that have figured out the best planet viewing!  I just got a Nexstar 8se and bought some new eyepieces (Baader Hyperion zoom 8-24, 31mm Nagler 5 (65X), 16mm Masuyama (127X), 8mm ethos (254X), and 6mm Delos (338X).  I live in Las Vegas so deal with some good light pollution, so this is why I want to DIAL in my lunar and solar system viewing!  My girls are having a blast looking at the moon and Jupiter. 

 

So what is the best way to see the planets if I am looking to be as zoomed in as I can, but with the clearest image?  Is it better to have a plossl or ortho EP with less elements?  From everything I have read it seems like between 200-300X magnification is the sweet spot with planets.  So I'm curious if a 10mm ethos or 9mm delite would be better?  almost same magnification but is less of a FOV better for what I am looking to do?  Any advice on this would be appreciated!  looking to have the max fun for viewing planets and moon with my little girls. 

[kgb]

Hey Jacob.

 

For the most part, the biggest obstacle that you will have to high power viewing, with your present equipment, will likely be related to local seeing conditions. Seeing refers to the effect that atmospheric turbulence has on images that you view at the eyepiece. A good example would be in the summer when you look at an object across hot pavement and it appears to get distorted/ wavy (refracted). This atmospheric refraction, which has other causes that cannot be controlled for, will also affect astronomical targets, especially planets and lunar.

 

To minimize this, you should try to view later in the evening when a lot of the daytime heat has dissipated. You should also set up your telescope on grass/dirt/natural ground and try not to view targets over buildings or large parking lots. It is also best to view targets when they are highest in the sky and closest to the meridian (imaginary line that divides the eastern and western sky). By viewing when target is highest, this will minimize an effect called atmospheric dispersion and ensure that you are viewing through less atmosphere which may minimize atmospheric turbulence.

Lastly, with regards local seeing conditions, and since you live in an area prone to a significant day/night temperature differential, you should consider wrapping your telescope in an insulating material such as Reflectix. This will ensure that your telescope maintains thermal equilibrium in order to minimize internal tube currents (related to heat loss as telescope cools down. These currents will significantly degrade your views.

Another thing that you should do to extract every bit of performance out of your telescope is to make sure that it is properly collimated.

Other than that, you will need to experiment with different equipment combinations to see what appears most visually appealing at the eyepiece.

 

Regards,

Karl

For some reason I cannot add a hyperlink to the Reflectix term I used above so here it is:

https://www.cloudyni...with-reflectix/

Edited by kgb, 23 March 2025 - 10:31 AM.

[kgb]

Sorry. I should have added that you can quickly tell the quality of atmospheric seeing conditions by how much the stars appear to be twinkling. If they appear to be dancing, you can be assured that seeing conditions will be bad. Good luck.

[Spikey131]

I rarely exceed 200x for solar system observing.  The atmospheric seeing rarely supports higher magnification.

 

One thing that has revolutionized my solar system observing is binoviewers.  Take a look at this option.

[12BH7]

Same here. I typically top out at around 200x. Only on rare nights can I get a clear view over 200. And that is with a 12" SCT. With my 8" SCT I think I top out at around. 180x on most days. 

[jacobblanco]

Appreciate the feedback! Useful info. Spikey tell me more about binoviewers!? Is that just something you attach to your telescope or something completely seperate?

[Spikey131]

Binoviewers replace your eyepiece with two eyepieces, one for each eye.  Many find this is a more relaxed way to view, which allows the observer to see more details on the planets.  They certainly work for me.  There is a whole section on CN dedicated to binoviewers.

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[Dave Mitsky]

The articles at the following URLs discuss the steadiness of the atmosphere and other factors known as astronomical seeing:

 

http://www.damianpeach.com/seeing1.htm

 

http://www.damianpea...m/pickering.htm

 

https://skyandtelesc...ing-the-seeing/

 

https://www.skyatnig...nomical-seeing/

 

https://sentinelmiss...nomical-seeing/