Looked through an observatory telescope for the first time today

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around experiences and expectations of viewing celestial objects through telescopes, particularly at observatories. Participants share their personal experiences, equipment, and questions regarding what can be seen, including planets, moons, and galaxies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their excitement about seeing Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon through a 16" telescope, noting the visibility of Saturn's rings and the moons of both Jupiter and Saturn.
  • Another participant expresses curiosity about what can be seen at their school's observatory, questioning whether celestial objects appear as larger dots or if more detail, such as galaxies, can be observed.
  • A participant with a 4" telescope mentions only seeing dots for Jupiter and Saturn, contrasting this with the 16" telescope experience, and shares information from the telescope operator regarding the limitations of viewing Andromeda due to its size.
  • There is a humorous inquiry about where to look in the sky to see galaxies and other imaginative objects, such as UFOs and fictional spacecraft.
  • One participant corrects the expectation of seeing spiral arms of galaxies with binoculars, suggesting that while Andromeda can be seen as a blur, it cannot be resolved into details.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varied experiences and expectations regarding telescope capabilities and what can be seen. There is no consensus on the visibility of details in galaxies, as some participants share differing views on what can be observed with different equipment.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on telescope size and type, as well as the conditions under which observations are made, such as light pollution and atmospheric conditions.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, individuals considering visiting observatories, and those interested in the capabilities of different telescopes and binoculars.

Daniel Y.
...and it was INCREDIBLE! Here in Gilbert, AZ (basically on the outskirt of Phoenix) by the bird riparium there's a small observatory with a 16" telescope. We went up there and looked at Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, some stars, and the moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn. I was stunned to actually see the rings of Saturn, and the moons orbiting it. The moon was breathtaking, too, but supposidly it's better to look at it when it's a half or quarter moon (so the craters have shadows). Definitely a big step up from my crappy little 114mm Meade. Do you have a telescope or go to an observatory? If you have a telescope, what kind? A guy could really get into this astronomy thing...:biggrin:

I can't wait to go out to California in fall and take a peak through the 200" telescope out there.:wink:
 
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There is an opportunity for me to visit our schools observatory. I was considering it. But I am curious, do you just see the white dots as bigger white dots, or can you actually see anything like galaxies and stuff?
 
Cyrus said:
There is an opportunity for me to visit our schools observatory. I was considering it. But I am curious, do you just see the white dots as bigger white dots, or can you actually see anything like galaxies and stuff?

With my 4" I could only see dots when looking at Jupiter or Saturn, but with the 16" you can actually see the planet. I asked the operator of the telescope if one could look at Andromeda through it and see amazing detail, and he said you wouldn't be able to recognize much because the telescope would be focusing on the stuff half a degree wide, and Andromeda is 2 degrees wide (you wouldn't know what you're looking at because it's too big to fit in the telescope!). He said to look at that galaxy you should just use a good pair of binoculars. I didn't ask about other galaxies, but I might tomorrow or the next time I go.
 
Daniel Y. said:
With my 4" I could only see dots when looking at Jupiter or Saturn, but with the 16" you can actually see the planet. I asked the operator of the telescope if one could look at Andromeda through it and see amazing detail, and he said you wouldn't be able to recognize much because the telescope would be focusing on the stuff half a degree wide, and Andromeda is 2 degrees wide (you wouldn't know what you're looking at because it's too big to fit in the telescope!). He said to look at that galaxy you should just use a good pair of binoculars. I didn't ask about other galaxies, but I might tomorrow or the next time I go.

I have a pair of binos at home, but where in the sky do you look? I want to see a galaxy, with spiral arms, and UFOs and possibly a death star and destroyer battle ship.
 
Cyrus said:
I have a pair of binos at home, but where in the sky do you look? I want to see a galaxy, with spiral arms, and UFOs and possibly a death star and destroyer battle ship.

Sorry but you can't see the arms with binocular resolution! you can however see Andromeda galaxy as a better blur patch than what you eyes can see at dark site (Andromeda is a naked-eye object at sufficiently dark sky!).
 

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