got these telescope at a garage sale. When I look at the Moon, it's big, but Jupiter, all I could see were color rays. I am positive that I dont have it set up right. I am a 1st time user and didnt have the patience to read the whole manual. I put the Barlow thing on the lens piece as well, hoping that it would magnify it even more. Nope. I'm green.
what do I need to do 1st? check what piece and correctly put it where? See how I have it.
Also, best not to use the Barlow lens, and use a low powered eyepiece. The scope is best suited for lunar observing, and is a bit too small for detailed planet observing.
You are looking at jupiter through a window? try outside.
When correctly focused, you should be able to see that Jupiter has two cloud bands with this scope - if not then something is distorting the optics (ie misalignment or old optics, or hopefully just atmospheric distortion).
I have an old telescope similar to this one-looks the same, I am trying to look at Jupiter and all I can see is the prisims, not the planet. what am I doing wrong?
* Tasco 3.5" Catadioptric Telescope * Up to 200x magnification in a very compact telescope * Ideal for travelling and easy storage. * Focal Length: 600mm * Eyepieces 6mm and 20mm + 2x Barlow and photo adapter tube * Equatorial Mount * 16" metal tripod * Moon filter * 5 x 24 Finderscope