<p>Every scope has a minimum and maximum useful magnification (minimum on your scope is 18X and maximum is 152X - from specs on Telescope.com). Anything outside of those numbers will compromise your ability to see well through the scope. To figure out how best to make use of your scope within the restrictions of useful magnification, you need to start with how to calculate magnification from focal length.</p>

<p>The magnification is equal to the focal length of the telescope divided by the focal length of the eyepiece. For example, your 25mm eyepiece would allow you to get 28X magnification (700mm / 25mm = 28X). Using the same formula, your 10mm eyepiece would allow you to get 70X magnification. For an easy way to get close to 152X, you could purchase a simple 2X Barlow. (700mm / 10mm) * 2X = 140X. For now, start with your 25mm eyepiece and get used to the night sky through it. You can always step it up a bit with other eyepieces later.</p>

<p>So you want to see Jupiter? I think you should just barely be able to make out the dark bands in the atmosphere around 100X (so maybe a 6mm or 7mm eyepiece for your scope). You will definitely be able to see the Galilean Moons though. And speaking of moons, you should get a moon filter to cut down on the brightness when looking at our Moon. I've found it's best to observe the edge of the Moon where light turns to dark. The shadows created along the craters and mountains are magnificent to see. Enjoy!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T18:48:45.393Z
2015-02-16T18:48:45.393Z
user5569
<p>Often it helps to use colored filters that screw into the base of your eyepieces. They can increase the contrast of the details you are looking for. They are not very expensive and work quite well for this. You can also find used ones on many of the amateur astronomy sites that have a "classified" section. Different colors work better depending on the colors of the object you are observing. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T23:16:18.667Z
2015-02-17T23:16:18.667Z
TerryDH
<p>Telescope: Orion 09843 SpaceProbe 3,3 inch aperture(76mm), 700mm focal length, eyepieces - 25mm and 10mm focal lengths
Hi, I am very happy and excited to   see moon craters, Jupiter and Saturn. And planets like Mars, Venus, and Uranus are just looks 
like a brighter star but not able to see its surface color. Similarly Jupiter looks like white small ball 
instead of an orange surface. I am very much excited and  want to go bit closer. So please guide me list of eyepieces that I can use with this scope at least to see Jupiter  surface and big moon craters.</p>

<telescope><amateur-observing>
Which eyepieces I can use it for best viewing experience using my existing telescope?
Sureshkumar Menon
# Which eyepieces I can use it for best viewing experience using my existing telescope?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-16)

Telescope: Orion 09843 SpaceProbe 3,3 inch aperture(76mm), 700mm focal length, eyepieces - 25mm and 10mm focal lengths
Hi, I am very happy and excited to see moon craters, Jupiter and Saturn. And planets like Mars, Venus, and Uranus are just looks
like a brighter star but not able to see its surface color. Similarly Jupiter looks like white small ball
instead of an orange surface. I am very much excited and want to go bit closer. So please guide me list of eyepieces that I can use with this scope at least to see Jupiter surface and big moon craters.

**Tags:** telescope, amateur-observing


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-16. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Every scope has a minimum and maximum useful magnification (minimum on your scope is 18X and maximum is 152X - from specs on Telescope.com). Anything outside of those numbers will compromise your ability to see well through the scope. To figure out how best to make use of your scope within the restrictions of useful magnification, you need to start with how to calculate magnification from focal length.

The magnification is equal to the focal length of the telescope divided by the focal length of the eyepiece. For example, your 25mm eyepiece would allow you to get 28X magnification (700mm / 25mm = 28X). Using the same formula, your 10mm eyepiece would allow you to get 70X magnification. For an easy way to get close to 152X, you could purchase a simple 2X Barlow. (700mm / 10mm) \* 2X = 140X. For now, start with your 25mm eyepiece and get used to the night sky through it. You can always step it up a bit with other eyepieces later.

So you want to see Jupiter? I think you should just barely be able to make out the dark bands in the atmosphere around 100X (so maybe a 6mm or 7mm eyepiece for your scope). You will definitely be able to see the Galilean Moons though. And speaking of moons, you should get a moon filter to cut down on the brightness when looking at our Moon. I've found it's best to observe the edge of the Moon where light turns to dark. The shadows created along the craters and mountains are magnificent to see. Enjoy!


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-17. Score: 2

Often it helps to use colored filters that screw into the base of your eyepieces. They can increase the contrast of the details you are looking for. They are not very expensive and work quite well for this. You can also find used ones on many of the amateur astronomy sites that have a "classified" section. Different colors work better depending on the colors of the object you are observing.


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