<p>Your telescope is not focused (most likely), or is having some major collimation issues (less likely).</p>

<p>Try and move the eyepiece back and forth a little. Go through the whole range of the focuser. You must catch the primary focal plane in order for the image to become clear.</p>

<p>If that doesn't work, pull the eyepiece out a few mm and try to move through the whole range again.</p>

<p>If that doesn't work, try a different eyepiece.</p>

<hr>

<p>The "advice" regarding the Moon filter is bogus. Be careful regarding what you hear on the Internet. The eye is certainly capable of adapting to various levels of brightness. Even with very large telescopes, the Moon filter is useless. All it does is reduce the brightness and contrast - the former is no big deal, but the latter is a major loss. You can never have enough contrast in a telescope.</p>

<p>When the Moon is visible, there's no point in going through deep dark adaptation anyway, because the "faint fuzzies" are obscured by Moon's glare. When I watch the Moon, I do it from a fully illumined backyard, or even on the street under the street lights. In fact, this is the best way to observe this object - no filters, but have some ambient light around you. Your eyes will function at optimal parameters.</p>

<p>Deep dark adaptation is only needed when observing faint nebulae and galaxies. But such objects can be observed in good conditions only when the Moon is below horizon.</p>

<p>Let me make it clear: <strong>a filter, any filter, will not fix the problem you're having</strong>, because it does not address the root cause.</p>

<p>Beware of most cases <strong>when the advice you receive is "use a filter". In 99% of cases, it's bogus.</strong> Many people own filters, but only a very small fraction know how to use them. In the vast, vast majority of cases you don't need any filters. Please steer clear of this superstition. It's a fad that vendors are more than happy to feed, because it makes them money.</p>

<p>There are legitimate ways to use filters (in the rare cases when they're justified), but that would be the subject of a different discussion - those rare cases are related to certain techniques of increasing the apparent contrast in the image. A neutral density filter (a.k.a. "moon filter") always decreases apparent contrast.</p>

<p>In this hobby, like in most other hobbies, a lot of people fixate on purchasing all sorts of accessories (in this case: filters), hoping to get extra performance, when all they need to do in reality is learn how to use the device / machine / etc (in this case: telescope) correctly. I see this tendency in all my other hobbies. It's unfortunate, and a huge money sink.</p>

<p>Save the money and use it instead towards purchasing a better telescope, or better eyepieces, or a good sky atlas, or an observing chair, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-26T07:41:27.550Z
Have you never looked at the moon through a telescope which has no moon filter and is not stopped down to a tiny fraction of its normal aperture? It is not a pleasant experience.
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-02T00:28:46.117Z
I find it pleasant in a 130mm reflector with a 25mm or 9mm eyepiece. Bright, certainly, but not painfully so.
Russell Borogove
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-01T21:47:12.967Z
Jeez! I never accepted this! I just recently got a notification for it., sorry! Haha!
PhilTheLawyer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-26T00:55:28.403Z
2015-06-26T01:12:41.817Z
2015-06-26T01:12:41.817Z
Florin Andrei
<p>You've put in the moon filter, right? The moon is awfully bright without it. In any case, take the scope out in the daytime, and try focusing on distant objects; the tree at the end of the block, or the radio tower on top of the hill at the edge of town. A scope is easier to learn how to use when you can see what you're doing. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-24T17:43:55.803Z
2015-06-24T17:43:55.803Z
Wayfaring Stranger
<p>I currently own a telescope, I'm an amateur astronomer and currently just trying to view the moon. I own the Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ. </p>

<p>Link for information on the telescope: <a href="http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/telescopes/powerseeker-70az-telescope" rel="nofollow">http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/telescopes/powerseeker-70az-telescope</a>  </p>

<p>The problem: I can't view the moon! All I see is a big ball of white, and since I'm new I thought I could get some advice for eyepieces:  mine being a regular 20mm eyepiece. I don't use a barlow lens, mine broke.</p>

<p>Thanks! If you want any more specifications, just ask. I'm just looking for help! Thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-03T04:02:11.330Z
A big *fuzzy* ball of white?  It sounds like you haven't focused the image. If that's the case, there should be a focusing knob somewhere on the telescope, you should see the image shift in or further out of focus as you turn it - just turn it until it's nice and crisp.
Mitch Goshorn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-03T04:07:28.650Z
I do use the knob, and it doesn't really do anything. It is fuzzy.
PhilTheLawyer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-03T04:50:58.210Z
The knob on the right, correct?  You've tried turning it both directions? While doing it can you see the image shifting at all?
Mitch Goshorn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-03T15:29:04.990Z
Now I see what I've done. I don't have a moon filter! You'd think these would come with it! Thanks, I'm looking forward to getting one.
PhilTheLawyer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-26T00:56:39.983Z
Don't bother with the Moon filter - if you use your telescope (and your eyes) correctly, it's a useless expense. See my reply below.
Florin Andrei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-26T01:08:28.113Z
Do you wear glasses? Did you remove your glasses to view through the scope?
LDC3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-01T21:45:23.350Z
First time I saw the moon was through a 1910 brass telescope from a grandmother. it was very clear.
bandybabboon
<telescope>
Why is the moon a fuzzy, white ball?
PhilTheLawyer
# Why is the moon a fuzzy, white ball?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-03)

I currently own a telescope, I'm an amateur astronomer and currently just trying to view the moon. I own the Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ.

Link for information on the telescope: <http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/telescopes/powerseeker-70az-telescope>

The problem: I can't view the moon! All I see is a big ball of white, and since I'm new I thought I could get some advice for eyepieces: mine being a regular 20mm eyepiece. I don't use a barlow lens, mine broke.

Thanks! If you want any more specifications, just ask. I'm just looking for help! Thanks!

**Tags:** telescope

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A big *fuzzy* ball of white?  It sounds like you haven't focused the image. If that's the case, there should be a focusing knob somewhere on the telescope, you should see the image shift in or further out of focus as you turn it - just turn it until it's nice and crisp.  
> **username_0**: I do use the knob, and it doesn't really do anything. It is fuzzy.  
> **username_1**: The knob on the right, correct?  You've tried turning it both directions? While doing it can you see the image shifting at all?  
> **username_0**: Now I see what I've done. I don't have a moon filter! You'd think these would come with it! Thanks, I'm looking forward to getting one.  
> **username_2**: Don't bother with the Moon filter - if you use your telescope (and your eyes) correctly, it's a useless expense. See my reply below.  
> **username_3**: Do you wear glasses? Did you remove your glasses to view through the scope?  
> **username_4**: First time I saw the moon was through a 1910 brass telescope from a grandmother. it was very clear.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-06-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Your telescope is not focused (most likely), or is having some major collimation issues (less likely).

Try and move the eyepiece back and forth a little. Go through the whole range of the focuser. You must catch the primary focal plane in order for the image to become clear.

If that doesn't work, pull the eyepiece out a few mm and try to move through the whole range again.

If that doesn't work, try a different eyepiece.

---

The "advice" regarding the Moon filter is bogus. Be careful regarding what you hear on the Internet. The eye is certainly capable of adapting to various levels of brightness. Even with very large telescopes, the Moon filter is useless. All it does is reduce the brightness and contrast - the former is no big deal, but the latter is a major loss. You can never have enough contrast in a telescope.

When the Moon is visible, there's no point in going through deep dark adaptation anyway, because the "faint fuzzies" are obscured by Moon's glare. When I watch the Moon, I do it from a fully illumined backyard, or even on the street under the street lights. In fact, this is the best way to observe this object - no filters, but have some ambient light around you. Your eyes will function at optimal parameters.

Deep dark adaptation is only needed when observing faint nebulae and galaxies. But such objects can be observed in good conditions only when the Moon is below horizon.

Let me make it clear: **a filter, any filter, will not fix the problem you're having**, because it does not address the root cause.

Beware of most cases **when the advice you receive is "use a filter". In 99% of cases, it's bogus.** Many people own filters, but only a very small fraction know how to use them. In the vast, vast majority of cases you don't need any filters. Please steer clear of this superstition. It's a fad that vendors are more than happy to feed, because it makes them money.

There are legitimate ways to use filters (in the rare cases when they're justified), but that would be the subject of a different discussion - those rare cases are related to certain techniques of increasing the apparent contrast in the image. A neutral density filter (a.k.a. "moon filter") always decreases apparent contrast.

In this hobby, like in most other hobbies, a lot of people fixate on purchasing all sorts of accessories (in this case: filters), hoping to get extra performance, when all they need to do in reality is learn how to use the device / machine / etc (in this case: telescope) correctly. I see this tendency in all my other hobbies. It's unfortunate, and a huge money sink.

Save the money and use it instead towards purchasing a better telescope, or better eyepieces, or a good sky atlas, or an observing chair, etc.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Have you never looked at the moon through a telescope which has no moon filter and is not stopped down to a tiny fraction of its normal aperture? It is not a pleasant experience.  
> **username_6**: I find it pleasant in a 130mm reflector with a 25mm or 9mm eyepiece. Bright, certainly, but not painfully so.  
> **username_0**: Jeez! I never accepted this! I just recently got a notification for it., sorry! Haha!  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2015-06-24. Score: 2

You've put in the moon filter, right? The moon is awfully bright without it. In any case, take the scope out in the daytime, and try focusing on distant objects; the tree at the end of the block, or the radio tower on top of the hill at the edge of town. A scope is easier to learn how to use when you can see what you're doing.


---

