With a beginner telescope, you can usually see craters on the Moon, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter and its moons, bright star clusters, and nebulae like the Orion Nebula. Larger telescopes reveal more detail and fainter objects, but realistic expectations are essential.
What Beginners Expect vs. What Telescopes Really Show
Why Telescopes Do Not Look like Hubble Images
By combining many individual photos captured with a specialized wide-spectrum camera, the professional astrophotographers who operate the Hubble Space Telescope produce vibrant astrophotos that give us a unique window into distant celestial structures. These photos don’t look like the views you can achieve through a telescope because much of the light captured in the photo falls outside the visual spectrum.
Why Visual Observing is Still Exciting
Seeing the dusty glow of a distant galaxy for the first time or Jupiter and its four brightest moons is an experience you won’t forget. While ordinary ground-based telescopes can’t capture the same level of detail and color commonly represented in professional astrophotos, they still provide a unique window into the many distant mysteries that lie just beyond our planet.
How Aperture and Sky Conditions Affect What You See
A telescope’s aperture is the front opening or primary lens. This opening controls the amount of light that reaches your eyes. Generally, telescopes with larger apertures collect more light and provide brighter views with more details.
Sky conditions, also known as seeing conditions, refer to various factors that affect the transparency of the night sky, such as light pollution, cloud cover, humidity, and dust. Poor sky conditions can significantly reduce the quality of your views, so it’s important to keep track of your local conditions and plan your viewing session ahead of time! To make sure your set up for success, don't forget to check out our Your First Night with a Telescope article to help you prepare fully for your night under the stars!
Learn about the best telescopes we suggest to beginners by reading this Best Telescopes for Beginners article!
What You Can See With a Small Telescope
The Moon
The Moon is the largest and brightest object in our night sky, so even a small telescope, 6” and lower for Dobsonians and between 60 mm-100 mm for refractors, can resolve its luminous landscapes.
Generally, when viewing the Moon through a small telescope and a low-power eyepiece, such as a 25 mm eyepiece, you’ll be able to see the entire lunar surface neatly framed against the backdrop of outer space. This pairing is an excellent choice if you want to view the Moon during the full and gibbous phases.
When viewing at higher magnifications, you’ll be able to see the hundreds of massive craters as well as the vast lunar seas, also known as marias. These dark patches on the lunar surface formed billions of years ago during the chaotic early stages of our solar system.
If you want to dive into the details and learn more about our closest cosmic companion, this Beginner’s Guide to the Moon has you covered!
Jupiter and Its Moons
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and the third brightest object in our night sky. When viewed without a telescope, it looks similar to bright stars; however, unlike the shine of a star that appears to twinkle in the sky, Jupiter's shine is distinctly steady. To learn more about the largest planet in our solar system, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Jupiter.
Due to its massive and bright size, Jupiter’s surface is easily resolved with a small telescope, such as a 4” Dobsonian or 60 mm-100 mm refractors with longer focal lengths. When using a moderately high-power eyepiece with a focal length of at least 10 mm, Jupiter appears as a brightly shining disk of white and pale yellow light. Across the surface, you’ll notice variations in color, ranging from bright white to softer yellows. If the timing is right, you might even be able to see Jupiter's Giant Red Spot. You’ll also notice three to four small “stars” orbiting nearby. Despite their pinpoint appearance, these aren't stars; they're the four brightest moons of Jupiter, also known as the Galilean satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto!
Saturn’s Rings
Viewing Saturn through a small telescope is certainly possible, but it's important to note that you won’t be able to see nearly as much detail as you can when viewing the Moon or Jupiter. You’ll need a high-power eyepiece with a focal length of at least 10 mm, but keep in mind your view will dim as you increase magnification, and you may not be able to separate the rings from the planet. Once you locate Saturn and bring your view into focus, you’ll immediately notice a pale dot framed with two distinct bumps on either side, which are the planet's famous rings. For viewing Saturn’s rings, much like the other brighter and more compact objects in our sky, you can use a 60 mm-90 mm refractor or a Dobsonian with an aperture of at least 4”, though a 6” is recommended for the best quality views while still sticking to the small aperture range.
Venus Phases
Venus is the closest planet to our own, and the second closest planet to the Sun. Due to its close proximity and highly reflective atmosphere, Venus appears extremely bright, making it the second brightest object in our night sky.
Unlike the planets further away from the Sun than Earth, Venus appears as a crescent or semicircle when viewed through a telescope. Much like our Moon, the phases of Venus are due to the orientation of its illuminated face when viewed from Earth. However, since Venus is much closer to the Sun than Earth, its illuminated face is always angled slightly away from our view, so it never appears fully illuminated like our Moon. You can view the phases of Venus with a telescope as small as 3”, though larger telescopes, even in the small-aperture category, would give better detail.
Bright Star Clusters
Star clusters are a great target for small telescopes, especially open star clusters, such as the Pleiades Cluster (M45) and the Beehive Cluster (M44). These wide star clusters are quite varied in shape, appearing as closely speckled patterns of light in unique constellation-like formations.
When viewed with a small telescope, even as small as a 3” or 4” telescope, bright globular clusters, such as the famous Hercules Cluster (M13), appear as densely packed pin-points of light, with the center most stars so tightly packed together that you can no longer make out the individual points.
What You Can See With a Medium Telescope
Orion Nebula
While most nebulae can only be viewed through a large aperture telescope, such as an 8” or larger, the Orion Nebulae stands out as a great target for viewers with medium telescopes, due to its inherent brightness and large size. When viewed through a medium telescope, the Orion Nebula appears as a bright field of stars with a misty teal haze surrounded by pale clouds in wing-like formation. If viewed from under dark skies, you may even be able to see faint hues of purple and magenta framing the outermost edge of the wings.
Andromeda Galaxy
When viewed through a medium telescope, such as a 150 mm Newtonian reflector, and under dark skies, the Andromeda Galaxy can be seen with its faint dusty arms stretched out around a hazy core. Keep in mind the Andromeda galaxy is a very large, low contrast celestial object, so a lower-power, wider-field telescope is best to use when viewing this galaxy.
More Planetary Detail
Thanks to their wider apertures, medium telescopes, such as a 100 mm refractor, will give you the option to use higher power eyepieces and resolve slightly more detail on the surface of the planets. This is most noticeable with Jupiter, which can be difficult to see with a small telescope. When viewed through a medium-sized telescope, the distinct bands of gas clouds that wrap across Jupiter’s surface display more variation in color and shape. When viewing other planets, like Mars, you might be able to make out a faint patch of white at the Martian poles, however, this feature is usually only viewable when Mars is in opposition with the Sun and closest to Earth.
Globular Clusters
When viewed with a medium aperture telescope such as a 150 mm Newtonian reflector, globular clusters, such as the famous Hercules Cluster (M13), appear as densely packed pin-points of light, with the center most stars so tightly packed together that you can barely make out the individual points.
What You Can See With a Larger Telescope
More Deep-Sky Objects
Large telescopes, which typically fall into the 8”+ aperture category, with long focal lengths, not only collect more light, but they also provide better views when using high-power eyepieces. This means that when viewing through a large telescope, you’ll have access to a wider range of targets, including distant galaxies, nebulae, and globular star clusters. Are you looking for a list of the best beginner-friendly deep sky objects? If you want to find out more about the best beginner-friendly deep sky targets, check out our guide covering the Best Deep Sky Objects for Beginners!
More Detail in Nebulae and Planets
If you want to see more structure in the vast clouds of dust surrounding nebulae, and more detail on the surface of the planets, a large telescope will certainly help. Larger telescopes, such as a 120 mm refractor, especially those with wide apertures and reflector-based optics, like the 8” Dobsonian, can collect enough light to resolve the faint details in many deep sky objects. Thanks to their wider apertures and higher focal lengths, large telescopes also provide better views at higher magnifications, making them a great option for viewing the planets as well!
Why Bigger is Not Always Better for Beginners
Large telescopes often have longer focal lengths, and they require more precision and patience to operate. This is due to the speed at which objects appear to move when viewed at high magnification, making it tricky to keep them centered in the view. A smaller telescope, with a shorter focal length, provides more breathing room for beginners, meaning you won’t need to adjust the position of the telescope nearly as much.
What You Can See by Telescope Size
|
Telescope Size |
Best Objects |
Typical Detail Level |
|
Small |
The Moon, Star Clusters, Bright Nebulae |
Bright & sharp when viewed at lower magnifications, dim and hazier viewing with higher magnifications. |
|
Medium |
Planets, Star Clusters, Bright Nebulae |
Faint structures, more surface detail, more stars. |
|
Large |
Planets, Galaxies, and Nebulae |
Structures visible in gas clouds, more variation in color, and brighter features. |
How Light Pollution Changes What You Can See
City Skies vs. Suburban Skies vs. Dark Skies
While aperture, optical quality, and focal length all factor into the kind of views you can enjoy through a telescope, sky conditions, such as light pollution, will significantly limit the kind of objects you can view. Viewing in city skies, for example, can greatly reduce the ability to see even bright objects through your telescope because of light pollution from objects such as street lights, which produce mercury and sodium-vapor and cast an orange glow. Suburban skies can also be impacted by light pollution, making it difficult to see stars and other celestial objects. CLS and other light pollution filters are great for blocking out the wavelengths from artificial light if you are unable to leave the city, but the best solution is to find a dark sky site away from cities and neighborhoods.
A great way to check the viability of your skies is to look up the Bortle rating of your location. The Bortle Scale dictates how well you can view celestial objects and takes into account light pollution and sky glow. The lower the number on the Bortle Scale, the better your viewing opportunities. For example, a Bortle 1 will give infinitely better views than a Bortle 7 sky.
What Objects Still Work Well from Brighter Skies
It’s commonly thought you can’t use a telescope under light-polluted skies, however, this belief isn’t entirely correct. While it’s true that some objects, such as galaxies and nebulae, are extremely difficult to view under light-polluted skies, brighter objects, like the Moon and planets, are easily viewed, regardless of light pollution.
Light Pollution Impact Chart
|
Sky Condition |
Best Targets |
Difficulty |
|
City (Bortle 7+) |
Planets, Moon |
Deep Sky (Hard) |
|
Suburban (Bortle 6-3) |
Planets, Moon |
Deep Sky (Moderate) |
|
Dark Sky (Bortle 2-0) |
Planets, Moon |
Deep Sky (Easy) |
How to See More With Any Telescope
Let Your Eyes Adapt to Darkness
You might be surprised to learn that by simply letting your eyes adjust to the dark, you can improve your views with any telescope. Our eyes have evolved to work in a wide range of lighting conditions, and even though we can’t see in the dark as well as most animals, we can still adapt to the dark better than you might think. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes for you to begin adapting to dark conditions, and in just 30 minutes, your eyes will reach peak dark adaptation. However, you’ll want to avoid bright light sources like white LED flashlights, as they will slow down and even reverse the dark adaptation process. Many astronomers and night sky enthusiasts rely on red LED lights, as these light sources provide enough illumination to navigate your surroundings without disrupting your natural dark adaptation process.
Use Lower Magnification First
Lower magnification eyepieces give you access to more light, which means your views will be brighter, sharper, and easier to see. By starting your viewing session with a low-power eyepiece, you’ll not only be able to see more, you’ll also be able to practice the skills needed to operate your telescope, such as locating, tracking, and focusing on various targets. This practice will give you a strong foundation that will make it easy to use higher-power eyepieces and larger telescopes.
Observe When the Target is High in the Sky
When you view an object in our night sky, the light that reaches your telescope first passes through our atmosphere, which can bend and distort its path. This interference increases over distance, which is why stars near the horizon rapidly twinkle. This is also why our Moon appears yellow and hazy when near the horizon. If you want to ensure you get the best possible views, wait until your target is high in the night sky. If you want to find out which objects you can view tonight, check out this guide covering the Best Things to See in the Night Sky Tonight.
Use Realistic Expectations and Patience
Before you launch into an exciting journey under the stars, be sure you are ready for Your First Night With a Telescope. Remember, learning how to properly use a telescope takes time, patience, and realistic expectations. If you expect to see rich displays of nebulosity gleaming in vibrant colors such as the sights often represented in astrophotos, you’re going to face some real disappointment when you first point your telescope at a distant deep sky object. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t catch a glimpse of the truly spectacular objects that decorate our night sky; you just need to know what to look for and have the patience needed to find it!
For more information on starting your telescope journey, check out our Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners article!
Expectation vs Reality Table
|
Object |
What Beginners Expect |
What They Usually See |
|
Moon |
A luminous sphere decorated with craters, valleys, marias, and many unique features. |
A luminous sphere decorated with craters, valleys, marias, and many unique features. |
|
Jupiter |
Swirling bands of yellow, orange, and white clouds interrupted by a vibrant red spot. |
A bright, glowing disk with varied pale yellow and white bands. Sometimes accompanied by a dark spot. |
|
Orion Nebula |
Vibrant clouds with a range of hues from blue to magenta. A detailed structure speckled with bright and dim stars. |
Misty blue and teal clouds forming a wing-like structure around a bright field of stars. |
|
Andromeda Galaxy |
Rich spiral arms with hues of blue and purple, wrapping spirally around a brightly shining sphere of light. |
Faint, hazy gray clouds framing a dim orb of light. |
What This Means for Choosing a Beginner Telescope
The Best First Targets for New Astronomers
While the night sky is full of exciting objects to explore, it’s helpful to build your skills by locating and viewing beginner-friendly targets, such as the Moon, Jupiter, wide star clusters like the Pleiades Cluster, or bright nebulae like the Orion Nebula. These notable targets are easy to identify due to their size and proximity to notable constellations, and they can be viewed even under light-polluted skies!
How this Should Influence Your Buying Decision
When buying your first or second telescope, it’s important to have a sense of the quality of views you can achieve, and the amount of effort needed to operate the telescope and mount. If you are just starting out and plan to primarily view under suburban skies, a smaller or medium telescope will provide exciting views of our Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and many bright star clusters. If you have some experience with operating a telescope already and want to view under dark rural skies, a larger telescope will provide you the best chances to enjoy a wide variety of deep sky sights such as Galaxies and Nebulae.
If you want to learn more about choosing your first telescope, check out this guide covering the Best Telescope for Beginners.
FAQs
Can you see Saturn’s rings with a beginner telescope?
You can see Saturn’s rings through a small telescope, however, due to its distance, you won’t be able to see nearly as much detail as you can when viewing our Moon or Jupiter.
Can you see Jupiter’s moons with a small telescope?
Yes, you can easily see Jupiter’s four brightest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, even with a small telescope. These bright Galilean satellites appear as small points of light orbiting near Jupiter, often in an orderly line formation.
Can you see galaxies with a beginner's telescope?
Yes, even a small beginner telescope can resolve the faint features of a distant galaxy. If you want to view a galaxy through a small beginner telescope, it is suggested you view under the darkest skies to which you have access. This will give you the best chance to enjoy views of these distant deep sky objects.
Why don’t telescope views look like space photos?
Vibrant astrophotos, like those captured with massive space telescopes, rely on specialized cameras and complex processing techniques to reveal details that are otherwise hidden to our natural visual range.
What is the best thing to look at first with a telescope?
Our Moon is often the best target for your first time viewing through a telescope as it is easy to spot and track across the night sky. The distinct features across the luminous surface also give you a chance to learn how to bring your telescope into focus before moving on to smaller and dimmer objects.
How does light pollution affect telescope viewing?
Light pollution can make it difficult to locate and enjoy views of many objects in our night sky. Both artificial light pollution and sky glow caused by our Moon, reduce the transparency of our atmosphere, and ultimately, make it difficult for light from distant celestial objects to reach the optics of your telescope.
About the Author
Since 1975, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars has been pointing aspiring astronomers in the right direction to realize their potential within the astronomy community. That’s over 50 years of introducing and fostering the amateur astronomy community with state-of-the-art equipment and the support they need to realize the goal of exploring the cosmos through visual observation and astrophotography. With Orion, you can trust the experts are ready to help, no matter which part of the astronomy journey you’re on.
