{"id":1226,"date":"2022-05-18T07:18:02","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T07:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stargazing.me.uk\/?p=1226"},"modified":"2022-05-18T07:21:41","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T07:21:41","slug":"what-does-the-moon-look-like-through-a-telescope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/?p=1226","title":{"rendered":"What Does The Moon Look Like Through A Telescope?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What the moon looks like through a telescope depends on the size (aperture) of the telescope you are using and your eyepiece magnification.<\/p>\n

Weather conditions as well as light and air pollution also affect how clear and sharp the moon appears.<\/p>\n

What Can You See On The Moon With A Telescope?<\/h2>\n

Being the closest celestial object to earth, we can get up close views of the moon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When the entire moon is in your telescope\u2019s field of view, it looks like a mostly smooth grey ball though you can see some faraway craters.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not until you start zooming in closer that you get a true picture of the moon\u2019s rugged surface.<\/p>\n

With most telescopes, you can see most of the moon\u2019s physical features including plains (called Luna mare), craters, and mountains.<\/p>\n

How clearly these features appear depends on the power and aperture of your telescope.<\/p>\n

What about the flag astronauts planted on the moon? Can you see it with a telescope?<\/p>\n

No, you cannot see the flag on the moon. It is far too small<\/a> even for large observatory telescopes to see.<\/p>\n

Which Is The Best Telescope For Observing The Moon?<\/h2>\n

You can observe the moon with just about any kind of telescope<\/a>. Because the moon is so close, even the smallest telescope (70mm or 2.8 inches) can show you the moon.<\/p>\n

So you don’t need to spend money on an expensive large aperture telescope to observe the moon. Telescopes with an aperture between 2.8 and 5 inches are enough to see the moon and planets.<\/p>\n

Of course, the views will not be as crisp or detailed compared to a 6 inch plus telescope. If you want to take a really good look at the moon\u2019s craters, a 6 to 10 inch telescope is perfect.<\/p>\n

It also lets you zoom in close without a big deterioration in image quality.<\/p>\n

By the way, if you don’t have a telescope at the moment, a pair of binoculars<\/a> also works great for observing the moon. For best results, make sure they have a magnification of at least 7x.<\/p>\n

How Telescope Aperture Affects The Appearance Of The Moon<\/h2>\n

Whether you are looking at the moon, observing Jupiter<\/a> or trying to view the Andromeda galaxy, the bigger the aperture, the better you\u2019ll be able to see stuff in the sky.<\/p>\n

The aperture refers to the diameter of the primary lens and it determines how much light your telescope is able to collect.<\/p>\n

With the moon, you don’t need a large telescope, although it doesn’t hurt to have one. You can still enjoy some amazing views of the moon with a small aperture telescope.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to expect with different aperture sizes.<\/p>\n

Small telescopes (under 6 inches)<\/h3>\n

Small telescopes are generally those with an aperture between 2.8 and 5 inches (70-127mm).<\/p>\n

When you fit the entire moon into your field of view, you can see seemingly tiny craters and valleys, but the moon doesn’t appear to be very rugged.<\/p>\n

You can also see dark and whiter areas, but the contrast is not much.<\/p>\n

Start zooming in (with a high power eyepiece<\/a> or barlow) and you\u2019ll start to make out more physical features such as craters, mountains, and ridges.<\/p>\n

As you zoom in, however, the image loses some clarity and focus. Features on the moon are easy to make out, but they are not sharp or very detailed.<\/p>\n

Zoom too much and you go beyond the telescope\u2019s capability.<\/p>\n

To give you an idea of what to expect, here\u2019s a video showing a live view of the moon through a 4 inch telescope.<\/p>\n