Top 5 tips for improving planetary views with your telescope

Our top five tips to coax the best possible views of planets regardless of the size or cost of your telescope. Scroll down for product links.

It doesn't matter if your telescope costs tens or thousands, it always makes sense to try to get the best views your equipment is capable of when observing planets. And sometimes improving the view involves no more than selecting the best site available to you to set up the telescope or using the telescope within its ideal power range. This video will give you the information you need to consistently get the best views of planets with your telescope.

Here's Robert's selection of the best value telescope accessories:

Celestron Cheshire collimating eyepiece for reflecting telescopes:

Upgraded mirror star diagonal. The SvBony is the best value and can be expected to upgrade your existing model if it is of all plastic construction typically supplied with a starter telescope. The Orion is a high-performance model, and this is reflected in the price, but it will typically upgrade all star diagonals bundled with telescopes (even the ones supplied with more expensive telescopes):

For the "Swiss army knife" of filters, a good quality 80A blue filter, ideal for telescopes over 100mm aperture:

For telescopes under 100mm aperture an 82A blue would be better as it's a little less dense:

Light Yellow no 8 filter to suppress the false colour and improve the contrast of basic achromatic refractors:

00:00 Hello!
00:28 First tip for planets
00:52 For reflector users
01:04 The bad news
01:24 The collimation eyepiece
01:49 For refractor users
02:03 The star diagonal
02:56 The odd-sounding truth about star diagonals
03:30 Understanding the power of the telescope
06:23 Get a good Barlow first (replace the one that came with the scope!)
07:04 Understanding the power of the Barlow
08:05 Upgrading eyepieces
09:09 The humble Kellner eyepiece
09:49 Eyepiece filters
10:00 The Blue 80a filter - the Swiss army knife of filters!
10:33 The no8 yellow to improve low-cost refractors
11:28 A tip for using filters quickly
11:57 Optimising your view
13.00 When to observe to see more
13:22 Sky conditions
14:10 The environment of the telescope
14:33 Temperature and optical performance
15:25 Avoid heat sources in the observing path
16:30 Closing remarks and sign off.

Disclosures: All opinions are our own. If you click on one of the product links above and choose to make a purchase, our channel will receive a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate/Affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Presented by Robert J Dalby FRAS

Produced by DB Video Services for Astronomy and Nature TV

[calvinwon]

This is fantastic information, especially for a beginner like myself. As a child, I always drooled over the telescopes in stores that were too expensive for my parents to even consider getting for me. Now at the age of 33, I am finally able to afford a basic reflector scope. Two nights ago, I saw Saturn’s rings for the first time in real life, and I almost shed some tears! I’ve seen countless images of planets. But there’s something different about seeing them in real life!

[T.K.]

First day of buying my first ever 102mm Telescope. Very clear UK night, did see some stars and found out that the bright one near the moon was not a satellite but actually Jupiter.

Then on my nightshift work break time, I watched this video.

The next night I was off, I went out again armed by the info in this video.

I finally was able to use the magnifications, focusing and changing barlows correctly!

Saw the moon at max zoom with all its craters, Jupiter and its moons, Saturn and its rings, and more!

I think this is one of the best video to watch if you are a beginner. Really really highly recommend this. Full of info to get you started correctly!

In the end of watching, I had a paper of my calculations for my 102mm Celestron 😄 haha

[robertbowen]

I really appreciate your videos as I am 67 years old and decided to try to do a little photography again many anvances in the hobby

[Healitnow]

I went to my first star party in 1985 and bought my first telescope then. I decided to watch this video as a refresher and am pleased to say if any of you are newer to astronomy, this is the best, most complete video of practical accurate tips I have ever seen in one place. This is a bookmark and refer to when in need video for all of us.

[edwardbourke]

Thank You Very Much GREAT TIPS. Just beginning in this field. It started for me in Vietnam. At night I would always look at the sky and say, " My love and I can see the same stars." My way of saying good night to her.

[frst.]

me, who can't even afford a Telescope: _aight bois, this is interesting.._

[DavidMFChapman]

For any telescope, if you use an eyepiece with a focal length (in mm) equal to the f/ratio, the magnification is equal to the aperture (in mm). For example, your 80 mm refractor with 900 mm focal length is f/11 (close enough), so an 11 mm eyepiece gives you 80X. Add a 2X Barlow and you're at the maximum magnification for that telescope. It's just another way of reckoning that I like.

[Healitnow]

I have just recently upgraded my star diagonal and the effect was roughly a doubling of the image quality. I was surprised but pleased and am now enjoying a scope I had actually some regrets about buying. It made that much difference.

[atU]

I'm a beginner and this was the most valuable lesson I've watched so far. Big THANK YOU!

[ronhill]

excellent THANK YOU!!! I have been observing Jupiter at the wrong angle for days wonder WTH is wrong with my 10 inch Dob, . what a relief to know its not my scope.... it the operator.   lol

[martynh]

Found that my new 8” SCT was just slightly off on collimation. Took me a while to tweak it in but now it’s good! That alone made a difference. I have a new star diagonal on order along with eyepieces that are likely to be better than the ones that come with the scope. At least the new eyepieces will be easier to use as they have much more eye relief!

[norbertmelcher]

My brand new Celestron 114 mm reflector telescope appeared to be perfectly collimated, however after I used my collimating eye piece, I realized that it needed to be collimated. Once I collimated it i was able to get clear crisp views of Jupiter. I actually saw details on the cloud bands in bad seeing conditions.

[lincolnx]

This is great info for beginners and those of us who have been "trying" for a while. Ive watched a lot of how to videos and really appreciate your explanation for how to calculate max magnification. Cheers

[johnwright]

One tip that I found very useful is that at dusk if there are cotton candy looking clouds it means it will clear up at dark and the atmosphere will be dry providing great views. Your absolutely right about very short millimeter eye pieces. I have 7 eye pieces which I'm sure you think is to many but the only one I regret buying is a 5 MM plossl because the eye relief is so short I have to press my eye into it to get a view.

[themainediverschannel]

You sir you have explained the math and formulas on power and lenses that I for the first time can understand and do the math myself in all the years of having astronomy as a hobby. Being dislexic and adhd made it impossible, so I thought, that I'd never understand the math. I have subscribed to your channel and have been made so happy today in seeing "more" out of astronomy that I longed for all these years besides just "seeing threw the lens".

[Texxavy]

Thank you for keeping this video up after all this time. It's extremely informative and very helpful, being new to the field. Great work!

[reivax]

This channel has consistently brilliant content.

Much admired, recommended and missed.

[deanmindock]

Lots of practical info with no sales pitches. Thank you.

[normandanao]

very good orator speaker thank you, at my age so difficult to understand sometimes people speaking gibberish at 200 kph. I recently reopened my ETX 105 to enjoy with the new family. Forgot so much and 15 yrs of being in a box lots of maintenance was required and looking into upgrades to improve our experience. thank you for your formulas they will be of value to us. We're so excited we ordered another ETX 125 so all can enjoy

[bassinbob]

FINALLY!! I have found someone who explained these topics in a way that I could understand them. Watch this video if you are trying to understand the basics of telescope theory. I promise you won't regret it and help the gentleman out by liking and subscribing since he's taken his time to make and post this video. I'm sure it took longer to make and post this video than it would take us to click the mouse a few times. Thanks Robert for dedicating your personal time to teach us about this fantastic subject.