{"id":2279,"date":"2024-06-10T14:58:10","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T13:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/popastro-com.stackstaging.com\/lunar\/?page_id=2279"},"modified":"2024-09-01T11:06:31","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T10:06:31","slug":"binos-and-telescopes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/binos-and-telescopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Binoculars and telescopes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><!-- WP Menubar 5.9.4: start menu moonwatch, template Suckerfish_45, CSS sf-blue.css -->\n\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n\/\/ <![CDATA[\r\n\twpm1_Hover = function() {\r\n\tvar wpmEls = document.getElementById(\"wpm1\").getElementsByTagName(\"li\");\r\n\tfor (var i=0; i<wpmEls.length; i++) {\r\n\t\twpmEls[i].onmouseover = function() {\r\n\t\t\tthis.className += \" wpmhover\";\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t\twpmEls[i].onmouseout = function() {\r\n\t\t\tthis.className = this.className.replace(new RegExp(\" wpmhover\\\\b\"), \"\");\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n}\r\nif (window.attachEvent) window.attachEvent(\"onload\", wpm1_Hover);\r\n\/\/ ]]>\r\n<\/script>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"sf-blue-before\"><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"wpm1\" class=\"sf-blue\">\r\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/\" >Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/\" >Observing<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/moon-lighting\/\" >Moon Lighting<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/how-much-can-you-see\/\" >How much can you see?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/seas-and-mountains\/\" >Seas and mountains<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/binos-and-telescopes\/\" >Binoculars and telescopes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/drawing-the-moon\/\" >Drawing the Moon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/getting-to-know\/\" >Getting to know the Moon<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/exploration\/\" >Exploration<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/exploration\/landings-timeline\/\" >Landings and Timeline<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/exploration\/apollo-to-the-moon\/\" >Apollo to the Moon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/exploration\/meeting-challenge\/\" >Meeting the Challenge<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/exploration\/driving-and-hills\/\" >Driving to the Hills<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/exploration\/apollo-timeline\/\" >Apollo Timeline<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/lunar-geology\/\" >Geology<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/lunar-geology\/how-it-formed\/\" >How The Moon Formed<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/lunar-geology\/moon-rocks-quakes\/\" >Moon Rocks and Quakes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/lunar-geology\/what-its-made-of\/\" >What the Moon is Made Of<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/lunar-geology\/lunar-gardening\/\" >Lunar Gardening and Craters<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/lunar-geology\/wrinkles-and-meanders\/\" >Wrinkles and Meanders<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/vital-moon\/\" >The Vital Moon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/art-and-culture\/\" >Art and Culture<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/art-and-culture\/moon-paintings\/\" >The Moon in Paintings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/art-and-culture\/moon-stamps\/\" >The Moon in Stamps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/moon-trivia\/\" >Moon Trivia<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"sf-blue-after\"><\/div>\r\n<!-- WP Menubar 5.9.4: end menu moonwatch, template Suckerfish_45, CSS sf-blue.css -->\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:40% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/?attachment_id=2282\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"318\" src=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/MOF3_263.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2282 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/MOF3_263.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/MOF3_263-300x239.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Features to look for with binoculars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Viewed through binoculars, the Moon\u2019s surface resolves into a remarkable collection of seas, mountains and dozens of craters. If the binoculars are of sound optical quality \u2013 whether they are diminutive&nbsp;8 x 20s&nbsp;or a giant pair of&nbsp;15 x 80s&nbsp;\u2013 they will show enough detail to enable the observer to follow the appearance of the larger features throughout the lunar day. There&#8217;s more advice about choosing binoculars <a href=\"\/help-and-advice\/using-and-choosing-binoculars-for-astronomy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the whole, binoculars have the advantage of being less expensive, easier to transport and to use, more able to withstand knocks and more useful for terrestrial purposes than telescopes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Moon passes by some lovely star groupings during the lunar month, and binoculars are the best way of viewing the Moon in a low power wide field. The use of a simple steadying rod or a lightweight photographic tripod will increase the effectiveness of any binoculars and enhance anyone\u2019s enjoyment of Moon watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Using a telescope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples of just about every type of lunar feature can be seen through a telescope as small as a 60 mm <a href=\"\/help-advice\/choosing-a-telescope\/2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">refractor<\/a>, including faults, valleys, wrinkle ridges and domes. It is an impressive sight which, in the four centuries since Galileo first scanned the lunar landscape with his tiny refractor, few amateur astronomers have ever grown weary aof. For help in identifying the features you can see, you can use NASA&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/moon.nasa.gov\/moon-observation\/daily-moon-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">interactive Moon map<\/a> which shows you the Moon as it will appear in your night sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three good eyepieces of different magnifications should be enough to satisfy any lunar observer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. A low power eyepiece with a field of view which can comfortably accommodate the whole lunar disc. This may be used for general sightseeing, introducing friends and family to the Moon\u2019s surface, or lunar eclipse observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. An eyepiece of medium power (say&nbsp;80x to 150x) for more detailed observation and most lunar observing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. A high power <a href=\"\/help-advice\/choosing-a-telescope\/3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"eyepiece\">eyepiece<\/a>. As a guide, if the diameter of your objective lens or mirror in millimetres is tripled then this figure will be around the right kind of magnification for this particular eyepiece, eg., 180x for a 60 mm&nbsp;refractor. This eyepiece can be used if seeing conditions permit (when Earth\u2019s atmosphere isn\u2019t making the Moon appear to shimmer too much) and fine detail needs to be discerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Eyepieces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three good <a href=\"\/help-advice\/choosing-a-telescope\/3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">eyepieces <\/a>of different magnifications should be enough to satisfy any lunar observer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. A low power eyepiece with a field of view which can comfortably accommodate the whole lunar disc. This may be used for general sightseeing, introducing friends and family to the Moon\u2019s surface, or lunar eclipse observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. An eyepiece of medium power (say&nbsp;80x to 150x) for more detailed observation and most lunar observing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. A high power eyepiece. As a guide, if the diameter of your objective lens or mirror in millimetres is tripled then this figure will be around the right kind of magnification for this particular eyepiece, eg., 180x for a 60 mm&nbsp;refractor. This eyepiece can be used if seeing conditions permit (when Earth\u2019s atmosphere isn\u2019t making the Moon appear to shimmer too much) and fine detail needs to be discerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 38%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no shortage of fine lunar detail, and the ability to resolve it (assuming good seeing conditions) depends on the diameter of the telescope\u2019s objective lens or mirror. Under the right illumination, a crater as small as six kilometres can be discerned in a 60 mm refractor, while a 150 mm telescope will show a crater less than half this size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right: A drawing of the Apollo 11<br>landing site. The smallest features<br>visible are about 5 km across<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/apolloXIa.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2283 size-full\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"217\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/telescope-mag-crater-table.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2284 size-full\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The table here should serve as a rough guide, though the constantly changing angle of illumination engages the Moon\u2019s relief features in a perpetual game of hide and seek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So you can see that even a large amateur telescope will not show anything smaller than a kilometre or so across, even under ideal observing conditions. And no telescope on Earth will reveal the Apollo capsules or anything similar.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Next: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/drawing-the-moon\/\" title=\"\">Drawing the Moon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"974\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/moon_guide_bottom.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/moon_guide_bottom.jpg 974w, https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/moon_guide_bottom-300x9.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/moon_guide_bottom-768x22.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/06\/moon_guide_bottom-600x17.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 974px) 100vw, 974px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Features to look for with binoculars Viewed through binoculars, the Moon\u2019s surface resolves into a remarkable collection of seas, mountains and dozens of craters. If the binoculars are of sound optical quality \u2013 whether they are diminutive&nbsp;8 x 20s&nbsp;or a<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/binos-and-telescopes\/\"><span>Read more<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":2246,"parent":2258,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2279","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.5 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Features to look for with binoculars Viewed through binoculars, the Moon\u2019s surface resolves into a remarkable collection of seas, mountains and dozens of craters. If the binoculars are of sound optical quality \u2013 whether they are diminutive 8 x 20s or a giant pair of 15 x 80s \u2013 they will show enough detail to enable the observer to\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/lunar\/moonwatch\/observing\/binos-and-telescopes\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.5\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lunar Section - Astronomy for everyone\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Binoculars and telescopes - Lunar Section\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Features to look for with binoculars Viewed through binoculars, the Moon\u2019s surface resolves into a remarkable collection of seas, mountains and dozens of craters. 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