INSTRUMENTS

ASTRAL TELESCOPE

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OTHER CELESTIAL OBJECTS

THE PLANETS
Not all planets in the solar system are observable with a small telescope.

Mercury: in rare moments when it is observable at dawn or at sunset, it shows as a pale and tiny disc with no special details even when observed with a professional telescope.

Uranus and Neptune: even though visible for longer periods, they are too far away to show up as more than weak discs.

Pluto: the smallest and most distant of the planets in the solar system. It can only be observed by a professional telescope.

Observation of the planets requires high-level magnification and resolution. For this reason it is recommended to use an ocular which offers a magnification of at least 75 times and, naturally, oculars with a short focal length. Use of a Barlow lens could be useful. All the other planets are pleasant to observe, and if must be underlined that a city sky is sufficient for the observation. It is important, however,  the atmosphere should be calm, even if not clear and limpid, in order to note all the details.
We shall now go on to analyse these details.

VENUS
This is the most splendid of the stars in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. It is easy to observe insofar as it is always near the sun and it can be seen at dawn or at sunset. It is covered by tight clouds and does not have any great superficial details of interest. Its only visible detail is its phase, similar in ail its details to that of the Moon. The evolution of this is periodic.
At times it is possible to observe Venus as though it were a slim crescent, as a half disc or as a full disc. Observation at twilight is recommended, and not when it is close to the horizon, because when it is in this position the atmosphere is often turbulent and the images obtained under these conditions are disturbed, shaky and so offer very little detail. The level of magnification advised varies, between 50X and 166X. Use of colored filters, which may be attached to the ocular, offer certain advantages. These can help to highlight certain details in the atmosphere of Venus.

MARS
This is called the "red planet" because of its brick-red color. Its dimensions are quite small and, notwithstanding its relative closeness (this varies) to the Earth, it is quite difficult to note particular details of its surface, apart from its polar ice caps. These bring out the brilliant white color on the planet's red surface. Every two years, Mars is particularly near, and therefore it can be found in "opposition". Its apparent dimensions are bigger and so offer more details to the observer. There are large dark spots which are fun to draw in a notebook. The comparison between the drawings of these spots made on different days will highlight the rotation of Mars on its axis. This rotation takes place every twenty four hours. Even in this case, it would be useful to use a high level of magnification variable between 100 and 250 rimes. It is possible to use filters of various different colors in order to highlight the details. The most useful filter to use is the red-orange one.

JUPITER
It is the largest of the planets in our solar system and is made up almost exclusively of gas.
It rotates in a whirling motion on its axis. With the telescope you will be able to note 4 main satellites rotating around it and moving at a perceptible speed. Two parallel stripes may be observed on the disc, and these are called Equatorial Bands. Tropical atmospheric currents are in question here and these have considerable speed. Other bands may be distinguished, as well as spots, among which is the famous Large Red Spot, situated in the hemisphere of the planet. Frequent oblique "festoons' in the zone may be observed between the two equatorial bands. Your telescope should be used at a magnification level of at least 100 in order to observe these among Jupiter's details.

SATURN
This is, without a doubt, the most beautiful of the planets because of the famous ring that surrounds it. It is perfectly visible at a magnification level of 50 and, this can be increased to 200 times without causing problems. During the evening, particularly calm and limpid evenings, the dark side of the equatorial zone of Saturn's globe can be seen. In order to highlight this detail, you should use a yellow filter.
Even Saturn has many natural satellites, and the biggest of these, Titan, is always visible at a certain distance from the planet, while three others can be seen on good evenings.