Celestron Astromaster 130EQ. Question.

[Arman]

Eya IIS.

Yet I'm turning to the professionals for advice.
There's one question that needs to be answered.
Not long ago, I bought the Astromaster 130EQ its been fine for observing the moon.
But when I go to look at Venus, (Brightest star in the south west)
I get to the highest magnification 324X. I just see as i normally would through my Barska 30x50 Binoculars.

Is my collimation out of whack?

How would I be able to fix this problem?
Is it too hard?
Or,
Any veterans out there that have had a Astromaster 130EQ, know how to do it from experience?

Many Thanks in advance! =)

Arman

[chris lewis]

Venus is a very difficult planet to observe even at the best of times mainly due to its location low in the horizon. You will not observe any surface features just white clouds. It currently has a 55% disk illumination. It will not show a cresent untill late Febuary.
At hi powers - like you are using you should see a bright oblong disk. 324x in a 5 in. Newt. however is really too much power.
Stick to the maximum of the 40x to inch rule - 40x5.in = 200x - maybe 50x per in. on very steady nights. More then that and you are just getting 'empty' magnification.
I would suggest lowering the magnification - say 150x- 175x as at very hi powers you are also magnifiing atmospheric turbulance. You really need very steady skies to observe Venus.
Just star test your Newt. against a bright star to ensure collimation - the secondary will be visible as a dark round hole that is centerd in the bright unfocused star.
Good luck