[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

What you are doing wrong is expecting instant success, sorry, running before you can walk, I agree with 99% of JKs comments.

Also attached are 2 images of what you can expect to see of Mars and Jupirter I think with VERY good seeing and practice, no more, and that is pushing it

As a photographer (professional, Journalist, National union of Journalists, sports photographer) when I buy a new lens, my first images are CRAP, like anything it takes time LEARNING to use what you have.

Like all things time and patience and more time and leaning perhaps weeks of trial and error that is all, though I would have bought a dob to start with as a beginner anyway, most astronomers I know have one as well

Near gear has to be learned, no astronomer I know has one, we buy what is needed and build on experience.

The scope is good

I would not buy a scope that does not take 2" eyepieces, I disagree with jeniskiunk on ONE point though the eyepieces are not the best, kits ARE a way for suppliers to sell most things NO ONE needs, but they are NOT poor quality. KEEP them, people buy eyepieces as and when they need them, and chose specific ones, not buying what suppliers say they need, my main ones are Baader MK4 zoom, 2" 8mm, 5mm, 18mm, 25mm and 30mm, the 1.25 eyepieces are for the binoviewers

the only advice I can offer is never buy a scope before joining either a club or a forum

You do have a GOOD scope, LEARN IT, takes time

JS says

"A goto telescope is only as good as its aligned at the start of a viewing session. For someone new to astronomy, a goto scope seems an easy solve to knowing what to look for and knowing what you're looking at. But the telescope has to be properly aligned so the goto mount can do its work properly."


BOY is that true, it took me a MONTH to get used to my Celestron Edge see image, frustrated and annoying