|
Hi Prova, it would definitely be Jupiter. I imagine it was almost overhead at the time?
The reason you couldn't see any detail is likely because:
a) The scope is not properly collimated. Most scopes will require collimation when they come out of the box. Now that you're a newtonian owner, it's a skill you MUST learn. Don't be afraid of it, read plenty of resources, and get help from other amateurs that live near you (astro socieities?)
b) The scope is not properly cooled. When the mirror is much warmer than the ambient temperature, you get a boundary layer of air which distorts the image and blurs any fine detail.
c) The seeing was bad. Jetstream and other local and atmospheric conditions all contribute to the "seeing" - that is, the turbulence in the atmosphere. Again, this distorts and refracts the light as it's coming down through the atmopshere and blurs the image, robbing you of the chance to see any fine detail. You'll notice the image wobbling about like jelly.
d) Observing is a skill. and like any skill, it takes practise to master. On Tuesday night, I showed a member of the public Jupiter through my 12" newt. I can tell you it was properly collimated, but there were temperature issues and the seeing was not good either. However when looking at Jupiter, I could still make out the main belts and some finer detail in the equatorial regions. All he could see was a white blob.
It takes practise to know what to look for and to know what you're looking at. More experience at the scope, under better and different conditions, improves your skill as an observer and you can start to see things that you couldn't when you first started.
I hope that helps.
btw, I'll move this to observing forum.
|