Hi All,
I would like to add more to this. Viewing conditions make all the difference. Yes your scope must be of good quality and stable mount, eyepieces etc.
But optimum viewing conditions make all the difference. You have on most nights a part of the sky that is optimal for viewing. That is at you zenith and a few degrees around it. Also in what part of the sky the planets are located.
I remember in 1986 Mars been better to observe than in 2003. Why is this as Mars was a little bigger in 2003 than 86. I put this down to my viewing location has changed a lot over the years. In 1986 Mornington and the Mornington Peninsula was less populated. It has nearly doubled in that time. So the heat generated from all these houses make a difference.
Again I look at Jupiter and Saturn, when they where in the Southern constellations I had a much better view than I do now. I remember using 300x plus on both Planets.
Now and over the past few years I have not been able to.
Also I have found many times viewing the planets is much better between 3am and morning twilight. The air is much steadier and people have turned their heaters of and lights off.
Another case in point, last night I was looking for the Comet, no luck.
I however was able to see the double of Antares at 140x the seeing was very steady at the zenith. BUT Jupiter lower in the West was hopeless. I was looking over many houses and mine also and the heaters would have been on in most of them.
I could not get a decent Image at any magnification. So that small hole at the Zenith is really only the good place for high Mag.
On the brighter side both the big Planets are on there way south once again. So stick around the Viewing will get better as they head south.
Hope this helps.
