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Old 01-02-2010, 12:19 PM
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Liz
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Beautiful SE Tassie
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Owyman

As Sheeny says, expectations can lead to disappointment. You see these gorg pics of the planets taken with big scopes and expensive cameras, and when you look yourself, it is small in the eyepiece, but still exciting!!
At the moment, later in the night, Mars and Saturn are visible. Your scope should show some detail on Mars, but as Sheeny says, it depends on the conditions. Its better viewing the planets when they are higher in the sky, away frokm the mucky atmosphere lower on horizon.
You should see some dark makings on Mars, and hopefully a polar icecap. You need to look through the eyepiece for awhile, and not a 5 second look - more detail pops out the longer you look. The rings of Saturn are also visible, though are still pretty edge on.
A 5 mm eyepiece will give you stronger mag for the planets, or a barlow and your 10mm. Good luck!!
You may have to wait for a few days for Moon not to be in the sky when viewing - darker the better
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