- Incorrect focusing
- Observing through windows or warm air
- Stray light (e.g. street lamps)
- Too much magnification
- Moisture on the optics
Example: 350 mm focal length ÷ 25 mm eyepiece = 14x magnification.
- Alt-azimuth: easy to use, moves horizontally and vertically
- Equatorial: allows precise tracking of objects with only one axis – ideal for high magnifications and astrophotography
- Refractor: clear, high-contrast images, easy to handle
- Reflector: larger aperture for less money, very powerful
- Moon (visible with small telescopes)
- Planets (require higher magnifications)
- Deep-sky objects like nebulae or galaxies (require larger apertures)
- Moon: from 30 mm
- Planets: from 100 mm
- Deep-Sky: from 150 mm