A 50mm telescope is an excellent entry-level telescope for amateur astronomers.
It’s relatively inexpensive and provides a great introduction to the world of astronomy. But what can you see with a 50mm telescope?
Let’s take a look at the kinds of objects that can be viewed with this type of scope.
The Moon and Planets
The most obvious choice when using a 50mm telescope is the moon and planets. With even modest magnification (such as 20x or 30x), you’ll be able to observe craters, mountains, and other features on the lunar surface.
The same goes for planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. You should also be able to make out some of their moons, rings, clouds, and features like Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.
Deep Sky Objects
50mm telescopes aren’t powerful enough to reveal many deep sky objects (those outside our solar system). However, you might be able to spot some brighter ones with enough patience and practice.
These include galaxies such as M31 in Andromeda or M51 in Canes Venatici; globular clusters such as M13 in Hercules or M4 in Scorpius; open star clusters such as M45 in Taurus; planetary nebulae such as M57 in Lyra; and various bright nebulae such as the Orion Nebula (M42) or Lagoon Nebula (M8).
Meteor Showers
If you look up on any given night during peak times for meteor showers—such as the Perseids in August or Geminids in December—you may be able to catch sight of some shooting stars!
Even if all you have is a 50mm scope, it’ll still provide plenty of magnification power to let you enjoy these amazing celestial events from your own backyard.
Conclusion
A 50mm telescope is an excellent way for novice astronomers to get started exploring the night sky.
With it, you can observe objects like craters on the moon, planets like Jupiter and Saturn, brighter galaxies and star clusters, plus meteor showers when they’re active! So don’t hesitate—grab yourself a 50mm scope and start exploring!
