TIL my cheap telescope from the flea market could actually show Saturn's rings

I was sure the $15 scope was junk until I aimed it at Saturn last night and saw those tiny rings clear as day, which makes me wonder what other basic gear can surprise you like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

wesleythompson3mo ago

No way, that's awesome! I mean, it's wild how much you can see with just a pair of decent binoculars too. I've spotted Jupiter's moons with mine, which seems impossible until you actually do it. Makes you realize how much is up there just waiting for a quick look.

nelson.wren3mo ago

Ever tried to find the Andromeda galaxy with just binoculars?

thomasgonzalez14d ago

I was actually out with binoculars last week doing the same thing. The moons thing still gets me every time, like you know they're there but seeing them with your own eyes is different. Andromeda is doable too if you know where to look, just looks like a fuzzy little smudge at first. It's kind of addictive once you start spotting stuff you can't see with the naked eye.

emmaking3mo ago

Totally! A dark sky spot was the real game-changer for me (even just driving a little ways out of town). Suddenly the Milky Way went from a faint smudge to this crazy detailed band of light. It makes all the difference.