70mm Telescope: What Can You See With One?

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70mm Telescope

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Nearly all of the most notable celestial objects will be visible using a 70mm telescope. It is quite easy to observe every planet in the Solar System with a telescope of 70mm aperture. Also, you can see a close-up view of the Moon, with most of its prominent craters and landmarks readily distinguishable from the background.

Your first experience with astronomy can be made or broken by your first telescope. A low-quality product or unrealistic expectations about what can be seen through it may lead to disappointment, and you may never try something again.

It’s critical to understand what to expect from your telescope and what you might expect to see through it before using it. In this article, the focus will be on 70mm telescopes because they are among the most basic telescopes and are the most preferred by amateurs. 

70mm Telescope: What Can You See With One?

The 70mm telescope is an ideal telescope for stargazing. If you are a beginning astronomer or have some experience in astronomy, you will greatly benefit from a 70mm telescope. The level of detail you’ll see on your target with this telescope will astound you.

Nearly all of the most notable celestial objects will be visible to you when using the 70mm telescope.

You will see the Moon and its craters clearly. You can also take a look at some of the solar system’s larger planets. However, don’t expect to see all of the planets’ features.

Saturn’s rings and moons are easily seen with the 70mm telescope. Jupiter’s banded features will be on display, as will a flurry of lunar activity. 

With a 70mm telescope, you can see the Orion Nebula display some nebulosity, especially when the sky is dark. Even on clear nights, visibility factors will determine what you can see.

Even if you’re in the city, the Moon and planets will be visible through the 70mm telescope, and you’ll be able to see them clearly even if it isn’t very dark.

What does 70mm mean?

 The 70 mm means that the telescope has an aperture of 70mm. Maybe you are wondering what an aperture is. The aperture of a telescope refers to the size of the frontal lens or mirror, which is the lens or mirror that captures light in the telescope.

The “mm” in the 70mm telescope stands for millimeters, which is approximately 2.755 inches or 0.223 feet.  A telescope’s aperture is often denoted by the presence of a number and a unit after the name of the instrument.

What Planets Can You See Clearly With A 70 mm Telescope?

If you use the 70 mm telescope, you will be able to clearly see all of the planets in our solar system. Planet Mars can be seen, as well as its poles, some of the best viewing areas, and its proximity to the Earth.

You can see the planets outside of the asteroid zone which is normally visible in a single color.  It is unlikely that you will be able to capture their shadows.

Jupiter appears as the pale yellow dot, whereas Neptune is the sky-blue dot when using a 70mm telescope.

Additionally, under the best sky visibility conditions, you can distinguish the rings of Saturn from each other. Using the 70mm telescope, you can see Pluto, one of the solar system’s smallest planets.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of 70mm Scopes

The Benefits

The 70mm telescopes are lightweight and portable. If you are concerned about the weight of the 70mm, it will weigh between 3 and 4 pounds, depending on the model.

The other advantage is that you do not have to break the bank in order to obtain one because the 70mm Scope is reasonably priced.

Furthermore, they are available in a variety of designs and models. Every reputable manufacturer offers at least one product in this category.

The Drawbacks

One of the disadvantages of the 70 mm telescope is that, due to the small size of their lenses, they produce images with low resolution.

Another disadvantage of the 70 mm is that there are only a limited number of magnification options available. One of the most significant disadvantages of small aperture lenses is that they do not permit the use of high magnification eyepieces. It makes no difference if you try to use a magnification of 250x.

Because your telescope can only gather a limited amount of light, it will appear to be the same magnification as 100x magnification. The 70 mm telescopes can be outgrown in a very short period of time. If you enjoy stargazing, you’ll want to get to the top of the mountain as soon as possible.

Who are 70mm scopes good for?

70mm telescopes are considered to be entry-level instruments. They are suitable for children and teenagers who are interested in astronomy and who are looking to purchase their first telescope. Specifically, they are only suitable for children under the age of fifteen.

Scopes in this price range are typically not prohibitively expensive. They are among the most reasonably priced you will find. That does not necessarily imply that they are inferior; rather, it simply indicates that they are designed for a specific audience that is just getting started with stargazing.

However, if you are specifically looking for a travel/camping telescope, there are several options available. 70mm telescopes are typically small and lightweight, making them a viable option if you intend to take your telescope on vacation or on business trips.

Another advantage of the 70mm is that it is suitable for people who want to buy a telescope right away but are restricted by a limited budget.

Which Nebulae And Stars Can A 70mm See?

With a 70mm telescope, you can see the Orion nebula and the Proxima Centauri star. The maximum magnitude achievable with a 70mm telescope is approximately 12. For comparison, the brightest stars in the sky that can be seen with the naked eye, such as Apollo and Vega, have magnitudes that are less than three.

In this case, the star Proxima Centauri, which has a magnitude of 11, is an example of a star that can be seen with a 70mm telescope but not with the naked eye because it is so small.

Especially in the most prominent nebulae, such as the Orion’s Nebula, a 70 mm telescope will be able to see some of the beautiful combinations of colors that exist there. Long exposure photographs, on the other hand, will show them off much better.

70mm Telescopes Suggestions

Because there aren’t many decent 70mm telescopes available, refractors are the best option.

Orion Observer II 70mm Refractor

70mm Recommendation
Orion Observer II 70mm Refractor

The Orion Observer II 70 Refractor is among the best telescopes in the 70mm focal length range available today. With excellent optics for its size, a decent, strong tripod, and standard eyepieces in 25mm and 10mm focal lengths, this telescope is a great value for your money.

The telescope has a 10x objective for the lowest magnification and a 140x objective for the largest magnification.

A simple equatorial mount and tripod are included in the package as extras. All of the equipment necessary for obtaining clear views of the night sky is included with the device. Although the tripod isn’t of the greatest quality, it is certainly satisfactory for the price.

With the telescope, you can see Saturn, with its rings, and Jupiter, with its belts and moons. Additionally, with the right eyepieces, even the distant small blue-turquoise disks of  Neptune and Uranus come into sharp focus with the Orion Observer II 70.  

You can see Venus’ phases using this telescope, together with the major surface features of Mars. This telescope is recommended for amateur astronomers who do not have a lot to spend because it is among the cheapest 70mm telescopes.

Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor

70mm Recommendation
Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor

When it comes to telescope manufacture, Orion is unquestionably one of the most renowned and reputable brands in the industry.

The Orion GoScope III is the most recent 70mm model of the company’s GoScope entry-level range of telescopes.

Its ultra-compact design, lightweight, and portability make it a good choice for those who want to take their work on the road with them. 

Every item is contained within its own convenient backpack, which contains pockets for each piece to ensure that nothing gets scratched.

It is suitable for young children or teenagers because it is a good entry-level telescope.

Conclusion

A 70mm telescope will allow you to see a startling number of celestial bodies, including many Messier objects, all the planets out to Jupiter and Saturn, and some stunning views of the Moon. In order to find the best 70mm telescope, you should look for one with a maximum aperture of 150mm.

The 70mm refractor telescope is widely regarded as the most suitable instrument for beginning astronomers. Even so, it may not satisfy users who have mastered the fundamentals of using this device or who have previously been accustomed to seeing celestial objects.

Learn more about Reflector vs. Refractor to make sure you choose the right scope for you.


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