60mm telescopes are usually the most popular telescopes in purchase right now. It is also the most popular size telescope sold in many department stores. Many people use their telescopes for terrestrial observation, that is, only to observe terrestrial objects. If you own a 60mm telescope, don’t make the mistake and believe that your telescope is not good for astronomy. There are many wonderful objects in the night sky within easy reach. I will share with you several that I have found satisfying over the years.
Amazing objects for your 60mm telescope
Moon
The obvious object of your telescope is the moon. In fact, you can observe hundreds of craters with your telescope if you really used the time to count them. You will definitely get a lot more pleasure from looking at the moon when you take a closer look at the details. Try looking for craters within craters. That is the real pleasure. Also, try to observe the many mountain ranges while watching the moon. Look for the most distinct craters, such as Plato, Tycho, Copernicus, etc. Its 60mm telescope can easily resolve these craters in great detail. You may also want to use a lunar map to see what other lunar landscapes are sure to catch your interest. You can google “moon” and then click the images in google to get started. Have you heard of Google Earth? Consider Google Moon … you will find it simply amazing.
Planets
There are several planets that will easily surprise you when looking through your telescope. For starters … Jupiter. Even with a compact 60mm telescope, it is possible to see at least 2 or 3 red cloud belts on Jupiter. Additionally, you will be able to observe four of Jupiter’s much larger moons (Jupiter has 63 moons), all named after the 4 sons of Galileo, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. If you watch them for a few days, you will see them change position around Jupiter as they continue their orbit. With a good high-powered eyepiece, you can see a solar eclipse on Jupiter every now and then.
The planet Saturn is also a real treasure to see. My first telescope was a 50mm tabletop refractor that my mom and dad decided to buy from Kmart in the 1970s. The first planet I observed through that range ended up being Saturn. At ten years old, he was simply in awe. You will be with your 60 mm. Its rings as well as the Cassini division can be seen with a high-powered eyepiece. Saturn’s most important moon, Titan, is also visible. It is larger compared to our own moon and the planets Mercury and Pluto.
Mars and Venus will also be within reach of your 60mm telescope. However, there are far fewer details to see compared to Jupiter and Saturn. The reason is that, although it is closer than the other planets, they are also quite smaller. With Mars, you might see your polar caps in perfect viewing condition. With Venus, all you can see is its moon-like phases and no surface features for the reason that its entire surface is covered with gaseous clouds.
Stars and stars
Actually, there are a lot of stars to see with your 60mm. They all appear in various formats, so to speak. Single stars, double stars like Albireo in the constellation Cygnus. Several of the brightest globular clusters, including M4, M13, and M22, the open clusters of The Pleiades, and a galaxy or two like Andromeda are all within the reach of a 60mm telescope. Naturally, to enjoy these night jewels you have to locate them first. There is a free program for your computer that is just amazing for learning how to move through the night sky. The name of the program is Stellarium. Just google and head over to their website and install it. Once installed, just type in your location and the program will display the sky for your area and time of day.
My suggestion for a 60mm telescope
Personally, I would recommend the Go-To Celestron Nexstar 60GT 60mm Refractor Telescope. If you are in a rush to enjoy the night sky without learning star maps, this is the telescope for you. You will target more than 4,000 celestial objects with the push of a button.
