🔍 Telescope Magnification Calculator
Calculate the magnification power of your telescope and eyepiece combinations. Learn about optimal magnification for different celestial objects.
Common: 60mm, 80mm, 102mm, 130mm, 200mm, 300mm
f/5.0 ratio
Common: 6mm, 9mm, 12.5mm, 17mm, 25mm, 32mm
Leave at 1 if not using Barlow lens
Understanding Magnification
Magnification is how many times larger an object appears compared to the naked eye. It's calculated by dividing telescope focal length by eyepiece focal length.
Magnification = Telescope FL ÷ Eyepiece FLFor example: 1000mm telescope ÷ 25mm eyepiece = 40x magnification
Maximum Useful Magnification
There's a practical limit to useful magnification based on your telescope's aperture:
- • General rule: 2x per mm of aperture
- • Excellent conditions: Up to 2.5x per mm
- • Poor seeing: 1x per mm or less
Beyond this limit, images become dim and blurry.
📊 Magnification Guide for Different Objects
| Object Type | Recommended Magnification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🌙 Moon | 50x - 150x | Higher magnification for craters |
| 🪐 Planets | 100x - 300x | Depends on planet size and seeing |
| ⭐ Double Stars | 100x - 200x | Higher power to split close pairs |
| 🌌 Galaxies | 50x - 100x | Lower power for better contrast |
| ☁️ Nebulae | 25x - 100x | Use nebula filters for better views |
💡 Magnification Tips
Start Low
Always start with low magnification to find and center objects first.
Consider Seeing
Atmospheric conditions limit useful magnification more than your telescope.
Multiple Eyepieces
Use different eyepieces for different objects and conditions.