Moonfromthetrees

Thanks for all your help people. That was really useful. Need to lower expectations!

This is a poor picture of what I could see. It doesn't capture the shadow I'm talking about, but I was taking a photo with my phone through the eyepiece which is why only half is visible.

Yes, it is.

Yes, I had an eyepiece in the barlow. Thank you.

Thanks for your help. From doing some online research it seems that it was probably the focus. But I enjoyed looking at the large version!! Couldn't make out much of the planet when it was at its smallest.

Hello all, Very newbie here!! As the title suggests I was out last night viewing Jupiter using a very basic National Geographic Dobson telescope. After spending ages trying to get Jupiter into my field of view, I managed to eventually get there. I found it difficult to keep the telescope steady. Aside from this, i eventually managed to get a great view. I was using a 2x Barlow lens, which came with the scope. However, i found that there was a shadow of ball attached to a screw cutting across my view of the planet, which was really annoying. I presume this is not normal, but can't work out how to get rid. Help much appreciated!! Thank you