Podgebag

Thanks. Have downloaded Cartes du Ciel and it's a bit of a step up from the SkyView mobile app, but looks like a good tool for planning and wandering the skies without having to rotate your phone about. I didn't know that there was an online version of Stellarium at: https://stellarium-web.org which includes a quick summary of when the planets are visible. Nice one! I'm still getting used to the scope so Jupiter is pretty much my only target at the mo, despite the poor viewing conditions which includes trees, houses, street light out the front and my neighbours thinking I'm spying on them. It's great being able to see Jupiter as a definite planet and I'm looking forward to the longer nights and hopefully seeing a similar differentiation with the moons too.

Jupiter and it's Galilean moons are great viewing, but as a noob I've never known which moon was which. I've had a quick trawl through this site but haven't found anything obvious to help with this, so thought I'd highlight the following just in case it helps anyone who wants to be able to do this: https://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/celestial-objects-to-watch/jupiters-moons-javascript-utility/# The Jupiter moon simulator is here: https://s22380.pcdn.co/wp-content/plugins/observing-tools/jupiter_moons/jupiter.html and covers different types of telescope too. Apologies if I'm re-hashing old/known info.

Ha ha! I'm only on chapter 1 of Using the Force For Dummies so can't make things fully levitate yet, hence still needing 2 legs.

My 4th purchase as a noob, after fleabay SW 130M, BST Starguider 8mm and batteries for clock drive:

Thanks! I've picked up quite a bit on here, although I did it after buying my first scope rather than before, gah. The eyepiece guide is here. Add key scope attributes and the calculations into a spreadsheet (Google Sheets is free) and you can check your recommended eyepieces for any scope. Reading up on exit pupil (min of 1mm depending on age and eyesight) and power per inch (around 30 for average viewing conditions) will help too. Bear in mind I'm only quoting what I've read so far, so apologies if this isn't right.

I've got the same scope (£80 off fleabay) and with the stock 10mm I've seen one, smudgy band on Jupiter. Using a BST Starguider 8mm I can get two bands, but my mind has transposed this to looking at the top of a flat headed screw. I think from a guide on eyepieces on this site, the recommended high mag eyepiece for the 130/900 is 5mm. Does the OP have the motor for this scope? This may ease long term viewing, providing it doesn't induce the wobbles that getting anywhere near the near scope does on the EQ2 mount. I've not been able to verify this yet, but hopefully it does!