AdamR87

One last question... Thanks for answers about collimating the primary. I was looking at the secondary and am I right that this can't be collimated either? It looks like it should have three adjustment screws but they aren't present by the looks of it? Cheers

Here we go (hope this upload works...)

That's what I'm hoping for! The Barlow is coming today so will see what difference it makes. Let's call it a lentil that's really far away (I couldn't think of any better comparator >.<) @JasonB I caught Jupiter and Saturn yesterday with some lucky clear skies. Unfortunately I'm in the city and they were right over a street lamp! But still I managed to get them in view and were discernablely bigger than Mars has been and could make out rings and some moons which was really nice. Hope to get out to come dark sky weather permitting soon. Once last question for everyone - collimating my scope. All the online guides show 3 pairs of screws. I only have 3x screws at the bottom and their job seems to be to hold the primary mirror in place, they don't seem to be for adjustment. Is this right or do they actually work for adjustment as well? The instruction manual has nothing to guide on this.

Thank you all for your helpful replies! Sounds like a Barlow lens is the answer (and maybe down the line a zoom eyepiece; that looks useful). Hopefully this will give me something more like what I was hoping for. I didn't have huge expectations, maybe something the size of a lentil for Mars! But certainly more than just a pinpoint. Thanks again!

Hi all, I'm brand new to astronomy (a little lie, I got the astronomy badge with Cubs when I was tiny but have forgotten everything since!). I'm hoping to view the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction, so trying to get all set up and practiced over the next week or so. I've just got a starter scope, a Sky-watcher SKYHAWK-1145PS 114mm. Chosen mainly due to cost and what seems to be a global shortage of telescopes at the moment severely limiting choice! But it seemed alright for the price. I've got it set up and aligned but not sure I'm using it right. I'm looking at Mars (I think!) but can only see a very bright point of light using either the supplied 10mm or 20mm eyepiece. When I try to adjust the zoom/focus on the eyepiece controls, instead of the object (in this case, mars) being enlarged, it just goes out of focus and what I end up seeing is a perfectly focused impression of the spider vane, which just gets bigger and bigger as I adjust the focus more. Is that normal? Do I just need to get some different eyepieces in order to achieve a better magnification, or is there something obvious I'm doing completely wrong? Thank you all!