There are Nine Planets in our Solar System. Starting with the inner four rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. These Planets have much different features than the planets in outer Solar System. The outer planets are mostly made of Gas and are called the Gas Giants. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto make up the outer solar system. Pluto is believed to be a large object from the Kuiper Belt. In the table below are all the planets I have observed with my Telescope. I have descriptions that will give you an idea of what is visible with a 114mm Telescope.

MERCURY Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. I first viewed this planet on April 13, 2003. It never gets too far from the Sun so it is quite hard to view, especially if the horizon is blocked. It is fairly bright in the sky and is easily identified. Mercury appears quite small in the scope and no features can be seen. I viewed it in its half phase and it was reddish orange in color. Very worth viewing if it is in a favorable position in the sky. The above image of Mercury was taken by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Image is supplied by NASA and the NSSDC.

VENUS Venus is the third brightest object in the sky. The only objects brighter than Venus are the Sun and the Moon. Venus is the Second planet from the sun. And Venus is also the hottest. The Runaway Greenhouse effect traps all the heat close to the planet due to its thick atmosphere. When you view Venus through the telescope all you get to view is its phase. There is no cloud detail, and im not sure if any planetary filters will help to bring out any more features. Venus goes through it phases like the moon because it is an inferior planet. Meaning it is closer to the Sun than the Earth. The above ultraviolet image of Venus was taken by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. Image is supplied by NASA and the NSSDC.

MARS I viewed Mars mainly only with the 254mm Dobsonian so what is listed here applies to what can be seen through a scope of its Aperture. Since Mars is such a small planet the best views come with high magnification. I viewed this planet around in August 2003 so it was in prime time for viewing. And the view was just that. The "dark markings" or mares were easily visible. And it is also quite appreciated. Mars is the only other planet where you can hope to see land features on in a telescope of this aperture. And the polar ice caps are also easily visible. And if you have a good Mars map you can try to pick out land features on the planet such as Syrtis Major. The above image of Mars is Copyright Robert Gendler. Used with Permission. Click Here to see Mars Images!

JUPITER When Jupiter is observed through the Telescope at low magnification you can see the planet as a bright white disc and its four main moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Under Higher Magnification (100X) the SEB and NEB stand out very clearly. And other smaller belts can also be detected. As time has passed and I have learned how to identify detail better on this large planets atmosphere, I have found the Great Red Spot. The Great Red Spot appears as a "gap" in the SEB. You can actually watch the Great Red Spot move across the face Jupiter just in a few hours time. On some nights you will get extremely nice views when more than the usual detail is visible, while on other nights all you get is the NEB and SEB. Another great feature is a Shadow Transit when one of the Galilean satellites casts it's shadow upon the face of Jupiter. These shadows look as extemely dark points on the planets surface. Easily visible, Jupiter is a great planet to explore. Even the Galilean satellites seem to have their own faint shade of color to them! Mostly they appear as stellar white points. But they all all have a certain tint to them. The above spectacular image of Jupiter is Copyright Robert Gendler. Used with Permission. Click Here to see Jupiter Images!

SATURN To me Saturn is the best planet to observe. The Cassini division is visible when the rings are in a good position. Cloud features are also visible in good skies. I have picked out the bright white band in the equator and darkening toward the poles of the planet. Saturn can also take more Magnification than Jupiter. On rare occasions I have used 250X and have got fair views! Another great feature around Saturn is its satellites. Titan, the easiest visible is almost always visible. Unlike the Galilean satellites the moons of Saturn move around the Planet at a much slower pace. I have managed to see Titan, Rhea, Dione and Tethys. Dione and Tethys show up with aversion only. If you try to look at these moons directly they will appear to disappear. The above image of Saturn is Copyright Robert Gendler. Used with Permission. Click Here to see Saturn Images!