What do stars and planets look like from a telescope? Does their appearance vary depending on the type of telescope used?

The majority of large telescopes are reflectors with mirrors as the objective. With medium type telescopes, you can see the crescent phase of Venus, ice caps on Mars, rings of Saturn, bands and red spot on Jupiter, and few satellites of planets. The larger the telescope, the more details you can see on planets. Telescopes do three things: 1 They collect more light, so faint objects are visible; 2 They resolve close objects; and 3 They magnify images, so you can see details. Since stars are far away, we can only see their disks, with the exception of the Sun.

Stars generally appear as points of light through a telescope, while planets often exhibit discernible features such as surface details, moons, and phases. The appearance can vary depending on the type of telescope used, including factors like aperture, magnification, and optical design. Telescopes with larger apertures typically provide clearer and more detailed views, while different optical designs may offer specific advantages for observing certain celestial objects. Additionally, specialized filters can enhance specific features or details when observing planets and stars.