Attempting to Observe Jupiter/Venus

Ok, I'll do that hopefully tonight depending on cloud coverage and then report back here. Thanks!

Nope, same story. I got some great views of the moon but both Jupiter and Venus looked like my original image.

I have to say, Im having trouble interpreting your image, do you mean you see a circular disk with zero details and 4 lines or are you seeing a fuzzy jupiter with almost no detail and 4 lines ?
If the bright illumination/planet image in the center perfectly center or is it oblong/lobsided.

Oh sorry, I see a circular disc with no detail (grey) and in the middle of this is a black disc which has four lines coming out of it. The black disc is, as far as I know, the mirror in the centre of my tube, specifically the mirror which reflects the image into the eyepiece. The planet isn't distorted/oblong I'm pretty sure.

Very odd. Your drawing and description match what you would see if the focusing was way off, and yet you get good views of the moon, which would require the same focus position! Can you make out the details on the lunar surface clearly? This must be very frustrating, so it might be time to make contact with another stargazer in your area. Whereabouts are you located?

Mike

yea, definitely sounds like it's out of focus, maybe there is a loose mirror somewhere and it's shifting when you move the scope, you need someone experienced to look at it for you.