Telescopes and microscopes are two instruments used to look at magnified images of objects. Both types of instruments could use an objective lens, which produces an image of the object. An eyepiece is then used to look at a magnified version of the image. The main difference between telescope and microscope is that microscopes are used to magnify small objects that are at a short distance from the viewer whereas telescopes are used to magnify large objects that are at a large distance from the viewer.