Calling Pluto a faint object is a gross understatement. It's only one–one-thousandth the brightness of the faintest naked-eye object.

The difficulty in finding Pluto is twofold. First, there are a large number of background stars of similar magnitude in the same field of view. Second, no matter what magnification or size of telescope you use, Pluto will always look telescopically like a 13.7 magnitude star.

To even see Pluto, you need at least an eight-inch telescope. To unmistakably identify it as a planet, you need to plot its motion relative to the stars over several nights—remember that orbital period of 248 years?

But, if you're very patient—or as dedicated as Clyde Tombaugh—that point of light you see as moving a tiny amount after each successive night is Pluto.

Pluto's moon Charon is too dim to be seen with any but the largest research telescopes.

Ceres is much easier to spot, with an apparent magnitude range from 6.7 to 9.3 as seen from Earth. It is easy to spot with binoculars or a telescope if you know where to look, but even at its brightest it is still too dim to view without optical aid.