This Is Normal
A real astronomical telescope is designed to gather light clearly, not to behave like a pair of daytime binoculars. Depending on the diagonal and optical path, the image may appear upside down, mirrored, or rotated.
For the Moon, planets, and stars, this does not matter. There is no fixed up or down in the night sky.
Why It Happens
Light enters the front lens
The objective lens gathers and bends light toward a focal point.
The image forms inverted
This is a natural result of how lenses focus light.
The diagonal may change orientation
Some diagonals make the view easier to look through, but they may still mirror or rotate the image.
What About Daytime Viewing?
If you use the telescope for daytime land viewing, the flipped image can feel strange. That does not mean the telescope is defective. It simply means the telescope is optimized for astronomy.
Mentor’s Tip
Do not worry about orientation when observing the Moon. Instead, focus on sharpness, contrast, and keeping the target centered.
Next Step
Keep going with the lesson that matches what you are trying to do next.