Is the microscope seen a virtual image or a real image?

Virtual image.

The real image is formed by the convergence of actual light rays, and can be imaged if there is a light screen; the virtual image does not have actual light rays converging, but is formed by the reverse extension of the actual light rays, and cannot be formed if there is a light screen.

A standard experimental microscope has two lenses - an eyepiece and an objective lens, both of which are convex lenses. Among them, the objective lens adopts the slide projector principle, that is, an inverted magnified real image is formed beyond one focal length and within twice the focal length; while the eyepiece adopts the magnifying glass principle, using the real image formed by the objective lens as the object, and then forming an upright magnified virtual image.

So in general, the microscope produces an inverted, magnified, and virtual image.

Extended information:

The image formed by light being reflected by a concave mirror or refracted by a convex lens and then merged together. Not only can it be displayed on the screen, but it can also be used to sensitize photographic films, which is necessary for photography or film screening. A real image can only be produced when the light source is outside the main focus.

Virtual images can be viewed directly with the eyes, but cannot be viewed with a light screen; real images can be viewed with a light screen or directly viewed with the eyes. When people look at a virtual image, there is still light entering the human eye, but the light does not come from the virtual image, but is reflected or refracted by the optical elements. However, people have the experience of "light propagating along a straight line" and think that they are emitted from the virtual image.

Virtual images may be formed by reflection or refraction. For example, a plane mirror forms a virtual image of equal size, and a convex lens forms an enlarged virtual image. After the light emitted by the object is refracted or reflected by the optical system, it is re-converged to form an inverted image similar to the original object.

Real images can be captured by a light screen. A clear image can be received by placing a light screen at the position of the image. The principle of real images must be used in photography or movie screenings. Relative to the original object, the real image is always upside down, up, down, left, and right.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Real Image

Baidu Encyclopedia - Virtual Image