Recall the role of the objective in a compound microscope

A compound microscope has two convex lenses:

• Objective lens: placed close to the object
• Eyepiece lens: used to magnify the image formed by the objective

Position of the object for the objective lens

In a compound microscope, the object is placed:

• just beyond the focal length of the objective

For a convex lens, when the object is placed between $f$ and $2f$ or just beyond $f$, the image formed is:

• real
• inverted
• enlarged

Nature of the intermediate image

The objective forms the first image (intermediate image), which serves as the object for the eyepiece.

Therefore, the image formed by the objective is: $\text{real and enlarged}$

Check options

• A: virtual and diminished $\rightarrow$ incorrect
• B: real and diminished $\rightarrow$ incorrect
• C: real and enlarged $\rightarrow$ correct
• D: virtual and enlarged $\rightarrow$ incorrect

Final answer

The image formed by the objective of a compound microscope is: $\boxed{\text{real and enlarged}}$