Magnifying observation apparatus

A magnifying observation apparatus comprising:

• a stage including a placement surface on which an observation target is placed;
• a lens unit including an objective lens;
• a light projecting unit including an emitting section having an optical axis substantially same as an optical axis of the objective lens and provided to surround the optical axis of the objective lens, the light projecting unit selectively irradiating, on the observation target placed on the stage, light in a first emitting direction and light in a second emitting direction different from the first emitting direction;
• an imaging section configured to receive light from the observation target via the objective lens and generate first or second original image data indicating an image of the observation target;
• and
• a data generating section configured to generate image data for display indicating an image of the observation target that should be obtained when it is assumed that light in a specific emitting direction designated by a user is irradiated on the observation target, wherein
• at a first light irradiation time, the light projecting unit irradiates the light in the first emitting direction on the observation target and the imaging section generates the first original image data,
• at a second light irradiation time, the light projecting unit irradiates the light in the second emitting direction on the observation target and the imaging section generates the second original image data, and
• the data generating section generates the image data for display on the basis of at least one of the first and second original image data.