Re: Eyepiece suggestions and help

LeAnne Parker wrote:
My husband bought me an 8" Meade LX90 (secondhand) for my birthday. We have been enjoying manually finding stars and planets in the sky and have just recently tried using the GoTo computer to seek things out. Currently we only have one 26mm eyepiece. This has been fine for getting familiar with the scope and just general viewing but we are interested in obtaining other eyepieces. For the first one (they will have to come one at a time due to cost) we would like to find a nice one for viewing the planets. Something to bring the planets in a bit. I am not sure how high a magnification to look for. Right now I would guess a 7mm or so would possibly be good but with how expensive eyepieces can be, I would prefer to get a bit more input before forking out the money.

Can anyone suggest a good magnification (or range of magnification) to look for and good brands to consider?

Also any suggestions on what we should consider for the next piece, possibly a Barlow or just another magnification?

Thanks for any help you can pass our way.
LeAnne


You have received some sensible and useful advice. I have a 20 cm SCT too, and only a very small collection of eyepieces. I chose to go for fairly high quality. I have a Takahashi LE7.5 (7.5 mm) for planetary observing, an 18mm TV Radian which I use most of the time, and a large (and heavy) 40 mm University Optics Konig MK-70. Note that the last mentioned eyepiece has a 2" diameter barrel. I fully agree with your idea of an eyepiece around 7 mm in focal length. I do possess a Barlow, but this is really only used with my webcam for planet imaging.

As you can see different respondents have different philosphies. Good eyepieces, well looked after do retain a reasonable second-hand value too.

P R Hobson
.

Relevant Pages

  • Eyepiece suggestions and help
    ... the scope and just general viewing but we are interested in obtaining other ... cost) we would like to find a nice one for viewing the planets. ... how expensive eyepieces can be, I would prefer to get a bit more input ... Can anyone suggest a good magnification to look ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: Eyepieces, filters, and such
    ... > magnification range with the planets and the moon, ... Eyepieces, barlows and filters are subject to individual tastes and I think ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Eyepieces, filters, and such
    ... BUT you should run over to the Clouidy Nights site ... and check out both the Nexstar forums and the ... Your scope will preform pretty well with almost any eyepieces GSO's ... >I've been looking at the planets, moon, and stars with some success, ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Review of TMB Super Monos with Valery on board
    ... >> Do you think there was anything lacking in the design of the ... >> view it will give you on planets. ... > are bad or less capable than other planetary eyepieces. ... > this design when working with fast systems. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Eyepiece suggestions and help
    ... interested in obtaining other eyepieces. ... have to come one at a time due to cost) we would like to find a nice one ... for viewing the planets. ... Can anyone suggest a good magnification to ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)