Recommended Eyepieces

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

"computer_user" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

Actually with that scope (I have a Bushnell 900mm 4.5" with 1.25" lenses)
your pretty
safe to stick with the 12mm and the 20mm.
If yours is a 4.5" aperture, your maximum realistic magnification is +/-
200.
(50 x 4.5)=225

you have a focal length of 600mm so,
a 12mm lens will give you a magnification of 50x
a 20 mm 30x
and a 4mm 150x
(600/12=50)
If you are in the market for a Barlow, many people here recommended an Orion
Short 2x Barlow.
The dealer I visited this weekend talked me out of it for my particular
scope, and recommended a
laser collimator would be a better purchase for me right now with this
scope.
And maybe a nicer 12mm. But, since I have 1.25" lenses, I can use this lens
on my new scope (which I will get someday).

my 2 cents...
jojo

"computer_user" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

Actually with that scope (I have a Bushnell 900mm 4.5" with 1.25" lenses)
your pretty
safe to stick with the 12mm and the 20mm.
If yours is a 4.5" aperture, your maximum realistic magnification is +/-
200.
(50 x 4.5)=225

you have a focal length of 600mm so,
a 12mm lens will give you a magnification of 50x
a 20 mm 30x
and a 4mm 150x
(600/12=50)
If you are in the market for a Barlow, many people here recommended an Orion
Short 2x Barlow.
The dealer I visited this weekend talked me out of it for my particular
scope, and recommended a
laser collimator would be a better purchase for me right now with this
scope.
And maybe a nicer 12mm. But, since I have 1.25" lenses, I can use this lens
on my new scope (which I will get someday).

my 2 cents...
jojo

Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Freelance Writers Shop
http://www.freelancewrittersshop.netfirms.com
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord

"computer_user" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete


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Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Freelance Writers Shop
http://www.freelancewrittersshop.netfirms.com
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord

"computer_user" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/03

Hi Pete, Going to 1.25" eyepieces would give you more light and better
views, especially at higher powers.
However, if you are determined to stick with the .965" opics, you will find
that there are not many quality eyepieces made it that size anymore.
You can go to www.surplusshed.com and you will find several .965 eyepieces
in 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 12.5mm, 20mm and 25mm for $3.75 each.
You can try www.astromart.com classifieds eyepieces and you will find
hundreds of used items for sale there.
George
"computer_user" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

Hi Pete, Going to 1.25" eyepieces would give you more light and better
views, especially at higher powers.
However, if you are determined to stick with the .965" opics, you will find
that there are not many quality eyepieces made it that size anymore.
You can go to www.surplusshed.com and you will find several .965 eyepieces
in 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 12.5mm, 20mm and 25mm for $3.75 each.
You can try www.astromart.com classifieds eyepieces and you will find
hundreds of used items for sale there.
George
"computer_user" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
astronomer, can't justify the expense of a better telescope, but would
like to get better views at higher magnification than the cheap
plastic things I have now!

So far I've only ever looked at the moon - and was impressed at 20mm
and pretty awestruck at 4mm, if only to see the inside of the crescent
(its got a name, I know!) in it all its rugged glory (you know, the
contours of the craters and all that). But obviously, I could tell the
4mm eyepiece was less than state of the art.

So I'm wondering what eyepiece to get...

What else do I want to look at? Well, the planets... if I could get to
see the rings on saturn that would be great. Other stuff - I dunno,
stars are stars for the most part... some general deep space poking
around perhaps, but I don't see this ever becoming a 'serious' hobby -
just something to dip into when I want to get a sense of where I am in
the scheme of things, contemplate the mysteries of life, that kind of
thing.

So I'm looking for something that'll give me sharper images of the
moon than my 4mm plastic Bushnell, and will let me see more of the
planets than I can with the naked eye (ie. more than just bigger!).

The bushnell is a 600mm reflector, 0.965" eyepieces. It does have a
1.25" adaptor thing - but I'd need then to get a whole set of pieces,
whereas if I got 0.965" then I could use them with my bushenll 20mm,
which I'm fairly content with (I'm not too hard to impress).

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

(computer_user) wrote in
om:

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
SNIP

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

AFAIK there aren't many makers of decent 0.965 eyepieces around.
Takahashi would be the exception but be prepared to pay. It would make
more sense to get 1.25" oculars which can be kept and used with a better
scope if you eventually buy one.

Llanzlan.



I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

(computer_user) wrote in
om:

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
SNIP

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

AFAIK there aren't many makers of decent 0.965 eyepieces around.
Takahashi would be the exception but be prepared to pay. It would make
more sense to get 1.25" oculars which can be kept and used with a better
scope if you eventually buy one.

Llanzlan.



I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete

Llanzlan Klazmon The 15th wrote in message . 37.6...
(computer_user) wrote in
om:

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you have advice on eyepieces.

I've only got a cheap Bushnell reflector, and being only an occasional
SNIP

Any ideas? I've seen a Meade 0.965" 12mm second hand, which I'm guess
would be an improvement on my 4mm bushnell (?), but anyone got an idea
of what I could cheaply (2nd hand or new), and where to get them?

AFAIK there aren't many makers of decent 0.965 eyepieces around.
Takahashi would be the exception but be prepared to pay. It would make
more sense to get 1.25" oculars which can be kept and used with a better
scope if you eventually buy one.

Llanzlan.



I could probably do with a decent barlow too.

thanks,
Pete



Thanks for all your advice, everyone.

I think I'll try out just a 12mm 0.965, seeing as they're pretty
cheap, and if we're hooked then start collecting higher quality 1.25"
as an investment.

Thanks again.

Pete