newbie problems with telescope: eyepieces don't fit

Hello,

A friend recently gave me a nice Tasco telescope (#675TR/302675).
Since then, he moved across the country and I can't easily ask him
questions.

Here's a question.

The eyepieces have outer diameter of 25 mm. They go into a piece
called the "diagonal" which has an inner diameter of 32 mm. Even with
the adjusting screws tightened as far as possible, they don't fit. Do
I need an adapter? Or do I need different eyepieces? In either case,
where do I get them?

Thank you very much,

Ted Shoemaker

Ted Shoemaker wrote:
The eyepieces have outer diameter of 25 mm. They go into a piece
called the "diagonal" which has an inner diameter of 32 mm. Even with
the adjusting screws tightened as far as possible, they don't fit. Do
I need an adapter? Or do I need different eyepieces? In either case,
where do I get them?

You need a 1.25-0.965 inch adapter. Orion sells them, among others.

http://www.telescope.com/

Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt

Ted Shoemaker wrote:
The eyepieces have outer diameter of 25 mm. They go into a piece
called the "diagonal" which has an inner diameter of 32 mm. Even with
the adjusting screws tightened as far as possible, they don't fit. Do
I need an adapter? Or do I need different eyepieces? In either case,
where do I get them?

You need a 1.25-0.965 inch adapter. Orion sells them, among others.

http://www.telescope.com/

Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt

Hi Ted,
The eyepieces are .965" (japanese) eyepieces and the diagonal you're using
is 1.25" (31.7mm). You can buy an adapter for using the eyepieces and this
diagonal from Orion Telescope for $15 -20. It depends on the quality of the
scope, eyepieces and diagonal if you want to change out anything else.

Ed


"Ted Shoemaker" wrote in message
om...
Hello,

A friend recently gave me a nice Tasco telescope (#675TR/302675).
Since then, he moved across the country and I can't easily ask him
questions.

Here's a question.

The eyepieces have outer diameter of 25 mm. They go into a piece
called the "diagonal" which has an inner diameter of 32 mm. Even with
the adjusting screws tightened as far as possible, they don't fit. Do
I need an adapter? Or do I need different eyepieces? In either case,
where do I get them?

Thank you very much,

Ted Shoemaker

"Edward" wrote in message hlink.net...

You can buy an adapter for using the eyepieces and this
diagonal from Orion Telescope for $15 -20.

Okay, here's the obvious question:
Is there any reason why I couldn't buy/make a plastic cylinder of the
right size from a hardware store? If so, how long should it be?

At least it would be cheaper.

Thank you,

Ted Shoemaker

Hi Ted,
Making your own might be tougher than you think. (or easier than I think
). You want the tube relatively snug inside the 1.25" diagonal and the
eyepiece to remain parallel to the light path. You might find something
serviceble. Length would be determined by your diagonal. Just dont let the
tube hit your mirror or prism. If its not much longer than your eyepiece,
you'll have no concerns about whether or not its robbing some of the light
headed towards your eyepiece. I can't see any downside to trying if you're
careful not to bugger up your optics.

Ed


"Ted Shoemaker" wrote in message
m...
"Edward" wrote in message
hlink.net...

You can buy an adapter for using the eyepieces and this
diagonal from Orion Telescope for $15 -20.

Okay, here's the obvious question:
Is there any reason why I couldn't buy/make a plastic cylinder of the
right size from a hardware store? If so, how long should it be?

At least it would be cheaper.

Thank you,

Ted Shoemaker

Hi Ted,
Making your own might be tougher than you think. (or easier than I think
). You want the tube relatively snug inside the 1.25" diagonal and the
eyepiece to remain parallel to the light path. You might find something
serviceble. Length would be determined by your diagonal. Just dont let the
tube hit your mirror or prism. If its not much longer than your eyepiece,
you'll have no concerns about whether or not its robbing some of the light
headed towards your eyepiece. I can't see any downside to trying if you're
careful not to bugger up your optics.

Ed


"Ted Shoemaker" wrote in message
m...
"Edward" wrote in message
hlink.net...

You can buy an adapter for using the eyepieces and this
diagonal from Orion Telescope for $15 -20.

Okay, here's the obvious question:
Is there any reason why I couldn't buy/make a plastic cylinder of the
right size from a hardware store? If so, how long should it be?

At least it would be cheaper.

Thank you,

Ted Shoemaker

"Edward" wrote in message hlink.net...

You can buy an adapter for using the eyepieces and this
diagonal from Orion Telescope for $15 -20.

Okay, here's the obvious question:
Is there any reason why I couldn't buy/make a plastic cylinder of the
right size from a hardware store? If so, how long should it be?

At least it would be cheaper.

Thank you,

Ted Shoemaker

Hi Ted,
The eyepieces are .965" (japanese) eyepieces and the diagonal you're using
is 1.25" (31.7mm). You can buy an adapter for using the eyepieces and this
diagonal from Orion Telescope for $15 -20. It depends on the quality of the
scope, eyepieces and diagonal if you want to change out anything else.

Ed


"Ted Shoemaker" wrote in message
om...
Hello,

A friend recently gave me a nice Tasco telescope (#675TR/302675).
Since then, he moved across the country and I can't easily ask him
questions.

Here's a question.

The eyepieces have outer diameter of 25 mm. They go into a piece
called the "diagonal" which has an inner diameter of 32 mm. Even with
the adjusting screws tightened as far as possible, they don't fit. Do
I need an adapter? Or do I need different eyepieces? In either case,
where do I get them?

Thank you very much,

Ted Shoemaker

Ted, the eyepieces are likely .96, and the diagonal is 1.25". You need an
adapter.

Clear Skies
Richard