Eyepieces

mdmikemd · Post by **mdmikemd** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:06 pm

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I got a used Meade 10" SC a few months ago. It came with 3 eyepieces. 9mm, 26mm & 40mm. I'm assuming they came with the telescope when the original buyer bought it. I like the 40mm & 26mm, but I'm disappointed with the 9mm. Is it a quality issue? Is it worth spending the money on an expensive eyepiece of the same focal length? Thanks in advance for any help.

Mike

Kevin Seal · Post by **Kevin Seal** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:28 pm

I would say that theres a pretty good chance that the issue is more power related than anything else. Lets assume that the Scope is an F10. That would give you a 2540 mm focal length. That will give you 282X. That much power, combined with our crappy MN skies, is not going to work very well very often. With my 10' Dob, on an average night, I'd say 200X is my limit. Of course, when I throw the 7.5mm with the 2.5X barlow on, and get 400X, I can see something, but its not very clear most of the time.

mlfj4901 · Post by **mlfj4901** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:25 pm

Greetings,

I think Kevin nailed it. The problem with magnification is, everything is magnified, planets, stars, and turbulence in the atmosphere. When you magnify that turbulence it makes things blurry. The less magnification...the less blurry.

Use the stars as your guide. If you see them twinkling a lot then stay away from high power, as the twinkling is caused by atmospheric turbulence. Check it out on your own scope, and see how high you can get each night.

-matt

mdmikemd · Post by **mdmikemd** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:31 am

Thanks, I figured that was the case. On another topic. I just started taking pictures with my scope, and btw, it is f10. For now, just the moon. I'm using my 26mm eyepiece in a telezoom adapter. My 40mm won't fit in there and I don't think using the 9mm will make for good pictures. Anyone have any suggestions on other eyepieces that fit into those adapters. And is the non-zoom adapter better?

Thanks again.
Mike, Coon Rapids

Kirk · Post by **Kirk** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:12 am

Hey Mike,

I think the other guys said it well but one thing to add is that you can bring your scope to a star party and compare the view through your 9mm with someone else's 9mm in your scope. Most likey it's just a magnification thing though. At f/10 a scope should be pretty forgiving of poor eyepieces.

~Kirk

mdmikemd · Post by **mdmikemd** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:35 am

Thanks again, I' m thinking if heading to the next star party in Afton.

JimsZR2 · Post by **JimsZR2** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:05 pm

Afton is very close ot my house. How often is a star party there?

If I'm not mistaken, Mike Lynch attends these star parties too!

mlfj4901 · Post by **mlfj4901** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:11 pm

Greetings,

Starparties are held at Afton once a month with the next one scheduled for the 24th.

On the MAS homepage follow the events link on the left hand side and it will give you a month by month listing of MAS events, including what day and where starparties are.

-matt

Starforce2 · Post by **Starforce2** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:22 pm

http://www.telescope.com/shopping/produ ... ductID=212

I just noticed these. I dunno how good they are but they're in my price range, basicly cheap nagler type with the wide viewports. Might be good for if I do things with scouts again, esp for planets and the moon.

Which btw, is another thing. Use that 9 on jupiter or saturn. see what it's like. I've been able to usualy pull of a 6.5 on jupiter or saturn but a 4 gets worse. Though I've used the 4 a few times.