Just wanted to say thank you for your help

[FerrariMX5]

2 weeks ago I asked for information about eyepieces for my Celestron Nexstar 8" <--Realizing this is NOT a wide field scope @F10
I was using a 12.5 mm eyepiece which narrowed my ability to find and lock onto a dot in the sky.
Your suggestions and recommendations lead me to the GSO Plossl 32mm eyepiece.
This has made a tremendous difference with not only a wider field of view, but with the ease of use.
This is such a perfect match to my needs.
I had no idea it would make this big of a difference, but WOW.

Two weeks ago I found it difficult to find the moon and boy was I out of focus (Almost 30 turns of the knob to finally sharpen the image)
Today the Plossl 32mm finally hit the mailbox.

Instantly I was on the moon.
After finding the perfect focus, I swapped out to the 12.5.
160 times magnification is a LOT.
I have a 4mm eyepiece, but no way I could ever use it on this 8" SCT.
500 Times Magnification (Impossible)...

Thank you to all who responded...

100 percent impressed

[Lady Fraktor]

Enjoy the discovery

[Star Dad]

um - you probably could use the 4MM on the Moon. I have a 3mm that I routinely use on my 8" scope... and I've even added the 2x barlow which gives me 666x and although a bit fuzzy, it really get you in close. Only useful on the Moon, but on a good night its pretty spectacular.

[helicon]

Wonderful news. Enjoy the views!

[StarBru]

Your suggestions and recommendations lead me to the GSO Plossl 32mm eyepiece.
This has made a tremendous difference with not only a wider field of view, but with the ease of use.
This is such a perfect match to my needs.
I had no idea it would make this big of a difference, but WOW.

When I owned a Celestron 8" f/10 SCT, I regularly used a 50mm 2" plossl on it at 40x. I still have the eyepiece, but not the scope! I loved that scope, so my next scope will be another 8" SCT.

[Ylem]

You can always add this to effectively change that scope into an f6.3

https://www.highpointscientific.com/cel ... ctor-94175

[Bigzmey]

um - you probably could use the 4MM on the Moon. I have a 3mm that I routinely use on my 8" scope... and I've even added the 2x barlow which gives me 666x and although a bit fuzzy, it really get you in close. Only useful on the Moon, but on a good night its pretty spectacular.

Hi StarDad
Your scope is fast reflector f4.9 - FL 1000mm. Using 4-5mm for the Moon makes perfect sense for you, since it delivers exit pupil of 0.8-1mm and ~200x power.

8" SCT is F10 with FL 2000mm, so 10mm EP is needed to get 1mm exit pupil and 200x power. Under ideal viewing conditions I could use 7-8mm EP on the Moon. Bellow that is just empty power and blurry views.

[gregl]

I have the same scope; here's what works for me. I've got 15 or so eyepieces and my favorite ep is the Explore Scientific 18mm 82°. That gives me 112x and a nice field of view. I've also got a focal reducer (the one Yiem mentions — I like it a lot) so the 18mm gives me 71x. For planets I like orthoscopic eyepieces and I've got a 16.8 and a 10.5. The latter doesn't get used much down in our valley as the seeing rarely allows it but I do use it often when we are up at altitude. I also have a 6mm (339x) but I use it only for collimating the scope (which is rare). Only once was I able to use that 6mm for observing and it was up at 8000 ft altitude on a night that remains legendary within our club. But even then the 10mm was better.

I also have several in the 25 - 26mm range (81x - 78x) one of which is a cheapo that is reserved for public outreach when I don't want eye makeup on my expensive glass.

I bought a Baader zoom but I just don't like it. The FOV is narrow as you zoom to longer f.l.s which is backwards for what I want. Also it's just not as sharp as the orthos, which produce the best contrast of anything in my box.

[FerrariMX5]

I have the same scope; my favorite ep is the Explore Scientific 18mm 82°. That gives me 112x and a nice field of view. I've also got a focal reducer (the one Yiem mentions — I like it a lot) so the 18mm gives me 71x.

Thank you!
the 18mm sounds like the perfect addition to my growing hobby.

Tony

[FerrariMX5]

You can always add this to effectively change that scope into an f6.3

https://www.highpointscientific.com/cel ... ctor-94175

Probably in the near future.
Need to see where this Hobby takes me.
Appreciate the link.

Tony

[gregl]

I have the same scope; my favorite ep is the Explore Scientific 18mm 82°. That gives me 112x and a nice field of view. I've also got a focal reducer (the one Yiem mentions — I like it a lot) so the 18mm gives me 71x.

Thank you!
the 18mm sounds like the perfect addition to my growing hobby.

Tony

I'm confident that you'll like it. It does have a 2-inch barrel though, so you'll need a diagonal to fit. (There is always something more to spend money on! )