Thanks for making these videos. As a beginning astronomer, who is learning, it's nice that you seem to not be reading cue cards, verbatim. Although organization and clear content is paramount to an easy-to-watch tutorial, I can tell be your tone that you really live this stuff. Thank you, again.
Hi Geoffrey, My first suggestion would be to get a 2x Shorty Barlow lens. It will double the power of the 25mm, and work with any eyepiece you get in the future. It's a great way to expand the power of your telescope. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Just watched. More helpful than any video I have viewed from Celestron and others. And I own an 8" Celestron. Truly excellent. More folks would be turned on to the universe if the technology for viewing the sky was made this clear, succinct and relatable.
Ken, this was excellent - you come across exactly as the new folks want. Knowledgeable but friendly. Orion chose wisely when they selected you to do the intro videos. Todd (just an XT8 but enjoying this new hobby)
great video....but I just want to make a note on eye relief for eyeglass wearers....yes, it's true, with very short eye relief, eyeglass wearers can never get their eyeball to the eye relief, however this is slightly disingenuous, or not entirely accurate anyway. If an eyeglass wearer removes their glasses, and slightly defocuses the eyepiece, most people can offset their eye focus issue so that the image is sharp. It just wouldn't be sharp for a non eyeglass wearer at that point. This is similar to the diopter on a camera viewfinder. With my glasses on, I set my diopter to a sharp image. If I remove my glasses, the viewfinder is out of focus, but I can refocus my diopter for my vision without my glasses, and the image is again sharp. If I now put my glasses back on, and don't readjust the diopter, the image is again out of focus, so it needs to be refocused for my glasses. The same holds true with telescope eyepieces, for MOST eyeglass wearers. This does of course depend somewhat on the reason for the eyeglasses. Just wanted to make that clarification.
True, but I wouldn't call it disingenuous. Probably just a minor oversight; easily made by a person who doesn't wear glasses. I wear glasses and I find it a pain in the ass to take them off for telescope viewing. This leads me to favor long eye relief eyepieces so that I don't have to.
While reading articles and checking on forums is helpful, there is something that makes a video easier to understand, if done right. I have yet to come across a video on Orion's page that is anything but informative and easy to follow. In the near future, I will be upgrading from my first pair of binos to a telescope; I am leaning towards the XT8 Plus. Thank you to Orion for producing these wonderful videos, and clear skies to all!
Very informative...I just purchased an 8 inch classic dob from you guys and I love it so far...this video certainly is beneficial in helping me select my next eye piece...thanks
Hi Egov, If you have the Classic with only one eyepiece, I'd recommend something around a 10mm, and maybe a barlow to add with it. This way you'll have a wide range of power. The 10mm Sirius Plossl is a good eyepiece, similar to the 25mm that came with the telescope. Or the Expanse 9mm would be a wider field alternative. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi arsa525, A moon filter will cut down some of the light, so if your scope is sending a lot of light to your eye, it can definitely make things more comfortable. Think of it like going outside on a sunny day without sunglasses. The filter helps knock down the glare. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Thanks ken,i'm aware of that Focal lengths is expressed by mm,i actually ment the barrel size,but did not mention it,i wrote it as it is mentioned in the instruction manual of my telescope without mentionoing the mm diameter,but you've alredy answered my question,thank you.
Hi Galileo, The E-series eyepieces are an entry level series, and don't have the same level of coatings as the Explorer II -- so the brightness will be better on the Explorers. Also, if you're using a higher power eyepiece of any type, it will appear dimmer and perhaps not as sharp if the atmospheric conditions aren't perfect. If you like the Explorers, I would suggest a barlow lens to use with them, or a Sirius or Highlight Plossl. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
Awesome video. I got an Orion XT10 and I'm really digging how Orion is active with the community and gets all kind of help out there. I plead guilty to buying eyepieces from different brands as well (Celetron and Antares), but I really like Orion as a brand, and definitly digging your approach. Will order more from you for sure!
Hi Hisham, I'm trying to figure out exactly what you are describing, and I think I might understand. When you say your eyepieces are 0.79 and 0.16 inch, I believe you are talking about the focal length. Usually that's expressed in mm, so they would be a 4mm and a 20mm. The 1.25" refers to the diameter of the barrel and not the focal length, so just measure the barrel of your eyepieces (where they fit into the focuser). If it's 1.25" then that kit will work. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
I liked the information in this and your other video. In terms of getting what you pay for and how much glass you’re putting between you and the objects you wish to see where is it best to spend money. I’ve seen telescopes that on paper seem identical but are vastly different in price.
Hi Grannyhauenstein, The Sirius plossl is a regular Plossl design - "Sirius" simply refers to the model name. We have the Highlight Plossls as well with a few added features, but they are also a standard 4-element Plossl design. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi Dosagu, It just has to do with the length of the tube. A long Barlow can be 5" or 6" long, and a shorty style can be around 3". They're nice to have in a refractor or cassegrain diagonal, so the eyepiece doesn't stick very high out of the diagonal. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
just got a SkyQuest XT 4.5 this is super helpful!!! I Have been using Barlow with a 5mm and wondering why the image is blurry...I've gone way over the maxium for my scope lol!!!
Ok, thanks. I'm getting ready to buy my first telescope, and am very excited! I've been checking out a lot of youtube videos for some great information and help with the purchase. I am thinking about going with the Orion Starblast 6. Thanks!
8 лет назад
I like this guy. I am just starting in astronomy and want to start out with say Oberwers 10.5 x70.
Thanks for information I understand some basic knowledge well. But please make a video about finder scope I don't find it very useful. Need to know more about it. Thanks
Hi Ptrssniper1, The 5mm and 6mm should work fine with the SpaceProbe130EQ. But the 3.3mm will probably push the power a little too far and end up showing you less detail instead of more.
Hi Ric300078, I don't think there would be anything wrong with a 10mm with a wider field of view. Yes, the Mak has a bit of a narrower light cone than a faster scope, but there's still plenty of room for going wider without loosing brightness on the edges. I think you can go up to at least a 66-68 degree field eyepiece without any problems. Maybe look at the Expanse or Stratus line of eyepieces for a nice upgrade. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
A very nice explanation about eyepieces only the image quality was very bad, hopefully there will be an update video with better picture quality. - 2018, 4K displays
On my Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes,Parabolic Newtonian Reflectors,Maksutovs& Achromatic Refractors with Orion Colour Fringe Filter to remove most Secondary Spectrum,I Love the 66 Degree Field of View GOLD Seal SkyWatcher 5 Element Multi-Coated Eyepiece.I also have the Meade QX 70 Degree Wide Fields but in their last 4 Degrees Apparent Field of View they are NO match for my Superb 66 Degree Apperant Field of View Multi-Coated Wide Angle Superb Synta of CHINA SkyWatcher Eyepieces in Corrections!!
Hi Duvan Jaft, I had to use Google translation so I apologize if I don't answer your question exactly. If you are looking for 3 different magnifications, I would suggest a 20mm-25mm low power eyepiece, a 6mm high power eyepiece, and a 2x Barlow lens. This will give you 4 different magnifications, and will let you see all the objects you mention. Try our Expanse 20mm and 6mm, and the 2x Shorty Barlow. Thanks!
I am interested in buying a Orion StarBlast 4.5. Could you recommend a couple additional eye pieces that I should purchase. This would be my first telescope.
Great video... I have a Meade LX 200 10" and I would like to be able to look at land objects like buildings, etc... What would be a good eyepiece to use ?
Hi Julio, I'd say a fairly long focal length eyepieces would be best. Since your 10" is already a huge focal length, it will be easy to over-magnify during the day and just end up seeing heatwaves and other distortion. So perhaps a Plossl in the 25-32mm range, or if you have your scope outfitted with a 2" diagonal, you can use a Q70 32mm or 38mm for even lower power wider field of view. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Thanks for the video, I'm buying the orion apex 127. I will be doing photography with it so eyepiece wouldn't matter, but I do want to look at objects like Jupiter and mars etc, and I'm a glasses wearer. My budget is tight which orion eyepiece would you recommend to compliment the 25mm eyepiece that comes with the scope as I can probably only afford one for now?
I have never used a telescope and I just purchased a used Orion short tube 4.5 equatorial reflector telescope it has a diameter 114MM and a FL 1000 MM f/8.8 I don’t know what all these numbers are for but I will learn eventually my question is is that this telescope did not come with any lenses and I can’t seem to find ones that will just fit this telescope are they all interchangeable.?
This video was very helpful, for once I understood some math. Very well speaking for the viewer. I have a question: I have a 60*700mm refractor and a Bushmaster Mars 900 Reflector (Astronomical Telescope) . having my 10mm plossl divided by the focal length of the telescope, (refractor) that would give me 70* magnification right? and If I had a 6.5mm plossl plus the 700mm focal length of my telescope, that would be 107* magnification? Around what magnification is best for a mars 900 reflector (114mm aperture 900mm focal length) and a 60*700mm refractor for viewing details on planets such as Jupiter and close up observations of the moon (crater viewing?)
Hi Galloping Gertie, Yes, you are correct with the formulas you quoted. For planetary details, as well as small details on the lunar surface, 100x is usually a good starting point for the best view. The 60mm will top out around 120x, and the 4.5 should hold up to about 230x, using the rather generalized formula of the upper magnification limit being about 2x per mm aperture Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Thanks, your explanation was very helpful. I have one more question. I have a 2* Barlow with my 10mm eyepiece on my 700mm refractor. (the Barlow came with the refractor) with What magnification does that come to? I ask because when I view through this scope, I am not able to see details at all. Jupiter appears as just a small (reasonably sized) ball. Thank you.
That would be 70 power times 2, so a total of 140x. That should give you the best image of Jupiter, so if it just looks like a small dot, I suspect you're looking at a star nearby. Make sure Jupiter is perfectly centered with a lower power view, then drop the barlow in. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
Through the Telescope! the max magnification you can ideally use for planetary observations is around 35x per inch of apperture. so for your refractor that would be around 84x. and you are using it at 140x , so i dont think you would be able to view great details 🤔 . P.S- i myself have 70 mm and using it at 90x doesnt produce that good views
Hi Ken I recently got the 90mm Mak Cass and was going to upgrade the 10mm with a wide field as I thought it would be easier to view targets with but was told it would not work well with this scope, my other other option is a plossl in the same size thats a bit cheaper? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Richard
Hello Ken, I own a 4.5" aperture Orion Starblast Reflector Telescope with a 450mm Focal Length and am having trouble selecting eyepieces. Although I have been fascinated with astronomy for years, I only recently began skygazing with a telescope instead of the naked eye. Anyways, it would help tremendously to know what eyepiece to use to view two things: Every planet in the Solar System clearly, and the Andromeda galaxy. I currently own a 15mm, 6mm and Shorty Barlow lens and I am guessing that for planets, I need a better magnification and for Andromeda, I will need a wider field of view. Overall, the specific lenses I will need to be able to perform these tasks would be great to know. Thanks for the help.
+LegendThePowerful Hi Legend, For planets, you're pretty well set with that 6mm coupled with the Barlow as that gives you 150x. You could push it a little more, and get around 200x-225x, so that would be a 4mm or 5mm eyepiece. Check out our Edge-On Planetary 5mm eyepiece (#8885) for high magnification. As for low power, go for as low power as you can, which would be around a 32mm Plossl. This will brighten up the view, and give you a wider field. Check out the Sirius Plossl 32mm (#8728). Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
Hi Ken' I'm about to order an eyepiece set kit online, of which is 6 pieces different focal lengths of course, my original eyepieces of my telescope are of 0.79 and 0.16 inch, the eyepieces to be ordered are of 1.25 inch each, would it fix normally in my telescope or not? Thanks in advance
Hey Ken thanks again for always answering.. I have the 8 inch dobsonian. Two deep space lenses 28mm and q70 32mm.. I wAntbto really get into clusters and nebulae.. Do I have enough scope for that and just am still going through learning curve.. (Clusters are becoming beautifully easy) but do I need to step up the scope for galaxies and nebulae..?? If no any more advice? And if so where would you go next if u were me?? ORION ROCKS!!!
Hi Rocco, Yes, you've got quite a good setup for clusters and nebulae. Some smaller globular clusters would do well with a medium power eyepiece, somewhere in the 13-17mm range if you don't already have something there. But for large faint objects, the 2" eyepieces you have are great. To get even more light and field of view, you could go with the 38mm Q70, but if you want even more faint object performance past that, then you'll have to start looking at an even bigger scope. But the 8" with a 38mm Q-70 will give you a fantastic image of many of the Messier objects. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes so I found its more of a local of experience than lack of scope.. I was somewhat on budget considering this was my first "real scope" last night I found Andromeda Galaxy.. Wow spectacular !! Now for some . They would say okay it's a grayish flattish round cloud.. But knowing what it is and what I found .. Was an awesome experience.. I like a go to system but I also like to "go fishing" but I just have to better educate what I'm looking at. I find the smart phone shows stars that under my light condition I can't even see so your basic constellations kinda get blended in with an index of every star. Even when adjusting the star visibility it's never 75 percent easier .. But that's what I love .. The challenge is fantastic .. I thank Orion Telescopes for helping me out so much ... How about we petition for something on Mars to have Kens name on it !!
Interestingly, Only the bright galactic center of the Andromeda is what most people can see within the glow of city lights. The apparent diameter of the entire galaxy is about 3 degrees, or 6 suns/moons.
Ken I've possessed many EPs in my time naglers baaders etc but the orion edge on planetary leave nothing to be desired. they are outstanding in anything be it my 127 orion mak or 250 SCT
hi ken , i have a 70 mm telescope with 900 mm focal length. i already have 10x and 20x eyepieces . which eyepieces do you think i should buy next ? (or if there is no need you suggest against buying one )
Hi RB, If your eyepieces are 20mm and 10mm, then next step is probably around a 6mm. You can get a #8739 Sirius 6.3mm Plossl, or for a larger window and a bit more comfortable view, try the #8920 6mm Expanse eyepiece. Either of these will magnify more giving you a closer look at the moon and planets. Thanks! -Ken Orion Telescopes
I,m just starting to learn about telescopes this vedio hase been very helpful to me! Ken. orlon telecopes. clear skys& God,s skys. ty. Diane.B I,m learning alot.:) I am buying more down the line.
I have an Orion 4.5 inch equatorial reflector telescope with a 10 and 25 mm plossl eyepieces, which I use with my Barlow x2 and moon filter. What other eye pieces can I get to further maximize my viewing with this scope? I have seen people view planets and nebulas with a lot more detail with the scope than I am able to right now.
Is that u means, Bigger magnification Eyepieces 66deg/40x=1.65deg FOV. Also plus your Exit pupil will also drop down from 80mm Lense size/40x = 2mm Exit pupil left. Is that correct? 2mm Exit pupil + 1.65deg FOV left? "How to see it in that way?" Is there any Exit Pupil Amplification in the Orion Telescope or Binoculars market?
Hi Helena, Eyepieces are measured in mm, so if you have a 25mm and your telescope is 1000mm focal length, then the power is 1000/25 = 40x. A 25mm eyepiece will only give you the one power, so if you want more or less magnification, simply put in an eyepiece of a different focal length, or get a zoom eyepiece that can vary the mm focal length. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
I bought one of the vixen 6mm, and almost have to have my eyeball touch it to see. but when I do it has a nice view.
8 лет назад
Hey Ken, I have an Orion SkyQuest XT8, and I'm looking for an eyepiece that allows me to see better and father into deep space, I'm really interested in seeing nebulas and galaxies, I will do any price range, which eyepiece would you recommend?
Hi Tevin, I would look at one of the Q70 2" eyepieces. They have a very wide field of view, and with a low power you also get a very bright image. The 38mm Q70 (#8829) would give you the brightest image of all of them, and would be excellent for many of those nebulae and galaxies that an 8" can see from a relatively dark sky site away from light pollution. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
what can cause a faceting around the edge of the eyepiece lens when you look into it, it looks like those cheap diamond chip rings that used a diamond chip with extra metal faceting around the stone to make it look bigger. but when you look at it before placing eye to it and you see a starry ring with a hole in the center, and you have to focus on the small hole if you want to see anything. is this caused by out of collimation of the refractor?.
Hello, I am a beginner and I was wondering if an Orion Starblast 4.5 EQ Reflector can use a 2 in barrel? Also, would a 3.5 mm or 5mm Stratus wide-field eyepiece work on my telescope? I would like to see the planets as close as possible without getting blurry, but I do understand that I have a beginner telescope. What is the highest magnification my telescope can handle? I did receive a 6mm and a 15mm Expanse eyepiece with my telescope. Would a 2x Barlow work just as good? If not, what would you recommend? Thank you!
Hi Aliciasaurus, The Starblast 4.5" has a 1.25" focuser, so native 2" eyepieces will not work. But the 3.5 or 5mm Stratus would work because they have a 1.25" barrel. Either eyepiece would work, because with the 3.5mm, you are at 128x, which is well within the range of this scopes power limit. I would probably top it out around 180x-200x as a practical limit. A barlow is a great thing to have since it doubles all the eyepieces you have, so with your current set, you'll have up to 150x. If you get the barlow first, I think the next step would be the 5mm Stratus, as the 3.5mm would work ok by itself, but with the barlow would be pushing the power a bit too much. Thanks -Ken Orion Telescopes
New to high end scopes and eye pieces always got me. This was super helpful and makes picking out an eye piece so much easier. Thank you!
Thanks for making these videos. As a beginning astronomer, who is learning, it's nice that you seem to not be reading cue cards, verbatim. Although organization and clear content is paramount to an easy-to-watch tutorial, I can tell be your tone that you really live this stuff. Thank you, again.
Hi Geoffrey,
My first suggestion would be to get a 2x Shorty Barlow lens. It will double the power of the 25mm, and work with any eyepiece you get in the future. It's a great way to expand the power of your telescope.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
I just put 5 barlows on top of each other plus a 40mm eye piece and found out that there's oil leak under the Curiosity rover on Mars!
Bob Ross but 5 barlows (I’m assuming 2x) would magnify anything by another 10x so still very high magnification
TELESCOPE FOCAL LENGTH / OCULAR FOCAL LENGTH = MAGNIFICATION
I think nasa would know if the rover had an oil leak and its solar powered if it needed fossil fuel to run what happens when it runs out
Harry Brill it’s a damn JOKE.
@@leobigourdan8601 I thought it'd be 2^5 = 32x, no?
Just watched. More helpful than any video I have viewed from Celestron and others. And I own an 8" Celestron. Truly excellent. More folks would be turned on to the universe if the technology for viewing the sky was made this clear, succinct and relatable.
Ken, this was excellent - you come across exactly as the new folks want. Knowledgeable but friendly. Orion chose wisely when they selected you to do the intro videos.
Todd (just an XT8 but enjoying this new hobby)
great video....but I just want to make a note on eye relief for eyeglass wearers....yes, it's true, with very short eye relief, eyeglass wearers can never get their eyeball to the eye relief, however this is slightly disingenuous, or not entirely accurate anyway. If an eyeglass wearer removes their glasses, and slightly defocuses the eyepiece, most people can offset their eye focus issue so that the image is sharp. It just wouldn't be sharp for a non eyeglass wearer at that point. This is similar to the diopter on a camera viewfinder. With my glasses on, I set my diopter to a sharp image. If I remove my glasses, the viewfinder is out of focus, but I can refocus my diopter for my vision without my glasses, and the image is again sharp. If I now put my glasses back on, and don't readjust the diopter, the image is again out of focus, so it needs to be refocused for my glasses. The same holds true with telescope eyepieces, for MOST eyeglass wearers. This does of course depend somewhat on the reason for the eyeglasses. Just wanted to make that clarification.
True, but I wouldn't call it disingenuous. Probably just a minor oversight; easily made by a person who doesn't wear glasses. I wear glasses and I find it a pain in the ass to take them off for telescope viewing. This leads me to favor long eye relief eyepieces so that I don't have to.
James McPherson I prefer to take my glasses off to view.
While reading articles and checking on forums is helpful, there is something that makes a video easier to understand, if done right. I have yet to come across a video on Orion's page that is anything but informative and easy to follow. In the near future, I will be upgrading from my first pair of binos to a telescope; I am leaning towards the XT8 Plus. Thank you to Orion for producing these wonderful videos, and clear skies to all!
Ken is a true professional. Thanks for another informative video.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Every scope user should watch this video. 👍
Thank you Ken, an excellent presentation, keep them coming.
Regards Jim Mc.
Very informative...I just purchased an 8 inch classic dob from you guys and I love it so far...this video certainly is beneficial in helping me select my next eye piece...thanks
Great video, and clear, crisp explanations. Thank you!
I'm loving these videos. They're great for a beginner. Thank you.
Another great vid, Ken. Just ordered my first scope on the strength of your beginner vid.
Hi Egov,
If you have the Classic with only one eyepiece, I'd recommend something around a 10mm, and maybe a barlow to add with it. This way you'll have a wide range of power. The 10mm Sirius Plossl is a good eyepiece, similar to the 25mm that came with the telescope. Or the Expanse 9mm would be a wider field alternative.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Hi arsa525,
A moon filter will cut down some of the light, so if your scope is sending a lot of light to your eye, it can definitely make things more comfortable. Think of it like going outside on a sunny day without sunglasses. The filter helps knock down the glare.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
THANK YOU for this information it gets confusing but with the good ole internet, videos like these I feel I'm getting somewhere.
Excellent video for someone like me who is trying to get to grips with the different categories on Lens
Thanks ken,i'm aware of that Focal lengths is expressed by mm,i actually ment the barrel size,but did not mention it,i wrote it as it is mentioned in the instruction manual of my telescope without mentionoing the mm diameter,but you've alredy answered my question,thank you.
Fantastic explanations for this newbie. THANK YOU!
Star Trek weapons armory behind the guy on the right side? Set focal length to kill.
im a doctor, not a astronomer!
Set focal length to Uranus !!!
Hi Ken, thanks for the excellent explanation. Concise and to the point - Really helped me make a decision. 👍
Really useful information for a beginner like me thankyou
Your videos are incredibly helpful and very easy to understand. Thankyou so much.
Hi Galileo,
The E-series eyepieces are an entry level series, and don't have the same level of coatings as the Explorer II -- so the brightness will be better on the Explorers. Also, if you're using a higher power eyepiece of any type, it will appear dimmer and perhaps not as sharp if the atmospheric conditions aren't perfect. If you like the Explorers, I would suggest a barlow lens to use with them, or a Sirius or Highlight Plossl.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Excellent presentation .
Well done !
Awesome video. I got an Orion XT10 and I'm really digging how Orion is active with the community and gets all kind of help out there. I plead guilty to buying eyepieces from different brands as well (Celetron and Antares), but I really like Orion as a brand, and definitly digging your approach. Will order more from you for sure!
Hi Hisham,
I'm trying to figure out exactly what you are describing, and I think I might understand. When you say your eyepieces are 0.79 and 0.16 inch, I believe you are talking about the focal length. Usually that's expressed in mm, so they would be a 4mm and a 20mm. The 1.25" refers to the diameter of the barrel and not the focal length, so just measure the barrel of your eyepieces (where they fit into the focuser). If it's 1.25" then that kit will work.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
simple..clear... direct ... you should be a teacher Sir.... thank you
Great video. Very informative for a newbie like me. Thanks!
Very good presentation. Thanks.
I liked the information in this and your other video. In terms of getting what you pay for and how much glass you’re putting between you and the objects you wish to see where is it best to spend money. I’ve seen telescopes that on paper seem identical but are vastly different in price.
Hi Grannyhauenstein,
The Sirius plossl is a regular Plossl design - "Sirius" simply refers to the model name. We have the Highlight Plossls as well with a few added features, but they are also a standard 4-element Plossl design.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Hi Dosagu,
It just has to do with the length of the tube. A long Barlow can be 5" or 6" long, and a shorty style can be around 3". They're nice to have in a refractor or cassegrain diagonal, so the eyepiece doesn't stick very high out of the diagonal.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Very useful information, well presented.
Thank you.
Your videos continue to be a good source of information, thank you this helped out a lot.
Quick and practical information for a eyepiece selection for a astronomy enthusiast like me.
Thanks a lot for the video.
Very helpful. Thank you.
just got a SkyQuest XT 4.5 this is super helpful!!! I Have been using Barlow with a 5mm and wondering why the image is blurry...I've gone way over the maxium for my scope lol!!!
Ok, thanks. I'm getting ready to buy my first telescope, and am very excited! I've been checking out a lot of youtube videos for some great information and help with the purchase. I am thinking about going with the Orion Starblast 6. Thanks!
I like this guy. I am just starting in astronomy and want to start out with say Oberwers 10.5 x70.
Thank you for this video very helpful and informative to a beginner
thank you, this information is very helpful!
Thanks for information I understand some basic knowledge well. But please make a video about finder scope I don't find it very useful. Need to know more about it. Thanks
excellent clear precise info for beginners thanks
Thank you so much! Very useful and well explained!
Thanks a lot! I'm quite newbie in that telescope thing xD. I started searching for more things yesterday. Thanks! :D
Hi Ptrssniper1,
The 5mm and 6mm should work fine with the SpaceProbe130EQ. But the 3.3mm will probably push the power a little too far and end up showing you less detail instead of more.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Excellent presentation! Very comprehensive!
Hi Ric300078,
I don't think there would be anything wrong with a 10mm with a wider field of view. Yes, the Mak has a bit of a narrower light cone than a faster scope, but there's still plenty of room for going wider without loosing brightness on the edges. I think you can go up to at least a 66-68 degree field eyepiece without any problems.
Maybe look at the Expanse or Stratus line of eyepieces for a nice upgrade.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
great video, summarizes all i needed to know about eyepieces
Thank you very much. By far this is the most informative presentation on eyepiece selection. Very good, thanks.
you can always put barlow over barlow over barlow and see the curiosity rover on mars.
I was looking at mercury yesterday, it was beautiful seeing all the robot birds flying around with my Barlow over my barlow thats over my barlow.
psycropticide99 Probably not, it would just make it really difficult to locate objects.
psycropticide99 Multiply zoom!
but... you'll see nothing since no light reaches your eyeball...
knight654654 its 2 years later but no
Excellent presentation.
thank you. of course the video helped me
A very nice explanation about eyepieces only the image quality was very bad, hopefully there will be an update video with better picture quality. - 2018, 4K displays
thanks for the video ...... i wanted to know which is the bestest eyepiece for orion xt6...... iam from India
Very helpful thanks
best video out there. thank you.
On my Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes,Parabolic Newtonian Reflectors,Maksutovs& Achromatic Refractors with Orion Colour Fringe Filter to remove most Secondary Spectrum,I Love the 66 Degree Field of View GOLD Seal SkyWatcher 5 Element Multi-Coated Eyepiece.I also have the Meade QX 70 Degree Wide Fields but in their last 4 Degrees Apparent Field of View they are NO match for my Superb 66 Degree Apperant Field of View Multi-Coated Wide Angle Superb Synta of CHINA SkyWatcher Eyepieces in Corrections!!
Hi Duvan Jaft,
I had to use Google translation so I apologize if I don't answer your question exactly. If you are looking for 3 different magnifications, I would suggest a 20mm-25mm low power eyepiece, a 6mm high power eyepiece, and a 2x Barlow lens. This will give you 4 different magnifications, and will let you see all the objects you mention. Try our Expanse 20mm and 6mm, and the 2x Shorty Barlow.
Thanks!
I am interested in buying a Orion StarBlast 4.5. Could you recommend a couple additional eye pieces that I should purchase. This would be my first telescope.
Great video... I have a Meade LX 200 10" and I would like to be able to look at land objects like buildings, etc... What would be a good eyepiece to use ?
Hi Julio,
I'd say a fairly long focal length eyepieces would be best. Since your 10" is already a huge focal length, it will be easy to over-magnify during the day and just end up seeing heatwaves and other distortion. So perhaps a Plossl in the 25-32mm range, or if you have your scope outfitted with a 2" diagonal, you can use a Q70 32mm or 38mm for even lower power wider field of view.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Thanks for the video, I'm buying the orion apex 127. I will be doing photography with it so eyepiece wouldn't matter, but I do want to look at objects like Jupiter and mars etc, and I'm a glasses wearer. My budget is tight which orion eyepiece would you recommend to compliment the 25mm eyepiece that comes with the scope as I can probably only afford one for now?
I have never used a telescope and I just purchased a used Orion short tube 4.5 equatorial reflector telescope it has a diameter 114MM and a FL 1000 MM f/8.8 I don’t know what all these numbers are for but I will learn eventually my question is is that this telescope did not come with any lenses and I can’t seem to find ones that will just fit this telescope are they all interchangeable.?
This video was very helpful, for once I understood some math. Very well speaking for the viewer.
I have a question:
I have a 60*700mm refractor and a Bushmaster Mars 900 Reflector (Astronomical Telescope) .
having my 10mm plossl divided by the focal length of the telescope, (refractor) that would give me 70* magnification right?
and If I had a 6.5mm plossl plus the 700mm focal length of my telescope, that would be 107* magnification?
Around what magnification is best for a mars 900 reflector (114mm aperture 900mm focal length) and a 60*700mm refractor for viewing details on planets such as Jupiter and close up observations of the moon (crater viewing?)
Hi Galloping Gertie,
Yes, you are correct with the formulas you quoted. For planetary details, as well as small details on the lunar surface, 100x is usually a good starting point for the best view. The 60mm will top out around 120x, and the 4.5 should hold up to about 230x, using the rather generalized formula of the upper magnification limit being about 2x per mm aperture
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Thanks, your explanation was very helpful.
I have one more question.
I have a 2* Barlow with my 10mm eyepiece on my 700mm refractor. (the Barlow came with the refractor) with What magnification does that come to? I ask because when I view through this scope, I am not able to see details at all. Jupiter appears as just a small (reasonably sized) ball.
Thank you.
That would be 70 power times 2, so a total of 140x. That should give you the best image of Jupiter, so if it just looks like a small dot, I suspect you're looking at a star nearby. Make sure Jupiter is perfectly centered with a lower power view, then drop the barlow in.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Through the Telescope! the max magnification you can ideally use for planetary observations is around 35x per inch of apperture. so for your refractor that would be around 84x. and you are using it at 140x , so i dont think you would be able to view great details 🤔 . P.S- i myself have 70 mm and using it at 90x doesnt produce that good views
Very well explained.
Excellent... thank you
This got to the one of the top 3 Videos when it comes to this Lifestyle for new Fellas like me. Salute for the Game for free. Stay Blessed.
Great video. I’d really like to visit the Orion store
Excellent info, thanks a bunch!
Hi Ken I recently got the 90mm Mak Cass and was going to upgrade the 10mm with a wide field as I thought it would be easier to view targets with but was told it would not work well with this scope, my other other option is a plossl in the same size thats a bit cheaper? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Richard
Hello Ken, I own a 4.5" aperture Orion Starblast Reflector Telescope with a 450mm Focal Length and am having trouble selecting eyepieces. Although I have been fascinated with astronomy for years, I only recently began skygazing with a telescope instead of the naked eye. Anyways, it would help tremendously to know what eyepiece to use to view two things: Every planet in the Solar System clearly, and the Andromeda galaxy. I currently own a 15mm, 6mm and Shorty Barlow lens and I am guessing that for planets, I need a better magnification and for Andromeda, I will need a wider field of view. Overall, the specific lenses I will need to be able to perform these tasks would be great to know. Thanks for the help.
+LegendThePowerful
Hi Legend,
For planets, you're pretty well set with that 6mm coupled with the Barlow as that gives you 150x. You could push it a little more, and get around 200x-225x, so that would be a 4mm or 5mm eyepiece. Check out our Edge-On Planetary 5mm eyepiece (#8885) for high magnification.
As for low power, go for as low power as you can, which would be around a 32mm Plossl. This will brighten up the view, and give you a wider field. Check out the Sirius Plossl 32mm (#8728).
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Awesome! Thank you so much, that helps greatly.
Orion is the best. They are just so useful and awesome
Hi Ken'
I'm about to order an eyepiece set kit online, of which is 6 pieces different focal lengths of course, my original eyepieces of my telescope are of 0.79 and 0.16 inch, the eyepieces to be ordered are of 1.25 inch each, would it fix normally in my telescope or not?
Thanks in advance
so you should use high power eyepieces in long focus telescopes? and lower magnification for shorter focal length?
Sir...may i ask you about fisheye for handphones? Can i use it as an eyepiece too.
Hey Ken thanks again for always answering.. I have the 8 inch dobsonian. Two deep space lenses 28mm and q70 32mm.. I wAntbto really get into clusters and nebulae.. Do I have enough scope for that and just am still going through learning curve.. (Clusters are becoming beautifully easy) but do I need to step up the scope for galaxies and nebulae..?? If no any more advice? And if so where would you go next if u were me?? ORION ROCKS!!!
Hi Rocco,
Yes, you've got quite a good setup for clusters and nebulae. Some smaller globular clusters would do well with a medium power eyepiece, somewhere in the 13-17mm range if you don't already have something there. But for large faint objects, the 2" eyepieces you have are great.
To get even more light and field of view, you could go with the 38mm Q70, but if you want even more faint object performance past that, then you'll have to start looking at an even bigger scope. But the 8" with a 38mm Q-70 will give you a fantastic image of many of the Messier objects.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes so I found its more of a local of experience than lack of scope.. I was somewhat on budget considering this was my first "real scope" last night I found Andromeda Galaxy.. Wow spectacular !! Now for some . They would say okay it's a grayish flattish round cloud.. But knowing what it is and what I found .. Was an awesome experience.. I like a go to system but I also like to "go fishing" but I just have to better educate what I'm looking at. I find the smart phone shows stars that under my light condition I can't even see so your basic constellations kinda get blended in with an index of every star. Even when adjusting the star visibility it's never 75 percent easier .. But that's what I love .. The challenge is fantastic .. I thank Orion Telescopes for helping me out so much ... How about we petition for something on Mars to have Kens name on it !!
Interestingly,
Only the bright galactic center of the Andromeda is what most people can see within the glow of city lights.
The apparent diameter of the entire galaxy is about 3 degrees, or 6 suns/moons.
very interesting!
you might focus more (awful pun) on eyeglass wearers and models geared toward them.
Very helpful tip. Thanks!
Very good video, thanks
What is the right eyepiece s for Saturn ring
Excellent!
Thank you!
Ken I've possessed many EPs in my time naglers baaders etc but the orion edge on planetary leave nothing to be desired. they are outstanding in anything be it my 127 orion mak or 250 SCT
hi ken , i have a 70 mm telescope with 900 mm focal length. i already have 10x and 20x eyepieces . which eyepieces do you think i should buy next ? (or if there is no need you suggest against buying one )
Hi RB,
If your eyepieces are 20mm and 10mm, then next step is probably around a 6mm. You can get a #8739 Sirius 6.3mm Plossl, or for a larger window and a bit more comfortable view, try the #8920 6mm Expanse eyepiece. Either of these will magnify more giving you a closer look at the moon and planets.
Thanks!
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Hi! I was watching Moon for an hour and my eye felt sore after that. Have I understood correctly that a moon filter helps with this problem?
I,m just starting to learn about telescopes this vedio hase been very helpful to me! Ken. orlon telecopes. clear skys& God,s skys. ty. Diane.B I,m learning alot.:) I am buying more down the line.
I have an Orion 4.5 inch equatorial reflector telescope with a 10 and 25 mm plossl eyepieces, which I use with my Barlow x2 and moon filter. What other eye pieces can I get to further maximize my viewing with this scope? I have seen people view planets and nebulas with a lot more detail with the scope than I am able to right now.
Is that u means, Bigger magnification Eyepieces 66deg/40x=1.65deg FOV. Also plus
your Exit pupil will also drop down from 80mm Lense size/40x = 2mm Exit pupil left.
Is that correct? 2mm Exit pupil + 1.65deg FOV left? "How to see it in that way?"
Is there any Exit Pupil Amplification in the Orion Telescope or Binoculars market?
Hi Helena,
Eyepieces are measured in mm, so if you have a 25mm and your telescope is 1000mm focal length, then the power is 1000/25 = 40x. A 25mm eyepiece will only give you the one power, so if you want more or less magnification, simply put in an eyepiece of a different focal length, or get a zoom eyepiece that can vary the mm focal length.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Thanks Mate very informative & Exceptionally Explained👍 You just make me Feel Smarter & that’s “No” easy Feat! 👍🍺😂
I bought one of the vixen 6mm, and almost have to have my eyeball touch it to see. but when I do it has a nice view.
Hey Ken, I have an Orion SkyQuest XT8, and I'm looking for an eyepiece that allows me to see better and father into deep space, I'm really interested in seeing nebulas and galaxies, I will do any price range, which eyepiece would you recommend?
Hi Tevin,
I would look at one of the Q70 2" eyepieces. They have a very wide field of view, and with a low power you also get a very bright image. The 38mm Q70 (#8829) would give you the brightest image of all of them, and would be excellent for many of those nebulae and galaxies that an 8" can see from a relatively dark sky site away from light pollution.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
Whats the difference in a short barlow and a large barlow?
thank you
What is the difference between a sirius plossl and a regula plossl?
what can cause a faceting around the edge of the eyepiece lens when you look into it, it looks like those cheap diamond chip rings that used a diamond chip with extra metal faceting around the stone to make it look bigger. but when you look at it before placing eye to it and you see a starry ring with a hole in the center, and you have to focus on the small hole if you want to see anything. is this caused by out of collimation of the refractor?.
Hello, I am a beginner and I was wondering if an Orion Starblast 4.5 EQ Reflector can use a 2 in barrel? Also, would a 3.5 mm or 5mm Stratus wide-field eyepiece work on my telescope? I would like to see the planets as close as possible without getting blurry, but I do understand that I have a beginner telescope. What is the highest magnification my telescope can handle? I did receive a 6mm and a 15mm Expanse eyepiece with my telescope. Would a 2x Barlow work just as good? If not, what would you recommend? Thank you!
Hi Aliciasaurus,
The Starblast 4.5" has a 1.25" focuser, so native 2" eyepieces will not work. But the 3.5 or 5mm Stratus would work because they have a 1.25" barrel. Either eyepiece would work, because with the 3.5mm, you are at 128x, which is well within the range of this scopes power limit. I would probably top it out around 180x-200x as a practical limit.
A barlow is a great thing to have since it doubles all the eyepieces you have, so with your current set, you'll have up to 150x. If you get the barlow first, I think the next step would be the 5mm Stratus, as the 3.5mm would work ok by itself, but with the barlow would be pushing the power a bit too much.
Thanks
-Ken
Orion Telescopes
+oriontelescopes thank you!! :)