Andy, great photos.
A quick question. Have you any idea which eyepieces are recommended and which are to be avoided at all costs. I'm talking about manufacturers here. I see loads of stuff but don't know where they rank. I can't afford the best obviously, but don't want the worst. I think I would be able to see the difference between the shite stuff and the mid range stuff, but probably wouldn't between the mid range stuff and the top end. I want 2" barrels and probably a 12mm, and a 30mm wide angle, with a Barlow to follow.
I'm not really an expert, but I bought a set of Eyepieces from Celestron that were certainly good enough for what I was using
You can get them from Amazon in 1.25" or 2"
Celestron 94303 Eyepiece and Filter Kit - 14 Piece Telescope Accessory Set
Product description
Product Description
The Celestron 1.25” Eyepiece and Filter Kit is a great way to expand the functionality and enjoyment of your telescope. Inside the metal, foam-lined carry case you’ll find these accessories:
(32 mm Plossl Eyepiece - 1.25”, 17 mm Plossl Eyepiece - 1.25”, 13 mm Plossl Eyepiece - 1.25”, 8 mm Plossl Eyepiece - 1.25”, 6 mm Plossl Eyepiece - 1.25”, 2X Barlow Lens - 1.25”, #80A Blue Filter - 1.25”, #58 Green Filter - 1.25”, #56 Light Green Filter - 1.25”, #25 Red Filter - 1.25”, #21 Orange Filter - 1.25”, #12 Yellow Filter - 1.25”, Moon Filter - 1.25”)
Eyepieces - All five Plossl eyepieces can be used in any telescope with a 1.25” focuser. Each eyepiece features a four-element design with a 52º apparent field of view. The optics are fully multi-coated to improve light transmission and protect the optics. The 32 mm Plossl eyepiece offers a low power, wide field view in most telescopes, the 13 mm & 17 mm focal lengths are good medium-power oculars, and the 8 mm & 6 mm eyepieces provide high magnifications, great for the Moon and planets, especially when seeing conditions are good.
2X Barlow Lens - The included, and very versatile 2X Barlow doubles the magnification of any 1.25” eyepiece. Since this kit includes five (5) eyepieces, you will be able to use them with and without the Barlow, giving you a total of ten magnification options in all. Any other 1.25” eyepieces you already have will also work in this desirable accessory, giving you even more magnification choices. Remember, high magnifications do not always produce clear, sharp results, especially on evenings of poor or moderate seeing conditions. Experiment to find the magnifications that are best for your telescope on a particular night.
Filters - Colored filters can be used to bring out certain details on a planet’s surface or its cloud structure. All of the planetary filters included in the 1.25” Eyepiece & Accessory Kit, as well as the Moon filter, can be used on any 1.25” eyepiece with the proper filter threads, so they are very versatile. Just screw one onto your eyepiece of choice and slide it into the focuser.
The Moon filter is one of the first accessories most new amateur astronomers buy, and for good reason! It helps block out a portion of the light the Moon sends into your eyepiece so that you can see details better. You can also try this filter on Venus; it blocks enough glare so you can observe the planet’s phases more easily.
Metal Case: The sturdy metal carry case has die-cut foam inside to protect and cushion your accessories. Store each one in its appointed place when not in use and you’ll keep them looking and performing like new. The case is even large enough to carry a few extra accessories. Just pull out enough of the foam cubes to make a nest for your eyepiece, camera adapter, etc. A tight fit is better, so remove the least amount of foam possible before testing the fit. You can always remove more if you need to.
Box Contains
5 x Superior Grade 1.25" Plössl Eyepieces (6mm, 8mm, 13mm, 17mm and 32mm)
1 x 2x 1.25" Barlow Lens
6 x Colored Eyepiece(Lunar and Planetary)
6 x 1.25" Filters (Kodak Wratten #12, #21, #25, #56, #58A, and #80A)
1 x 1.25" Moon Filter
1 x Aluminum Carrying Case
You can find them on Amazon and the reviews are around 4.5 - 5.0 (out of 5)
They come with filters - but the phospher filter that used to be great isn't effective any more because the street lights have been replaced
