.965" - 1.25" eyepiece adapter

[knightrider]

Hi guys, most astronomy sites I've visited doesn't have one listed at all.

I'm wanting to give some new life to an old 70's tasco 130mm newt passed down from my dad.

I have the old eyepieces but they leave a lot to be desired. I have cleaned the mirrors respectably well, so now I just need better quality eyepieces to fit it.

Is it possible?

EDIT: I got the title wrong. It's .965" not .925" I believe....

[noeyedeer]

hey knightrider,
this website mentions something about a hybrid diagonal that will fix your problem, hopefully ... and perhaps list a few other tips www.rocketroberts.com/astro/tasco.htm
hope that helps
matt

edit - oh the diagonal might not work with a newt. maybe there's something else out there that's straight tube that go from .965 to 1.25

[noeyedeer]

this was recommended on another forum

agenaastro.com/blue-fireball-0-965-1-25-eyepiece-adapter.html

edit - there's quite a few adapters on eBay as well, not that brand but quite similar construction, for a lot less

[knightrider]

Thanks Matt,

I checked out ebay and bid on one there. See what might happen. So it seems there's none distributed within Aus, and only available overseas.

I'm wondering also if I'm wasting my time as the site that you linked to also reads that the lenses may not hit the focal point....hmmmm

[brian nordstrom]

:) Google AEC here in Australia , talk to Claude , he has a few Vixen .96 to 1.25 inch adaptors these should work in your 130mm , its a Newtonion reflector , aint it , not a refractor ?
Brian.

[knightrider]

Yes indeed it is a reflector. Interesting I'll check it out

[LewisM]

I had a FEMALE 0.965" - FEMALE 1.25" adapter made for an old Meade (Towa) refractor I am going to be used as a guidescope (went for FEMALE 0.965 so I could add an extension tube, since guidecams are NOTORIOUSLY long focus). Cost me $30 to have made from a VERY talented machinist in Brisbane (small plug for Hugh :) ). I am sure it would be even easier to go Male 0.965" to Female 1.25"

[knightrider]

Yes having one machined up would be a viable option too. Like you say it wouldn't be very difficult for them to do.

[noeyedeer]

no probs, see what happens. from what I gather it's more for the longer focal lengths ...30mm or longer. if the focuser can travel the amount the eyepeice sticks out of the adapter it should be able to focus (that's how I see it explained)

good luck :)

[knightrider]

Yep I see what you mean. I'm hoping to trial it with my own eyepieces first to see how well it works and how much better the views will be. If it succeeds i might look into buying it's own set maybe.

I ended up winning the one on ebay, it's getting sent from the UK so I imagine it will take some time to arrive. It's the similar construction to the one on the agenaastro site you linked. It was $23 delivered.

I'll post back with the verdict in due time on how it goes.

Thanks for your help guys :)

[knightrider]

Well it arrived and I tested it out. It didn't work, the focusser didn't have enough travel to allow my 25mm Plossl to focus.

Bummer.
I don't think I can do any mods either as the focusser already travels quite far into the OTA.

[noeyedeer]

that's a shame. least it didn't cost an arm or a leg. might be just as easy to get some new eyepieces if that's viable. thanks for letting us know how it went

[brian nordstrom]

:) Shame it did not work , but you can get .965- 1 1/14 inch diagonals , the male part is .965 and the eyepiece holder is 1 1/4 inch , these are around , e/bay for starters .
Good luck .
Brian.

[trent_julie]

Give me a quick design with some measurements and I will 3d print you one up

[Barrykgerdes]

If you go to Bunnings and look through the range of PVC fittings you will find pieces that can be glued together to make adapters for .965-1.25 and 1.25 - .965. I made a number using these parts about 10 years ago.

At present I can't check the actual pieces as I have been stuck in Blacktown hospital since last Friday week and don't look like getting out til the end of next week. I got a "7hr pass" today because I don't have surgery til Monday and I said I would not take my medication unless they let me out for a while and managed to get a laptop with internet brought in.

Barry

[hickny]

Barry,
Sorry to hear that you are unwell. Hope the treatment goes well for you next week.

[knightrider]

Here's a pic of it for interests sake.

Finding .965 eyepieces today is very hard to come across.

Brian, do diagonals work on a newt? It'd put a difficult angle on the eyepiece to view with wouldn't it?