Planetary viewing - are we serious about it?

[davidpretorius]

i would appreciate whatever you can be without for a week or two!

thanks. I will send you a return airbag on thursday

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

I took a punt, based on a favourable report, and bought a Meade S5000 14mm plossl (60 degree FOV as opposed to 50 degree on other plossls) as a stopgap EP but am so pleased with the performance I probably won't bother upgrading. I don't know how well it would perform on a fast scope but on the LX it's very good.

A quick look through one showed the focus soft at the edge at f5 unfortunately. Acceptable perhaps for dso viewing, but you dont want soft edge focus for planetary

[asimov (John)]

Forget about the airbag man. I'll get them off in the next couple of days.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Just found this page on "Best Planetary Eyepieces": http://www.bpccs.com/lcas/Articles/planeye.htm
It's a good read.

[davidpretorius]

two things,

1. the airbags cost me nothing and i appreciate the gesture, but i rather the money stays in your pocket sir!!!
2. we can track the airbags. there are precious little bundles being transported and I would hate for something to go wrong!!! - hence connote tracking

Originally Posted by asimov

Forget about the airbag man. I'll get them off in the next couple of days.

[asimov (John)]

I was going to send them registered post, but whatever! send your lil' bag then.

[ving (David)]

i can recommend only what i have used dave. celestron ultima 7.5 gets good reviews from many places. TV 10.5 plossl is also good. I got mine second hand on ebay really cheap.

[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Just found this page on "Best Planetary Eyepieces": http://www.bpccs.com/lcas/Articles/planeye.htm
It's a good read.

Interesting point in this article that I hadn't much thought about was the value of wider FOV for planetary when you're working an undriven dob - quoting the article "One factor that has given a boost to wide field eyepieces is the use of Dobsonian telescopes without motor-driven mountings. If you have to nudge your telescope along to follow the apparent motion of the moon and planets, then a wide FOV lets you look a bit longer before having to disrupt your concentration with the old "armstrong" drive. "

Guess this is suggesting that what's good for one's motor driven goose isn't necessarily good for one's dobsonian gander

[gbeal]

OK, I've digested all the sage, and valuable advice here.
I have two separate styles of eyepieces.
In collection mode I own a complete set of orthoscopics, stuck up brand, and very nice. These I use for lunar and planetary, as well as doubles.
For DSO I convinced myself I needed a pair (or more) of widerfield eyepieces, and have settled (at this stage) on a 22mm Nagler, and a 12mm Nagler.
I have both dob mounted, and equatorial mounted scopes by the way.
I have noticed lately though that the 12mm Nagler is seeing more and more use.
For the lunar surface especially, but also recently on Jupiter etc.
If you had asked me a while back I would have scoffed, but now I am not so sure. The orthos are right up there with the quality, but the extra FOV with the Naglers and an undriven mount make the the Naglers more appealing.
I think the best plan is to try a few, and more especially in your own scope.
Like one posting said though, don't overly concentrate on the particular brand or style, just get something and use it. If you buy used, then the shifting and changing costs are minimal. I know I went through many, many eyepieces before the ones I have now.
Partly though that is the beauty of this fine hobby.

[rumples riot]

Here's my take on this.

As you all know I spend a lot of time imaging the planets when the weather is fine and my social and work life allow. As a consequence of this I seldom get to look through my EP's. However, every now and again, maybe once every couple of weeks, I go inside pick out two or three EP's and do some viewing for an hour or so.

I find that this is very relaxing after the tension of imaging. I really enjoy these sessions the most. Because I just browse a view of the sky or the moon or look at a planet. These times are the best. And; I have to say better than imaging. That said though, I only really appreciate this because I don't always spend my time viewing. It is a special treat for myself.

So buy that special EP, for those times that you just feel like viewing when after imaging.

Best of luck with your choice.