Where to purchase BST eyepieces?

[Tube Screamer]

Hi guys,

I was recommended looking at BST eyepieces in a previous thread, namely the BST Starguider 5mm.  I have looked for these online, but strangely all I can find are eBay sales, or sites linking to eBay sales.

Can anyone please tell me a good place to purchase BST items please, and also why they seem mainly available through eBay?

Thank you

Russ

[nightfisher]

you have to look on ebay, the only seller is alan at skies unlimited, he is a spot on person very good to deal with

[Tube Screamer]

you have to look on ebay, the only seller is alan at skies unlimited, he is a spot on person very good to deal with

Thank you for your helpful reply.. I have sent him an email!

Russ

[Ruud]

i think I've read that the 5 mm BST starguider is the same as this eyepiece: http://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/eyepieces/60-to-72-wide-angle/other/ts-ed-flatfield-5-mm-eyepiece-60.html

Someone who knows for sure would have to confirm this, though.

Good luck in finding the eyepiece.

[ronin]

Historically Alan at Sky the Limit was the original seller, they came out as BST Explorers, then the name changed after a couple of years, but the same eyepiece. Alan always sold from home (likely still does in a lot of instances) but he took an eBay "shop" out and that was Skies Unlimited.

So now 2, Sky's the Limit and Skies Unlimited, both the same in reality.

They are available elsewhere, think 365Astronomy sell them, but Alan is probably the best option all round.

They are available under other names, however often the alternativly named ones are often up to twice the cost.

Not sure if you will get an email back immediatly, even people like Alan need a weekend and it is Christmas coming up also. Say this as at times people send a retailer an email, then within 2 hours are complaining here of no reply. Pick a reasonable day+time and he answers the phone.

[davedavedave]

I bought the 8mm from Skies the limit ebay site. I was unsure at first as well but so many people on here seemed to recommend it.

It's a great eyepiece, a significant upgrade on the stock eyepieces I had and much better value than anything else out there I could find. The service is good too, quick delivery etc

I'll be going back there with any Christmas money I get, for either the 12mm or the 25mm!

[Tums]

+1 for Skies unlimited.

Alan gives a first rate service, had 3 B.S.T'S off him.

I know there are some dodgy characters on EBay. But Alan is NOT one of them.

[Tube Screamer]

Thanks to you all for the replies.  I wasn't really intending to be disrespectful to him by contacting him on a Sunday.. it's just that I was hoping for a pre-Christmas delivery, and so wanted to get in touch as soon as possible.

A quick question regarding the magnification of the eyepiece;  it looks as though he offers both a 5mm and a 3.2mm BST Starguider eyepiece.  For the Heritage 130p, that would mean 130x or 203x magnification respectively.  With the 130p having a listed practical maximum magnification of 260x.. can anyone advise me which of these two eyepieces (5mm, 130x or 3.2mm 203x) would be likely to offer me the best views for planetary use please? 

Thank you

Russ

[Charic]

I would suggest the 5mm would offer the best solution, matching the  telescopes focal ratio, giving you an exit pupil of 1mm and a power of 130x. Given twice the aperture of your scope should yield @ 260X under perfect conditions, pushing your scope to those extremes, will only apply on certain 'excellent seeing'  nights, and possible only on the Moon!

The 3.2mm will produce a dimmer image at the higher magnification, and will require good tracking skills.

Also note, Alan supplies post free, so very unlikely the EP would arrive by Christmas. If you telephone him first thing Monday, and ask if he will send 1st class (you will pay) you may have the chance of a Christmas delivery, but the Stars, Planets and EPs will still be there after Christmas, but alas, not in any sales?

[Ruud]

260 times would be 2D on your telescope. (2 x 130mm = 260.) This is the ultimate limit for perfect optics. Beyond this no more detail can be revealed, the image just gets hazier (due to diffraction effects of the aperture) and way too dim (because of excessive magnification).

 

If your 130mm scope has optics that are less than perfect or if its collimation is not as exact as it should be, 260x is too much. 

 

203 times is probably the practical limit for your optics - 130 times should give noticeably crispier and brighter results.

 

You should probably get the 5mm, but It's hard to advise you. On your telescope, for the planets and the Moon, I'd want a 6mm, an 8mm and a good 2x Barlow.

 

- 

 

Nagler says that for high magnification you should use the lowest magnification that shows you the detail you're after, and for low magnification you should use the highest magnification that allows you to frame your target properly.

[nightfisher]

I will do my usual and go against the grain, to say get the 12mm, and at some stage get a nice £20 barlow on the used market