Crossway

Thank you Guys,  for very useful  replies.      There is a lot to think about here  , all the options you mention are interesting  and  all would obviously improve  my system .  I have been looking at the  specialist websites  including FLO .  As I mentioned , I am  on a  budget  (hopefully of shortish duration !! )  and am initially  interested in FLO's   advertised  2X Barlow at £25.  I think that would do the trick for me.   Alternative  suggestions are  nevertheless tempting   but  going into  a zoom eyepiece  would be, for me,  far too ambitious.   My Astromaster  76,  " kit " included an erecting lens  which I have sometimes used  with the 20mm eyepiece but I never found it absolutely necessary.  

Many thanks to you again.

Pete

Perhaps I could ask for some advice about the following 

I use  a Celestron Astromaster 76 reflector and although  pretty modest indeed  for  night sky use , it is ideal for observation of  near distance coastal wild life..  I   use  the  Celestron standard 20mm  eyepiece  and sometimes  used to use the 10 mm but this was  largely unsatisfactory because of poor eye relief..  I bought a budget 2 X  Barlow and dispensed with the 10mm  eyepiece and this largely improved  matters., 

My query is about upgrading.........  I rather thought  that to replace the Barlow with one of decent quality  would perhaps be the better option as the 20mm  eyepiece  seems to be  OK.   But having said that I have never   been able to compare it with any other. 

The obvious alternative of course is to replace both  but  cannot do this !!

Any help much appreciated

Pete

Thanks bryand and Ruud,  I have just been looking on line and I just  had no idea that there were so many  books available  in this particular field of observing .....a case of being spoilt for choice I think.  

Very positive replies, thanks HollyHound ......think I'll put the book on" wants" list.  Sounds an interesting and popular volume just to have in one's kit.  

Thanks for reply, Tomatobro,   No, not interested in photos of objects but otherwise  very helpful and particularly  regarding  use of finders, telescopes and binoculars.  I don't use  Stellarium though.......not yet !.  

My main bino observing guide is James O'meara;s  book "Observing Night Sky with Binoculars"   Excellent it is , although I do find his  information on celestial mythology a  trifle distracting.  The book also supports the use of a small telescope which I use sometimes.   

I am not at all familiar with the contents of "Turn Left at Orion" but note that the the original publication was intended for the small scope user and which is still available via the 2nd hand book trade.  I have read such a lot of high praise about this book that I wondered  if it would be of any benefit to me. If anyone happens to own both books would they have  an opinion about this.

Ricochet,  I  wasn't aware that Celestron had  introduced  a new design finder for the Astromasters....... I have been looking at the  adverts and  the finder looks  greatly improved no doubt influenced by the poor response to the previous one........the one I have .  I won't refit it to the scope but will probably hang on to it for the time being.

Crossway. 

Cosmic Geoff,  Unfortunately I cannot  illustrate the finder with a pic but Steve's  link  3 posts up  is the one in question.  Must say the news so far is not very encouraging is it !!!

Crossway

Yes Steve, that's the one and note that you are familiar with it from years back.......did you ever  have any success with it at all?.   My 76 AZ  is  mainly used  on short range terrestrial stuff  like sea birds and ships  but when required I use it with a  small  finder scope and right angled eyepiece. The small Celestron red spot finder was obviously  designed to work  and I'm therefore reluctant to dump it in case it is my technique which is at fault. 

Thank you for replying Ricochet.......my   query  was unfortunately  not  explained all that well and  I  apologise for perhaps  wasting your time.   The  Celestron  "Astromaster 76"  has a  very small red dot finder tacked on to a permanent mounting at  the  very  end of the tube just above the spider .   The initial  exercise of  aligning scope and finder  using a  terrestrial  feature  I always found to be  hit or miss and  subsequent  aiming of the scope onto  the intended target  was inaccurate.   I   think that the problem with the finder is something to do with  its small size  and the  narrow separation between the two  reticules,  one of which is roughly adjustable.

I have a Celestron  76mm  newtonian  which I  intend  giving to my grandson  ,........It was used mainly for bird and ship spotting  at the coast and  I imagine it would  continue to be used likewise.

Despite a somewhat flimsy tripod the scope works very well but I am a bit dubious about re- attaching the  small red dot finder  which I could never get the hang of.  Could I ask if anyone has   any experience of this gadget as  a useful aid.

Thanks.

Crossway  

I think it might have been 10 or more years ago when I was invited to attend a lecture at the University of Newcastle 's  observatory which was then located at  Close House , Wylam Northumberland.  They had a large  reflecting telescope . perhaps of the order of 14 imches or more  which they were proud to show to us visitors.  The mirror, I thought,  was very grubby indeed  and I  mentioned this to our host who told me that the performance of the  mirror was not un duly affected  by this and that they would only clean it as a last resort..........he didn't explain where this last resort lay.  I think that I have heard elsewhere that  primaries can look a lot worse than they would  appear to be.

Pete