Stardust3

Thanks for all the replies to my questions and for the link to the 'What can I see'. It's been very helpful and based on the information that I've gleaned and all the information given by you all and other posts on this website I've ordered an Vixen NPL 8mm for the planet viewing. Once I've received it and had a chance to use it I'll post back. I did sway for some days between the BST Starguider 8mm and the Vixen but decided to start with the Vixen as although it has a low eye relief the reviews were very good. Time will tell. Thanks again to everyone.

Hi again Just looking at eyepieces. There are so many to choose from, would this one be a good choice or are the skywatcher ones not as good as other makes? The one I'm looking at is a 7mm. The spec is below. I don't want to get the wrong one and find it doesn't work as I would like, which is to see the planets with as much magnification and detail as my scope will allow. Thanks again everyone, you're all great for taking the time to help us newbies out. Specification UWA Planetary series eyepieces are ideal when high magnification is required for the observation of fine planetary and lunar detail. Based on a modified Plossl design, these fully multi coated eyepieces are constructed with five lens elements, and are characterised by their wide 58 degree field of view, low distortion, high contrast performance and comfortable operation. Each model features fold down / screw off rubber eyecups and a generous 16mm eye relief, making them suitable for spectacle wearers. They feature the security of rubber grips and the eyepiece barrels are threaded for standard 1.25 inch filters.

Thanks again guys. You've all been really helpful. It would seem that I have a couple of choices, one to get a 6mm eyepiece or/and a 12mm and a 2x barlow to get me to my max usable magnification for viewing the planets. As someone suggested BST starguider I may look at that. I was looking at a 6ml plossl but as it's much less expensive around £24 at First Light Optics I wondered if it would be as good as a BST star guider 6mm? Anyone have any experience of these with a Skymax MCT 127? When, as suggested here, I reduce the focus right down until Venus is as small but in focus as possible I'm getting 'star shine/sparkle' and colouring, like a tiny rainbow blob coming out of the top left of Venus. Does this suggest any fault anywhere, scope not collimated or lens not up to it? The eyepiece I was using was a 10mm one that came with the scope, any ideas would be a great help. So much to learn so little time!

Thanks to John, Ricochet and John (Moderator). I'll just buy a Barlow then as then it will take the 10mm down to 5mm. I assume that a Barlow lens and a 5mm eyepiece would be the same as using a 2.5mm in terms of upper power limit of the telescope? I know what a Barlow lens does but don't understand how it works, i.e. does it just magnify the image after it's hit the mirrors, thereby not affecting the upper power limit of the scope, like using a magnifying glass on an image or does it count towards the magnification re upper power limit of the telescope? A bit difficult to explain this concisely but hope the above is clear? Again many thanks for taking the time to read and help with the question.

Hi and thanks for the prompt response. Thanks for the information. From what you've shown, the Skywatcher UWA Planetary 2.5mm eyepiece would not be any use for my telescope, is that correct?

Hi, I'm new to astronomy and seeking help. I'm not new to the sky having watched Sky at Night for as long as I can, or want to, remember! I have finally bought myself a telescope: Skywatcher Skymax 127 Maksutov-Cassegrain. With it came 10mm and 25mm eyepieces. These, I know won't get me very far with planet viewing and so I was looking at the Skywatcher UWA Planetary eyepiece. However, on doing the calculations re telescope focal length and eyepiece focal length this would take the magnification to 600x. The upper limit power of this particular telescope is, again, according to the calculations 254x(mm) or 300x (in inches). My question is: Would the UWA eyepiece work with my scope to produce reasonably sized and clear planet viewing? Also, apart from a 2x Barlow and perhaps a moon filter, is there anything else that you would recommend as a good start for viewing the planets and deep sky objects? I also had a problem viewing Venus recently, although I didn't have the right eyepiece, the ones that came with it I understand are not useful for looking at the planets. It was a clear night and Venus was easily visible, having checked its position before going out to make sure that the bright star in the sky was indeed Venus. On looking through the scope I could see a bright white circle with a black centre, with some horizontal lines on the white disc. There were also what looked like minute, transparent bugs on the white disc. I've read a few posts that say that these are possibly floaters in the eye and you just have to get used to that? When I refocused the lens the disc either went very blurred one way or to a small star like point the other way? What was I doing wrong or was it because the 10mm and/or 28mm was useless for this purpose? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.