Eye pieces and Barlows for Nexstar 102

[Caldwell 14]

I am think about upgrading the 10mm and 25mm eye pieces for my Nexstar 102 (which I love) I use the 10mm most often as I spend most of my time doing planetary and lunar work (hence the refractor) I was thinking about buy a barlow X2 and a couple of better quality eye pieces. so here we go what would you suggest in the way of eyes pieces, another 9 or 10 mm and a better quality 25mm and some filters? what happens if I put my 10mm through a barlow, is it over the top?....what do we think

Great night for it tonight Jupiter looks fab.

[iceblaze]

Hi Hex!

I suggest taking a look at this article, which describes in great detail a good path to follow when buying eyepieces:

http://stargazerslounge.com/beginners-help-advice/80772-eyepieces-very-least-you-need.html

-James

[ronin]

As I read the NS102 is an f/6.5 refractor, so about 650mm FL.

A 5mm should be OK but unless the barlow and the eyepiece are decent then I would opt for a 5mm eyepiece rather then the 10mm + Barlow.

From experience of them I would suggest the BST Explorers from Skys the Limit. Little wider field and I have found them very good as have others.

They come in 5mm, 8mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm, 25mm.

How about the 8mm and the 18mm ?

Later get the 5mm for higher magnification ~130x and probably as high as the 102 will sensibly accept.

If you go for the barlow option then try for a Tal barlow, good reputation, and possibly the 12mm BST. This would give 12mm and 6mm when barlowed.

[Caldwell 14]

Thanks for the advise chaps. I have seen these on Ebay for £40 : TMB planetary II eye pieces, anyone any experiences of these? should I forget about the Barlow and buy a 5 or 6mm and perhaps a 18mm?

[ronin]

Have the TMB II's and the BST Explorers.

Prefer the BST Explorers, but not really compared one against the other as a specific test.

Only BST "drawback" is that the TMB's are available in shorter focal lengths, 3.2mm, 4mm and 4.6mm I think. If you didn't go for less then 5mm I would opt for the BST's over the TMB's.

But eyepieces are a personel thing, what I like you may not.

If you buy from Alan he may send you one of each and you send back the one you don't prefer.

Any chance of a location for you?

[Caldwell 14]

A couple of miles from the Humber Bridge, North Lincs.

I also considered this:

Antares 1.25 inch W-70 eyepiece and filter kit | Telescope Accessories | Rother Valley Optics

Anybody know about these?