How wide can I go ?

[Stevie816]

I have a Meade 10 inch Cat and usually use EP's from 13 (on a very good night) to 40.

My question is what's the widest FOV EP I could use ?

Stevie.

[Moonshane]

if you mean what is the widest piece of sky you could see with your scope then assuming you have a 2" focuser this would be with a 41mm 68 degree eyepiece. the 41mm Panoptic is often used for this. it would give about 1.1 degrees of sky. alternatively a 31mm Nagler would give 1.0 degrees and a slightly darker sky. neither are cheap but there are alternatives.

[Moonshane]

ps if you have a 1.25" focuser this would be a 32mm plossl or a 24mm 68 degrees eyepiece (both 0.6 degrees)

[Stevie816]

Thanks for that Moonshane. (Yes your right the widest piece of sky)

So I suppose I had better start saving

Stevie

[Moonshane]

with your slow scope there are other options e.g. the 40mm William Optics SWAN (pretty much the same field as the 41mm Pan) might be a good buy. http://www.firstlightoptics.com/william-optics-eyepieces/william-optics-swan-eyepiece.html

I had a 33mm in my old f8 refractor and it was lovely.

[John]

The Vixen NLVW 42mm seems to have the largest apparent field of view of any 2" eyepiece at 72 degrees. Assuming your CAT is a 254mm F/10 that would give you a 1.19 degree true field of view.

Explore Scientific are developing 3 inch eyepieces though so those will give a wider field when and if they hit the market.

[Stevie816]

Thanks again I can actually afford the Swan !

it's 10% the price of the Nager. As with most things I suppose the Nagler is a little bit better

Stevie

[Moonshane]

a wanted ad on AB&S might provide results http://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview_archive.php?view=32125

[Charon]

There is a 31mm Nagler for sale on AB &S.

[alan potts]

If you are not too bothered by the 52 degree FOV the Televue Plossl 55mm is a cheaper way. With the 41mm panoptic and the 42mm from Vixen ther really is nothing in it. I have still got a 40mm Meade which is very good and would do fine, I have had it for sale for a long time in the classifieds, If you would like it PM me.

Alan.

[Naemeth]

Personally I'd go with Shane's suggestion of the WO Swan . F/10 isn't very demanding on eyepieces.

[Mr Spock]

As a 42mm LVW user I can recommend it. It's one of the most comfortable eyepieces to use - just like looking through an open window