New Eyepiece

[AstroWatch29]

IIII have a Celestron 114 lcm telescope. I have the two eyepieces that came with it. They are the 25mm and 9mm. I bought the 3x Barlow which has been wonderful. I was thinking of getting a Celestron X-Cel lx series 5mm. What would you guys recommend being the best size Eyepiece. I also am going to get some filters. I want good eyepieces and I am not afraid to spend money for them. When I get a new telescope (distant future) I still want to use the same eyepieces.

Bryan 

Celestron 114 LCM 

[MarkJ44]

G'day Bryan, there are plenty of EP experts here who will advise but personally i wouldnt rush to get the 5mm EP. I have a 6mm Vixen and have rarely used it. The attraction of higher magnifcation is obvious but you need excellent seeing conditions to get value out of it IMHO. With my 5SE i finished up going the other way and getting a TV 11, 20 and 32 and a TV Panoptic 24mm, great pieces and the viewing of clusters and nebula has been brilliant. Guess it depends on what your chasing. Good luck.

 

Regards

[Knighty2112]

Rather than get a new EP first off I would get a good quality 2x Barlow rather than use the stock 3x Barlow that you have. You views might not been as powerful, but they should be sharper & brighter too. 

[Dave In Vermont]

I'd suggest using what you have for awhile. Then figure out what all interests you most: Planets, stars & star-clusters, nebulae, galaxies, so forth. How are you set for finding your way about up there? I ask as there's a wonderful - FREE - software/planetarium-program called Stellarium available to help you find your way to objects of interest.

I'll gladly toss you my infamous Cut & Paste for getting this - similar software can easily run you around $200 US. Stellarium is one of the best - and free:

On this link is the main page for downloading Stellarium. Choose which version is correct for your computer. Here you go:

http://www.stellarium.org/
 
As for instructions, the most current one's are posted in Wiki due to there being new features & functions being created almost daily. There is also a Pdf. that's almost up-to-date, absolutely enough 'up-to-date' in all needed ways. Here's the Wiki-Link:
 
http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Stellarium_User_Guide
 
And the Pdf. is here:
 
http://barry.sarcasmogerdes.com/stellarium/stellarium_user_guide-new.pdf

I'll leave you with a screenshot of mine. Mine is rather advanced. Your new copy will be far easier - until you add your choices of data.

 

My apologies if you already have this, but someone reading this thread may not.

Enjoy!

Dave

Click image for full-size.

[AstroWatch29]

3 hours ago, Dave In Vermont said:

I'd suggest using what you have for awhile. Then figure out what all interests you most: Planets, stars & star-clusters, nebulae, galaxies, so forth. How are you set for finding your way about up there? I ask as there's a wonderful - FREE - software/planetarium-program called Stellarium available to help you find your way to objects of interest.

I'll gladly toss you my infamous Cut & Paste for getting this - similar software can easily run you around $200 US. Stellarium is one of the best - and free:

On this link is the main page for downloading Stellarium. Choose which version is correct for your computer. Here you go:

http://www.stellarium.org/
 
As for instructions, the most current one's are posted in Wiki due to there being new features & functions being created almost daily. There is also a Pdf. that's almost up-to-date, absolutely enough 'up-to-date' in all needed ways. Here's the Wiki-Link:
 
http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Stellarium_User_Guide
 
And the Pdf. is here:
 
http://barry.sarcasmogerdes.com/stellarium/stellarium_user_guide-new.pdf

I'll leave you with a screenshot of mine. Mine is rather advanced. Your new copy will be far easier - until you add your choices of data.

 

My apologies if you already have this, but someone reading this thread may not.

Enjoy!

Dave

Click image for full-size.

I haven't heard about this yet. My laptop just broke but I have the Google sky map. The stellarium looks amazing. I bought a nice Barlow but I would like to get the 2x Barlow too. I guess you can say I want to see everything like everyone here. I would like to get into astrophotography would be my end goal. 

[Mak the Night]

For your telescope: http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/telescopes/114lcm-computerized-telescope

I've calculated that taking its focal length and f/number into consideration, plus the fact you have a 3x Barlow, a 13mm eyepiece will give you around a 0.5mm exit pupil when used in combination with your 3x Barlow. So, without the Barlow it would give you about 77x, which is a decent medium power magnification. With the 3x Barlow you would get 231x for a 0.5mm exit pupil, which is about the maximum for your scope. If my sums are correct, of course lol.