Best Len(s) for Mars/Jupiter/Saturn Telescope stats included.

[tpwalker1980]

My daughter has really taken an interest in the sky and I'm trying to nurture that interest.

Is there any lens I can get for the following telescope that would make say Mars look anything more than a tiny dot?

Its an old Orion telescope I got 20 years ago.
F8.8
4.5 short tube
Diameter 114mm
F.L. 1000mm

[Davey-T]

Hi and welcome to SGL.

Do you have any eyepieces at all ?

Dave

[tpwalker1980]

I have a 50mm and a 30mm wide lens currently

[Knighty2112]

Anywhere between a 10 to 5mm EP should care better. Depending on your budget you want to spend there is quite a range, but BST starguider EP’s are good for a low-key price at £49 from FLO. 

[rwilkey]

Hi, I agree with Gus above, the BST StarGuiders, either the 8mm (125x) or the 5mm (gives you 200x) will be good, the 8mm being better as 5mm is pushing it a bit.  Also note that any planet will look like a pea through a telescope and also Mars is not the easiest planet to look at.

[tpwalker1980]

awesome.  Thank you guys.

I'll see about picking up the 8mm and go from there.



 

[Davey-T]

There you go, from our sponsors, available by clicking their logo at the top of this page.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-8mm-ed-eyepiece.html

Dave

[ronl]

Robin recommended the bst Starguiders to me a few years ago, they are really good value, and give

great views, the 8mm is a great choice, try observing Saturn, you will be amazed.

 

[Louis D]

Just be aware there's a global dust storm raging on Mars, so it looks like a large orange-red disk now.  It might be winding down, based on this thread's photos.

[Demonperformer]

Hi and welcome to SGL.

Just to clarify, you are talking about eyepieces for the telescope? 50mm seems an awfully long focal length to have ... the usual "standard" is 25mm.

[Charic]

14 hours ago, rwilkey said:

Also note that any planet will look like a pea through a telescope

I would disagree Robin! more Petit Pois, even smaller, thats my experience ( the only gripe with my present scope, the image scale afforded)  but happy in all other respects.

 

[Charic]

10 hours ago, ronl said:

Robin recommended the bst Starguiders to me a few years ago, they are really good value, and give

great views, the 8mm is a great choice, try observing Saturn, you will be amazed.

 

Ditto.....