Advice please for newbie- best eyepieces for young child

[adg0]

Hi all

I've read many posts and threads on here, but Im a bit confused as to what the best option for eyepieces would be for my circumstances...

I bought a telescope for my niece. The best telescope i could find for budget under £150 and in stock during lockdown according to reviews was the Zhumell Z100. It only has F/4 

We tested it out a few weeks ago. We live in west London so a lot of light pollution. An hour later we saw nothing of note, basically a couple of stars which looked no different to viewing without anything. My niece was quite disappointed and I felt so bad! 

Im aware that for the price there are limitations and in hindsight maybe i shouldve gone for a refractor which would have given better planterary views (but there was nothing good in stock). So now somewhat stuck with the Zhumell- Ive been looking at better eyepieces as the stock 10mm and 17mm are pretty poor (not that i really have frames of references- but the views dont seem magnified really, and the eyepiecce has only a small hole to see through and nor ubber so uncomfortable for a small child.

I can spend about £50. Would like something which has a wide lense to see through rather small hole opening the stock lenses have,  also rubber rim so its more comfortable for my niece. sorry if ive got the terms wrong. Basically Id like her to be able to see the moon really clearly and big :) and if possible some other planets with some colours etc. As mentioned  I know west london that maybe tricky. Shes 7 years old btw.

Ive seen the following:

SVbony wide angle 6mm

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SVBONY-1-25-Ultra-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece-Lens-6mm-66-Multi-coated-for-Telescope/273763398551?hash=item3fbd91f397:g:3DwAAOSw1AZalDeX

skywatcher same thing?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skywatcher-6mm-UltraWide-Okular-1-25/dp/B00AWAJMG6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

and then a skywatcher planetary:

https://www.astroshop.eu/eyepieces/skywatcher-eyepiece-planetary-uwa-6mm-1-25-/p,44932#tab_bar_0_select

 

If by spending say £100, I could make a drastic difference, I would be willing to. but for now, limiting the budget- maybe in a few more years a bigger telescope.

 

any help advice appreciated thanks

 

[happy-kat]

Welcome

Are either of you glass wearers, it would just mean ensuring what eyepieces you go for have good eye relief around 20mm or close to would be good.

In your price range I think you did ok as a refractor in the price range could show chromatic aberration which would appear on the main planets you would see and your 100mm aperture is best placed for pulling in more to look at. Your telescope looks similar to the heritage 100p.

Stars are pin points of light whatever the size of telescope though you'll notice their colours can change.

The planets in the uk are quite low in the sky so observing is through the murk they aren't at their best currently.

Stellarium is a great resource at seeing what's up in the sky.

You could get a planisphere to use as they are a lovely manual way to see what it where and how the earth is rotating.

This is a good thread

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/196278-what-can-i-expect-to-see/

Edited July 30, 2020 by happy-kat
Typos

[adg0]

Hi Happy kat and thanks for the response and welcome

neither of us are glass wearers, but y niecce and i found it quite difficult looking into the hard end and small lense opening of the stock eyepieces.

 

also thanks for the general information- ill definitely check out Stellarium and the planisphere- we didnt know where we were pointing!

is there a best time of year to see jupiter, mars saturn in the uk, London? summer skies are clearer but lower in sky? winter usually a lot of cloud...

[Louis D]

Planets are always on the move, so you really need to check Stellarium or an online planisphere to see what's up and when.  Their maximum height above the horizon varies over a long period of time (20+ year period?).  We're at a minimum for the northern hemisphere right now.

[adg0]

thanks Red Dwarf. any views on the eyepieces i linked?

[Louis D]

The 66 degree 6mm eyepieces are fairly sharp, but suffer from SAEP (kidney-beaning) to some extent.  The Skywatcher Planetary line (a generic clone of the original TMB Planetaries) is generally better regarded, as are the BST Starguiders.

[adg0]

1 hour ago, Louis D said:

The 66 degree 6mm eyepieces are fairly sharp, but suffer from SAEP (kidney-beaning) to some extent.  The Skywatcher Planetary line (a generic clone of the original TMB Planetaries) is generally better regarded, as are the BST Starguiders.

thanks Louis appreciated.

 

edit.. sorry called you red dwarf before... still getting used to the thread layout

Edited July 30, 2020 by adg0