New eyepiece help

kbs538 · Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

I just used my telescope for the first time this week. I dont fully understand the eye pieces yet but I do know that I was looking at mars last night with the stronges one that came with the scope and its just enough to make me want to go out and get an kick but lense so I can get a lot closer.

I have an Orion XT8. It came with the 25mm and the 10mm. What should I buy next to bring Mars up REAL close. Saturn too and all the other planets. Lay it on me. The 10mm enlarged the star to the point u could tell it was a planet but you could not see any detail at all. Just enough to make me want to go out and buy more lenses Smile

.

Thanks!

Kirk

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5171

Hi

You can use any brand of 1.25" telescope eyepiece in your Orion, but keep magnification within reason if you expect any kind of image quality. I would not exceed 150-200x with your Orion.

You can determine the magnification of your telescope by dividing the focal length of the telescope (usually marked in mm on the telescope) by the focal length of the eyepiece (telescope eyepieces are labled with their focal length, not their magnification).

For the basics on how to setup and use your telescope, see our article
Telescope FAQs

For some other helpful observing tips, see my article, A Dozen Telescope Observing Tips For Beginners
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