Telescope Eyepiece
Telescope Shopping Tips From an Experienced Astronomer
Telescopes are popular gifts for Christmas, birthdays or other occasions … but buyer beware! Many people live to regret their telescope purchasing decisions, either because they bought a cheap telescope that underperforms, or because they paid far too much for a telescope they rarely use. But armed with the right advice, smart shoppers can buy a good quality telescope for just a few hundred dollars.
First, whatever you do, don’t buy a telescope from a department store or drug store! The telescopes you’ll find there, while cheap, are typically of very low quality. They’re appropriate for a child in elementary school: If the child breaks it, you’re out only a modest amount of money. But if you’re buying for a teenager or an adult, buy from a store that specializes in telescopes, or buy online. Good telescope brand names include Antares, Orion, Celestron, and Meade.
While there are several types of telescopes, most beginners would do well to purchase what is called a “Dobsonian” telescope. Dobsonian telescopes (or “Dobs”) are relatively low-cost, yet high-quality telescopes. Generally speaking, they do not have any high-tech, computerized gadgets on them. Yet their optics are just as good as the overwhelming majority of computerized telescopes that cost thousands of dollars. Once you gain some experience using a Dob — and should you eventually decide to make astronomy into a serious hobby — you might one day purchase a more expensive “Schmidt-Cassegrain” or “apochromatic refracting telescope.” But start with a Dob!
Astronomers compare telescopes primarily by the diameter of their main (“primary”) mirrors. This is referred to as the “aperture” of the telescope. You’ll want to get a Dob with an aperture of either 6 inches (150 mm), 8 inches (203 mm), or 10 inches (254 mm).
If you can afford it, purchase either an 8 or 10 inch version: The larger the diameter of the mirror, the easier it is for you to see dim objects (like galaxies and nebulae) in the night sky. Prices range from roughly $230 USD for 6-inch apertures to $500 USD for 10-inch apertures. The telescope should come with two or three eyepieces: If it doesn’t, shop somewhere else. You’ll use the eyepieces to control the magnification of the telescope. For example, with one eyepiece in the telescope, you can see the entire surface of the Moon. But with another eyepiece, you can zoom in on a crater.
Also, consider purchasing the following accessories:
- Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe — a really good introductory book by author Terence Dickinson;
- A subscription to Astronomy magazine — a monthly publication with beautiful photos, a guide to the night sky, product reviews, and the latest astronomy news;
- Some astronomy software — such as Name A Star Live’s Virtual Planetarium™ software;
- A planisphere — Use this simple, lightweight, handheld device to identify constellations and major stars in the night sky;
- An inexpensive pair of binoculars — These are good for helping you navigate around the night sky as you search for a galaxy, nebula, or star to observe through your telescope; and
- A TELRAD — Most telescopes come with a very small telescope, called a “finderscope,” mounted on top of the main telescope. As the name implies, a finderscope helps you find the astronomical object you’re looking for through your main telescope. But most astronomers prefer to use a TELRAD — a battery-powered device that projects a red bullseye in the night sky. It’s much easier to aim a telescope with a TELRAD than with a finderscope.
These tools will help you learn the constellations, and otherwise help you get started in astronomy. Also, consider joining a local astronomy club where you can gain experience using various types of telescopes, and get help learning the night sky.
Happy stargazing!
About the Author
Richard Pickering is an astronomer for Name A Star Live, which lets you express your feelings in a romantic, meaningful way by ‘naming a star’ for a loved one. While no star-naming service can change the scientific designations of stars, only Name A Star Live makes it real by providing you: Virtual Planetarium™ astronomy software; an opportunity to view your star live using an online telescope; and the launch of you star name into space!
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Garrett 20mm 1.25-inch FMC Plossl Telescope Eyepiece $29.95 |
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Bio Microscope Telescope Astronomy Changeable Eyepiece Digital camera Stand ST-1 $11.00 |
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Celestron Telescope 1.25″ Moon Filter, use with any brand 1.25″ eyepiece, NEW $14.95 |
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TA35-P Digital colour electronic eyepiece for telescope $47.03 |
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Celestron 4 pc Eyepiece Filter Set For Telescope – New With Case $34.99 |
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Celestron 25mm X-Cel LX Telescope Eyepiece With Long Eye Relief $64.99 |
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VINTAGE SKY INSTRUMENTS 20mm MA TELESCOPE EYEPIECE! NEW IN BOX! L@@K! $24.95 |
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VINTAGE CELESTON 8mm (1-1/4″) SILVER TOP PLOSSL TELESCOPE EYEPIECE – NEW!! $39.95 |
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26mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece in Original Box, Great Condition! $39.95 |
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NEW 17mm Celestron Plossl telescope eyepiece $21.88 |
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Vintage Criterion Telescope Focuser , Kellner Eyepiece for Newtonian Reflector $40.00 |
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1.25″ Cheshire Collimating Eyepiece for Telescope, Short Version Brand NEW 50P? $14.52 |
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Celestron X-cel Series 1.25in 25mm Telescope Eyepiece $60.00 |
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Level-eyepiece 25-115x80zoom Telescope / Spotting Scope $94.08 |
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Nikon camera to telescope eyepiece adapter 4 Prime focus &projection photography $49.95 |
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8.5mm superwide konig 1.25″ telescope eyepiece SHARP! $21.95 |
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GSO 2″ 40mm Kellner Telescope Eyepiece with Free Case $52.00 |
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Celestron #80A Blue 1.25″ Telescope Eyepiece Filter – New In Case Free Shipping $11.99 |
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Celestron 32mm Omni Plossl 1.25″ Telescope Eyepiece NEW $39.99 |
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Celestron Omni 2x Short Barlow For Telescope Eyepiece $39.99 |
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Celestron 1.25” Oxygen 3 Telescope Eyepiece Filter NEW $64.99 |
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Celestron 6mm 1.25″ Omni Plossl Telescope Eyepiece NEW $29.99 |
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Celestron 12.5mm 1.25″ Eyepiece for Telescope – NEW $11.99 |
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Celestron 10mm 1.25″ Telescope Eyepiece w/ Eyeguard NEW $19.99 |
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Telescope Mirror Alignment Eyepiece – 1.25″ Collimator – Collimation Tool $29.99 |
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Astro Optics 20mm .965″ Telescope Eyepiece – NEW $9.99 |
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Celestron 6.3mm 1.25″ Plossl Telescope Eyepiece – NEW $27.99 |
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Brand New F350x50 Monocular Astronomical Compass Telescope Eyepiece High Quality $68.96 |
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NEW! TELESCOPE EYEPIECE RED 5 LED FLASHLIGHT for MEADE $10.55 |
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TELESCOPE EYEPIECE RED 3 LED FLASHLIGHT NIGHT VISION for MEADE $12.00 |
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TELESCOPE EYEPIECE RED 5 LED FLASHLIGHT for CELESTRON $10.00 |
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Celestron Telescope Eyepiece/Filter Kit + 2 Extra Lenses!! $100.00 |
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Bio Microscope Telescope Astronomy Changeable Eyepiece Digital camera Stand ST-1 $16.49 |
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Meade TerraStar 60mm Refracting Telescope Bag & 2 Eyepieces NG-60 $79.99 |
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Ultra Wide Multi-Coated 6mm Eyepiece Lens for Telescope $25.99 |
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TE-TL Eyepiece Tube with Telescope $180.00 |
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2″ Telescope Eyepiece – MaxView II Photo/Visual Eyepiece w/Ring Set $99.00 |
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Super Zoom 31,7mm (1.25″) Telescope Eyepiece 8-24mm $68.59 |
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1.25″ 26mm telescope eyepiece adapter for Nikon P6000 Camera Digiscoping $59.99 |
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1.25″ 26mm telescope eyepiece adapter for FujiFilm S7000 S5600 S602 S6900 Camera $59.99 |
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1.25″ telescope eyepiece for Sony DSC-H10 Digiscoping $59.99 |
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NEW – Zhumell Small Telescope Eyepiece / Accessory Case $29.98 |
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tasco 60mm telescope refractor azimuth tripod eyepiece solar viewer model F9 $40.00 |
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Astro Optics 8mm Deluxe .965″ Telescope Eyepiece $8.99 |
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Carl Zeiss Jena 6mm 6 mm orthoscopic eyepiece ocular for astro telescope $102.50 |
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Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Dual Purpose Telescope with Quality Eyepieces $259.00 |
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Ultra Wide Multi-Coated 6mm Eyepiece Lens for Telescope $35.99 |
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Ultra Wide Multi-Coated 9mm Eyepiece Lens Telescope $35.99 |
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Plossl 40mm Fully-Coated Telescope Eyepiece $12.50 |
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Portable Super Large eyepiece Monocular Telescope 8×42 BAK4 Monoculars FMC $55.99 |
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Extension Tube for 2″ Telescope Eyepiece $22.99 |
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Astro Optics Extension Tube for 2″ Telescope Eyepiece – Length Gain Of 1.75″ $24.99 |
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Celestron 6mm 1.25″ Eyepiece For Telescope – NEW $11.99 |
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350/60mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope with Two Eyepieces,Case & Tripod $76.00 |
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Meade 18mm 1.25-inch UWA (Ultra Wide Angle) telescope eyepiece $249.00 |
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GSO 1.25″ 15mm Super-Plossl Eyepiece for Telescope $31.00 |
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Meade 24mm 2-inch UWA (Ultra Wide Angle) telescope eyepiece $199.00 |
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VINTAGE EYEPIECE MEADE MA 9MM MULTI-COATED 1.25″ TELESCOPE RUBBER CASE EYE CUP $40.00 |
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Garrett 12.5mm 1.25-inch FMC Plossl Telescope Eyepiece $24.95 |
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Lens Cleaning Pen LENSPEN fr Camera Camcorder Lenses&Filters telescopes eyepiece $1.96 |
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Meade DS-2090 AT-TC Telescope w/ 5 Eyepiece set & Storage Case & Accessory Tray $99.00 |
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SXGA Digital Telescope Eyepiece USB PC 31,7mm (1.25”) $173.99 |
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Carl Zeiss Jena vintage 16mm eyepiece for astronomical telescope $165.00 |
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Vixen 39204 NPL 10mm Telescope Eyepiece $50.25 |
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Meade MA 12mm 1.25-Inch Illuminated Wireless Reticle Eyepiece for Telescope $84.12 |
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Vixen 39207 NPL 25mm Telescope Eyepiece $60.19 |
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Vixen 37101 NLV 2.5mm Telescope Eyepiece $175.14 |
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Meade Cemax 18mm Eyepiece for Telescope $110.80 |
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0.96″ to 1.25″ telescope eyepiece adapter $26.64 |
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Garrett 15mm 1.25-inch FMC Plossl Telescope Eyepiece $29.95 |
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DUAL CAMERA PHOTO ADAPTER FOR TELESCOPE EYEPIECE HIGH QUAL – BRAND NEW IN BOX $19.95 |
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NEW 3X BARLOW LENS TELESCOPE EYEPIECE – FOR 0.965 INCH TELESCOPE FOCUS MOUNTS $2.99 |
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Garrett SWA 32mm 72° 2-inch FMC Telescope Eyepiece $85.00 |
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Garrett 40mm 1.25-inch FMC Plossl Telescope Eyepiece $34.95 |
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NEW – Zhumell 6mm Plossl Telescope Eyepiece – 1.25″ $19.99 |
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NEW – Zhumell 32mm Plossl 1.25″ Telescope Eyepiece $26.99 |
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Zhumell 9mm Plossl Telescope 1.25 Eyepiece – NEW $26.99 |
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Microscope to telescope eyepiece adapter 30mm to 1,25″ (Stainless metal) $54.95 |
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Meade MA9mm 9mm Multi-Coated Telescope Eyepiece lens w/ Eyecup & Plastic Case $9.99 |
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.965″ telescope eyepiece moon filter Tasco NEW! $5.95 |
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Tasco 2X Telescope coated eyepiece Barlow Lens w/ T thread $18.95 |
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Celestron 1.25 13mm Plossl Telescope Eyepiece, multi-coated lenses, dustcaps NEW $17.95 |
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Meade 14MM plossl series 5000 1.25″ telescope eyepiece $47.95 |
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Meade 40mm Plossl Telescope eyepiece 5000 series, 60 degree AFOV, NEW! $77.95 |
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25mm .965″ Telescope eyepiece, BRAND NEW!! $5.95 |
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Cases For 1.25″ Telescope Eyepieces – Three Sizes – Set Of Four – Free Shipping $5.99 |
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Celestron Accessory Case for 1.25″ Telescope Eyepieces & Filters $16.99 |
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1.25″ moon filter for telescope eyepiece, FREE Software $8.95 |
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Meade 32mm Plossl Telescope eyepiece 5000 series, 60 degree AFOV, NEW! $72.95 |
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Celestron 18mm X-Cel LX Telescope Eyepiece With Long Eye Relief $64.99 |
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.965″ mirror telescope eyepiece star diagonal Small BLEM on the mirror! $3.75 |
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Economy 26MM 1.25 plossl telescope eyepiece NEW! $13.95 |
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.965″ Telescope three Eyepiece and barlow kit $9.95 |
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.965inch 3X telescope eyepiece barlow lens $3.95 |
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1.25″ Meade BLUE telescope eyepiece filter NEW! $6.95 |
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1.25″ Meade YELLOW telescope eyepiece filter NEW! $6.95 |
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1.25 inch partial telescope eyepiece mirror diagonal $4.94 |
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2″ yellow Barlow, focuser Caps for Telescope eyepiece $2.95 |
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33MM lenses for telescope eyepiece or experiments. lens $2.95 |
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32mm wide angle telescope eyepiece lens and spacer kit $8.95 |
