XT6i/Children/Eyepieces

Hi All!

My parents gave my kids (8, 7, 5) an Xt6i for Christmas. All set up and use it as the weather permits in finicky New England.

Looking to get eyepieces that are easier for the kids to use. The scope came with 25mm and 10mm plossls. The 25mm is okay for them, but the 10 gets a tad tricky with eye positioning. I was looking at some of the wide angle offerings.

My eyes are fine although not what they used to be pre-40; husband is very near sighted but wears contacts most times not glassses.

I have been reading the forums since we got it set up, but am suffering from information overload on eyepieces.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!
Sandy

So the problem is that the children have trouble getting and keeping their eye lined up, or.... ?
Dan

So the problem is that the children have trouble getting and keeping their eye lined up, or.... ?
Dan

The Orion Expanse eyepieces have better eye relief (you don't have to hold your eye so close to the eyepiece) than the short focal length Plossl. Replacing the 9mm Plossl with a 9mm Expanse would work well for you, I think.

Guess I did things a bit backwards. I have been reading up on telescopes and eyepieces, etc. since mom and dad mentioned this telescope. Since getting the scope and setting it up, I've spent HOURS hear and elsewhere reading on eyepieces. Talk about information overload.....

So I post here, THEN I called Owl Services. From there I am getting a 32mm plossl that I have read decent things about. Nice to read here that I made a decent move. I also ordered a 15mm widefield and an 11mm ultra wide. From what I've read the 15mm size is a good fit for general use for my scope. I will keep the 20MM we have sicne I like it. That 10mm is going in a drawer somewhere before I throw it off my deck! I did order a 2x shorty barlow when I placed the order for mom and dad so I think I have quite a nice assortment. Did I do okay? (nice to ask AFTER the order is placed, aye??!!)

Now I just have to settle on a finder since I've determined that I really don't care for the 6 x 30 on the scope. Kids can use it just fine at it's current angle, I just don't understand why Orion only put one adjustment screw into the darn thing, 2 or 3 would have been better and would have held it in position much better. As is with only one adjustment screw, if you sneeze, it's out of alignment with the scope.

I'm considering the Rigel although I worry that it would get knocked around alot with the kids being so tall, and the Stellarvue Deluxe MRF. I called them today and got another suggestion, a 9 x 50 RA finder, but the more I think about it, the more I think against that one. At their ages and sizes, the straight thru finder is perfect, just won't keep still, the RA finder would require a chair for them. Maybe something to consider in the future but not for us now. Leaning more towards the F2. Looks easy, has many options, not too big, most of all, I've read it's build fairly solid. I know, wrong forum!

The 12.5 mm "VOLCANO" top ortho (not the HD) from University Optics does really well on the moon in the 6" f/8 scope I have. The volcano top shape makes it a little easier to use. At outreach parties, it's the setup I use, and works well for kids. And the ortho is very sharp and bright.

Mike