Eyepieces for Orion 120 ST

Hello all:
My previous telescope experience was a free loaner Celestron C8 with a wide range of University Optics eyepieces and a Celestron Plossl that came with the C8. All were very satisfactory, but due to Parkinsons Disease, I can no longer use such a large package safely.

Just this week I got a used Orion 120 ST (achromatic) and a new Celestron CG5 mount (not GoTo but motorized). It came with a 1.25 diagonal and I have a no-name 40mm 1.25" Plossl from eBay that I like just fine. I have less than $500 into the package so far, and I am already very happy with it.

I will observe Messier objects, planets and the moon, the occasional double star, and enjoy showing telescope views to non-astronomer friends and family, old and young. I am 53 years old with fair eyesight. I will observe a few nights per month at best.

I want to pick the rest of the eyepieces well, rather than willy-nilly. I can allot a budget of about $400 for all diagonals and eyepieces. Some scenarios occur to me, a refractor newbie:

A.: Go 2", get a diagonal, a 25mm, a 15mm and a 2X Barlow for about $100 ea, likely used.

B.: Stick with 1.25", same focal length oculars, maybe get better quality for my $100 each.

C.: Spend much more than $100 per, and get only one or two better components, like a better 2" diagonal and a better 20mm only. (Less magnification options, but better views; may be like putting a $200 saddle on a $25 horse)

I am open to your suggestions, scenarios, experience, help, opinions and lore. Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,
Don French
Tucson, AZ

Don: Hello and Howdy...

A few thoughts:

With that 120mm ST, you definitely want to be able to talk advantage of it's widefield capabilities, besides being portable, that is what that scope shines at.

So, you want a 2 inch diagonal and a 2 inch eyepiece.

The best deal out there: A few of the Meade SWAs are still available, they should be awesome in your scope...

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Binoculars%20%26%20Telescopes&cat2=Telescopes%20and%20Accessories&cat3=Telescope%20Eyepieces&feature1=Meade&Startat=21

I would go with the 34mm though it is heavy. If you wanted to stay with the 24mm and 1.25 inch eyepieces, I have one, it's a wonderful eyepiece. It would provide a very enjoyable 2.6 degree TFoV.

The rest, I would buy used right here on Astromart. A decent 2 inch diagonal, well under $100.

An eyepiece around 16mm, the Meade 16mm SWA Series 5000 if it pops up.

A 9mm, everyone needs a 9mm. I like the 9mm Synta widefield, sold as the Orion Expanse and a number of others.

For the higher magnifications, the TMB/** Planetary eyepieces are good choices, the 9mm is good, add the 6mm and the 4mm and you will have a nice range of magnifications.

For a Barlow, I like the standard Celestron/Orion shorty. It is made by GSO, the barlow section unscrews and can be screwed to the front of a 1.25 inch eyepiece to provide 1.5x magnification.

So, your eyepiece case might look like this:

34mm Meade SWA, (Heavy but can be slimmed down by removing the eye cup hardware)

24mm Meade SWA (both are 5000)

16mm Meade SWA (500) You will have to find this here on astromart used.

9mm, 6mm 4mm (or some similar combo) TMB Planetary eyepieces/

2x barlow.

Jon

Hello Don,

I have a Sky-Watcher 120ST. A 2" WO diagonal is what I use and a TS-WA 30mm 2" eyepiece (68 degree AFoV)from TS Germany. Also I Ihave a second hand 13mm Nagler 1.25" which gives marevlous pin point wide fields wievs.
I seldom use this scope for planetary or double stars but when I do I use 9mm Antares and 7mm planetary from TS which I think is TMB + an Intes 2,4X Barlow.
Hope this helps!Rember this scope wont be happy with high power and planetary/double stars observing; try stay under ca. 120X. Thats my experience!

Clear Skies,
Magnus
PS: 120ST is a wonderful refractor for widefield observing!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C80ED, 120ST, Intes MK66, 8"f/6 Orion Optics UK

Don-

Living in Tucson as you do, here is my advice: Head straight to either Starizona, or Stellar Vision and try out some eyepieces for yourself. Starizona has viewing from their store several nights each week, so call and find out which nights...haul your scope up there and plop several types of eyepieces into your scope. I am not sure if Stellar Vision has night time viewing, but they have a large stock of new and used eyepieces and Frank has been known to let folks take used eyepieces home to try them out. Finally, if you are not a member of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Organization, you may consider joining and heading to one of the three monthly star parties they host...lots of folks willing to let you try eyepieces at those events.

Best,
Alan