Posts Made By: Michael Tencza

I have the 19mm Pan and 12mm Radian and find them both to be very useful eyepieces. My guess is that you would be happy with either the Pan or the Radian. Personally I would go for the wider FOV of the Panoptic, but then I have always had thoughts about owning a 20mm Nagler.

Seriously, considering the quality of the rest of your equipment, just get a 99% dielectric and be done with it. Make sure you get compression rings instead of set screws also.

I have never used the Celestron X-Cel line but I am collecting a set of TV smooth-sided ploessls and find them very good so far. I have the 13, 10.5, and 7.4 mm (17 mm on the way) and use them all as short eye-relief does not bother me much (I had a 4 mm circle T orthoscopic at one time and used it a great deal). I used the 13 mm on the moon tonight and it was a fine view. One comment I will make is that the TV plossls do vignette using barlows. This bothers some people but I still use barlows with them as the center of the field is what I am concentrating on when using high magnification.

BTW I also use a BO 2.5 mm and find this to be a fine eyepiece. These are found here often on Amart used for $ 50-60. Good luck.

I like neutral density filters for looking at the moon at low power. The one I use most is the 2" Orion Variable Polarizing filter. The 2" model can be put on your diagonal so you don't need to replace it on different eyepieces as you change them and the variable feature lets you adjust the amount of light for your comfort level. I usually remove it at higher magnifications over 100x or so.

If you see an objectionable amount violet fringing at high magnification on the moon and other bright objects you can try the 2" WO VR-1. It introduces less yellow tint than others I have used.

Your best bet is to borrow a friend's before you buy. If you do have to go the trial and error route good deals can be had used here on Amart.

A gift like this rarely comes along. If it were me I would never sell them. After all money is something we can always earn, but an excellent condition, classic set of eyepieces is priceless.

Under the review section eyepiece/other check out the one on GSO eyepieces. I have used the SV 30mm at f/6.2 and it worked very well for the price I paid (preowned from this site $35). I also tried the 42mm and was happy with it but eventually replaced it with a 40mm Paragon. At f/4.5 expect some edge deterioration. How much this bothers you depends on your expectations. Naglers and Panoptics cost what they do because they are well corrected for use with fast telescopes.

This has been a frustration of mine for some time.

1) The scientific method, should never be politicized, demonized, or conspirasized (is that a word?). The job of a scientist is to formulate hypotheses, design experiments to test them, and interpret the data. Discoveries are rare and wonderful when found, but proof is elusive. The data collected ultimately is most often used to design further experiments and perhaps refine the current model of understanding of our world. Those who provide funding to scientists with their own agenda in mind should remember this.

2) In the case of global warming I assume there is some hard data somewhere that supports or denys its existence, period. No matter what the data says we should use it to design more experiments and perhaps eventually design and implement policy for the public good. Let's do that and use learned opinions to make our world better, not to raise people's blood pressure.

Of course this is easier said than done. My personal position is that the wise and frugal use of our energy and other resources is a good thing, not an impingement on our personal freedoms, whether there is global warming or not. In my neighborhood, however, we can't even convince people to employ reusable grocery bags even though their are piles of plastic and paper bags filling our landfills that are plain to see first hand without using science.

I have a very, very bad feeling about this.

Thanks everybody. I appreciate hearing about your experiences. Considering the current sale price of the Orion one speed crayford I will probably give it a try if I don't like the stock focuser when I try it.

For larger aperture telescopes I like to tame lunar brightness with an Orion variable polarizing filter. I find I don't need it with my 80mm refractor.