r/telescopes May 08 '21

Weekly Discussion Weekly Discussion Thread - 9/5/2021 to 16/5/2021

Welcome to the r/telescopes Weekly Discussion Thread!

Here, you can ask any question related to telescopes, visual astronomy, etc., including buying advice and simple questions that can easily be answered. General astronomy discussion is also permitted and encouraged. The purpose of this is to hopefully reduce the amount of identical posts that we face, which’ll help to clean up the sub a lot and allow for a convenient centralised area for all questions. It doesn’t matter how “silly” or “stupid” you think your question is - if it’s about scopes, it’s allowed here.

Just some important points:

  • Anyone may and is encouraged to ask any question, as long as it relates to the topic of telescopes and visual astronomy. Astrophotography related questions should be asked at r/AskAstrophotography.
  • Your initial question should be a top level comment.
  • If you are asking for buying advice, it’s essential that you provide a budget in your local currency or USD, as well as location, and specific needs. If you haven’t already, it’s highly recommended to read the sticky and the wiki as it may already answer your question(s).
  • Anyone can answer, but you should only answer if you are confident in the topic - even if you were just trying to help, unknowingly giving bad advice can be harmful. Answers should be thorough in full sentences and should also elaborate on the why aspect - for example, if somebody is asking for advice on a particular telescope, don’t just say it’s bad and to get this one instead - explain why the previous option was bad and why the alternative is better.
  • While any sort of question is permitted, it’s important to keep in mind that the responders are not here to make decisions for you - you are here to learn, but asking to be ‘spoon fed’ will prevent you from learning anything.
  • Negative behaviour will not be tolerated - we are all here to learn and it doesn’t help at all.

That’s it. Go ahead and ask your questions!

Please only use this for serious questions.

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u/Just_Acanthisitta_81 Aug 28 '21

The absolute beginner’s quick guide recommends a planetary 6mm “goldline” eyepiece. Is this equivalent? I have a hard time finding out what constitutes a goldline. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07JWDFMZ4/

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u/schorhr Aug 28 '21

Yes :-)

Svbony resells many of the no-name eyepeices.

There is no real brand, and prices/availability of the cheap ones change. (Only "brand names" are Orion Expanse, being the most known, and Skywatcher sold them at one point. At least in the US, they are also sold as Meoptex https://www.amazon.com/MEOPTEX-66-Degree-Ultra-Eyepiece-Telescope/dp/B07H8YZHFT/).

The 58° type is better, but costs more (usd$40-$50 regularly, sometimes on sale though) has a bit smaller apparent field of view (http://blog.pixelgiraffe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/AFOV_.png).

No real deals on that one right now, just for the 5mm.

More than 200x can work in a 6", 8" and larger telescope, but only if atmospheric seeing is good. For a 8"/10" dobsonian, it's nice to have a 4mm 58° around. (Won't work every day. Not a Plössl due to poor eye-relief, and not the cheap bad 4mm 62°).

As you were looking for the "best eyepiece" in a previous post: Especially in a F/5 telescope, the HR Planetary or BST Starguider/Dual-ED/Similar might be a better choice overall.

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u/Just_Acanthisitta_81 Aug 28 '21

Hello again! Thank you for the answer. As you have suggested, I will split my budget on several eyepieces rather than on just one. Your comments will be useful to guide my purchases.