0
$\begingroup$

I have recently gotten a Dobsonian 250P Sky Watcher Telescope and just wanted to ask whether it would be better to get a Celestron X-Cel Barlow 2x magnification or Celestron X-Cel LX eyepiece 5 mm, The default eyepieces that come with the telescope are the 10mm and 25mm but I was looking for a nice upgrade to the collection of eyepieces both the 5mm and barlow celestron are quality pieces but I wanted to whether it would be better to get one or the other or even both. My main goal is visual planetary astronomy but also nebulae and galaxies.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0
$\begingroup$

An eyepiece designed for high magnification will always give a better image than a Barlow. That's just a crude (but clever) kludge -- a negative lens shoved into the optical path.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ This is generally but not always true. A barlow can let you use longer-focal-length eyepieces which allow greater eye-relief, which is sometimes a necessity (if you need to wear glasses for example) $\endgroup$
    – antlersoft
    Commented Jun 18 at 13:20
  • $\begingroup$ Ooo, good point. $\endgroup$
    – Miss_Understands
    Commented Jun 18 at 16:19

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .