Extreme Mag. with Ranger

Started by scottw, 06/01/2005 01:01PM
Posted 06/01/2005 01:01PM Opening Post
Can a 2.5mm or 2.3 mm eyepiece be useful on a Ranger for both moon and planets along with splitting double stars?

Anyone have first hand experience doing such.

Not a big fan of barlows or powermates. Found the powermate too heavy.

Scott
Posted 06/01/2005 02:13PM #1
Scott, 200X is not unreasonable at all w/the Ranger if the seeing conditions are favorable; particularly on double stars. On the moon or planets you'll just have to experiment to see what the optimum magnification will be.

Like you, I've tried various barlows & always prefer using a small f.l. ocular for high magnification. I ended selling both my TV 2X & 5X here on AM.

Darian R.
Posted 06/02/2005 03:45AM #2
I am not a Barlow fan either, but I do use my TV 2.5x barlow with 13, 9, and 7 mm Naglers in my Pronto (the Ranger and Pronto share the same optics). The 13 and 9 mm combos are particularly enjoyable. They yield 92 and 133x respectively. The 7 mm yields 171x.

200x is certainly not unreasonable in the Ranger or Pronto. I tend to stay around 120 to 133x for planets. My favorite planetary views in the Pronto are with my 7mm Nagler at 69x. The views are small, but very sharp and aesthetically pleasing. The planets resemble jeweled orbs suspended in the blackness of space.

Go for the eyepiece that you want!

Michael Aaron McNeely
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