If you get a Barlow, make sure the eyepiece focal lengths don't overlap when combined with the Barlow. Even if you have buy fewer eyepieces that you'd like, make sure they fit the sequence of focal lengths you want. If you get another eyepiece later your collection will still work well together. Using Eyepieces Now that you've got your eyepieces, you need to learn how to use them at the telescope. This really deserves a column of its own, but here's a quick overview.
Every object reveals different features at different magnifications, so try a variety of eyepieces.
When viewing extended or dim objects, keep using each eyepiece for several minutes. The Orion Telescope Center catalog contains informative sidebars about the types and parameters of eyepieces. Star Ware by Phillip Harrington contains practically everything you'd care to know about practically all types of astronomical hardware. Roger Clark's Visual Astronomy of the Deep Sky gives a distinctly non-traditional view of deep sky observing, based on his studies of human vision. Go to RA Index , top , index .