Best Telescope Accessory Kits

Buying guide for best telescope accessory kits

Whether you’re a beginner with your first telescope or an experienced astronomer, your telescope accessories are what take your telescope from good to great. A high-quality telescope accessory kit is the easiest way to upgrade any telescope, especially entry-level models. Better-quality eyepieces and filters can improve your telescope’s images, and they’re an excellent way for you to learn the ins and outs of your instrument.

Telescope accessory kits contain many different items, each one with its own specific function and usefulness. Finding the best kit for your telescope and skills is a simple task once you learn about these accessories and how to properly use them. A good buying guide can get your shopping started.

Don’t put your eye directly on the eyepiece. Eyepieces aren’t designed to be looked through this closely, and the image will likely be distorted. Instead, position your eye just above the eyepiece.

How to buy the best telescope accessory kit

Use

When considering the various telescope accessory kits, think about the subjects you intend to view. Eyepieces and lenses have specifications that make them better for looking at different things. For example, some eyepieces are better for viewing planets while others are ideal for looking at star clusters.

Type of telescope

The type of telescope you have and its focal length and aperture are considerations when choosing an accessory kit. Each feature affects the other and how you use them, so take into account that some accessories are better suited to certain telescopes than others.

Brands

There are many different brands that make telescopes and accessories, but some are reputed to make some of the most reliable equipment. Here are some of the most popular:

• Orion
• Celestron
• Gskyer
• Meade
• Unistellar

You don’t have to buy accessories made by the same brand as your telescope. While some people prefer to stick with one manufacturer, you can find a number of high-quality accessories from different brands. Just make sure that the pieces are compatible in size.

Invest in a telescope cover to protect your instrument from the elements if you need to leave it for any period of time. Note that a cover isn’t always included in a telescope accessory kit.

Telescope accessory kit contents

These kits typically come with a set of eyepieces, a Barlow lens, and various filters. Some basic kits only have eyepieces, and more comprehensive kits include lights, cleaning materials, star map guides, and a finderscope (or finder).

Eyepieces

Your telescope’s eyepiece is arguably one of the most important components. Simply changing the eyepiece affects how and what you’re able to observe. Different eyepieces are designed with basic or complicated lenses. Telescope accessory kits include a range of eyepieces with varying focal lengths. Having three to five different eyepieces is a great way to diversify your observations.

Here are some important things to know about telescope eyepieces:

Letter: The letter marked on the eyepiece refers to its design type. For example, P stands for Plössl. Some of the most notable eyepieces are Plössl, orthoscopic (Abbe), Radian, and Nagler.

• Plössl eyepieces are the most common and offer a wide field of view, which is best for viewing nebulae and star clusters. Radian eyepieces are similar to Plössl eyepieces but offer greater eye relief, which means your eye can be farther away from the eyepiece.
• Orthoscopic (Abbe) eyepieces have a simple lens configuration and narrow field of view, making them best for viewing the moon and planets.

Number: The number on the eyepiece refers to its focal length. This is important because it affects your telescope’s overall magnification power. To calculate this, divide the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece.

Filters

Telescope lens filters enhance contrast so you can see more detail in your subject. This is particularly helpful when viewing the surface of a planet or the moon. Filters are designed to block different light wavelengths. There are telescope filters to reduce light pollution and filters to enhance star, lunar, and planetary observations. Most telescope accessory kits include at least a few lens filters.

Barlow lens

The Barlow lens works in conjunction with the eyepiece. It’s a lens that fits between the telescope and the eyepiece to increase the telescope’s magnification. The most common Barlow lens is 2x (double the magnification). These lenses are helpful because they can be easily added during observation in order to view your subject more closely.

Finderscope

A finderscope is a small, narrow tube that attaches to the top of the telescope. It has little to sometimes no magnification and acts as a guide for positioning your telescope at your subject before making fine adjustments through the eyepiece. It is useful because it’s much easier to find what you’re looking for with a wider field of view.

How to use telescope accessories

How to use a finderscope: Position your telescope in the general direction of your intended subject using measurements or a star mapping guide. Look into the finderscope and scan for your star, planet, moon, or galaxy. Adjust the telescope mount head as needed. Once you’ve found your subject through the finderscope, you can switch to your eyepiece and adjust for higher magnification to see finer details.

How to use an eyepiece: Calculate your telescope magnification power with the eyepiece. Carefully remove any cap or existing eyepiece and store it away to avoid dust or damage. After locating your intended subject through the finderscope, select the necessary eyepiece and connect it to the telescope barrel, tightening it securely but not excessively. Look through the eyepiece and use the focuser to sharpen the image.

How to use a filter: Carefully remove the telescope eyepiece and thread the filter inside the bottom of the eyepiece barrel. Replace the eyepiece securely and make any needed focusing adjustments.

How to use a Barlow lens: Choose a lens with the desired magnification. Be careful not to bump or move your telescope as you remove the eyepiece from the telescope barrel. Attach the Barlow lens at the telescope barrel, ensuring the threads are properly aligned. Attach the eyepiece to the other end of the Barlow lens and enjoy the enhanced magnification.

How much do telescope accessory kits cost?

Inexpensive

The most affordable kits cost $50 to $100. The lower end of this range includes basic sets of three to five eyepieces, usually without a carrying bag or case. The higher end of this price range includes sets of eyepieces and lens filters and usually a bag or case. These accessory kits are smaller and lower in quality compared to the mid-range and expensive ones.

Mid-range

These telescope accessory kits cost between $100 and $200. These include a greater variety of eyepieces and filters and typically come with a hard-sided protective case or carrying bag. Cleaning kits and star guides are popular additions in this price range too.

Expensive

The most expensive telescope accessory kits cost about $400. These are made by more notable brands and contain more accessories or are much higher quality. They often include four to six eyepieces, a Barlow lens, and a number of filters. The accessories may come in a durable, foam-lined case.

If you don’t have enough space for new accessories in your telescope bag, look for an accessory kit that comes with its own carrying case. Most kits include a case or bag of some kind to hold all the pieces.

Tips

• Carry a small light for changing accessories. The best stargazing conditions are in very dark, remote areas, so it isn’t surprising that you might encounter some difficulty maneuvering or swapping accessories. Wear a small headlamp or use the light from your phone for increased visibility.
• Choose a kit with pieces you’ll actually use. If you’re considering buying an accessory kit that has more than one piece you don’t need, try to find another option with accessories you will find useful.
• Invest in more expensive eyepieces. Sharper, clearer images with a wider field of view are the result of using high-quality, costlier eyepieces. For astronomers and passionate hobbyists, the increased visibility is worth the higher price.

A telescope eyepiece’s field of view is the visible area that you can see through the telescope’s optics.

FAQ

Q. Do all eyepieces fit all telescopes?

A. No. In order for an eyepiece to fit on a telescope, the size of the eyepiece barrel must match the size of the focuser barrel. The most common barrel size is 1.25 inches, but you can always purchase an adapter if your eyepiece barrel doesn’t match.

Q. Which is better, a 1.25-inch eyepiece or a 2-inch eyepiece?

A. If you want a wider field of view with lower magnification, a 2-inch eyepiece is better. However, many telescopes have a 1.25-inch eyepiece barrel, so you’ll need an adapter to accommodate the larger eyepiece. Two-inch eyepieces are also bulkier and more expensive. If you’re okay with a narrower field of view, which is best for observing planets or the moon, a 1.25-inch eyepiece is a great choice.

Q. Do I really need lens filters?

A. Yes, lens filters are incredibly helpful for astronomy. The filters reduce glare and improve color and visibility by sharpening the images. They make a huge difference when viewing planets, the moon, nebulae, and other distant objects. You can find telescope accessory kits in every price range that include some filters.