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Telescope Lenses
Browse our range of Telescope Lenses that are guaranteed to improve any observation period. Use the Celestron 2x Barlow lens to double the magnification of any 1.25” eyepiece. Or, for an even higher magnification, place the 3x Barlow Lens between the diagonal and the telescope to increase the magnification effectively to a 4x Barlow lens. Telescopic lenses are highly useful for those who wear glasses thanks to their magnification abilities, as well as those just starting out.
Want to find out more? Chat to our friendly team of experts today to discuss your telescope lens needs.
Telescope lenses, in particular Barlow lenses, are highly useful in astronomy. They afford a greater amount of experimentation through their power to increase the effective number of eyepieces in your collection. By owning a 12mm eyepiece and a 2x Barlow lens, you essentially have a 6mm eyepiece as well. Place the Barlow between the diagonal and the telescope and the strength of the Barlow lens is multiplied by 1.5, converting your 2x Barlow into a 3x Barlow lens, and your 12mm eyepiece into a 3mm. They are a fantastic bit of kit to have in your repertoire!
What are the advantages of Barlow lenses?
Eyepieces with longer focal lengths, such as 25mm, 18mm or 12mm, tend to have a deeper eye relief, which makes them more comfortable to use for those who wear glasses and for those who are less experienced in astronomy. Being restricted to only using longer focal lengths makes seeing planets in greater detail tricky, however. This is where Barlow lenses come in. By “barlowing” the effective focal length is increased whilst retaining the same amount of comfort that comes with the longer focal lengths. Making observing the night sky through a telescope that much more enjoyable.
Is higher magnification always better?
Higher magnification does not always equal higher image quality. The magnification will also magnify atmospheric turbulence which may make the image appear blurry. It is also worth noting your telescope’s Highest Useful Magnification (found in the spec sheet), whilst you increase magnification objects will begin to show less brightly, going above this number will ultimately show less interesting results. It is best to experiment with different combinations of Barlow lenses and eyepieces to find the best view for your object and current viewing conditions.
Have some more questions?
Chat to our friendly team of experts today to find out which pieces of kit are going to be perfect for your current set-up.
