A-Class Visual Design

Lens Jupiter

So what will make detail on Jupiter appear?

Higher magnification? Does a barlow reveal detail or just make an object closer? Would an eyepiece work better in that case?
Please help I have been asking this same question so many times and I am not getting the answers I am looking for.
If eyepieces are better, are the sirius plossl or highlight plossl for Orion good for that? I do not wear eyeglasses so eye relief is not a huge problem. Or would I be better of just getting Celestron Ultima barlow lens?
Thank you.

We are probably not providing the answers that you want to hear. That can be disappointing. A barlow does two things: It magnifies the image, and it adds its own optical flaws to the image. it cannot make the image clearer, or sharper, or more detailed. Cannot. It just makes it bigger and, in the case of a cheap barlow, fuzzier.

Eyepieces can make the image clearer, IF they are good eyepieces. The ones that you have listed are not very good eyepieces, so I am not convinced that you will get any significant improvement. Good eyepieces cost from about $150 to $650. In your case, I doubt if a high mag, high cost eyepiece is worth the investment for your scope. You must keep in mind that a 4 inch reflector has some inherent limits in terms of resolution. That's why you will see all the geezers at this site recommending a larger aperture to start with.

I understand that your budget is probably pretty tight. But I am not convinced that you have identified the problem yet. Until you do that, your solutions may be misdirected. I have not heard, for example:

1. Whether you are seeing any moisture on the surfaces
2. Whether this occurs with both of your current eyepieces
3. Whether you are waiting until Jupiter is well above the trees
4. Whether there is any ambient light
5. Whether you have checked the collimation on your scope.

Perhaps you have eliminated all of these possibilities. If so, you did not tell us. In any case, I apologize for not being more helpful. But these things should be at least looked at before you buy another eyepiece, especially one that is really not much different than the ones you already own. That would be a waste of money. My personal opinion, for what its worth, is that a barlow is also a waste of money. I have owned one for several years, and I never use it. Ever. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me here or by email. In the mean time, good luck and clear skies.

ADDED: I have another experiment for you: If you loosen the eyepiece and turn it in the focuser - being careful not to drop it - do the "rays" follow the eyepiece? or do they stay in one orientation?

Using SMC Pentax M42 Adaptor with Jupiter 9 Lens

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