Eyepieces are without question, the most personal aspect of amateur astronomy. Short of the religious wars over brands (Meade vs. Celestron, etc.) no other subject conjures up more opinion spewing than the question "Which eyepiece do you use?"

In the early days, I never really thought much about the eyepiece in the scope. Eyepieces were just another accessory whose cost ate away at limited astronomy funds. Spending the funds on a quality instrument would ensure a quality view, or at least that was the theory. After all, the idea that one should use an eyepiece that cost more than the scope was complete lunacy.

Presented here are some likes, dislikes, and comments regarding the set of eyepieces I have used over the years. In keeping with tradition, plenty of opinion is interspersed with the facts and one is cautioned to draw their own conclusions based on experimentation and not the opinions of others.

Look around the observing field at the next star party and you will find one constant among the amateur astronomers in attendance. They will all have an eyepiece case.

Eyepiece cases come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from a cardboard shoebox to a hand made wooden case with woodwork that rivals that of the furniture in the living room. To house my eyepiece collection, I opted for the attaché sized tool case available from Lowes. Some foam board, felt, and glue replaced the foam cubes that originally came with the case and customizes the case for my specific eyepieces.

With six scopes of different focal lengths and styles, I carry one comprehensive set of eyepieces that accommodates each scope. The scopes include an 80mm f/5 short tube refractor, 90mm f/13.8 maksutov, 114mm f/8 reflector, 120mm f/5 refractor, 150mm f/8 reflector, 203mm f/10 SCT, and a 368mm f/5 reflector. Although I have owned and evaluated over fifty eyepieces, the following eyepieces have permanent homes in my eyepiece case.

• Tele Vue 55mm Plössl
• Scopetronics 40mm MaxView II
• Tele Vue 35mm Panoptic
• Tele Vue 24mm Wide Field
• Tele Vue 22mm Nagler Type 4
• Tele Vue 16mm Nagler Type 5
• Tele Vue 13mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 11mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 9mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 7mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 5mm Nagler Type 6

• Tele Vue 9mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 11mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 18mm Radian
• Tele Vue 22mm Nagler Type 4
• Tele Vue 13mm Nagler Type 6
• Tele Vue 24mm Wide Field
• Tele Vue 22mm Panoptic
• Tele Vue 16mm Nagler Type 5
• Tele Vue 27mm Panoptic
• Tele Vue 7mm Nagler Type 6