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Reticle Eyepieces

Meade 9mm Series 4000 Plössl Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece

    Meade's most advanced illuminated reticle eyepiece, this Series 4000 1.25" Plössl 9mm model includes micrometric x-y positioning controls which greatly facilitate locking onto the guide star: turn the finely-threaded controls and place the reticle's crossline pattern precisely at the desired position in the field. The sharp, high-power imaging of the 4-element, multi-coated Plössl optical system is complemented by a rubber eyecup (foldable for eyeglass wearers) that shuts out distracting stray light from the observer's eye. The upper (lens) section of the eyepiece rotates on a fine thread for precise diopter adjustment to the user';s eye. Reticle pattern is a double crossline with two concentric circles. These special-purpose eyepieces include reticles with phosphorescent-etched crossline patterns, internally red-illuminated so that the lines are clearly visible against a dark sky.

   Wireless Model: Includes a red LED illuminator, operated from internal batteries, with variable brightness control, and batteries are included with each eyepiece.

   Corded Model: The same eyepiece as above, but with 6 ft. cord and connector for direct plug-in to the control panels of Meade LX200 and ED/APO telescopes. Separation of the power source and eyepiece permits reticle brightness adjustments to be made during an exposure without risk of vibrating the telescope. Red LED brightness control is effected from the telescope's hand controller or control panel.

Meade 12mm MA Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece

    The 1.25" MA 12mm illuminated reticle eyepiece includes a 3-element, fully-coated MA optical system with good eye relief, diopter adjustment, and double crossline reticle. An excellent, lower-cost alternative to the Series 4000 9mm Plössl model above.

   Wireless Model: Includes a red LED illuminator, operated from internal batteries, with variable brightness control, and batteries are included with each eyepiece.

   Corded Model: The same eyepiece as above, but comes with a 6 ft. cord and connector for direct plug-in to the control panels of Meade LX200 and ED/APO telescopes. Separation of the power source and eyepiece permits reticle brightness adjustments to be made during an exposure without risk of vibrating the telescope. Red LED brightness control is effected from the telescope's hand controller or control panel.

Meade 12mm MA Astrometric Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece

   A high-precision eyepiece for a wide range of astronomical measurements. Includes four red-illuminated laser-etched scales for measuring double star angular separations, position angles, planetary diameters, lunar crater diameters, and for long exposure photo-guiding. Modified Achromat 3-element coated optics, diopter adjusment, rubber eyecup, and variable LED illumination control and batteries.

Meade 25mm Plossl Illuminated Reticle CCD Framing Ocular

   Because of the relatively small dimensions of the microchips used in CCD imaging systems, composing the astronomical image (i.e., confirming the object's orientation and size relative to the chip orientation and dimensions and centering the object on the chip) can be a challenging issue, particularly in cases of faint diffuse objects. This task is facilitated with the Meade Plössl 25mm Framing Ocular. The Framing Ocular can be used in either of two ways: (a) by placing it in the telescope's eyepiece-holder, after which the Framing Ocular is replaced with the CCD camera; or (b) in conjunction with a flip-mirror device. The ocular displays in evenly-illuminated red LED light the rectangular frames of all popular CCD chip sizes, including all Meade Pictor Series CCD imagers, as well as the ST-5 through ST-8. A lockable spacer ring fixes eyepiece focus, so that the focus of the eyepiece and the CCD imager can be made precisely parfocal. The Plössl 25mm Framing Ocular includes a 4-element coated optical system with 50° apparent field; foldable rubber eyecup; wireless illuminator with variable illumination control; and internal batteries.

Celestron 10mm Plössl Reticle Eyepiece

   Guiding (or reticle) eyepieces are mandatory for guided astrophotography. They keep a guide star stationary during long exposures to avoid star trailing. This 5-element guiding eyepiece has a reticle pattern that is a .0075" double spaced line system. The optics are multicoated for increased contrast and have long eye relief. The high power is ideal for guiding and it has a 50° apparent field of view. This type of reticle pattern allows you to position the guide star in the middle square or at the intersection of two lines, whichever is easier for you. An optional illuminator is required.

Celestron 12.5mm Micro Guide Eyepiece

   This multi-function guiding eyepiece features a laser-etched reticle with a built-in battery illuminator. The eyepiece is a multicoated 12.5mm Abbe (4-element) Orthoscopic. Usage possibilities include: direct guiding on stars outside the center of the field of view; greatly improved off-axis guiding to capture much fainter, sharply focused guide stars without reducing limiting magnitude; and measuring position angles and separation of double stars. The Micro Guide Eyepiece is totally free of internal reflections and offers sufficient eye relief for the reticle to be viewed easily, even with eyeglasses. Its finely etched micrometer scale has gradations 50 microns apart and 15 microns wide. Included are: the eyepiece, built-in cordless illuminator with adjustable brightness control, batteries and instructions. The apparent field of view is 42°.

Rigel PulsGuide & 12mm Reticle Eyepiece

   The Rigel Systems PulsGuide is the most advanced illuminator on the market. Three separate controls allow for adjustment of brightness, pulse on time, and pulse off time. Can also be used in non-pulsing mode. Long life lithium battery included. Fits standard 8mm threaded illuminated reticle eyepieces. The pulsing function can allow you to acquire and guide on fainter objects and causes less eye fatigue. Available with or without the Antares double crosshair 12mm Plossl guiding eyepiece shown above.

   "PulsGuide solves the problem of how to guide on faint stars while keeping the crosshairs bright. I use mine constantly. I prefer a yellow reticle illuminator because I'm sure my eye is focusing it in the same plane as the star." -Michael Covington, author of Astrophotography for the Amateur

   "...indeed with PulsGuide I was able to track stars that were virtually at the limit of what I could see in the eyepiece when no reticle illumination was present." -Dennis di Cicco of Sky and Telescope

   "...fainter stars may be spotted and followed with greater ease..." -Phillip S. Harrington, author of Star Ware