New Telescope Eyepiece?

Question

I have a meade 70 AZ-AR. I lost my 9 mm eyepiece, so all I have is a 25 mm eyepiece. Should I buy a 9mm eyepiece, or something else. I was also thinking of buying a barlow lens. Can anyone give me suggestions of what to buy?

Answer 1

Most barlow lenses come in 2x or 3x varieties, meaning your 25 mm eyepiece would become equivalent to a 12.5 mm or 8.3 mm, respectively. Depending on the mount for your scope (how steady it is and how easy it is to make fine adjustments), you may be better off with the slightly wider field of view of the lower power (12.5 mm).  If you end up buying a replacement eyepiece, try not to get one that duplicates the combination of the barlow with the 25 mm eyepiece.  

Answer 2

Personally, I do not like barlow lenses.  That just gives you more glass to look through which gives you more distortion.  Sure, the object is bigger but it is not clearer.  Stick with just the eyepiece.   Anything between a 7 and a 10 would be good, but you also might want to consider going the other way and think about a 40 too.  My favorite thing to look at is the Pleadies in my 40.  I can see the whole thing and it is so pretty.  Don't go less than a 7 with your scope.