<p>If the eyepiece holder has inner diameter 31.75 mm (1.25 inch), there are many eyepieces available in that size, also compatible with larger telescopes.
As you may know, magnification is objective focal length divided by eyepiece focal length.</p>
<p>An eyepiece with a longer focal length, e.g. 25 to 40 mm, would offer a lower magnification.
This would help you see nebulae, e.g. M42 and M8, and nearby galaxies, e.g. M31, more brightly.
If you get only one eyepiece, get one in that range.</p>
<p>A 6-8 mm eyepiece would provide a step up in magnification from the 12.5 mm you have without requiring the Barlow or running afoul of the the 2× per mm aperture rule.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-04T02:11:39.200Z
2023-09-04T13:48:16.400Z
2023-09-04T13:48:16.400Z
Mike G
<p>I have an old Shilba Eclipse 60900 telescope.</p>
<p>Specs:</p>
<ul>
<li>Object diameter: 60mm</li>
<li>Focal Distance: 900mm.</li>
</ul>
<p>Optics:</p>
<ul>
<li>Barlow 3x</li>
<li>1.5x Erecting Eyepiece</li>
<li>4mm and 12.5mm eyepieces.</li>
</ul>
<p>I'm aware it's a basic one, with a limiting magnification of about 120x. However, it's more than enough for the use I'm willing to give it.</p>
<p>Are there any eyepieces or other auxiliary optics that might provide either better quality images or a better observing experience?</p>
<p>Edit: Thank you all for the kind answers and corrections. By lens I meant the eyepiece. I've just taken it off the telescope and it measures at about 3cm in diameter. It is an old telescope so it's likely the only surviving eyepiece.</p>
<p>I'm linking a few pictures:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YMTMz.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YMTMz.jpg" alt="Eyepiece in question" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CFGcW.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CFGcW.jpg" alt="Full telescope with finder." /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-01T23:09:50.267Z
By "lenses" do you mean "eyepieces"  (ie the bit you look through, not the big lens at the end.)  The big objective lens normally can't be changed easily, and at 60mm, it will limit what you can do with the rest of the telescope (it won't gather enough light to make high magnification possible)
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-02T09:46:53.290Z
What is the diameter of the eyepiece where it fits into the focuser?
Mike G
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-02T23:44:04.193Z
*Welcome to Astronomy SE!* If you can add more information about the eyepieces it would really help! Do you know their effective field of view, or their design? Is there writing on the eyepieces? For example "12.5 Erfle 55°" If you added one or two photos of your collection of eyepieces and other optics that would be great as well, *Thanks!*
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-02T23:51:15.357Z
I can't find a "Shilba Eclipse 60900 telescope" in an internet search, but at f/15 and 2.4 inches it sounds like a classic refractor design, correct? Does it have a [finder telescope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finderscope)? Are you satisfied with its performance? Are you interested in a amount for an SLR or a cell phone camera for astrophotography? Also, to double check, does the "1.5x Erecting Eyepiece" provide a 90° bend so that when the telescope is pointing straight up you can look into it sideways?
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-04T13:47:21.113Z
The first photo indicates an objective focal length of 700 mm.
Mike G
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-04T14:34:57.537Z
These telescopes were sold under a lot of brand names.  They are OK for looking at the moon, or Saturn or Jupiter, and that's about it (but that can be fun).  Buying new eyepieces for it would not be worthwhile.  So make sure anything you buy is compatible with a better scope if you think you might upgrade.  E.g. these scopes usually came with a .976" eyepiece holder, where most other scopes use a 1.25" holder.
Greg Miller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-13T00:12:18.503Z
Thanks for adding all of the additional information to your question!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-13T00:14:25.133Z
@GregMiller on a lark I bought one at a local supermarket here in Asia because the price was absurd - maybe something like US$20. I knew it was a waste of money but I just had to find out what was in the box. The objective is a single piece of glass - not even an achromat. Jupiter is a rainbow donut :-)
uhoh
<telescope><telescope-lens>
What eyepiece or other optics might improve image quality or observing experience for my Shilba Eclipse 60900 telescope?
Facundo zanatta
# What eyepiece or other optics might improve image quality or observing experience for my Shilba Eclipse 60900 telescope?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-09-01)

I have an old Shilba Eclipse 60900 telescope.

Specs:

* Object diameter: 60mm
* Focal Distance: 900mm.

Optics:

* Barlow 3x
* 1.5x Erecting Eyepiece
* 4mm and 12.5mm eyepieces.

I'm aware it's a basic one, with a limiting magnification of about 120x. However, it's more than enough for the use I'm willing to give it.

Are there any eyepieces or other auxiliary optics that might provide either better quality images or a better observing experience?

Edit: Thank you all for the kind answers and corrections. By lens I meant the eyepiece. I've just taken it off the telescope and it measures at about 3cm in diameter. It is an old telescope so it's likely the only surviving eyepiece.

I'm linking a few pictures:
[![Eyepiece in question](https://i.sstatic.net/YMTMz.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/YMTMz.jpg)

[![Full telescope with finder.](https://i.sstatic.net/CFGcW.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CFGcW.jpg)

**Tags:** telescope, telescope-lens

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: By "lenses" do you mean "eyepieces"  (ie the bit you look through, not the big lens at the end.)  The big objective lens normally can't be changed easily, and at 60mm, it will limit what you can do with the rest of the telescope (it won't gather enough light to make high magnification possible)  
> **username_2**: What is the diameter of the eyepiece where it fits into the focuser?  
> **username_3**: *Welcome to Astronomy SE!* If you can add more information about the eyepieces it would really help! Do you know their effective field of view, or their design? Is there writing on the eyepieces? For example "12.5 Erfle 55°" If you added one or two photos of your collection of eyepieces and other optics that would be great as well, *Thanks!*  
> **username_3**: I can't find a "Shilba Eclipse 60900 telescope" in an internet search, but at f/15 and 2.4 inches it sounds like a classic refractor design, correct? Does it have a [finder telescope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finderscope)? Are you satisfied with its performance? Are you interested in a amount for an SLR or a cell phone camera for astrophotography? Also, to double check, does the "1.5x Erecting Eyepiece" provide a 90° bend so that when the telescope is pointing straight up you can look into it sideways?  
> **username_2**: The first photo indicates an objective focal length of 700 mm.  
> **username_4**: These telescopes were sold under a lot of brand names.  They are OK for looking at the moon, or Saturn or Jupiter, and that's about it (but that can be fun).  Buying new eyepieces for it would not be worthwhile.  So make sure anything you buy is compatible with a better scope if you think you might upgrade.  E.g. these scopes usually came with a .976" eyepiece holder, where most other scopes use a 1.25" holder.  
> **username_3**: Thanks for adding all of the additional information to your question!  
> **username_3**: @GregMiller on a lark I bought one at a local supermarket here in Asia because the price was absurd - maybe something like US$20. I knew it was a waste of money but I just had to find out what was in the box. The objective is a single piece of glass - not even an achromat. Jupiter is a rainbow donut :-)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-09-04. Score: 2

If the eyepiece holder has inner diameter 31.75 mm (1.25 inch), there are many eyepieces available in that size, also compatible with larger telescopes.
As you may know, magnification is objective focal length divided by eyepiece focal length.

An eyepiece with a longer focal length, e.g. 25 to 40 mm, would offer a lower magnification.
This would help you see nebulae, e.g. M42 and M8, and nearby galaxies, e.g. M31, more brightly.
If you get only one eyepiece, get one in that range.

A 6-8 mm eyepiece would provide a step up in magnification from the 12.5 mm you have without requiring the Barlow or running afoul of the the 2× per mm aperture rule.


---

