I recently upgraded my storage solution for my astronomy accessories with an Apache 4800 case, which I purchased for around $75 from Harbor Freight. The case now houses a carefully curated selection of equipment for use with my Celestron CPC Deluxe 1100 Edge HD telescope, an 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain model equipped with a 2-inch XLT diagonal, a Telrad Red Dot Finder, and an 8×50 finder scope.
Starting from the bottom left of the case, I have arranged four Tele Vue eyepieces: a 41mm Panoptic offering 68x magnification and a 4.09mm exit pupil, a 27mm Panoptic at 104x magnification, a 14mm Delos at 200x, and an 8mm Delos for 350x magnification. In the middle sits a 2-inch Optolong UHC filter, while the top row contains a Celestron dew heater ring controller with various cables, an intervalometer, a T-ring SCT camera adapter, my Nikon D3300 DSLR, and a Celestron WiFi Module.
Some equipment, including a Celestron Luminos 31mm eyepiece, a 23mm version, and a 2.5x Barlow, did not fit in the case. As an eyeglass wearer, I found the Luminos series uncomfortable and was bothered by the “red ring of fire” effect during lunar observations, which led me to replace them with the Tele Vue set. With the telescope’s 2800mm focal length, the 41mm Panoptic provides the widest possible field of view at one degree and is my most frequently used eyepiece for diffuse nebulae and open clusters. I rely on the 27mm Panoptic for lunar viewing, globular clusters, galaxies, and planetary nebulae; the 14mm Delos serves for most planetary observations, and the 8mm Delos is reserved for planetary viewing only under excellent conditions. I plan to replace the UHC filter, which has been disappointing, with a 2-inch variable ND filter to enhance my lunar observations.
That’s a smart move with the Apache case; I’ve been using a generic toolbox for my eyepieces and always worry about the foam not being protective enough. Your lineup, especially that 41mm Panoptic for wide-field views, makes me want to finally invest in a quality low-power eyepiece myself. What’s been your favorite target to observe with that particular setup?
Thanks for the kind words—a dedicated case like the Apache really does ease the mind compared to a generic toolbox. That 41mm Panoptic has been fantastic on large open clusters like the Double Cluster in Perseus and the Beehive, where its wide field just frames them perfectly. If you’re considering a low-power eyepiece, I’d recommend checking out some comparison reviews on Cloudy Nights to see which wide-field design suits your scope and preferences best. I’d love to hear what you decide on or what targets you’re planning to observe.
Are you an observer who wears glasses?
I usually observe without glasses since I’m nearsighted without astigmatism, but I wear them when observing with others to avoid having to refocus.
I wear glasses and primarily use my 14mm Delos, which I found for about $150 at an estate sale. Not needing glasses would open up more options, but my budget is still a limiting factor. My next purchase might be a 4.7mm Ethos to replace my 5mm Pentax XW, since my F/5 scope has a small enough exit pupil to compensate for my moderate astigmatism. I’d also appreciate the wider apparent field of view for observing gas giants during good seeing conditions.
I found the UHC filter disappointing and plan to replace it with a 2″ variable ND filter for lunar viewing.
The Optolong isn’t truly a UHC filter despite its labeling. It has about 50nm of bandwidth, which is double what a good UHC filter should have. With moderate light pollution, it won’t be very effective.
An Astronomik UHC (not the UHC-E) should perform much better than the Optolong and would work well with the Panoptic’s approximately 4mm exit pupil.
Thank you for your input. My main issue with the Optolong is the red and blue double image on bright stars. Since I live in an area with significant LED lighting, I don’t think a UHC filter would be very beneficial for me.
UHC filters remain beneficial with LED lighting unless the light source consists solely of the specific wavelengths they target. Broadband or LPR filters, which block certain types of light pollution, are no longer effective.
Narrowband or line filters, however, block all light except the desired wavelengths and still provide benefits. Although LED lighting is generally less favorable for filtration compared to sodium vapor or mercury lighting, it does not render narrowband filters useless like it does with broadband/LPR filters.
If the red and blue color contrast of stars is distracting with a UHC filter, consider one that does not transmit red light. The Tele Vue Nebustar, manufactured by Astronomik to Tele Vue’s specifications, is a UHC filter that blocks red light, resulting in stars appearing only in blue and green hues.
This filter is highly effective, offering twice the contrast of the Optolong and eliminating concerns about red stars. It is more expensive in the 2″ size, but for visual observation, there is little benefit to a nebula filter transmitting red light, as our dark-adapted eyes are not very sensitive to faint red light.