Observations and Personal Insights on Explore Scientific 82-degree Eyepieces

Here's a refreshed, restructured, and more engaging version of the article:

Hey there,Stargazer! Today I'm going to share my personal experience with the Explore Scientific 8.8 mm and 6.7 mm 82° eyepieces. Buckle up, as we delve into the reasons I opted for these bad boys and the calculations behind their outstanding magnification and field of view!

First off, let me clarify why these eyepieces are aptly named the "82°"s. The name stems from their impressive apparent field of view (AFOV), which, to put it in perspective, easily surpasses the 60° field of view generally accepted as "wide" in the industry. In fact, eyepieces wider than 68° are Super Wide, and those beyond 80° are Ultra Wide! And, believe it or not, there are even eyepieces boasting a whopping 120° AFOV! That's Ultra Ultra Wide, folks!

Now, let's talk about what these Ultra Wide 82° eyepieces can offer:

A Wider True Field of View, at Your Service!

We can estimate the true field of view (TFoV) of an eyepiece using these simplified formulas:

Focal Length of Scope / Focal Length of Eyepiece = Magnification
Apparent Field of View (AFOV) Eyepiece / Magnification = True Field of View

Using my trusty Orion XT8i with a focal length of 1200 mm as an example:

An 8.8 mm Plössl eyepiece with a 52° AFOV gives us 136X magnification and a TFoV of 0.38 degrees, just a smidgen less than the width of the full moon (around 0.5°).
However, the 8.8 mm 82° eyepiece gives us the same 136X magnification but a TFoV of 0.6°, wider than a full moon!
For the 6.7 mm 82° eyepiece, you get a magnification of 179X and a TFoV of about 0.46°. Compare that to a cheap Plössl of 52° AFOV with the same focal length; its TFoV would be a tight 0.29°.

A broader TFoV offers you three advantages:

More drift time for targets to stay in view when tracking manually.
A better view of larger targets, such as the Andromeda Galaxy, which stretches over 3° across the sky.
The chance to see smaller targets in the context of their surroundings, creating a more immersive visual experience.

So, are the 82° eyepieces worth the investment? You betcha!

Better Corrected for Use in Lower Focal Ratio Scopes

Cheaper alternatives to Explore Scientific's 82° eyepieces are out there, and I've tried a few. Unfortunately, when using scopes with focal ratios lower than f/7, these cheaper wide-field eyepieces often exhibit significant distortion or aberrations as you approach the field's edge.

Luckily, the Explore Scientific 82° eyepiece offers a clean, crisp, and sharp image even when used with my f/5 Meade ETX-80 and f/5.9 Orion XT8i scopes. Before ditching my Plössls, which came with both scopes, I found them serviceable for their price, but their 52° AFOV couldn't satisfy my thirst for a wider view, especially when observing my manually tracked XT8i.

I've also used these beauties in my f/15 Meade ETX-125, a Maksutov-Cassegrain design, and the image quality was exceptional. For high focal ratio scopes like this one, I highly recommend giving the 82° eyepieces a try!

More Eye Relief, Less Stress on Your Peepers

Another perk of these eyepieces, compared to Plössl eyepieces and many other designs, is their impressive eye relief. Eye relief refers to the distance your eye should be from the lens to see the entire field of view.

A typical 9 mm Plössl eyepiece offers about 6 mm of eye relief, meaning your eye should almost be touching the lens to see the full field of view. Contrast that with the 15.6 mm of eye relief the 8.8 mm 82° eyepiece offers, and you'll understand why the 82° eyepiece is more comfortable to use.

A 6 mm Plössl offers a super short 5 mm of eye relief compared to the 15.7 mm of eye relief for the 6.7 mm 82° eyepiece. And, of course, that full field of view is significantly smaller with the Plössl.

If you wear glasses, eye relief is crucial. With glasses, you can't get your eye within 5 mm of the top lens of an eyepiece. You need that extra eye relief to see the field of view.

I don't wear glasses when I observe, but I find it incredibly comfortable to use the 82° eyepieces without glasses. I've also tested these eye reliefs with my glasses, and I'm still able to see the full field of view.

Features You Shouldn't Miss

Waterproof and Argon Gas Purged: These eyepieces are waterproof and filled with argon gas instead of nitrogen. This helps prevent moisture, fogging, and the growth of mold and fungus, especially handy if you ever find yourself at a location with heavy dew. Moreover, it simplifies cleaning—just pop 'em in a bowl of distilled water with some dish soap!
Fully Multi Coated with EMD Coatings: Although Explore Scientific doesn't share the exact materials used in their eyepieces, sources suggest they contain seven elements, including crown, flint, and lanthanum glass.
Eyecup Included: The eyecups on these eyepieces can help you position your eye correctly on the eyepiece and block stray light, making them helpful for me at my light-polluted home location.
Long Warranty: These eyepieces come with a one-year warranty, but you can extend it to a lifetime, transferable warranty by registering your eyepiece within sixty days of purchase. Clearly, Explore Scientific has a lot of confidence in their product!

Glancing Through the Specifications

Here's a brief summary of the specs for the 8.8 mm and 6.7 mm eyepieces I've used:

So there you have it, my stellar review of the Explore Scientific 82° Ultra Wide-Field eyepieces! These beautiful eyepieces deliver an expansive field of view, detailed image quality, and comfortable eye relief at a slightly lower price point than some high-end competitors. If you're looking to immerse yourself in the night sky, these babies are the way to go!

The Explore Scientific 8.8 mm and 6.7 mm 82° eyepieces are popular among beginners and seasoned stargazers alike due to their impressive 82° apparent field of view, which provides a wider true field of view compared to standard eyepieces.
For those with telescopes like the Orion XT8i, these Ultra Wide 82° eyepieces offer a magnification of 136X and a true field of view wider than a full moon, allowing for a more immersive visual experience.
Despite being more expensive than some other wide-field eyepieces, the Explore Scientific 82° eyepieces are worth the investment due to their superior image quality, even when used with lower focal ratio scopes like the Meade ETX-80 and Orion XT8i.
These eyepieces boast impressive eye relief, which makes them comfortable for those who wear glasses and is a big advantage for those who don't, as they can be used without any discomfort or strain. Additionally, they come with waterproof and Argon gas-purged protection, fully multi-coated lenses, an eyecup, and a long warranty.