Eyepiece Apparent Field of View

For people new to astronomy who want to ask those questions that they were afraid to ask. Receive helpful answers here.
Post Reply
User avatar
WT
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: BBE

Post by WT »

could like to ask anyone.. what does it mean " 82 degree " ?? from this eyepiece "William Optics 4mm 1.25" UWAN eyepiece 82 degree"
User avatar
weixing
Super Moderator
Posts: 4708
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
Location: (Tampines) Earth of Solar System in Orion Arm of Milky Way Galaxy in Local Group Galaxies Cluster

Post by weixing »

Hi,
what does it mean " 82 degree "
The "82 degree" mean that this eyepiece got an apparent field of view (AFoV) of the 82 degree.

To get the actual field of view, divided the apparent field of view by the magnification.

For example, a 6" F5 scope (focal length is 150mm x 5 = 750mm) using this 4mm 82 degree AFoV eyepiece will give you:
magnification = scope focal length / eyepiece focal length = 750 / 4 = 188x
actual field of view = apparent field of view / magnification = 82 / 188 = 0.44 degree.

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
User avatar
WT
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: BBE

Post by WT »

Hi Weixing,

Thank for the calculation. But how's it look like at 0.44 degree???
Mine 4 mm eyepiece didnt state any AFoV??? why??
User avatar
weixing
Super Moderator
Posts: 4708
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
Location: (Tampines) Earth of Solar System in Orion Arm of Milky Way Galaxy in Local Group Galaxies Cluster

Post by weixing »

Hi,
But how's it look like at 0.44 degree???
Err... What do you mean?? Look the same, but just cover a smaller part of the sky lor. Anyway, the full Moon is around 0.5 degree, so 0.44 degree is slightly smaller than the full Moon. Please note that a large AFoV eyepiece will cover a larger actual field of view compare to a smaller AFoV eyepiece if both have the same focal length. For example:
Using the 6" F5 scope (focal length is 150mm x 5 = 750mm):
1) 4mm 82 degree eyepiece Actual FoV = 82 / (750 / 4) = 0.44 degree
2) 4mm 50 degree eyepiece Actual FoV = 50 / (750 / 4) = 0.27 degree
Mine 4 mm eyepiece didnt state any AFoV??? why??
Some low cost, entry level eyepiece will not indicated the AFoV on the eyepiece. You can check whether it's indicate in the scope manual if the eyepiece come with the scope. Below are some of the AFoV for some common entry level eyepeiece type:
1) Kellner: around 50 degree,
2) SMA (Super Modified Achromat): around 40 degree to 52 degree
3) Plossl/Super Plossl: around 50 degree

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
User avatar
WT
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: BBE

Post by WT »

My manual didnt state any AFoV.. maybe low cost eyepiece.
That mean if i use 4mm 50 degree eyepiece to view the moon the image will be closer than 4mm 82 degree eyepiece??
User avatar
weixing
Super Moderator
Posts: 4708
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
Location: (Tampines) Earth of Solar System in Orion Arm of Milky Way Galaxy in Local Group Galaxies Cluster

Post by weixing »

Hi,
That mean if i use 4mm 50 degree eyepiece to view the moon the image will be closer than 4mm 82 degree eyepiece??
No. The field of view is just smaller. To look closer, you need a higher magnification.

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
User avatar
WT
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: BBE

Post by WT »

o... ic. Oki thank a lot weixing
have a nice day
User avatar
weixing
Super Moderator
Posts: 4708
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
Location: (Tampines) Earth of Solar System in Orion Arm of Milky Way Galaxy in Local Group Galaxies Cluster

Post by weixing »

Hi,
I create a simple example of the view through the eyepiece with same magnification, but different apparent field of view.

Have a nice day.
Attachments
Same magnification, but different apparent field of view
Same magnification, but different apparent field of view
Eyepiece AFoV View.jpg (71.06 KiB) Viewed 5153 times
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
User avatar
WT
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: BBE

Post by WT »

thank alot... now i know what u mean haha
User avatar
WT
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: BBE

Post by WT »

By the way, anyone knows how to clean a finderscope?
Post Reply