Eyepiece and telescope pairing

Celestron X-Cel LX 2.3mm in the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127: magnification and field

What the Celestron X-Cel LX 2.3mm does in the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127, worked from the published focal lengths and apparent field.

Field of view

ring = 0.09 degrees true
dot = 0.2 mm exit pupil

Computed optics

Magnification
670x1540 mm / 2.3 mm
True field
0.09 degrees60 deg / 670x
Exit pupil
0.2 mm127 mm / 670x
Max useful mag
about 254x2x aperture
Barrel match
1.25 in eyepiece in a 2 in focuser
No fit

Over-powered. At 670x this pair exceeds the highest useful magnification of about 254x for the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127, so the image dims and softens without showing more real detail. Use a longer eyepiece.


Magnification is the telescope focal length divided by the eyepiece focal length: 1540 mm divided by 2.3 mm is 670x. The true field of view is the eyepiece's 60 degree apparent field divided by that magnification, 0.09 degrees.

The exit pupil, the width of the light beam leaving the eyepiece, is the aperture divided by the magnification, 127 mm over 670x, which is 0.2 mm. That makes this a high-power lunar, planetary and double-star setting.