Why does the Aspheric have a 72° field?
A 72° field is only slightly larger than the largest viewing angle of the human eye (68°), so the whole field can be surveyed without rolling the eyes, while in fields of 80° and more the available light is spread over too large an area.
How does the dual 1.25" and 2" barrel system on the Hyperion 31mm Aspheric work?
The eyepiece comes with two interchangeable barrels. Using the 2" barrel provides the full 72° apparent field of view with a 38mm field stop. When you switch to the 1.25" barrel, the field of view is reduced to 55° with a 30mm field stop.
Can I use the Baader 31mm Aspheric eyepiece for astrophotography?
Yes. The eyepiece is designed for eyepiece projection. It features an M43 thread and an SP54 system thread on the eye lens side. DSLR camera bodies can be attached directly behind the eyepiece through these threads, using Baader adapter rings.
What magnification does the 31mm give?
Magnification is the telescope's focal length divided by 31. On a telescope of 1000mm focal length it gives about 32x. Exit pupil is the eyepiece focal length divided by the telescope's focal ratio; at f/10 it is 3.1mm.
What is the benefit of the 2" SC thread on the Baader 31mm Aspheric?
The integrated 2" Schmidt-Cassegrain thread lets you attach the eyepiece directly to the back of an SCT, eliminating the need for a diagonal. This very short attachment gives a larger true field of view than a wide-angle eyepiece with a 2" plug-in sleeve.
Is the 31mm parfocal with the 36mm Aspheric?
Baader's technical data lists both Aspheric focal lengths in the parfocal column. The field stop of the 31mm sits at the reference plane (0mm) with the 2" barrel.
What makes the "Phantom Group" coatings on the Baader 31mm Aspheric special?
Baader's Phantom Group coating is a 7-layer broadband anti-reflection coating with extremely low residual reflection, calculated for each glass type and optimised for about 520nm, where the night-adapted eye is most sensitive.
Is the 17mm eye relief of the Hyperion Aspheric 31mm sufficient for eyeglass wearers?
Eye relief is 17mm and the eyecup is a folding type. Baader makes no specific statement about eyeglass use for this eyepiece.
Can I use the Baader 31mm Aspheric in a binoviewer?
Yes. The eyepiece has an outer diameter of 59.5mm, and it can be used in any telescopic binocular where the minimum eye distance is not less than 56mm.
What does Baader say about the weight?
The listed net weight is 0.40 kg. The design data sheet gives 356g with the 2" barrel and 365g with the 1.25" barrel; the technical data are based on optical design data.