Brightwell Horizon 32 mm wide-field eyepiece

Specifications

Description

The Horizon 32 mm is a five-element wide-field eyepiece with a 65-degree apparent field and a 2 in barrel. Its 35 mm field stop gives a much wider true field than any 1.25 in eyepiece can, which makes it a finder and survey eyepiece for telescopes with 2 in focusers.

In a 1,200 mm Dobsonian, the Horizon 32 mm gives 38x and a true field of about 1.7 degrees. That frames the Andromeda Galaxy with its companions, the full extent of the Pleiades, and long sections of the Veil Nebula with a nebula filter. In a 2,032 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain with a 2 in diagonal, it gives 64x and a field of about 1 degree.

The low magnification produces a large exit pupil, about 5.4 mm in an f/5.9 telescope. That gives bright views of extended objects under dark skies. In fast telescopes below about f/5, stars at the edge of the field show some astigmatism and coma, which a coma corrector reduces.

The 22 mm eye relief suits observers with glasses, and the rubber eyecup folds down. The 2 in barrel has a safety undercut and accepts 2 in filters.

At 520 g, the Horizon 32 mm is heavier than small eyepieces, so check the balance of your telescope after you insert it, especially on a Dobsonian. Many observers keep it in the focuser most of the night and switch to higher power only after they have found a target.

The Horizon 32 mm is an affordable way to get a wide field in a 2 in telescope.

About this configuration

All configurations of the Brightwell Horizon 32 mm wide-field eyepiece share the same optical design; the options change the eyecup, the case, and the finish. This configuration comes without a case, which suits observers who keep their eyepieces in a shared foam box. No case is included, so the eyepiece ships in a simple box with its two dust caps fitted. A winged eyeguard helps you hold your eye at the right position, which makes the edge of the field easier to see.

The black anodized barrel and body resist scratches and do not reflect light into the eyepiece. This is the 2025 edition, which added a safety groove to the barrel and a firmer eyecup detent. To find the magnification, divide the focal length of your telescope by the eyepiece focal length in the specifications.

What's in the box

• Eyepiece with fold-down rubber eyecup
• Top and bottom dust caps
• Plastic storage case
• Winged rubber eyeguard

Compatibility notes

• Needs a 2 in focuser or 2 in star diagonal.
• The barrel accepts standard 2 in filters (M48 x 0.75 thread).
• Shows edge astigmatism below about f/5 unless you use a coma corrector.