Quality Assurance of Houdini eyepieces
To ensure the best user experience, we validate each Houdini eyepiece in a 200 mm (8 inch) f/4 Newtonian telescope.
Discover the revolutionary Houdini 20 mm 86° Coma-Correcting Eyepiece
For passionate stargazers the search for optical perfection is never-ending. Whether you are observing the stunning spirals of distant galaxies or admiring the intricate beauty of a globular cluster, you want nothing but the sharpest, clearest image your telescope can offer. However, anyone using a Newtonian telescope is likely familiar with a common optical challenge: coma. This optical aberration distorts stars at the edges of your field of view, making them appear elongated or comet-like rather than as pinpoint dots of light.
Until now, expensive and bulky coma correctors were the only solution to this problem. But we are excited to introduce a revolutionary innovation that will change how you see the universe forever — our brand-new Houdini Coma-Correcting Eyepieces.
The world's first coma-correcting eyepiece for Newtonian telescopes. Shipping starts April 10th.
Price includes VAT. For non-EU customers 20% VAT will be deducted at checkout.
The new Houdini 20 mm 86° eyepiece is the first in a series of ultra-wide eyepieces with built-in correction for parabolic coma, eliminating the need for an expensive coma corrector in Newtonian telescopes.
The image below graphically illustrates what the Houdini coma correction does in a fast f/4 Newtonian telescope. The spot diagrams are greatly magnified to show the optical aberrations more clearly. Near the edge of the field, star images are 5 times smaller in the Houdini 20 than in a standard 20 mm eyepiece!
The eyepiece has been designed and perfected to provide the best image quality and ergonomic features for telescope users:
- Well-corrected ultra-wide 86° field with sharp star images across the field even with fast f/3 Newtonian optics
- Comfortable 20 mm eye relief with folding rubber eyecup
- Multi-coated optics combined with high transmission glass types and blackened lens edges for maximum light throughput
- Flat field requiring less than 0.7 diopters of accommodation across the entire field
- Low distortion providing constant magnification across the field
- Convenient size and weight with comfortable rubber grips
- Filter-threaded barrel with non-slip safety kerfs that will not get stuck in the focuser
- Eyepiece cap with glow-in-the-dark focal length
The eyepiece is available at a special introductory price of €339* - a 15% discount off the MSRP of €399.
* Price includes VAT. For non-EU customers 20% VAT will be deducted at checkout.
“Houdini eyepieces combine optical excellence with great ergonomics. It's a premium solution for all Newtonian telescopes, now available at an affordable price.”
[Robert Houdart, creator of the Houdini Coma-Correcting Eyepieces]
Why Coma-Correcting Eyepieces?
The Houdini eyepieces usher in a new era of observing with Newtonian telescopes. With parabolic coma correction built into the eyepiece, there is no need for an expensive and cumbersome coma corrector. The bulk and weight, cost, mechanical flexure, barlow effect, and focus in-travel of the coma corrector are removed.
You will never again have to worry about eyepiece positioning in a corrector. Just place the eyepiece in the focuser and focus to completely remove the coma from the parabolic mirror. No need to fumble with the tunable top or locking screws of the coma corrector when switching eyepieces.
The Houdini 86° series will further be expanded with coma-correcting eyepieces from 30 mm down to 4 mm focal length with the same optical excellence and great ergonomics. The goal is to completely eliminate the cost, bulk, and hassle of coma correctors for visual observations.
You can read more details on the Benefits of Coma-Correcting Eyepiece page.
Clean your Houdini eyepieces with ROR
We've been using ROR fluid for many years - it's the best solution we know for cleaning eyepieces.
Houdini 12 mm 86° design and validation
The optical and eyepiece housing design for the Houdini 12 mm 86° coma-correcting eyepiece has been completed.
Houdini 20 mm available in March
The first production run is expected to ship to customers in March 2025.
“It is impressive to see how well the Houdini 20 removes the parabolic coma at f/3.6 and produces a very sharp, ultra-wide field. Also at f/5 you get an almost perfect 86° field with stars sharp to the edge, easy to observe because of the comfortable eye relief.
For my observing with the big telescopes the Houdini 20 has replaced the cumbersome 100° eyepiece in a coma corrector. It is a much lighter and handier solution.”
[Robert Houdart, creator of the Houdini Coma-Correcting Eyepieces]
About Us
Houdini Telescopes was created by long-time amateur astronomers and enthusiasts who want to share their knowledge and love of the stars with you. We understand that every stargazer wants to have the best experience, which is why we offer carefully selected products that meet the highest quality standards. We believe in providing excellent customer service and prompt delivery so you can quickly enjoy your new eyepiece. Whether you are an experienced amateur astronomer or just starting out, we have the right solution for your viewing needs.
Company
Houdini Telescopes
Cruxis BV
Lange Lostraat 12
3010 Leuven
Belgium
VAT: BE0478.960.660