[ATMoB-discuss] two inch eyepieces for a new observatory?

[George Roberts]

Weston middle and high schools share an old observatory that hasn't been used for years (it leaks).  They are seriously considering 
tearing it down and building a new one or possibly repairing the current one.  I have heard $40,000 tossed around as a possible 
budget but of course they would love to keep it as cheap as possible.  This money doesn't come from the school system but from an 
educational fund run by parents (don't you wish you went to school in Weston?  The budget of this education fund is something like 
$500k per year).

I suggested they try a rolloff roof instead of their current observatory design and I'd love to hear thoughts on that.  The school 
system has a competent facilities staff that gets first bid on any project.  The observatory would have to be handicap accessible 
meaning doors wider then 36" and no stairs.

They already have a working 14" Meade cassegrain which has a great set of accessories including lots of 1.25" eyepieces.

They already have a 2" diagonal and I suggested they get at least one 2" eyepiece.

Can someone please recommend one or two 2" eyepieces with manufacturer and part numbers?  If they get only one eyepiece should it be 
short focal length or long focal length?  Please realize that spending $2000 on eyepieces is excessive yet spending $300 is no big 
deal (compared to the rest of the project).

In case you were wondering, there is only one teacher on staff who is very into this whole project (8th grade) and everyone is 
concerned that the observatory will only get used 5 days per year.  They are currently looking to hire a new physics teacher and 
they are hoping for someone who has a strong interest in teaching astronomy as part of the class and maybe starting an astronomy 
club.  But if that doesn't happen then the whole project might fall through.

- George