I have a Vixen SXD mount on which I currently use a Baby Q with a SBIG ST-10XME CCD camera and a CFW-10 filter wheel. The mount's rated load is around 50...
A simple answer is if you intend to do astroimaging, get the LX200. If you just want to do visual eyepiece viewing, the LX90 is a better value. The LX200...
I just posted 4 pics of the half moon taken 5/31/09. The pics are in this Talking Telescopes group photo gallery in my album named "Bob's Astro Pics". I used a...
I currently have a 10 inch f4.9 mirror in my dob. My interests are strictly visual. Is there a general consensus of what constitutes a planetary miorror? F6 to...
Hi, A planetary mirror used to be considered f9 or higher with a perfect figure and small secondary. They were more popular years back when mounts were more...
... This is what used to be thought. Nowadays you can purchase high quality short focal ratio mirrors which function every bit as well as those with long...
Hi, I'm not sure I agree, even though it's possible to achieve better figures on short ratio reflectors the larger size of the secondary will effect the...
Hi, The secondary on my 18" f4.5 is about 19% by diameter. I think that is small enough, i.e. less than 20%, that the obstruction is not much of a factor. At...
... The secondary on my Starmaster is well under 20% of the primary diameter. I've never compared it to a 10" f/8 Cave, but it is vastly superior to my 8" f/7...
I used to think like that, as did the whole amateur astronomy community. Things have changed a lot in the last 20 years. Once the central obstruction gets...
. Nowadays you can purchase high quality ... Ok, so assuming that you had two equally figured mirrors, both made by Zambuto for example, and the only...
Chip, I'm sure your 18" does very well with good seeing conditions, but for someone with a smaller scope (10" or less) 19% obstruction will give the user...
... Rick that is totally incorrect. I have a 10"/F5 scope that will absolutely eat any 4" APO on the planet, given seeing conditions adequate to suport 10" of...
Geoff, I have not tried a Zambuto mirror but have heard nothing but praise about them. I no longer own my 12.5" f7 Cave which under good seeing gave me the...
John, Our equipment and experience is different. My 6" f15 refractor gave me better planetary views than any of our astronomy clubs reflectors (8"-12.5")...
... That myth was put to rest many years ago with careful experimentation by Terry Dickinson and Peter Ceravolo, reported in detail in Sky & Telescope, back...
... A few years ago I did a side-by-side comparison on a well collimated Celestron 8" SCT and my 8" f/7 Cave Newtonian, and there was virtually no difference...
Geoff, It's not a myth but opinions about the loss of image quality has certainly been studied and updated in recent years. The loss of light gathering...
I would have to agree with Rick. From my experience, given equal quality, the longer focal length reflectors put up a better planetary image. The difference is...
Hi, After all these posts about Newtonians I would like to find a GOTO, computer controlled GEM (that will accept an autoguider) so I can use my 8" f7 for...
... I used my Cave 8" f/7 on a Losmandy G11 for several years and found it to be excellent. My Cave has a fiberglass tube and rotating rings, so is quite...
Geoff, Thanks for your quick reply. I was wondering about the Orion Atlas, I believe it would be less money than a G11. I'll contact Orion's tech support...
... The electronics of the Sirius and the Atlas are identical, I believe. I found the Sirius works quite well. The computer is not as sophisticated as those...
Geoff, I don't need the GOTO but do need the ability to autoguide which is usually all the same electronics. The accuracy of tracking is the most important...
Hi Rick, What budget are you looking at and what is the total weight of the telescope/camera combination you are going to use? Clear skies, Kevin Dixon ...
Hi Kevin, Right now my budget is very limited, it's going to have to be under $2k. I'm guessing my OTA with camera & autoguider will be in the 30-40lb...
Hi Rick, Unfortunately, you are in a tough situation from a few perspectives. Your budget, for the payload and dimensions of the equipment you wish to use,...
Kevin, I still have options. My primary scope is a 12" Meade LX200 on a wedge and pier that I piggyback various scopes and telephoto lenses on. I might just...
Hi Rick, Even upgrading to an RC still leaves the mount issue. The RC's are beasts in terms of size and weight. I have had the wonderful opportunity to use a...
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