Quote:
Originally Posted by Allan
I used my old 12” with a good Zambuto mirror last opposition to see Deimos. It was invisible in my widefields like my Delos, they show too much scatter for that sort of task. My best quality Abbe Orthos were needed to spy the little moon in the glare of Mars. I didn’t use an occulting bar, but experimented with placing Mars outside the field of view. Phobos was a no show.
Plus, you need a night of good seeing. I will have another go for Phobos this time around now I have the big dob, but I’m not holding my breathe.
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Indeed Allan.
These objects orbit the equatorial plane of Mars and that may help location and thus detection.
At 27km(Phobos) and Deimos 15km diameters max and that faint, its a wonder we can see them in the glare at all.
Was going to try in a Refractor of 120mm 130mm..
But that looks like too much of a challenge, without keeping Mars out of the field at least...
I think I'll use the 10inch reflector first.
PS: Regarding less elements; Ive always found this the case on dim objects..An old Japanese Kellner from a 4" Unitron scope I had , serves this purpose.
bigjoe.