Quote:
Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA
Hi Tony,
Yep, had aperture fever too Tony, but it is always a trade off, particularly their cost. Large apertures are big and heavy, difficult to transport, unless, you have lots of money to set up trailers etc. Saw some awesome set ups at last years Stellafane.
The other downside is getting the mirror realuminised. I need to get my 16" realuminised, but I am thinking it might be easier just buying a new mirror, particularly considering that I cannot find anywhere that can realuminise it with an overcoat, at a reasonable cost, unless I send it to the states, but then freight is an issue.
Quote:
|
iI am getting too old to lug heavy stuff around any more, so portability s the main criteria these days.
|
I use my 16" from my back yard, just wheel it out of the shed, in suburban Perth, but I have much more enjoyment with my 110 in a dark sky! See much more too, compared to my 16" in the city, despite the smaller size. I also use an 8" SCT in my observatory, and even this is heavy for me to lug around too, which is why I got a Sirius observatory. I would love to replace the SCT with a large Apo refractor, but that isn't going to happen, unless, a miracle occurs, like winning Lotto, but I won't hold my breath.
The 110 set up just suits me now, not hard to transport and set up, has no maintenance requirements, has very sharp images, so I just take to dark sky sight, use and enjoy. It is certainly much more comfortable sitting in an observing chair, instead of balancing on top of a ladder.
Quote:
There comes a point when aperture stops being fun, particularly when you have a stuffed back. 
|
Cheers Pete |
Have to agree with you, Peter.
My TSA120 is right at the upper limit of portability for me, and even so, I have only used it once since I bought it due to medical problems!