[MarkN]

Well, last night I thought I’d settle the matter once and for all. Which has the edge, optically speaking, S-C or Newtonian.

Temperature was a bearable 12 deg. and humidity 45-50% so out they both went at 9:00 pm to cool down for about 30 mins.

The main target was obvious - Jupiter.

The Meade was nice at 118X with the 17mm and OK at 133X with a 15 mm GS plossl. The shadow of a moon was apparent with both views. I thought the seeing would hold up with the 11 mm., but not tonight. The cloud belts degenerated to bands with little detail.

Now for the 10” Bintel Newt: Started with the 11 mm (114X) for a similar power to the Meade/17 mm. Brilliant! More cloud detail immediately apparent. Next was the 8 mm. (156X); still good detail with little loss in detail. Lastly, 6 mm. View broke down here, which was odd considering that about a week ago just after some rain, the view still held up at 208X.

Then came about 3 hours sky tour which included E. Car., O. Cent., Cent. A, clusters and nebulae in Scorpius and Sag. M87 in Virgo; And yes, the M87 view was only that, a view but I find it overwhelming to think that the light we see now left when the dinosaurs still had a few million years to live. That it can be seen at all in 8-10 inch scopes is something to be wondered at.

Finally, the Ring nebula got a going over towards 1.30 am. Main difference was marginally more contrast inside the ring for Newt.

I am left with the firm impression that the reflector design showed its superiority on every target. If I am ever to get another scope it will be a Newtonian in 16-18 inches.

It should be said that the Meade is no slouch and the red dot LNT finder was used to locate the fuzzies for the Newt.

Happy viewing all.

Mark.