Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemi
Dear Members,
For a fixed observatory setup and purely visual use, can we debate the merits of a 14-16in dob vs a 14-16in sct, taking $$$ out of the equation?
Thanks
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I've used both. If you are after purely visual and want to do sketching then it becomes much more a question of finding a target and tracking it accurately for long periods of time. I guess once a target is located, then you want to be in a reasonably comfortable position. In that regard, a refractor or SCT provides a smaller degree of movement of the eyepiece compared to a newt. If you use a goto DOB, or a Alt-Az goto SCT thats obviously less movement compared to an equatorial.
If you are after wide field, brighter views, then a short FL newt is better but a SCT offers better detail on planets and compact DSO's, aperture for aperture, though the distinction is not so straight forward. You can also get a focal reducer for SCT's which changes their performance significantly. So I guess its a case of what do you want to observe?... as always
