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I thought I'd post the results of the 5" aperture mask testing that I did the other night for anyone who might be interested. I stopped my 15" down to 5" with an off axis aperture mask on Sunday night and compared the views of Saturn with and without the mask using a 7mm Nagler.
Being a previous owner of a 4" refractor, I can remember the planetary views through it. The view through my 15" stopped down to 5" was very similar. There was a definite loss of detail, and an even more definite loss of contrast. On the plus side, my suspicion of increased periods of better seeing were correct (which is what I was really after). Periods of markedly better seeing increased substantially, so it really was a tradeoff.
I agree with Mark after this testing - it's better to be patient and view the planets without an off axis aperture mask, as the detail and contrast are to die for by comparison.
Dean
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