Quote:
Originally Posted by barx1963
Hannah
Simply put the bigger the better! the 2 scope syou mentioned in your first post both have 76mm apertures, or approx 3 inches. They are very small. Only the brightest objects will be visible in these scope bcause they simply don't collect enough light.
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I can see we're going to have to have a little discussion about the philosophy of observing next time we meet up at Snake Valley Malcolm!
Does observing have to be about seeing as many 'objects' as possible? Sounds like 'twitching' to me! If you're driven by a need to see mag 14 galaxies or every tendril of a nebula then yes, bigger is better. But not everyone has that need.
I observe in a club where currently 8" is the biggest aperture (and there's only one of them!). The stalwarts bring their 8" and smaller scopes out month after month, year after year, and never a word is mentioned about obscure galaxies, pn, nebulae etc. Several large scopes and their owners have fallen by the wayside and the monsters are gathering dust in sheds around the district.
For us it's just getting together under dark skies and viewing the seasonal offerings. When someone says that you can't see much in a small scope I know that either they've never viewed through one and/or their observing philosophy is fundamentally different to mine. And different to many people that I know.
Unfortunately, too often in astronomy forums such as IIS newcomers aren't given the chance to develop their own philosophy. Aperture rules and that's it. So a new generation of observers is launched on the path of dissatisfaction. With the meagre kit they can afford, with the way over-budget, recommended scope they bought as a stepping-stone to the 'big-one'... Always yearning for something 'bigger & better'. For newcomers, instant gratification that is promised but rarely gratified.
Not that I haven't enjoyed some amazing views through big scopes. But I'm quite happy moving from seeing the incredibly delicate shells of the 8-Burst Nebula through Tim Nott's 22" with its superb hand-crafted mirror, back to a faint blob hanging a field of pinpoint stars in my 4.5" Tasco. Without the slightest attack of 'aperture fever'. Or more correctly, 'aperture envy'!
Definitely the consistently-worst views I see are through mass-produced 10", 12" & 14" telescopes owned by newcomers, pushed to the limits because of this object fixation. Big dull objects, blobby stars, yuk! "Hey, look at the such-&-such galaxy through my new Cosmic Master Blaster!" You feel like saying, whoa dude, step back, put a field of stars in the view....
Cheers -