Thread: help please
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Old 26-02-2006, 12:49 AM
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janoskiss (Steve H)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by man on the moon
I'm an intermediate amatuer astronomer, and currently own an 8" dob, but it is time to change. ... because i want to get into some deep space observing
If you are not already "into some deep space observing" with your 8" Dob, then a bigger scope will not necessarily help you. How long have you had your scope? Do you ever travel to a dark site to observe? That will show you a lot more than a bigger scope. If you live under light polluted suburban skies travelling a distance of 60-100km away from the city is equivalent to somewhere between doubling or tripling your aperture.

An 8" will show you heaps of DSOs: all the Messiers in considerable detail, and lots of other objects; even faint ones like galaxies and planetary nebulae. The perceived difference in brightness from a 10" is slight.

The 600x cap you read for all the bigger scopes is due to ever present atmospheric turbulence.
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