Best aperture for detail.

[Bobbyoutback]

I don't wish to start any argument's about resolution or brightness , what I'm about is the largest aperture that performs best considering the average atmospheric conditions most amateur astronomy's face seeing fine detail .
Imagine looking through a nice 30" dob at Mars at say 300 Mag then moving over to a top 8" refractor at the same mag that showed a finer image but less bright .

From memory I remember it was stated that a 9.5" perfect scope will show contrast on things like planets as well or better then larger scopes at the same location .


Your thoughts please .

Bobby.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I believe that aperature will always rule...

Some of the "really big" scopes just compensate for changes in the atmosphere with corrective optics...in the end it is budget that is the limit not the size

If you are talking about amatuers I'd still say that aperture rules...

A "small" big scope is 12.5 inches...a "big" smaller scope is 10 inches...so for "normal people" I'd guess that would be in the neighborhood...

Having said that, I've got a 15 inch and could easily handle larger except I'm not fond of climbing ladders...when given a choice (and having the time) I'll wheel the 15 inch out every time in preference of the other scopes...if time or travel is a constraint I'll choose differently.