Aperture fever

[Bolts_Tweed (Mark)]

I gotta go on the big aint neccesarily beautiful side of this thread Stu.

Over the last thirty years Ive owned big dobs, big SCTs and I now use a 5 inch that beats them all (of course it is worth more than all of them too - but thats another story). I cant see 18th mag galaxies in it - if thats what you want to do then by all means get a 30 inch and cherry picker - they are great.

If you want high quality high contrast on brighter objects nothing beats quality optics. Look at say a planet in a 16 inch dob and then in an Astro Physics refractor and see what you think.

Arent ferraris smaller than commodores? Oh damn - not a car argument please - I hate them all - however I think most would agree that the italaian quality is better.

I am so tempted to add a witty reply to Netties post but I respect her opinion and my wife is watching - smile - i've been married over 30 years so I dont joke about finding room in my heart for other ............scopes

Mark Bolton

[Stu Ward]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Hey Stu Stop looking at those big scopes. Don't listen to them Stu. Good things come in small packages. Stu, listen to me, once you start the obsession it will never stop. They may have big scopes, but are they really happy? You can't kiss and cuddle a scope (oh wait, I do), it doesn't have a conversation with you (hmm scope doesn't answer back), It doesn't tell you how good you look (oh wait it shows me beauty).

You don't want to encounter nose bleeds & dizzy spells to get to the eyepiece now do you Stu? Still with us Stu? Hmmm... I think we lost another one... He's been quiet for a while. Think we dangled too many scopes at the poor guy. Wonder if he had to sell the car, house and pedigree dog?

I'm still here, but i've been working away, so my fever has hit a pinnacle, as i'm away from my scope too !!

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by Bolts_Tweed

Look at say a planet in a 16 inch dob and then in an Astro Physics refractor and see what you think.

Sounds like you've had a bad run with mass produced reflecting optics.

I guess it depends where the Newt comes from. Back in the '90's we compared Jupiter on a good night through an Astrophysics 7" F9 Starfire refractor and an aussie made AOS 10" F6 Newt and everyone agreed they could see more in the Newt.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by Bolts_Tweed
Look at say a planet in a 16 inch dob and then in an Astro Physics refractor and see what you think.

I have to agree with Mark on this.

I would happily back both my 14" SDM with Zambuto mirror and my 18" Obsession with OMI mirror, against any sub 10" refractor on the planet, as lunar/planetary scopes, ONCE THEY ARE PROPERLY COOLED

The big problem with large aperture newtonians, particularly those with large thick mirrors, is they can take forever to cool and stabilise when the temperature is dropping rapidly. If the mirror has not stabilised the planetary views are crud. When they have stabilised they will easily outperform a smaller refractor

Cheers,
John B

[MLyons (Martin)]

Aperture fever????????................What aperure fever???????.............Me???????? ................Dunno what you're talking about.


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Apparently Meade are re-launching their 20" monster....... .......

[that_guy (Tony)]

What about orions 50"??? :s