Harry,
I also find a good refractor can beat an SCT on the sun, as does my
Newtonian. I think it's a contrast issue; the SCT's folded optical path has
no place to hide the stray light when viewing a large (1/2 degree) and very
bright object.

The refractor has no folds; contrast is it's specialty. My Newt is full of
flocking paper and the filter that acts as a baffle, preventing light from
hitting the tube near the eyepiece. It'll be interesting to see how your C8
does after collimation.

HAve fun,
Frank

"Harry Bogucki" wrote in message
...
. . . During a solar observing
session this past June, I noticed that the image in that little ‘ol
Nighthawk seemed to be much better than that in my trusty C8.