Hi Saramic

I have used the 127-mm f/12.1 Maksutov from Orion telescopes for a few years
now, and it should produce the views you want. Look at the Saturn image at the
bottom of the page at:
http://mysite.verizon.net/res07oeg/id21.html

The visual view won't be as large (close to 350x to 400x in the image as opposed
to 120x visually) nor as colorful, but you should be able to resolve the Cassini
division, perhaps the darkening on the inside of the B ring, and the darkening
at the middle of the A ring. But no telescope that is portable is going to give
you much more than that with casual observing.

Good Luck !
--- Dave Nakamoto
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinprick holes in a colorless sky
Let inspired figures of light pass by
The Mighty Light of ten thousand suns
Challenges infinity, and is soon gone




"saramic" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I am looking at upgrading my binoculars to a telescope and have a few
questions. My initial aim would be to see the rings of Saturn. I live
in Melbourne Australia so there is a fair bit of light pollution.

what is the minimum scope that will distinguish the rings? 4 inch
reflector? 50 mm refractor?

how good are some of the cheap scopes going around at the moment? I am
talking of $30 specials and $50 reduced from $90 or so. There is also a
fair few on ebay. Will I be able to see saturn and the rings with one
of these (eg.
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st...uct/View/L8249
). I am thinking of this option as a cheap way to try the hobby out and
then maybe upgrade later on.

Regarding upgrading, how good are the computerised scopes? I am sure
they are great but does it take away from the experience of "amateur"
astronomy and makes it a guided tour? is not finding objects in the sky
half the fun?

making my own, is this still a possibility? does anyone know where to
get blanks for grinding a reflector? has anyone done this and can you
see the rings of Saturn? is there a lot involved in maintaining the
reflective material on the reflector of a home made reflector? I once
read something about coating with silver and having to polish it on a
regular basis. I presume this is not a problem with commercial models.

Just another thought on making my own. what are the limitations of
using a concave mirror (as available for bathrooms shaving mirrors etc)
. I understand that they may have imprfections and there would be a
double image produced by the glass and the reflective material under
the glass, but how bad/good could they be? it is easy to get these up
to about 12 inches, even as an experiment for my son, is it worth
giving it a go?

clear skies

saramic