$850 WOW!!!! i just put the apeture cover on, and view through the
small apeture, its a lot cheaper

That is not for filters, that amount is for my new 8" Newtonian
reflector on an EQ mount with a couple of new eyepieces to exploit the
telescope's capabilities.

I only set out to spend about $450 on an 8" Dobsonian, but Orion is
jerking around customers big time right now and it was either lay out
the cash, or get no good scope for this apparition. I wanted it any
way, so I will tighten the belt in other areas for a month or two... I
will not spend one more dime for at least a year. I already have a
moon filter, and that is all I will have for some time. I am happy
Orion screwed up, I really like tracking objects with the EQ long-lat
dials... I ordered a scope on Aug. 1st that Orion told me twice would
ship on 8/16. On Aug. 12, I get a snail mail letter telling me I will
have to wait for shipment until 9/30. At the same time, I have a new
e-mail that tells me Skyquest Dobsonians will not be in until December
10th. I am so glad Orion's management keeps track of what their
exclusive Dobsonian manufacturer is doing... "Uh, gee Orion, we really
thought we'd make the delivery date until a few days before delivery
was to be received by you, but it became clear in the past two or
three days we will need a minimum of six more weeks, and perhaps
sixteen weeks to complete our contracted work. Ooops. Sorry."

If you cut off light from part of your aperture with a cover, are you
not degrading the image quality by effectively lowering the functional
size of your reflecting mirror, i.e. are you lowering your theoretical
magnification maximum with that cover? I tend to think you are, but I
could surely be incorrect. I am more than happy to let Mother Nature
give me generalized medium thick cloud cover to dim Mars for two or
three weeks, and then I can get back to the observing I was doing
before in July. Of course, I am saying that now because Mother Nature
was kind to me tonight... I easily could have not had such 'good'
luck.

For Mars, I want every magnification point the atmosphere will allow.
I suppose I could block two inches on an 8 inch mirror without
lowering capabilities beyond a point at which the aperture overtakes
the atmosphere in limiting effective magnification, but I would still
think quality would suffer. Clouds will do, we have plenty this year.
I'll buy a filter for next time in late 2004 or early 2005.

With your methods and size aperture (?), what magnifications can you
use satisfactorily and how have your observations gone this year?

- Livingston