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which scope to get



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 18th 03, 01:53 PM
Patrick
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Default which scope to get

I'm looking to buy my first real scope. I've narrowed it down to 3:

Antares 119GP Refractor:
-----------------------
-Research Grade lens
-Diameter: 93mm, Focal Length: 1000mm
-Multi-coated Research Grade achromatic objective lens
-Aluminum Tube
-Optical tube assembly, mount rings
-1.25"-32mm Plossl, 9mm Plossl, 2X Barlow
-1.25" mirror star diagonal
-6 X30mm finder scope
-2" rack and pinion focuser
-2" to 1.25" adaptor
-EQ3-2 mount

Antares 515 EQ3-2
-----------------
6" Newtonian Reflector (750mm F/5,1/10 Wave Parabolic mirror) with EQ
3-2 Mount ,1.25" Plossl eyepieces 32mm &9mm, 2X Barlow lense and a
9X50 mm finder scope.No photo available.

Orion 'long tube' 150 x 1200mm reflector (f/8)
----------------------------------------------

I live in the suburbs, and right now light pollution in my yard is not
bad at all, but in about a year a shopping plaza will be built
adjacent to it...probably HPS lights will be on all night...it'll
probably be bad.

I like planetary and deep-sky. I'll be observing solely from my back
yard.

Off-centre sharpness (coma) of the reflectors is a concern for me, as
is collimation (never did it before). I like the idea of the f/8
Orion. Do reflector mirrors need re-aluminizing, or do modern mirrors
not need it? Which is best for me? Thanks.
  #2  
Old September 18th 03, 04:45 PM
Bill Foley
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Default which scope to get

Reflectors eventually need realuminizing, but very seldom. My own personal
preference would be an F/8, but I would also prefer an equatorial mount. There
are lots of reasons for this that are too extensive to go into here, suffice it
to say that for finding, tracking and for high magnification, a well-oriented
EQ beats the pants off an altaz. I will probably get flak on the F/8, but a
lot of people think that only a short F/value can see DSO's, which is not the
case - you just need longer FL eyepieces.

Clear, Dark, Steady Skies!
(And considerate neighbors!!!)

  #3  
Old September 18th 03, 05:44 PM
Jon Isaacs
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Default which scope to get

I will probably get flak on the F/8, but a
lot of people think that only a short F/value can see DSO's, which is not the
case - you just need longer FL eyepieces.


F8 is nice but makes for a long OTA.

Given the choice between two equal length OTAs, a 6 inch F8 Newt and an 8 inch
F6 Newt, the larger scope will perform better on both planets and DSOs...

Thats my thinking.

jon


 




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