Does Size Matter?

[Josh]

What is the size of your telescope? I am stuck with a 76mm (3") scope. It's okay for the inspirational view of Jupiter or Saturn whilst sitting in the back yard, or for distinguishing binary stars and obviously the moon is a staple. But you need some pretty dark skies to get anything better than that (that I've been able to see anyway).

If anyone has some good tips or comments on observing with a small scope ... Let me know!!

[Lurker]

I have heard that women are partial to very large telescopes... ;)

[Dragon Star]

Bigger Telescope = More Nerd. :D

[jouster]

Mine is only 4"

But they were expensive inches.....

I chose the best quality apo I could possibly afford - the SV102T on a Losmandy GM8 - because I like to observe the Moon, the Sun, the planets and doubles/multiples in that order. I'm not a DSO guy, and think I made a good call. The scope is superb. With the miserable light pollution and cruddy atmosphere we get in southern CT, I'm not sure how much I'd really gain with more aperture - especially since I think I'd be too lazy to set a big scope up each time I wanted to observe.

[Kaptain K]

OK, I fudged just a little bit.
I found an "el cheapo" 4" reflector at Goodwill, threw the OTA in a corner of the garage, and made a platform for my 10x50 binoculars.
I do still have the scope (even though I've never used it) and consider the binos to be a matched pair of 2" scopes.

[Dave Mitsky]

I own far too many telescopes. They range in aperture from a 40mm f/10 Coronado PST to a 12.5" f/4.8 Starsplitter Dob.

Dave Mitsky

[Tog_]

I have 3.5" ETX from the very first production run (before they fixed most of the glaring design flaws).
An 8" LX90.
And a 16" Dob, also from Meade. I can't take it anywhere anymore though since my dad sold his van. I have plans for it to become a truss tube where I keep the mirror cell, but I can't seem to find anyone to make the two metal bits I need to get it started. I built a mock up of the collapsed version and it would fit in the trunk of a compact car.

I'd love to get a Pronto, a 10" Newt-cass, and an 18" StarMaster. Someday.

[JohnW]

Mine is only 4"

But they were expensive inches.....

I chose the best quality apo I could possibly afford - the SV102T on a Losmandy GM8 - because I like to observe the Moon, the Sun, the planets and doubles/multiples in that order. I'm not a DSO guy, and think I made a good call. The scope is superb. With the miserable light pollution and cruddy atmosphere we get in southern CT, I'm not sure how much I'd really gain with more aperture - especially since I think I'd be too lazy to set a big scope up each time I wanted to observe.
Similar setup, a few more millimetres (SV115 on a GM8 and - as of last month - a Discmount), similar reasoning. I like having a maintenance-free scope I can set up in ten minutes. And I like the aesthetics of the view through an apo - you can't see as many things as with a light bucket, but what you can see, you can see perfectly.

[Peter Wilson]

I have always been tickled by the use of decimal points in baseball: "He's hitting 0.286 with two-out and runners in scoring position in late innings on the road..." Translation: he's 2-for-7 in said situation. 2nd & 3rd decimal places are meaningless. So I like poll results with 23 votes (at this time) and 4 decimal places; very baseball-eque ;)

Anyway, best scope depends on what you like to see best.

As far as women go, I'm no expert, but I'm under the impression they go more for the large wallet than large telescope...

[Josh]

I'm sure there are more of you out there with scopes! I actually have a purpose behind this poll. I'd like to find out what people are seeing with smaller scopes. Assuming money is an object how do you get the best seeing with the least amount of money?

[Dave Mitsky]

The answer is to always observe from a dark site. This is the best "aperture amplifier" available. ;)

Dave Mitsky

[Peter Wilson]

...I'd like to find out what people are seeing with smaller scopes...
People are seeing the moon, planets and double stars with smaller scopes.

To see more, you need bigger scope...or darker site.

[Kaptain K]

People are seeing the moon, planets and double stars with smaller scopes.
Add: Larger, brighter nebulae (M42, M8, M20), larger, brighter galaxies (M31, M33, M81, M82), open clusters (M45, M44, M35, M36, M37, M38), globular clusters (M13, M4, M22). Granted, these objects are bigger and brighter in larger scopes, but it wasn't that long ago that a 6" scope was a monster and anything larger was the realm of the "build it from scratch" glass pushers.

edited to change M86 and M87 to M81 and M82. :doh:

[teddyv]

Using my 4.5" Newtonian about 10 years ago, I could see some fairly faint objects from my backyard in suburban Vancouver, although light pollution is significantly worse now.

M81 and M82 were probably my favourite find.

[PhantomWolf]

I don't have one yet. I'd love a 12" Dob, but since I can't afford one yet I'll probably give in and get a cheapo 110mm newt.

[cjl]

10" RCX400.

Amazing scope, incredible for deep sky.

[LynnF1]

12 1/2" Starmaster truss tube Dob.

also an Orion 80mm binoculer telescope.

backyard is extremely light polluted, though.

[dmill120]

I have Three, since my tastes and my laziness varies
When I feel like old school find it myself mood, and get to our Observatory, I pull out the 12 inch DOB, but thats only when I've eaten my Wheaties!
The skies are quite dark both at home and at the observatory since I live in a very rural area of N.H.
When I want to take photos and I'm too lazy to find objects I will use my 6 inch f/8 Refractor on a CG5 ASGT Mount.
If I'm only a little lazy and I don't mind the hassle of drift aligning, I take out my 8 inch SCT on a EQ wedge for either visual or Photo work.
Sometimes I Take all three just for fun, and I'll do imaging with one scope usually the 6 inch Refractor, and I will use the 12 incher for DSO's and the 8 inch SCT for whatever, and I bounce around all three!
Dennis:)

[Thanatos]

A compact tube is a must if you are old and lazy like me. A 12" F/8 S-C would be my choice. Sets up in a few minutes, gives magnificent views, and has enough aperature to git er done. The price break between a 14 and 12 is enough to purchase a nice CCD.

[dmill120]

I think ,as previously stated by Dave,
Dark skies make all the difference in the world, I have seen some decent views thru 3 inch refractors and 4-1/2 reflectors at A dark sky site, and all of the Messiers were well within the Range of both.
Another thing to consider is the Age of the viewer, since Our Visual accuity or Pupils, change with age.
I have also tried the Pirate Eye patch approach, and this works well for me also.
There comes a point were a light bucket will show less detail or be washed out if they are employed at a light polluted location, whereas a smaller aperture scope stays more Contrasty in the same light polluted environment IMHO.
Dennis:)

[Grand_Lunar]

I have a 4" Newtonian reflector from Tasco.

Good for views of the moon, plus you can see the cloud bands on Jupiter if you look hard enough. Saturn's rings are also good to see through it.
Seen good views of stars as well, but dark skies would make it better. There are very few that I see where I'm at.

While descent, the eyepieces don't have good eye relief (is that the proper term?). I think they're my shortcoming. Oh yes, and my Barlow is broken.
New ones would be great, but are probably beyond my financial means.

BTW, are eyepiece recepticles of telescopes the same, or does one have to know what size each particular telescope has?

[Kaptain K]

There are three standard sizes of eyepieces:
1) .965 inch - Found on cheap department store scopes.
2) 1.25 inch - Standard size. Found on most scopes.
3) 2 inch - Found on "premium" scopes.

[Eoanthropus Dawsoni]

I have a nice old Meade 826.

[Hamilcar]

Biggest I've used is 2.4m. Incidentally, it was the largest telescope you get to use without a technician.

[Madam Captain]

I have a 6 inch reflector on a dob mount and I can easily see Andromeda with my scope. Andromeda is such a big galaxy and its easier to see it with a smaller scope like mine, than a 12 inch or even a 16 inch. Even very small scopes can pick up an image of Andromeda. The reason being that this galaxy fills up the whole field of view in an eye piece and it takes up too much room in a big scope - the scope would need to be moved around to see the entire galaxy.

[Trantor]

I own a 4 inch Meade SCT, which is an excellent and highly portable scope. A couple of years ago I purchased some 80mm giant binoculars, which I've been using much more than my scope lately. The only thing that I really want now is a 10 inch Dob. I just have to convince my wife that it is something that we really really must have.:D

[Madam Captain]

I own a 4 inch Meade SCT, which is an excellent and highly portable scope. A couple of years ago I purchased some 80mm giant binoculars, which I've been using much more than my scope lately. The only thing that I really want now is a 10 inch Dob. I just have to convince my wife that it is something that we really really must have.:D

I subscribe to Australian Sky and Telescope magazine and they have been advertising a new dob lately. Its called the Lightbridge Truss Dob and it looks great. It comes apart in several pieces and apparently, fits into the boot of almost any car. It comes in 8, 10 or 12 inch. I've got a 6 inch dob but I want a 10 inch dob too, mainly because they are cheaper than other scopes and I like the set up of dobs. They are easy to use and easy to assemble. Ive also found that dobs are good for looking at lots of different deep sky objects. However, I would also love to get a refractor or maybe even a Schmidt Cassegrain scope. They are more expensive.......oh well, its nice to dream! As for convincing your wife that you really need a 10 inch dob, maybe you could get her into astronomy aswell. Or perhaps tell her that you are going to buy something practical for the house and come home with a 10 inch dob instead lol.

[Trantor]

I subscribe to Australian Sky and Telescope magazine and they have been advertising a new dob lately. Its called the Lightbridge Truss Dob and it looks great. It comes apart in several pieces and apparently, fits into the boot of almost any car. It comes in 8, 10 or 12 inch. I've got a 6 inch dob but I want a 10 inch dob too, mainly because they are cheaper than other scopes and I like the set up of dobs. They are easy to use and easy to assemble. Ive also found that dobs are good for looking at lots of different deep sky objects. However, I would also love to get a refractor or maybe even a Schmidt Cassegrain scope. They are more expensive.......oh well, its nice to dream! As for convincing your wife that you really need a 10 inch dob, maybe you could get her into astronomy aswell. Or perhaps tell her that you are going to buy something practical for the house and come home with a 10 inch dob instead lol.

Thanks, I'll check that scope out. As far as my wife is concerned, I've tried to get her interested, but she just doesn't get very excited about those little fuzzy things in the sky. The Moon and Saturn got the best reaction out of her, but even that faded fast. She does like using the binoculars on terrestrial stuff like birds or at the beach - as long as it's not pointed at bikini babes!

[Madam Captain]

I love looking at those 'fuzzy' things in the sky. I find it fascinating that we can see other galaxies and I always get excited when I'm able to find a deep sky object. I love finding the jewel box in the Southern Cross - I get lots of satisfaction out of being able to find stuff in the sky myself. Where do you live?? I live in Australia. I guess we probably have the best skies here for observing, even though we do complain about clouds from time to time. I have learnt over time that the sky will always be there, so complaining about a few clouds isn't worth it really.

[Josh]

I have learnt over time that the sky will always be there, so complaining about a few clouds isn't worth it really.

Especially if those clouds bring a little bit of rain!! That'd be nice!

[Madam Captain]

Its always nice when it rains - we are in desperate need of rain where I live (Perth, Western Australia). I just wish it wouldn't get cloudy or rain when I go on astronomy camps lol

[awyong]

What is the size of your telescope? I am stuck with a 76mm (3") scope. It's okay for the inspirational view of Jupiter or Saturn whilst sitting in the back yard, or for distinguishing binary stars and obviously the moon is a staple. But you need some pretty dark skies to get anything better than that (that I've been able to see anyway).

If anyone has some good tips or comments on observing with a small scope ... Let me know!!

It depends on what is your purpose. For astrophotography, you need to have a small scope with short FL, so that you can take wide field astrophoto (Like M31). For large scope, you can shoot deep sky object and reduce the time of expose.

Good Luck!

[Trantor]

I love looking at those 'fuzzy' things in the sky. I find it fascinating that we can see other galaxies and I always get excited when I'm able to find a deep sky object. I love finding the jewel box in the Southern Cross - I get lots of satisfaction out of being able to find stuff in the sky myself. Where do you live?? I live in Australia. I guess we probably have the best skies here for observing, even though we do complain about clouds from time to time. I have learnt over time that the sky will always be there, so complaining about a few clouds isn't worth it really.

I live in Central Florida. The skies here are ok, but light pollution has become a problem in the past 10-20 years. The city that I live in has more than doubled in population since 1980, from around 40,000 to almost 90,000 now. I've always liked Australia and New Zealand. I think you guys are pretty progressive compared to many other places in the world.

Our viewing here has been steadily getting worst. When I was on vacation three weeks ago, I went hiking in the smoky mountations, about 1000 miles away from here. I took my 20x80 binoculars with me and absolutely loved that black sky; so much better than what I'm used to. On the bright side of things, I do get a faily good view of Shuttle launches here. Even from where I live, I can always see a launch, especially from a high vantage point. Since I'm only about 90 miles from the Kennedy Space Center, it's pretty easy to travel there and get a closer view of the space launches.

[Thanatos]

The price break runs 8-12 inches for most decent scopes. The tradeoff is between f ratio and aperature. A four foot tube is close to the break point, IMO, for portability. I think it would be unwise to even consider anything much larger without a parking space [observatory].