At 11:04 PM 7/28/04, Gary Nunn wrote:
Any telescope guru's out there? From the two options below, which is the better telescope, and why? Both have an Autostar control system.
Educate me... Please!
Gary
Option #1 diameter =114mm, 1000mm focal length, f/8.8 5x24 viewfinder with bracket; three eyepieces (.965") - H25mm, H12.5mm and SR4mm for magnifications of 40X, 80X, 250X; 3X Barlow lens
Option #2 diameter =70mm, F=350mm, f/5 Includes two eyepieces (1.25") - H25mm and MA9mm for magnifications of 14X and 39X.
Assuming that the optics on both scopes are good (you really need someone who knows telescopes to look through them at real stars at night, as well as reading the manufacturer's claimed test results), get #1, replace the eyepiece holder with a real 1.25" or better 1.25"/2.00" focuser, get some good eyepieces (if you absolutely have to, get an .965" to 1.25" adapter and use the ones that come with it until you can get some real eyepieces). I'd also probably add a larger finder to find fainter objects. Get a full-aperture solar filter, too, to look at the Sun. A place to start looking for these items is <<www.telescope.com>>: I've had good luck with them. If you need more help, e-mail me privately (unless there's interest in keeping it on-list) and I'll make suggestions.
All other things equal, always go for the biggest aperture (= light-gathering ability) available. You can see fainter objects, brighter objects will be even brighter, and you can see finer detail (resolution in arc-seconds is inversely proportional to aperture). Only if it is so big that the telescope requires you to buy a flatbed truck to move should you consider any other factor more important than aperture . . .
-- Ronn! :)
Ronn Blankenship Instructor of Astronomy/Planetary Science University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL
Disclaimer: Unless specifically stated otherwise, any opinions contained herein are the personal opinions of the author and do not represent the official position of the University of Montevallo.
_______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
