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A QUICK QUESTION...

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16 years 4 months ago #53695 by Maygrey
A QUICK QUESTION... was created by Maygrey
HI KEVIN HERE.. :)

QUESTION........ Which is better ....: 10in reflector, 10in refractor of 10in smith cassegrain (assuming all similar quality and using same eyepieces etc)?? :?:

And is there much difference in magnifications of same?

JUS THIKIN OUT LOUD.
LATER FOLKS.

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16 years 4 months ago #53698 by philiplardner
Replied by philiplardner on topic Re: A QUICK QUESTION...
Horses for courses... and price per inch of aperture.

A 10" reflector will be your cheapest option. A 10" refractor will be frighteningly unaffordable! and a 10" Schmidt-Cassegrain will be the most compact.

Magnification depends on the focal length of the telescope, not the aperture. Magnification = focal length of the objective (main mirror or lens) divided by the focal length of the eyepiece.

A refractor will give you nice sharp stars but may exhibit chromatic aberation. A Schmidt-Cass has a relatively large central obstruction and so degrades contrast a little. A reflector can have a much smaller central obstruction and usually performs just as well as a refractor... but without any chromatic aberation or the scary price tag... but adds diffraction spikes to your photos...

The bottom line is that every optical system / design has its pros and cons. You have to weigh up how much you want to spend and what you are going to use the scope for (visual / photography / narrow-field, planetary or deep-sky work... the list is endless!)

Clear as mud? :)

Phil.

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16 years 4 months ago #53700 by Vagelis Tsamis
Replied by Vagelis Tsamis on topic Re: A QUICK QUESTION...
Even if money is not a problem, a 10" refractor will be frighteningly STATIC!
You will need at least 4 strong men to carry it around, tube & mount (or 2 horses maybe). Then you will need a ladder to climb up and observe, and finally a dome to shelter it.

BTW, nice shot of M27, Kevin!
Here 's how a face would look after shooting M27 with 10" apperture (same or close focal ratio):
a. SCT :)
b. Reflector :D
c: Refractor :lol:

Sparta Astronomy Association / Observations Coordinator
International Occultation Timing Association / European Section, www.iota-es.de/

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16 years 4 months ago #53702 by pmgisme
Replied by pmgisme on topic Re: A QUICK QUESTION...
The question is pointless.

You can't buy a 10" refractor commercially.

You will have to grind the glass yourself.

Peter.

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16 years 4 months ago #53704 by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: A QUICK QUESTION...
APM Germany sell a 10" refractor (apo). A mere snip at 44,990euro. Tube weighs 45kg.

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16 years 4 months ago #53706 by fguihen
Replied by fguihen on topic Re: A QUICK QUESTION...
its funny, in "the sky at night" magazine, they advise what size instrument to view various objects with, and they say a small scope is a reflector/sct <150mm or a Refractor <100mm. this would lead me ( and did in the past) that a 100mm refractor is the equivalent to a 150mm reflector/SCT. is there any truth in what they are saying?

"Success is the happy feeling you get between the time you do something and the time you tell a woman what you did." Dilbert.

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