Mta472
member
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 83
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In your opinion what is the best telescope type for planetary viewing?
I am primarily interested in seeing details of Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. I can not afford an APO refractor. I am looking for a GOTO scope.
Thanks for any recommendations.
Mike
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 3916
Loc: Inner Solar System
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A larg-ish Mak might do it. A long-focus newtonian would be better, but I don't know of any on go-to mounts.
But: if you're doing planetary observing, why do you need go-to? If you can forego that, the newt would be the best bet. (IMO).
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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proud uncle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 1167
Loc: Central Texas
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Quote:
A larg-ish Mak might do it. A long-focus newtonian would be better, but I don't know of any on go-to mounts.
But: if you're doing planetary observing, why do you need go-to? If you can forego that, the newt would be the best bet. (IMO).
I totally agree with everything Rick says. One additional feature nice with planetary observing would be automatic tracking. Dobs don't have that, except with a tracking platform. I get great views of the planets with my dob, and I do not have tracking platform. They start at $600. That is an accessory that could be added later.
Depending on your budget, maybe something like this ? Ideally, an 8" f/8 Newt on a Dob mount with tracking platform. But it's hard to find 8" f/8 Newts without getting into premium (and pricey) optics. But, I think an 8" f/6 Dob would be almost as good, and much more readily available.
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Kenneth
Zhumell 10" Dobsonian (f/4.9)
2" 32mm WA eyepiece
9mm, 12.5mm, and 20mm Plossls
6mm TMB/BO Planetary
2" 2x ED Barlow
Nikon 10x50 binocular (6.5 deg FOV)
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 3916
Loc: Inner Solar System
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Quote:
One additional feature nice with planetary observing would be automatic tracking.
Ah!
My 8" newt is on a GEM, and a dob didn't even occur to me (I've never had one).
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 1628
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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Rick
I've been using my 10" F4.8 Dob (no tracking platform) with excellent results.
Clear Skies and Good Luck
Rich (RLTYS)
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10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr.
80mm F5 Refr.
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.
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alienux
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/17/08
Posts: 649
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I agree, a Mak on a GEM with a clock drive is great for planetary.
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Brian
Orion SkyView Pro 127mm EQ Mak
Meade 60mm Push-To TeleStar
Phillips SPC900NC
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 5538
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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As I stated elsewhere, a 6" or 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain, an 8" long focus (f/8 or greater) optimized Newtonian, a premium Dob with a very high quality fast mirror (a Zambuto for example), or a 6" or larger long focus (f/15 or thereabouts) achromatic refractor should each provide excellent planetary views. The MCT is probably the most cost effective choice and will present the least amount of hassle.
I'm not sure why you need go-to if you're primarily interested in the planets, however, although having a sidereal drive is certainly a plus.
Dave Mitsky
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Jure
sage
Reged: 06/14/03
Posts: 408
Loc: Plavje, Slovenia
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I would go with a good long focus Newtonian (in fact that's what I'm planning to do). Per inch, the Newtonian provides the least expensive optics that can be made to perform very well. I'd skip any Chinese optics and go for a Newtonian from a reputable manufacturer. Such as Orion Optics UK. I don't know your budget, but you might want to take a look at their Dobsonian range: http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/DOBSONIAN/dobsonianrange.html
They make a nice 8" f/8 that's worth consideration. Their optics are 1/4-wave standard, but on request you can get even better optics (up to 1/10-wave). Mechanics are good; while I haven't had any experience with this particular telescope, I have used a number of their telescopes and they were all really good. Unfortunately the 8" f/8 Europa model, which was the same OTA on a GEM has been discontinued, you might want to ask them if they have any remaining. Also, take a look at the SPX line. There is also an 8" f/8 model, but these come with 1/8-wave optics as standard. I'm not sure about the mount, you could consider buying the OTA and mounting it on an EQ6. Also take a look at their 10" models, and if your budget allows, bigger ones.
If your budget is relatively small, say in the $1000-2000 range the best thing to do IMHO is to buy a high-quality Newtonian. In this price range any CATs will be smaller and/or have optics of lesser quality.
Clear skies!
Jure
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Celestron CR150HD
10x50, 11x70 binoculars
Nikon D80
MBK Team http://www.orion-drustvo.si/MBKTeam
Slovenian ICQ comet report page
http://astro.ago.uni-lj.si/icq_data.html
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 3916
Loc: Inner Solar System
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If you can locate an old Meade 826 reflector, which is an 8" f/6 newtonian on a solid GEM w/clock drive, they can often be had for just a couple hundred dollars. The 826 has a well-deserved reputation for absolutely wonderful optics (you'll notice one in my signature), and as planetary telescopes they are really hard to beat.
Even a good CAT has things going against it for this sort of viewing. Primarily (aside from the larger CO), the fact that in addition to the primary and secondary mirrors, there are corrector plates and tertiary mirrors (the diagonal) added into the mix, all of which have an effect. The 826 has been called the best newtonian ever made, and you can get them cheap!
Mine is vintage 1988. It has a black pier. Older ones have silver piers. I also have it's little brother, the 628 6" f/8 newtonian, which is every bit as good. I'll never let either one of them go.
So, give that some consideration. With the money you save, you could get some great eyepieces (Brandons are the best I've ever seen), and maybe get the mirrors resilvered if they need it.
Food for thought. Good luck, however you decide.
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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Nick Lloyd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 1535
Loc: cincinnati
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My friend's off-the-shelf Celestron 8" SCT w/Nexstar (single-arm goto) is a consistent planetary performer... especially with binoviewers. Both of us are refractor-lovers, but the proof is in the eyepiece. Once cooled and collimated, it struts it's stuff! Also tracks very well and easy to transport. I'd strongly consider the double-arm version, however.
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"The best scope is the one you use." -rcg
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 5538
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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I should have also included a Maksutov-Newtonian in my reply. Another thing to consider is an apodizing mask. All of my experiences with using them for planetary observing have been positive.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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pstarr
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/17/04
Posts: 767
Loc: NE Ohio
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I think a well designed and optimized Newtonian would fit your needs.
When I designed my 10" Newt., like you, my main interest was getting high resolution views of the moon and planets. My goals were...
1. Get the best optics I could, both primary and secondary mirrors.
2. Use a semi long f-ratio for a good sized diffraction limited field.
3. Use a curved spider for no diffraction spikes.
4. Use a low profile focuser to keep central obstruction under 20%.
5. Keep stray light to a minimum by extending the tube 11" past the eyepiece holder and flocking the entire tube.
6. Use materials that cool down fast. Add fan behind mirror.
7. Use premium planetary eyepieces.
8. Use a solid eq. mount with tracking to allow continuous center of field viewing.
9. Use high quality collimation tools to allow precise collimation.
I think anyone that follows the above steps will not be disappointed in the planetary views provided by their scope. Now if I could just do something about the clouds and seeing.
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Paul
10" F-6 Eq planetary Newt. w/Zambuto mirror
fully flocked aluminum tube
curved spider, Antares 1/30 wave secondary
12'x12' roll-off roof observatory
6" f-6 Newt. w/Parks mirror on CG-5 Eq. mount
4.5" Orion Starblast on Eq. mount
TV Radians 5,6,8,10,12mm
Pentax XL 10.5mm
Baader Hyperion 17mm
3.2mm TMB planetary
13mm Ethos
TV 2.5x barlow
My equipment philosophy... If it ain't broke, fix it anyway.
Edited by pstarr (05/18/08 09:03 PM)
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spoolboyy
super member
Reged: 08/01/05
Posts: 181
Loc: Lewiston, Idaho
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I have only basic experience but even with my 6" dob I have had great views of Saturn, Jupiter, Venus and the moon. I can see 4 of Jupiter's moons on a decent night and I have seen two (maybe 3) of Saturns as well.
Mars was very challenging with my scope, and if I were buying a first scope today (and could afford it) I would go for an 8" reflector for greater mirror surface area.
the small size of cassegrains are great to grab and go with tho.
-adam
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//ADAM
Celestron 'Hopper 6"
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 1782
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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My 6" Maksutov-Cassegrain and binoviewers provide an knockout view of the moon and planets.
Fred
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Trinity College - Cambridge England
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