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Why not continue the trend to super large, mega large, ultra large, and gargantuan? Don't consider going the other direction, however, as in very small, tiny, and miniscule.

Dave Mitsky

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Hey. I'm thinking of starting a new trend. Opera oculars at starparties or better yet a jeweler's loupe.

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Sam P.
www.agirlandaguy.blogspot.com

Pentax 7X50
TV-102 APO w/ (Starbeam - on backorder )
Ash Gibraltar w/ SkyTour DSC
NZ3-6, N9T6, N13T6
TV 20 Plossl
Pan 24, 35
Pentax XW10, XW14

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Why not continue the trend to super large, mega large, ultra large, and gargantuan? Don't consider going the other direction, however, as in very small, tiny, and miniscule.

Dave Mitsky

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When I squint my eyes, I call it microperture.

Bill in Flag

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Grand Canyon Adventure
Lowering the Threshold

18" Obsession
4.5" Meade 4500
10x50 Swift Audubon

Cosmic Voyage

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David,

Traditionally is the key word. Times have changed. Why modify large and not the other two categories?

Small - up to 10 inches
Medium - 10 to 20 inches
Large - above 20 inches

Dave Mitsky

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I prefer a scale determined by the aperture increase required to deliver a full magnitude gain in limiting magnitude. In other words, a scale where an increase of 60% in aperture establishes the cutoff between one category and another.

Sample Apertures
Small: 5 inch
Medium: 8 inch
Large: 12.5 inch

I agree with those who believe the scale should be revised to reflect current trends in the hobby. That said, any revised scale should acknowledge that traditionally small apertures are still in wide use. This isn't like the NFL where you just don't see 200 lb. offensive linemen, anymore. The 60 mm refractor is still ubiquitous, and 6 inch and smaller Newtonians are still very popular.

Within that context, I've revised the scale to add new large aperture categories.

Very Large: 20 inch
Extremely Large: 32 inch

Taken together with the traditional categories, this scale probably accounts for 99.99% (or more) of all amateur telescopes. Good 'nuff for gov'ment work.

Bill in Flag

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Yes, this is not only logical but inclusive (a concept the IAU seemed to be lacking in their understanding of object classification). However, the break-points between the classes you didn't quite define. I could agree that anything under a five inch aperture would be small, but is the 8 inch in the mid-range of medium or is it at the upper end of that class?

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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org

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