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dscarpa
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 505
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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A used mak would be a very good choice for planetary. A year ago I bought a used Intes Micro 715 Deluxe for $1800 from Teton Telescopes which is about half of what they cost new. It's lunar and planetary performance is excellent, I've used up to 400X on the Moon with it. I's also light and compact. A used 6" would cost a lot less but still great for planets. David
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Nippon
super member
Reged: 10/22/09
Posts: 167
Loc: Central Florida
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I agree with others that point out the importance of aperture for the planets. I have two Celestron 8" SCTs. one is an old orange tube and the the other is a new NexStar SE. They both outperform my Tele Vue 85 for planets. To me, It is not so much that the 8" scopes show that much more detail it is just that the image is so much brighter the detail is easier to see.
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CounterWeight
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/05/08
Posts: 1621
Loc: PDX chronoplast
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What Mike said... I'd add that refractor wise, looking on the used market the 1200 astrobucks, and a fair helping of patience, will go a lot farther. If you go for the cat or mak mirrored option, be ready for cooldown and collimation issues, dew shield and heaters... - not knocking it as they are what I owned exclusively prev to going lensed. That same money could nearly get you a new C9.25 if you already own a capable mount, and when coold and coll'd they are great on planets too...
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Clear skies - Jim
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CGE (Constant Get Errors), A-P Mach1?
Onyx 80ED, Tak FS-128, TEC APO160ED
CCD: Orion SSPDSCIv2, SSI3, SSAG
diags, ep's, tubes, filters, Binocs
My CN Image Gallery
Experience is a difficult teacher, it gives the test first, and gives the lesson later
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skyjim
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/13/07
Posts: 660
Loc: Long Island, NY
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I would agree with a good rumak designed MCT, I dont think you could find such a nice M703 for $1200 price range but a good sample of a M603 or M615 might sell used for around $1k or soo. I've owned the M603 and its a real good performer on lunar and planetary, cool down is longer than refractors but the do a real fine job when compared to many of the 5" refractors out there. Even going back a few month I had a Astro Tech AT6M which gave the SW120Ed a run for the money on LP observing and even the brighter DSO's. I just odrered the Ioptron version of this scope which come with a dual speed focuser and metal dew sheild with enhanced optics over the AT6M for around $750, will see how it does. I leave the scope out on a shelf in an unheated garage so cool down time is faster but have always enjoyed the veiws of a good MCT. BTW the scope is a F12.5 and with the rumak design the fov is flat, very flat. One thing I was surprised with in the AT6M was contrast not only on lunar and planetary was right up there with the 120Ed but even on brighter dso's like M42 is was just as good. I also find for what you want to invest these MAC's will excell in lunar performance even at high powers the 6" MCTs at 300X look like most scope do at 150X as far as detail and contrast when seein is good.
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Ioptron MC152 6"Rumak MCT,Skywatcher 8"SCT
Skywatcher 10" Truss Tube Dob
Astro-Tech AT80FD w/WO/TMB co-designed Fluorite Doublet,Orion Sirius EQ,CG5 EQ mounts
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2350
Loc: Missouri
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Quote:
To me, It is not so much that the 8" scopes show that much more detail it is just that the image is so much brighter the detail is easier to see.
I agree with this. The only way you might close the gap a little on this is if you were imaging with a webcam and processing in Registax. I've taken some shots with my 80mm that I thought descent.
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Todd
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KerryR
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1422
Loc: SW Michigan
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Even though I have a fan-cooled 8" newt with excellent optics, and a fan-cooled 8" sct with decent optics, all my most detailed planetary views have been with my old 5" f9 Meade 127ed. That's the only scope that's shown me the disk of a Jovian moon superimposed on the disk of the planet. That said, seeing was obviously good, so who knows what I'd have seen if I had one of the other scopes out.
When it comes to producing sharp images fast (quick cooling, less imapact from thermal currents), nothing beats a refractor for off-the-shelf-performance. Everything else needs auxiliary cooling to perform as well. If you don't have a large observing window and/or can't set the scope out 1 1/2 early (still no gurantee), and/or don't want the hassle of adding fans and vents, go for a refractor.
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Kerry
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Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 5272
Loc: MA
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>>>A really top qualtiy 8" f/6 reflector would be my preference over all of the above.<<<
Me too.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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BillP
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 4653
Loc: Vienna, VA
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Quote:
When it comes to producing sharp images fast (quick cooling, less imapact from thermal currents), nothing beats a refractor for off-the-shelf-performance. Everything else needs auxiliary cooling to perform as well. If you don't have a large observing window and/or can't set the scope out 1 1/2 early (still no gurantee), and/or don't want the hassle of adding fans and vents, go for a refractor.
 Definitely a distinct advantage of refractors, particularly APOs for planetary...and contrast of course. Comparatively they just need zero care and feeding once outdoors.
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Bill
XT10i Dob---TSA-102 S-APO---APM80/480 S-APO--- P.S.T.
The moment you stop questioning is when you know you've probably got it all wrong.
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Mike Holland
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/22/06
Posts: 1065
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Quote:
>>>A really top qualtiy 8" f/6 reflector would be my preference over all of the above.<<<
Me too.
I've seen a couple of 8" f/6 Dobs easily beat high quality 4" apos on planets.
Mike
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SV80ED Raptor/Gibraltar/Naglers and Panoptics
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Optiphile [OP-teh-FILE] -noun, one who appreciates or obsesses over fine optical equipment, generally telescopes, binoculars, binoviewers, or photographic lenses.
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Preston Smith
Military Observer
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3893
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Quote:
I would like to hear some opinions of a what people would choose as the best "value" refractor, under $1200, to be used for visual only, at magnifications above 200x, exclusively for planets and luna.
I find the Stellarvue SV110ED tempting at $1295. It's bino ready and in stock!
SV110 ED
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger
Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
60mm Telescope Club
Edited by Preston Smith (11/25/09 02:54 PM)
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Jeff B
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/30/06
Posts: 772
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How about a D&G 5" F12 or F15. Main challenge after the mount would be finding one used.
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