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Rick Woods
Postmaster
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 5684
Loc: Inner Solar System
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The only commercially available ones I've ever seen were 3" ones sold by Orion a few years back, and they were definitely NOT cheap. I wonder why, though; it seems like it would just be a small modification to the Newtonian design, which IS cheap (relatively).
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
Dyslexics Untie!
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StargazerBill
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/27/07
Posts: 521
Loc: Catawba, VA
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Quote:
The only commercially available ones I've ever seen were 3" ones sold by Orion a few years back, and they were definitely NOT cheap. I wonder why, though; it seems like it would just be a small modification to the Newtonian design, which IS cheap (relatively).
I think the reason they are not cheap is because the primary mirror isn't what you may think. It's shape isn't that of a "regular" reflector mirror. It's hard to explain but do some research and you'll see what I mean.
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37;23N 80;10W (Jet Stream Alley) 
Vixen ED100sf
Orion ST 120
Orion XT6i
Meade 8" SCT
Sky-Watcher 10" Dob
GSO 42mm Wide Field
Meade 5000 UWA 24, 18, 14, 8.8, 6.7, 4.7mm
Vixen NPL Plossl 30mm, 20mm, 15mm, 10mm
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2090
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Quote:
What's your opinion of a Mewlon 250 for splitting doubles? I recently bought a used one and just have started really using it.
Chuck,
One of our local guys uses a Mewlon 250. I consider him to be an expert on doubles and he loves the scope. I considered getting one, but I am too much of a refractor guy at heart. 
I feel that most scopes can do well splitting doubles and maybe ninety nine percent of my problems have been caused by sky conditions. We get lots of humidity in Virginia and if the jet stream is cranked up no telescope will perform at its best. 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
Tak FS-128, C925-CF, C6SE, other stray cats and refractors.
A-P Mach1 GTO
Zeiss orthos to Ethos - and some stuff in between.
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proud uncle
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 1576
Loc: Central Texas
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Quote:
Neither; the best scope for viewing and splitting doubles is the one you use. All scopes have their advantages and disadvantages, but the truth of the matter is that with doubles, almost any scope of halfway decent quality will work very well.
Wise advice, IMHO! 
I only have one scope, not counting the binocular. Many are the incredible views I've had of various doubles, including colorful and/or moderately tight ones.
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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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Gord
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/06/04
Posts: 694
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
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Rick,
I was more thinking about the off axis design that Ed Jones (over on the ATM section) has been pioneering. Like Bill was saying, the other off axis newts are really just big mirrors cut up, while this chief design is a traditional newt primary (all of it), tilted and then a couple of corrector lenses used. Not commercially available (that I know of...), so you have to roll your own.
But from what I hear, the performance is incredible. And since it uses a normal (longer focus) newt primary, they are readily available in really high quality.
I'd really like to try one some day. I have it on my list of designs I'd like to experience. 
Clear skies,
-Gord
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* Celestron C10/Normand Fullum primary
* Tasco 11TR/Normand Fullum primary
* Orion StarBlast
* Orion Apex 102
* SkyWatcher 80ED
* Celestron CG5a mount
* MallinCam Pro & Color II
* Lots of other astro toys
...and the best wife I could ever dream of for letting it all happen!
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Patricko
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 1533
Loc: SE New Mexico USA
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Quote:
What is the best scope for viewing and splitting doubles?
Easy, the one that I'm using!  Seriously, I currently use a 60/1000mm refractor, ST80 f/5, Apex 90mm Mak, C120XLT, and C102XLT achromat. Most probably wouldn't consider a small fast achro to be a doubles scope; however, once I properly configured and collimated the lens it does quite well.  As David K. already said, the best scope is the one you use.
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Clear skies,
Patrick
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
60MM TELESCOPE CLUB!
"You can always have better, but will you ever be happy with what you have?" - Me, myself, and I
Edited by Patricko (11/08/09 12:26 AM)
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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2647
Loc: Arizona, USA
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I enjoyed my 7 inch f/15 Maksutov for several years in my backyard observatory, it was great optically on Moon and planets and double stars. Unfortunately, it was awful in the area of electronics and I finally sold it some years ago and replace with a C 8 Nexstar, a great scope.
I am also enjoying my 6" f/8 Celestron refractor, it does a fine job for what it cost.
Clear skies;
Steve Coe
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TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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Ziggy943
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/11/06
Posts: 1522
Loc: Utah
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The great thing about double stars is that there is such a suitable choice for every size and type of telescope.
Castor in the 4" MAK is great. Just right in fact.
For most tight doubles and multiple stars I prefer a larger refractor.
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May your skies always be clear,
Ziggy
www.slas.us
4" Mak
#1, 160mm F8 TEC (born 1-18-2007, 27 lbs, 45.5" long), on AP900
6" F17.5 (D&G lens) (first light 6-7-2008)
9" F/14.8 Alvan Clark (1915), on Byers 812
14.25 F/5.5 Newt in a roll off observatory
Others, that have come and gone
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Ziggy943
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/11/06
Posts: 1522
Loc: Utah
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This is a link to AOK, sellers of Schiefspieglers. I've never seen one of their scopes nor had any contact with them. I think the optics are by Lichtenknecker or something like that.
I'd like someone to volunteer to buy one and tell us how they are. 
http://www.aokswiss.ch/
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May your skies always be clear,
Ziggy
www.slas.us
4" Mak
#1, 160mm F8 TEC (born 1-18-2007, 27 lbs, 45.5" long), on AP900
6" F17.5 (D&G lens) (first light 6-7-2008)
9" F/14.8 Alvan Clark (1915), on Byers 812
14.25 F/5.5 Newt in a roll off observatory
Others, that have come and gone
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