Telescope Reviews: Re: Is aperture king? Does aperture rule?

The detailed explanatory responses here clearly support the importance of magnifiction. At the same time, those responses do not shun the importance of aperture, but explain it. I've always felt that one thing forum members here appreciate most is a high ratio of responses with backup vs a low ratio of unsubstantiated responses. IMO, that's what helps makes all of CN a valuable resource.

For those that wish to understand a bit more about the importance of magnification, here are two outstanding references. BTW these and other references on optics are found in the Binocular Forum - Links to Web Resources. I would have also included the reference to Jeff Medkeff's article on the topic, however Jeff, in his article, points to Mel Bartel's work referenced here.

edz

Mel Bartel's Article Visual Astronomy - an investigation into the Visual Optimum Detection Magnification
VODM explains why it takes high magnification to see some small faint objects.

Roger Clark's article on Optimum Magnified Visual Angle - an extension of his work on Low Contrast Detection
OMVA similar to VODM, is the magnified anglular size at which an observer can detect the faintest and lowest contrast objects.

Nils Olof Carlin's interpretation of the data used in Roger Clark's OMVA work

Also included here, these two works of my own, which document the relationship of magnification vs aperture in binoculars:

the same work of mine I referenced earlier up above. This study includes explanations of the influence of magnification vs aperture as relates to point sources, (stars in clusters)
How To Understanding Binocular Performance Indexing - a CN Lab Report by EdZ
The testing and methodology that led to develoment of the BPI

and this article, which BTW, has at least two years of follow-up studies and data, published here in this forum, which support the findings stated in this article related to point sources.
Limiting Magnitude in Binoculars - a CN lab Report by EdZ
The two sections Testing for the Affect of Magnification and Testing for the Affect of Aperture are of primary significance.
edz

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