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Paul_R
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 1649
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Re: Need A Larger Scope?
07/05/08 11:33 AM
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For Messier, it really was a question of optical quality rather than aperture. He actually used some decently sized telescopes!
In Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters, a wonderful observing book, Kenneth Glynn Jones lists the telescopes Messier used (p. 406) and describes them (p. 402). Interesting set of scopes… Early on, Messier used a 7 1/2 inch speculum reflector (f/4.3), later a 3 1/2 inch refractor (f/12). His scopes also included a 6-inch f/5 Gregorian reflector (owned by M. Lemonnier) (an observing buddy?)!
But these scopes obviously were pretty bad ones--they didn't include any Obsessions or Starmasters! As you point out, many of the objects (open clusters and globulars) that we can resolve today, even with small telescopes, Messier described as "nebula without star". It really does make one appreciate what one has and the tremendous views we have!
One cure to aperture fever is to spend a few weeks observing with a smaller scope and then return to one's regular scope-- the difference is impressive!
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