Hi, I would just like to echo Emilio comment about the
SPECTACULAR replies to my question!! Thanks Bill, Roger,
Rod, Doc G, Steve, Peter, Emilio and anyone I have missed;
your replies are spectacular indeed!

There are a lot of issues to consider there. The seeing here
can be 1 or 2 (I use the Antoniadia scale), when it is clear
at all, but I do like being able to just set up and start as
I don't get home from work until after 10pm, so its about
10:30pm before I can get out. I was interested in the
comments by Doc G about the 125mm Mak and TV NP101 by Doc G
and Steve Erdman.
The Meade ETX-125mm may be good for the moon then? It may be
an afordable scope for me if so. I do like Maks a lot. I am
not familiar with the NP101 4" though it does sound good if
it compares well with the 10" LX200. Money is a limiting
factor (the wife won't let me spend to much of it!), so
overall, what in your opinion, would be the best value for
money if I could only get one scope to last me say 10 years
of observing before I could get a better one? Include
refractors, reflectors, whatever brands you like.
I have had my ETX-90 4 years this christmas and it suits me
fine, just I long to see more detail on the moon! I hear of
other observers (I am part of the BAA lunar section and GLR
group) doing marvelous observations with bigger scopes. A
friend in the BAA has a 5" Takahashi refractor and it takes
great images with his AstroVid2000 CCD system. I don't see
myself doing much CCD work as I am a bit lazy and don't want
the hassle of seting up computers etc (I am ok with
computers, that's my job - IT support) as well as a scope,
but I want to do TLP visual observations and drawings along
with snaps with a digital camera from time to time.
I have also thought of doing some lunar shadow lenth
measuring if I got a bigger scope using one of those Meade
reticle eyepieces with the fine grid on it.

I have read that big scopes like 60cm (yes centimetre)
telescopes can show the moon in so much detail it looks very
different to the lower res views we are used to. Texture is
visible everywhere on the mountains and craters. I was
wondering what the smallest aperature that would show me
some of that would be, or is it only observatory class
instruments that let you see this?

Another point by Peter Erdman, you mention a new TMB
supermono eyepiece. What is that animal? Tell me more, is it
something I could ask my wife for as a present this
Chrismas? :-) Here's hoping..!

Thanks once again everyone!
Maurice Collins
New Zealand.

View index by [date] [author] [subject]
Previous message: Re: [M]: Re: RE: Re: Lunar observing with Meade SCT's., John Mahony
Next message: Re: [M]: Re: adapters?, John Mahony
Next message in thread: Re: [M]: Re: Lunar observing with Meade SCT's, John Mahony