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Subject: Re: [M]: Aperature and Light Pollution
From: Frank Loch
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Sat Feb 21 04:05:44 1998
> Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 09:45:02 -0500
> From: Mark Stratton <virtual@ix.netcom.com>
> To: mapug@shore.net
> Subject: [M]: Aperature and Light Pollution
> Reply-to: mapug@shore.net
> I am currently trying to decide between an 8 or 10 inch (maybe even a 12
> inch) LX200 but I am getting a little confused regarding the interplay
> between aperature and light pollution.
>
> I live in central New Jersey (Princeton) which has resonable amount of
> light pollution, though certainly not overwhelming. Will a larger
> aperature scope help compensate for light pollution or is the extra
> light gathering power wasted in this situation?
>
> I am strongly attracted to the LX200 but would a different type of scope
> (say a Newtonian or refractor) be a better choice given the diminished
> contrast of the SCT design?
>
> I currently have an ETX and a very old Edmund 6 inch Newtonian that seem
> to function pretty well here, but I would like to visually explore more
> deep sky objects with an eye toward CCD imaging down the road.
>
> Thanks for any and all replies.
>
Mark -- I'm not an expert on which size is better (or no difference)
for the light polution problems.
However, my philosophy is that more aperature is always better than
less aperature if you can afford it!
I'm very pleased with my 12" LX 200 permanantly mounted on a pier in
my location here just 5 miles south of the Allentown, Bethlehem ,
Easton combination here in the Lehigh Valley in S.E. PA. My light
polution may be different frpm yours though.
I do almost entirely CCD imaging, using the SBIG ST7, AO7 adaptive
Optics combination. My solution to light polution it to try to image
within a 60 degree cone off the verticle axis (ie as straight up as
possible). Many of my exposures are of one hour duration.
I'de be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Best regards,
Frank Loch
Try Deep Space 99 at http://www.early.com/~floch/index.html
For Gemstone information try: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/FLoch/