Re: Telescope testing - blind trials?

From: RichA (none_at_none.com)
Date: 10/30/04 

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 18:50:54 -0400

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 23:29:39 +0100, Tim Auton
<tim.auton@uton.groupSexWithoutTheY> wrote:

>The thread about magazine telescope reviews got me thinking.
>
>Has anybody ever performed a double-blind trial of a range of scopes?
>I imagine something like fitting them all with identical focussers and
>putting them all behind a screen of some kind, so you couldn't see or
>feel the scope itself. Just a series of identical eyepieces and
>focussers sticking out from behind a cloth. This would remove the
>mechanics of the scopes from the equation of course, itself an
>important consideration, but I suspect optics are highest on most
>people's lists.
>
>There are numerous practical problems of course, however, I suspect
>such a test could reasonably be done with a selection of scopes of
>similar design, aperture and focal length; a selection of 7" f/10 maks
>or 4" f/6 apos for example.
>
>A nice graph from an interferometer is one thing, but sometimes you
>can't beat the opinion of an observer. A double-blind trial would give
>you such a opinions free from preconceptions and bias. I know I'd be
>interested to take part in such a test and/or see the results.
>
>
>Tim

You'd need both scopes to have electric focusers, because you'd
be able to tell one from another with manual focusing.
Second, by coincidence, each scope would have to have exactly
the same focal length and aperture, otherwise, you'd know which
was which by image brightness or magnification.

Relevant Pages

  • Telescope testing - blind trials?
    ... Has anybody ever performed a double-blind trial of a range of scopes? ... but I suspect optics are highest on most ... aperture and focal length; a selection of 7" f/10 maks ... you such a opinions free from preconceptions and bias. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Telescope testing - blind trials?
    ... Tim Auton wrote: ... > Has anybody ever performed a double-blind trial of a range of scopes? ... but I suspect optics are highest on most ... > you such a opinions free from preconceptions and bias. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)