Re: The "It supports 100x per inch" argument

From: Stephen Paul (spaul219_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 11/19/04 

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:05:31 -0500

"SaberScorpX" <saberscorpx@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041119010357.16224.00000787@mb-m02.aol.com...
>>> I have a old 80's Black C-8 OTA, and it will handle 400x with ease!
>>> Even
>>550x
>>> does well in this scope, thats when is seeing very good.
>
>> I have NEVER seen a BLACK C-8. The C-8 from the 80's is the standard
>>off orange or whatever you call it and ALWAYS has been. Unless you or
>>others know
>>something that most don't and have seen other Astronomy Magazines from the
>>"good ol 80's"
>>that others haven't, lay your proof here for all to see.
>
> Love my black Ultima8:
> http://home.att.net/~telescopebluebook/sct/celestron.htm
>
> SSX

I would have to be desparate for the money to part with mine. I have an
MX5-C that mates to it perfectly as an introduction into deep sky CCD
imaging, as well as a ToUcam "to beat the seeing" for planets and lunar
details. I haven't the tiime or energy to get out there with it all that
much, but lack of use doesn't always translate to "useless", if you have a
piece of equipment that you enjoy from time to time. The Ultima 8 is a
stable enough imaging platform for long exposures, and can be had for pretty
cheap compare to the alternatives.

As a follow on to that idea, I do wonder how much equipment gets bought and
sold, and replaced with something so similar that it wasn't worth the
exchange. Exchanges which are ultimately born out of boredom, due to lack of
access to decent skies, or the time to enjoy them. As an example, between my
(quite) old C5 (sold) and the replacement 4" F5 achromat, the difference in
raw performance on most mid to low power objects probably wasn't enough to
warrant the exchange, on that basis.

When I made that decision, I intentionally gave up color free planets, for
wide field's of view. Now that I am experience it, I wish I had a wide field
scope that was also capable of color free planets.... turns out I want both.
Exchanging one for the other wasn't a good long term solution, and in all
the time and money I've wasted going around the block, I could have saved up
enough cash for a TV102i, which as a binoview user, seems an ideal solution
for a "plop and go" scope.

However, I will not sell my Ultima 8, and/or my 12.5" Dob to get one. I just
know I would regret it, and end up spending money _all_ over again to
replace them. Three scopes are a requirement. One isn't enough, and four
aren't necessary if your quick look scope is a fast 4 to 5" apo (not to
mention its potential for imaging).

But, as I've said elsewhere, I'd trade them all away, if it meant the powers
that be, would turn off the lights at night, and give us back a truly daky
sky. Telescopes are important for the few who dedicate themselves to the
science of astronomy, but the masses desparately need some face time with
the depths of the universe, before the human race manages to competely light
up the world, and extinguish the soul.

-Stephen

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