Refractor guy looking to get first CAT

I've had newts & refractors. I still love my apo, but I'm looking for a compact scope with about 8" aperture for a dual mount setup (all visual, no AP). One thing a didn't like about my newts was the coma problem. I'm hoping to find a good deal on Astromart. Any advice as to what I should be going for??

One thing a didn't like about my newts was the coma problem. I'm hoping to find a good deal on Astromart. Any advice as to what I should be going for??

No real suggestions. Had a few SCTs, not my cup of tea. The coma problem, it is solvable with a coma corrector like the Paracorr.

Jon

Maksutov-Cassegrains are nice - good, flat field. I have a MK66 that does pretty well for a 6". Of course, the 8" is gonna be a lot more expensive than a 6" Mak-Cass. My only complaint is the largish contrast robbing CO and cool down times.

Mike

Brian Coltrane said:

I've had newts & refractors. I still love my apo, but I'm looking for a compact scope with about 8" aperture for a dual mount setup (all visual, no AP). One thing a didn't like about my newts was the coma problem. I'm hoping to find a good deal on Astromart. Any advice as to what I should be going for??

Mewlon 210 or 180.

Brian Coltrane said:

I've had newts & refractors. I still love my apo, but I'm looking for a compact scope with about 8" aperture for a dual mount setup (all visual, no AP). One thing a didn't like about my newts was the coma problem. I'm hoping to find a good deal on Astromart. Any advice as to what I should be going for??

If you quest is mainly for portability and for visual use, you could do far worse than the Celestron NS8 SE.

Brian:

What APO do you have?

One thing you will find somewhat frustrating going to a SCT is the loss of those wide field of views so many APOs give. I have a 6" APO and it truely is a wonderful all purpose telescope - albiet not too portable in that aperture.

About three years ago I purchased a 12" SCT. For many, many, many, years I was a refractor-snot and scoffed at the thought of owning a SCT. Well, I have seed the light and have been humbled. They too are great all purpose scopes. The only thing I kinda wish it would do, is show a 2 degree chunk of the sky, but reality is reality so my work around is to mount a 94mm APO on the 12" hehehehe - best of both worlds. Sounds like you are going to mount the SCT with your refractor.

Now that I have SCT blood coursing through my veins, (that my refractor white blood cells have stopped attacking) I feel a 8" SCT is a good choice if, you have the mount for it. Its not a beast like my 12" yet has the aperture to show nice faint fuzzies and resolve many globulars.

Good luck with your quest.