Guidelines for A comparison

Hi All, I would like, if anyones knows, what type of guidelines should be used for a comparison ( A shoot out ) between TOA-130 & TMB130SS. What I'm looking for is the best way to run such a shoot out & if their is some kind of data sheet to use.

Thanks for any help you can give

Bob

Imaging or visual?

Rolando

ROBERT MOORE said:

Hi All, I would like, if anyones knows, what type of guidelines should be used for a comparison ( A shoot out ) between TOA-130 & TMB130SS. What I'm looking for is the best way to run such a shoot out & if their is some kind of data sheet to use.

Thanks for any help you can give

Bob

Bob,

First, you have to travel down to the Florida Keys to find some steady skies. Comparisons under New York skies can be tough.

Seriously, I think there are some common problems that should be avoided. If it is just you doing the comparison, this isn't a problem, but if you involve more people, insist that everyone quietly go about their business. Absolutely no discussion until the observing is all done and everyone has put together their notes. Agree on the targets ahead of time, but then just do your observations and make careful notes. No changes allowed after you've compared your results.

The other problem common to comparisons is lack of detail. Comparisons should carefully and thoroughly document what was seen in each scope. Seeing and transparency should be included, and how much time was involved.

Given the number of clear nights lately in New York, keep in mind that time doing comparisons IS deducted from your time observing....

Clear skies, Alan

I did a nice comparison between the TeleVue 85 and AP Stowaway f/7 refractors, it is posted in the reviews as "battle of the giants" or some such thing. I set up, in advance, a list of targets. We deliberately set up a list of diverse oobjects so as to best understand the scopes' capabilities: Luna, Jupiter, doubles, globulars, planetaries. We used identical EPs, one for each scope, so as not to have to fiddle with focus. Mike and I looked at each target, compared the views between the scopes and took notes. We talked not at all at first, by common consent, but after a while could not help but comment on things. We reviewed our findings afterwards and had a nice discussion over coffee & Kahlua.

The results of this exercise were very valuable to me and helped me decide which telescope to keep. The exercise was a lot of fun and it really was not time taken from viewing. Set it up right and you will find that it teaches you a lot about your telescope.

I also did this with two AP 130 mm refractors, an f/6 and an f/8; I kept the f/8. Have fun

Robert Howe

I should have known that it would imposable to get an answer without any mud slinging. Thanks Alen, Samir, Robert, Jon, & Jerry for trying to answer my question. You all have been such a great help.

Bob