Why an APO or Refractor?

Well, when I look at the Double Cluster with my 127mm, the stars are true pin points that range from the absolute pins to large brilliant points of marvelous colors and the field is completely flat and free of aberration. That alone is worth the cost of admission.
My 14.5" Starmaster also gives a beautiful view of the Double Cluster, but not the same tight pin point view.

Floyd Blue said:

Well, when I look at the Double Cluster with my 127mm, the stars are true pin points that range from the absolute pins to large brilliant points of marvelous colors and the field is completely flat and free of aberration. That alone is worth the cost of admission.
My 14.5" Starmaster also gives a beautiful view of the Double Cluster, but not the same tight pin point view.

Glad to hear that you're enjoying the refractors.

Hi Floyd:

I was tired of hauling the weight of my fork mounted C8 around and waited a "quick look" scope so I took a chance and bought a TV 60. Wow! It didn't take me long to "get it", as in " so this is what they are all raving about".

One of the most memorable pictures in my minds eye is that of the Pleiades next to a thin slivered moon (just past the New Moon), both in the same field at low power just after sunset when the sky acquires that wonderful blue hue. I was just so happy to be alive!

The wide field views of a quality refractor are awe inspiring. It also complicated my financial picture quite a bit. If a 60 mm scope can give me this experience, how about a larger one? To have aperture fever in both the reflector and refractor camps really puts a dent in your bank account. But then, you already know that.

When is the WO arriving?

Rey

>>>My 14.5" Starmaster also gives a beautiful view of the Double Cluster, but not the same tight pin point view.
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Floyd: I am glad you are enjoying your refractor. Over the years I have some great views of targets like the double-cluster in a refractor.

I have to say though that I think there a number of factors here at play besides just the fact that the scope in question is a refractor. Both size and focal ratio are significant factors in this equation so a smaller aperture which is not so bright and a longer focal length/slower focal ratio can give some amazing views. In particular, I find the views of brighter clusters like the double cluster are very pinpoint "refractor-like" a decent 6 inch F/8 Newtonian such as my old RV-6.

These days I am coming around to the opinion that slower focal ratio Newtonians have something the offer when it comes to those pinpoint widefields. THe F/4 and F/4.5 scopes with Paracorrs and fancy mirrors and eyepiece do produce some nice views but at F/6 or better yet F/8 can be quite impressive.

Jon

Floyd,
I did the same thing with my Meade SN8. Years ago I purchased a Televue Ranger as the first step to a guidescope for my SN8. Then I made the mistake of looking through the Ranger. Over a period of many months I suddenly realized I was using the 70mm Ranger over the 208mm SN about 10 to 1. I now own more refractors than I care to think about. For Thanksgiving, I went to visit my sister in the mountains of NC. With a sky dark enough to see M31 naked eye (YES!) I pointed my little Stellarvue Nighthawk at the Pleiades. I could see the reflection nebula all around the open cluster, and the brightest five stars glowed brilliantly like car headlights in the fog. It's tough to get that with with the big guns, just not enough fov IMO. My 8" dob diggs out the dim dso's from my polluted front yard rather well, though.

David E

Hey Floyd,

Can you even get the entire double cluster in the Starmaster's field of view?

I have discovered the fever of refractors too! I just purchased a borg 101ed short system with a moonlight focuser on astromart and I can't believe how clean the views are. Pleaides and colors in Hyades were great last night, and that's from the Hong Kong area. Love it, and it's so easy to take places. Thanks to Rick who sent it my way. Can't wait to take it to dark skies.
Arthur