Dave: Minor disagreement here - I have responded when asked with a more conservative limit of 40x to 50x for reflectors and maybe as much as you suggest for good-quality refractors, but only under near-perfect skies. There is also a practical limit for all but the rarest of transparent and steady skies at around 500x to 600x, even for professional instruments. Craig, I have a 10-inch F5.1 Newtonian, an 8-inch F8 SCT and a 5-inch F5 APO, all of which I've used on occasion up to between 300x and 400x, but only when conditions were "superlative" as Dave Bernson says. I think most everyone would agree that site location and viewing conditions (primarily transparency and seeing) govern magnification more than the size or your instrument. I do most of my casual observing at around 75x to 150x. I've never had the happy experience of being able to use any magnification over about 400x. Hope this helps, Kim
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy- bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Dunn, David Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 4:42 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Seeing
The general rule is 50 or 60 times your appeture in inches. I have had times at Monte Cristo, and I am sure Wolfe Creek is just as good, where I could easily view at this high power.
Dave
----- Original Message ----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com <utah-astronomy- bounces@mailman.xmission.com> To: 'Utah Astronomy' <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sun Aug 09 15:08:07 2009 Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Seeing
How is the seeing at places such as Wolf Creek? I'm going to be buying some eyepieces and I'm wondering what magnification I should shoot for. I only have a 6" scope. With my 8" in California I was rarely able to go over 200x, but occasionally 270x.
Thanks,
Craig