I am thinking about supplementing my 4-inch APO with some kind of Dob, to better observe galaxies. At my location the best conditions just barely disclose the milky way. A casual observer would never notice it.
Although I can locate quite a few galaxies with the 4-inch, I can't really observe most of them. Based on what I read here, I assume a dob of some size will make a big difference on those. Is a 12.5 Starmaster, or similar, going to be big enough to make a major difference on these targets under these conditions?
Taking it the next step: I can't see M101 at all unless I go to a dark site. Is that likely because my sky background is brighter than anything in M101, and therefore a dob wouldn't see it either, or might a 12.5-inch dob actually reveal galaxies that are totally invisible to my 4-inch because of light pollution? (I know the dob would show galaxies that are too faint for the 4-inch under dark skies, but this is a different question, focusing specifically on faint objects being totally washed out by light pollution).
Finally, please notice that these are not questions about whether aperture wins, or wins under light polluted skies, or wins when you can stand an egg on end during the equinox. I stipulate to all that. I just hope some of you can maybe provide specific answers to the questions above.
Thanks for any help,
Steve
Although I can locate quite a few galaxies with the 4-inch, I can't really observe most of them. Based on what I read here, I assume a dob of some size will make a big difference on those. Is a 12.5 Starmaster, or similar, going to be big enough to make a major difference on these targets under these conditions?
Taking it the next step: I can't see M101 at all unless I go to a dark site. Is that likely because my sky background is brighter than anything in M101, and therefore a dob wouldn't see it either, or might a 12.5-inch dob actually reveal galaxies that are totally invisible to my 4-inch because of light pollution? (I know the dob would show galaxies that are too faint for the 4-inch under dark skies, but this is a different question, focusing specifically on faint objects being totally washed out by light pollution).
Finally, please notice that these are not questions about whether aperture wins, or wins under light polluted skies, or wins when you can stand an egg on end during the equinox. I stipulate to all that. I just hope some of you can maybe provide specific answers to the questions above.
Thanks for any help,
Steve