Resolution with greater aperture

I have a speculative question for this group based on some of what I have gleaned in peering over your collective shoulders. First, it seems that most of the cutting edge images here are being done with scopes in the 10-18" range. Second, these images often appear to be diffraction limited.
Would it be safe to say then that if the imaging techniques of the best amoung you were utilized with scopes in the 20" and up range that the resolution achieved would be proportional to the increase in aperture. (Of course this assumes 1st rate optics) Or, is it the case that some other limitation would impose a diminishing return.
It just seems to me that you-all are effectively "parting the atmospheric sea" and peering through the diffraction limit of the optical system. Its exciting to think what could be achieved with say a 30" Kennedy (the zambuto of larger optics)mirror. Thoughts?
Joe
Check this mirror out
http://www.webstertelescopes.com/cellular_mirror.htm

Joe,

I'm one of the very few on this list that actually has a lot of experience in Lunar and planetary imaging with a truly large aperture scope I currently have an 18" reflector and a 14" reflector, I started out with a 12" reflector and then moved up to 14" and now also have an 18", when *lunar* imaging with a sensitive fast frame rate camera I have noticed a good improvement in my *lunar* images with every increase in aperture including my 18" scope.
When planetary imaging though it seems to have topped out with the 14" scope, my 18" can get very good planetary images but not any better than my 14" and probably the 12" I used to have so my experience has been that lunar imaging can support large aperture better than the planets can.

Damian Peach and I were discussing this about a year ago and we both came to the same conclusions as to why the moon can support larger aperture better than the planets, I won't go into the reasons why right now but it might be an interesting discussion to have in the future.

Thanks,

Wes Higgins

Hi guys,
Great discussion. I am at the small aperture end of the discussion. I have had good results with my 8" apo. So, I would modify the aperture needed downward as far as minimum required for nice Lunar/Planetary images. Certainly you do not need a 12" scope for excellent quality images. That is not to say a 12" or larger scope would not produce esxellet results. Not at all. I am just saying, based on my personal experience, an 8 - 10" apo is capable of excellent lunar/planetary images.

Jim Phillips