Telescope for Planetary Imaging

Could you please take the time to give me some advice regarding two scopes?. I do primarily planetary observation and imaging using a webcam. The scopes are an Astro-Physics 130 EDF F6 and a Celestron 9.25. The Celestron 9.25 has surprisingly good optics. Visually, on some nights the Celestron outperforms the AP, and on other nights the AP outperforms the Celestron. I seem to get better images with the webcam from the Celestron 9.25. Both of these scopes have a very good star test. I know that many of you have done planetary imaging and visual work with both of these scopes and would very much appreciate your opinion.

My ultimate scope is a Teleport 10 inch. It outperforms the AP and the Celestron on Planets and I will never part with it. I also have an AP Traveler but have not tried planetary imaging with it. It seems that the AP 130 provides a step-up in planetary detail when compared to the Traveler.

Thanks in advance for the advice,

-jim

Hi Jim -

For imaging I think you will always produce better results with the larger scope. You will get better image scale with more signal and less reliance on gain. For visual observations, the responses will be across the board. On many nights with average to fair seeing the smaller scope will provide a more pleasing image and perhaps as much detail as the larger. The 5" refractor will always show more than the 4".

my two cents,
Alan Friedman