The best pictures I have seen by amateurs are from Celestrons. Does that make them the best planetary scope?
Is the C14 the best planetary scope?
Started by Williamsburg, 03/17/2007 07:27PM
Posted 03/17/2007 07:27PM
Opening Post
Posted 03/17/2007 08:46PM
| Edited 03/17/2007 08:48PM
#1
Dan McConaughy said:
The best pictures I have seen by amateurs are from Celestrons. Does that make them the best planetary scope?
Dan
I have looked through a few scopes and the C-14 is for sure up there as a very good planetary scope. It is a great all round performer.
Attached Image:
Posted 03/17/2007 10:31PM
#2
Hello:
C14s can certainly be good scopes for planetary observing, but I wouldn't say they're the best. They have a short tube (less wind shake), tend to have good optics as far as I've heard, large aperture and a nice long focal length with a slow f-ratio. However, the quality of planetary images probably has a much to do with the seeing and observing technique (like keeping the scope accurately collimated!) as the telescope itself since truly crummy optics seem to be rare these days. I don't see why someone with a big Meade SCT also couldn't make nice planetary images. Perhaps Celestron users are more technically astute than Meade users (I know that comment will get me into trouble!). However, one of the best webcam images of Saturn I've seen was taken with a 20" dob. The best planetary scope I've looked through is a 2.2m f/10 RC, but those are kind of hard to come by these days.
Cheers
Mike Connelley
C14s can certainly be good scopes for planetary observing, but I wouldn't say they're the best. They have a short tube (less wind shake), tend to have good optics as far as I've heard, large aperture and a nice long focal length with a slow f-ratio. However, the quality of planetary images probably has a much to do with the seeing and observing technique (like keeping the scope accurately collimated!) as the telescope itself since truly crummy optics seem to be rare these days. I don't see why someone with a big Meade SCT also couldn't make nice planetary images. Perhaps Celestron users are more technically astute than Meade users (I know that comment will get me into trouble!). However, one of the best webcam images of Saturn I've seen was taken with a 20" dob. The best planetary scope I've looked through is a 2.2m f/10 RC, but those are kind of hard to come by these days.
Cheers
Mike Connelley
Posted 03/17/2007 11:53PM
| Edited 03/18/2007 04:26AM
#3
No, not necessarily. I have seen very nice stuff by
people (mostly one person actually) in a site with
remarkable seeing who images nearly every night.
I expect they would get superb images from a wide
range of scopes, even though they mostly use a Celestron.
SCT scopes are very susceptible to cool-down problems,
but this particular location has typical high-low daily
temperature variation of 4 or 5 degrees F, so there must
be no cool-down issue. Could someone else take the
same telescope to their location and get the same
results? No, probably not.
people (mostly one person actually) in a site with
remarkable seeing who images nearly every night.
I expect they would get superb images from a wide
range of scopes, even though they mostly use a Celestron.
SCT scopes are very susceptible to cool-down problems,
but this particular location has typical high-low daily
temperature variation of 4 or 5 degrees F, so there must
be no cool-down issue. Could someone else take the
same telescope to their location and get the same
results? No, probably not.
Posted 03/18/2007 06:13AM
#4
Dan McConaughy said:
The best pictures I have seen by amateurs are from Celestrons. Does that make them the best planetary scope?
As a former C-14 owner, I would agree with the other people posting replies to your message. The C-14 is without question the finest scope I've ever owned. With that said, collimation is absolutely critical, and so is good seeing, and a scope that is temperature-acclimated - if you expect to get excellent lunar/plnaetary views. And the C-14 will deliver them. But if the seeing is marginal, you'd probably get more pleasing lunar/planetary views with a good quality 90mm refractor. For extended deep-sky objects, Lumicon's Giant Focal Reducer brings the C-14 down from f/11 to about f/6.5. Add a 31mm T5 Nagler and it'll blow your doors off! Good luck! - Chuck
Posted 03/18/2007 02:44PM
#5
Dan- I don't know if the C14 is "the best" planetary scope but I have a C11 I'm happy with. Go to www.damianpeach.com and click on "best of" for some of the finest images I've ever seen taken with a C14(also a C9.25) but I understand he photographs under some absolutely superb seeing conditions. Gerry
Posted 03/18/2007 04:06PM
#6
Dan,
I've only been involved with this hobby a little over a year now, so most have several "years" jump on me in knowledge and experience. As a matter of fact, I'll probably never know what the do. I think any quality optical telescope will do exceptionaly well on planetary imaging as long as you have the seeing conditions to allow it to happen.
My C14 has the same problem my as my 9.25", or MK91 or 16" Starmaster, that being the seeing condtions in my light polluted backyard (or where ever else I might go). So I say NO, the C14 isn't the best planetary scope whatsoever.
Here's one with my MK91 from my backyard. Just think what it can do with better seeing condition.
I've only been involved with this hobby a little over a year now, so most have several "years" jump on me in knowledge and experience. As a matter of fact, I'll probably never know what the do. I think any quality optical telescope will do exceptionaly well on planetary imaging as long as you have the seeing conditions to allow it to happen.
My C14 has the same problem my as my 9.25", or MK91 or 16" Starmaster, that being the seeing condtions in my light polluted backyard (or where ever else I might go). So I say NO, the C14 isn't the best planetary scope whatsoever.
Here's one with my MK91 from my backyard. Just think what it can do with better seeing condition.
Attached Image:
Funding Member
