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Roger,<BR>
<BR>
Those are some outstanding and detailed drawings. Puts my little scribbles to shame!<BR>
<BR>
As for small scopes... they have their place. However, most amateurs are only interested in photography, so they have to spend their money on all the "doodads" so they can have a photographic platform. I'd just perfer to spend my money on aperture since I have no interest in photography.<BR>
<BR>
For planetary images, a good refractor is surely the best. Since I can't afford a large one, I just cheat my Newtonian system with an aperture mask and have never been disappointed in the result.<BR>
<BR>
Yeah, the old 8" SCT is a workhorse, a "photographic platform" type workhorse. For observing through the eyepiece, they just don't cut it next to an equivalent 8" Newtonian. They are just made for photography and do it very well.<BR>
<BR>
I've had the opportunity to look through the Meade 16" SCT and though it was okay, it didn't compare in brightness and contrast to my home built Newtonian, despite the optical flaws I know are in it (since I ground and polished the mirror). However, when it comes to photography, that 16" is killer. I think it's even heavier than a 25" dob, but the photos I've seen from one are quite nice. I hear they are no longer making them. <BR>
<BR>
Fred<BR>
<BR>
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From: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:58:31 +0000<BR>Subject: [Lvas] Virgo Cluster Identification<BR><BR>
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LVAS all,<BR> <BR>If anyone is planning on observing this group I hope the attachment will be beneficial in your identification of the faint galaxies in close proximity to M84 and M86. <BR> <BR>Good luck...Roger Ivester <BR> <BR> <BR><FONT face=Verdana size=4></FONT> <BR> <BR><FONT face=Verdana><EM><STRONG> I</STRONG> can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God. Abraham Lincoln</EM></FONT><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
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