For observing What is a refractor the best telescope?

[Skills]

Kind of a mangled title but I couldn't work out how to phrase it best.

I have a couple of dobs (8" and 12") and a couple of pairs of binoculars (10x50 and 20x80) but I really fancy getting a refractor. I don't really want to buy one suited only for observing objects that the dobs or binoculars are better at. I'm only interested in visual.

I don't find my dobs particularly pleasing when observing double stars. I collimate as best I can but the stars are still a bit blobby -not the fine pinpoints I hear people talk about their refractors. I'm thinking I could get a scope specifically for this but I'm open to other ideas.

Thanks

Adrian

[MjrTom]

If double stars are what your trying to view then a refractor would be a great choice.

Something along the lines of a Tal 100RS or similar (1000mm focal length) would be reasonably priced and perfect for double stars.

I frequently observe double stars with my 102mm f10 refractor and on many occasions split doubles which are only 2 arc seconds separation.

The theoretical maximum is 1.5 arc seconds for this type of scope.

[spaceboy]

As Mark said a 100RS would suit your needs well and the crayford focuser that comes as standard on the RS is an improvement over the SW EVO/ Celestron OMNI alternatives.

[dweller25]

Check out this 4" F/11 ......

Lyra Optic - Telescopes/ATM

[Capricorn]

What is your budget, how portable does it need to be. To an extent what do you want in the way of optics.

There are a few 102mm ED's that are good, would advise going for something at the f/7 to f/8 area simply to reduce any CA as much as possible.

Equally there are similar achros at a lot less. Opticstar do a few, although i would avoid the f/5 achros owing to the CA that will be present. They do an 80mm f/7 or f/7.5 at £135. Look at the Telescope Service options on their site.

Dificult to answer. The "best" would be something like a TMB or Astro Physics refractor. Probably starting at £3000 for the TMB's and a 15-20 year waiting list for the good Astro Physics.

I have a WO Megrez 90 and that is a very good all round refractor.

[GazOC]

My ED120 gets used a lot on open clusters. With a decent 2" widefield eyepiece the views take some beating.

[johninderby]

The TAL 100RS is a good scope, but the Lyra Optics 102 is much better built and has a bit better optics. Worth the extra if you can afford it.

Worth looking at this thread.

http://stargazerslounge.com/members-equipment-gallery/161605-lyra-optic-4-f11-refractor.html

John

[Skills]

Thanks guys some very interesting replies there. I have looked at that Lyra optics scope before and I'm certainly considering it. I know nothing about mounts (being a dob owner!), what size would work for a scope of that size/weight (visual only)? My budget is £500-£1500+ for scope and mount. What I really want is a telescope to cover an area that my dobs are poor at.

On the more general topic of where refractors outperform reflectors, where do people think they have the advantage:

Doubles

Open Clusters

Widefield

Planets/Moon

Other?

[brantuk]

I was facing a similar dilema a couple of months ago. I wanted a refractor for dual imaging and observing and went for the Altiar 115EDT in the end. It's a superb deal (last time I looked) and I've seen the mountain edges on the limb of the moon with it, tha ring neb, tracked Jupiter untill 11am in broad daylight, and split a double double with it. Can't wait to have the time to get imaging with it - some owners have produced pretty stunning pics using the same scope

[Andymac79]

I was facing a similar dilema a couple of months ago. I wanted a refractor for dual imaging and observing and went for the Altiar 115EDT in the end. It's a superb deal (last time I looked) and I've seen the mountain edges on the limb of the moon with it, tha ring neb, tracked Jupiter untill 11am in broad daylight, and split a double double with it. Can't wait to have the time to get imaging with it - some owners have produced pretty stunning pics using the same scope

Your advice is always sound and I have often followed it !

Andy

[MjrTom]

Doubles

Open Clusters

Widefield

Planets/Moon

Other?

All of the above

Well to narrow it down I would say refractors excel at lunar/planetary and double stars.

The extra contrast offered by refractors over say a newtonian or any other folded light path telescope like Maks and SCT's is where they come into their place. This is most important for lunar/planetary work.

With no spider vanes holding a secondary mirror also means that splitting doubles are done very cleanly as there is no light diffraction.

Before anyone chimes in and say a dob will beat it on resolution I am comparing scopes of similar aperture.