What small to medium size telescopes do you observe planets with?

[Guest]

I know that some observers use large 200 mm plus size  telescopes to observe the planets.

But what small to medium size scopes do people use. I know that there are ED 100 mm's 80 mm f15's and 4 and five inch Maksutov's and SCT's.

But what are the best planetary telescopes in this class? What do people prefer?

I have used 127 mm Maksutov's before. But to me they always seem to be a specialist instrument which is affected greatly by the sky/weather conditions.

It must have been good conditions last night as I was observing Saturn and Jupiter with the ST 120 mm and Equinox 80mm and getting quite pleasing views with both. I have recently been thinking of buying a specific planetary telescope. But would a Mak or SCT of 100 mm or 127 mm better the views from the two refractors that I have? 

Edited July 17, 2021 by Guest
Added text.

[CraigT82]

My heritage 130p is surprisingly good on planetary, with Baader BCOs and the lightwieght 2.25x barlow lens (the one meant for the Hyperion zoom).

I conducted a shootout between it and a 127mm mak and a Tal 100RS I had at the same time, all mounted on a Skytee. To my surprise I preferred the views through the H130p to the other two. 

[John]

I use all my scopes for planetary observing so 100mm, 102mm, 120mm and 130mm refractors and also my 12 inch dobsonian. I guess the refractors would fall into the small to medium aperture niche that you mention though.

All the refractors give excellent planetary views for their apertures but I guess my favourite is often the ED120 because it has enough aperture to show good amounts of planetary detail while remaining a relatively portable and easy to mount scope. The 100mm (a Takahashi as it happens) gets pretty close to the ED120 though. Closer than the 20mm aperture difference might suggest.

It's been a long time since I owned a mak-cassegrain so I can't really comment on how a 102 or 127 might compare with your refractors but I'd be a little surprised if the mak-cass design didn't do a little better

 

[RT65CB-SWL]

I guess all of my 'scopes are in the small to medium camp...

<--- TeleVue Ranger and Meade ETX105

<--- Celestron C6/SCT-xlt and Meade ETX105

 

[Deadlake]

I view scopes getting split into what is appropriate with regards to the quality of seeing available. 

Any APO (or other scope) up to 6" will not be affected by the atmosphere as much compared to a scope with a larger aperture. Usually an APO will be used for fast cool down times and high contrast on the objected being viewed and no waste of aperture due to no central obstruction. 

If seeing is great then the telescope is not so sensitive to the atmosphere, bring out a mirrored scope.

Going small/medium due to the atmosphere would mean using either a Vixen S103SD or LZOS 130 mm for me.

With both I can increase the magnification and keep good views in average seeing. 

For value some of the 120/125 mm ED's from the far east would give you the best view for price ( best value) in all seeing conditions...

Edited July 17, 2021 by Deadlake

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

I've tried all my scopes on the planets. The first being a 130p. After observing Saturn and Jupiter through that I was sold. The ST120 although not really able to crank up the magnification, did show quite a bit of detail on Jupiter at medium powers. A 150p was much like the 130p with a touch of extra banding etc on Jupiter. The Skymax 102 is entertaining for it's size, especially lunar observing. The Starwave Ascent 102 really shows off Jupiter features for its aperture with decent contrast and no obvious c.a. Even at only 100x magnification with a 7mm OVL Nirvana-ES last night I could see more detail on Jupiter than all the aforementioned instruments despite the humidity. The plan over the next couple of years is to invest in a 120-130mm apo and a heftier mount. I've no doubt it will be worth the outlay.

 

[Stu]

It’s hard to beat a good 4” refractor I think. Fewer dewing or cooling issues vs a 4” or 5” mak or SCT. I have my Tak FC100DC and Vixen FL102S which do a great job on planets for their size, although my Heritage 150p is scarily capable for the price!

So often though, the seeing is what makes or breaks a planetary or lunar session, many scopes are capable of giving decent views.

[John]

12 minutes ago, Stu said:

...So often though, the seeing is what makes or breaks a planetary or lunar session, many scopes are capable of giving decent views.

This is very true !

I also think that as much practice as possible develops observational perception and thus a skilled observer can get optimal results from most scope types if they are properly collimated and cooled and the conditions are favourable.

 

 

 

Edited July 17, 2021 by John

[Victor Boesen]

24 minutes ago, Stu said:

Fewer sewing or cooling issues

Is sewing the new sketching Stu? Have I missed something

On the topic however, I switched from a 6" newtonian to a 10" dob and then back down to a 3" and 4" APO. I kept the two latter scopes since the view through them is simply something different than the view through the newt and dob. One part of this decision was lack of space, however, the majority of times I felt the view through even the 3" to be more satisfying than the wobbly mess through the 10" dob due to low elevation and poor seeing. The refractors are great at cutting through the seeing, and my 4" reveals even more detail than the 3". A couple nights ago I easily reached 150X under poor conditions with high clouds and humidity. Here's a video of Saturn and Mars through my 3" Evostar 72 taken with my phone camera. The 4" has no problems with the Cassini division and subtle banding, while the 3" can reveal the Cassini division when conditions aren't terrible. Jupiter through the 4" is amazing. Contrast is a lot higher than through my previous reflectors and the same goes for Mars where albedo details are much easier to spot through the refractors.

My 4" Apo observing Mars at 266X and 380X during last year's opposition

So which scope do I prefer? For planets the 4" wins without a doubt and would be my primary choice every time, however, there are times where I just want a quick grab and go look at the planets and the 3" is perfectly fine. I could definitely see myself ending up with a 5" APO at some point in the future when my situation in life allows for it. For now I have everything I need, but never everything I want

Victor

[Stu]

8 minutes ago, Victor Boesen said:

Is sewing the new sketching Stu? Have I missed something

🤣🤣 blooming autocorrect!!

Dewing!! Now fixed.

[badhex]

Must admit that I really miss my Skymax 102 (in storage in another country). Extremely portable and easy to set up, cools down super quickly (for a Mak), and on a good night you can crank the mags more than you'd expect. Bit fiddly to focus sometimes, but the jar-lid trick helps a lot there. I have nearly bought another on more than one occasion but decided to plump for a C5 at the tail end of last year to catch Mars whilst it was still around, and of course the Great Conjunction. I must admit, somehow I'm not sure I like it as much as the skymax. 

Edited July 17, 2021 by badhex

[johninderby]

For a minute I thought Stu mean’t this. 😁😁😁

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/573319958/moon-design-for-embroidery-machine?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_c-craft_supplies_and_tools-patterns_and_how_to-other&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMIsOmIreDq8QIVrRoGAB1JlAaIEAQYBSABEgJ5yvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_12604681572_117704291457_508715415735_pla-297065912291_c__573319958engb_172049861&utm_custom2=12604681572&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsOmIreDq8QIVrRoGAB1JlAaIEAQYBSABEgJ5yvD_BwE

 

But seriously I find the ScopeTech 80 f/15 does give excellent views of the moon and planets considering it’s only 80mm aperture. The Tecnosky 125 is of course a big step up in performance but a lot more expensive. The Classical Cassegrain 8” is now my favourite mid size scope with great contrast and sharpness and in fact I now prefer it to my 10” dob for lunar / planetary.

And I do have the Bresser 100 mak for my grab’n’go setup which while it is good on lunar / planetary is totally outclassed by the Tecnosky 125 but the little mak was cheap and super portable so no complaints.

 

Edited July 17, 2021 by johninderby

[Alien 13]

I dont have an eyepiece but have observed Planets using my C90 Mak with the DSLR live view screen and they looked fine... might have been a camera X2 tele extender in there too.

Alan

Edited July 17, 2021 by Alien 13

[F15Rules]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

🤣🤣 blooming autocorrect!!

Dewing!! Now fixed.

I'd actually assumed you meant "seeing" Stu!

[Sunshine]

Currently I only have one scope for planetary which just happens to be a crack shot for lunar too! being a 4" TSA-102 it cools down fairly quickly and is on the border of grab and go/no grab and go lol.

For planetary and double stars which I enjoy very much, it gives me the impression some nights that it was specifically designed to please in these departments which is why I won't be letting it 

go, well maybe only for a 120, maybe.

[JeremyS]

3 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Currently I only have one scope for planetary which just happens to be a crack shot for lunar too! being a 4" TSA-102 it cools down fairly quickly and is on the border of grab and go/no grab and go lol.

For planetary and double stars which I enjoy very much, it gives me the impression some nights that it was specifically designed to please in these departments which is why I won't be letting it 

go, well maybe only for a 120, maybe.

Not often you see “only” and “TSA 102” in the same sentence 🤣

[badhex]

38 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

I'd actually assumed you meant "seeing" Stu!

I thought it could be 'slewing'! So many options 😂

Edited July 17, 2021 by badhex

[wookie1965]

I have used a 6" and 8" reflector but I found my 4" and 5" refractors are brilliant on planets when Mars was close I bumped up magnification and could discern detail on the surface and the polar caps. Saturn two nights ago with the 4" was incredible easily see the Cassini division. 

[Chris]

A medium sized say 4" refractor might be a good shout when it comes to delivering consistent results viewing planets. The larger aperture Mak's, Newt's, SCT's, CC's really shine for the planetary imaging side of things. 

The venerable ED100 f/9 springs to mind as you get the ED glass, focal length and shallow depth of focus.  

[Highburymark]

20 hours ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

 The Starwave Ascent 102 really shows off Jupiter features for its aperture with decent contrast and no obvious c.a. Even at only 100x magnification with a 7mm OVL Nirvana-ES last night I could see more detail on Jupiter than all the aforementioned instruments despite the humidity. 

 

The 102EDs have to be contenders for best value planetary scopes on the market today. Still under £500 for a 4” ED is remarkable, easy to mount, and they seem to perform well too. 
For £200 more, there’s the F/11 version. Then another £200 takes you into 4” FPL53 territory with the Skywatcher. 

[John]

I bought one of the very early Skywatcher ED100's - the "blue tube" version. It was pre-owned but  practically unused as I recall (it was about 12 years ago) and cost £300.00 shipped. Cracking scope that was and a bargain

Edited July 18, 2021 by John

[KP82]

My 107 triplet is the "go to" scope when I observe planets most of the time. The 8" dob gets used during those moon-less nights when I observe both DSOs and planets.

[Deadlake]

Ok, so using a 4-6 “ APO allows you to see a lot,  what are you giving up for lack of aperture? An example would be observing Jupiter or Saturn, summer night, good seeing. Aperture in this case wins, but what more can you see? For instance Saturn’s rings of fine structure of Jupiter’s atmosphere?

[John]

13 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Ok, so using a 4-6 “ APO allows you to see a lot,  what are you giving up for lack of aperture? An example would be observing Jupiter or Saturn, summer night, good seeing. Aperture in this case wins, but what more can you see? For instance Saturn’s rings of fine structure of Jupiter’s atmosphere?

White ovals on Jupiter ?

Structure within the GRS ?

Detail of vortex's and eddies that follow the GRS ?

"Spoke" type shading at the ansae of Saturn's rings ?

The Encke minima ?

Cloud belt details of the main belts on Saturn and more belts / zones ?

Fainter saturnian moons ?

When the seeing and positioning of the planets is good, aperture can help tease out the above and more, more easily.

Of course the skilled observer can probably pick such things out without the need for larger aperture but for the rest of us it can help

With Jupiter and Saturn where they currently are though, I think the edge can be taken off the benefits of larger apertures.

 

 

 

Edited July 18, 2021 by John

[Ags]

Well... I was looking at Saturn last night with my new zenithstar 66. I was surprised how well it performed.