Re: ATM finder scopes

[Bruce Swayze <swayze@europa.com>]

At 02:40 AM 7/22/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Greetings -- I'm going to be finished with my first scope fairly soon (a
>10" f/6 dob), and I'm looking for a finder scope for it.  I'm trying to
>decide between a Telrad-type finder or a regular 8x50 finder.  I've had no
>real-world experience at all with either type, and I was hoping that some
>of the more experienced ATMers might be able to offer some sage advice. 

I have both a Telrad-type reflex finder and a visual finder on my 15"
scope, and I'm one of those people who loves a visual finder.  The Telrad
is wonderful for quick aiming, and you can get very good at locating
precisely with it.  And for observing in the city to see the moon and
planets it's all you need.  But when you get into a serious observing
program like hunting down all the Messier objects, or better yet, the
Herschel 400, I find it extremely important to have a good visual finder in
order to compare a star field with the charts from Uranometria or your
software printouts.  That way you know exactly where you are at.  The naked
eye just doesn't see enough.  Ever try sorting through all the galaxies in
the Virgo cluster, for example?  It's a great help to have a visual star
field for reference to compare to the charts so that you KNOW that you are
looking at M84 for example, rather than one of the many other galaxies
nearby.  Or try tracking down Pluto sometime.  Any observing goal where you
need a precise location that can be verified visually.  

I know there are observers that will swear by their ability to do all this
with just a Telrad, and that's okay.  This is just my own style.  In the
end, it's a matter of personal preference and whatever works for you.  I
hope this helps.

Bruce Swayze
swayze@europa.com
http://www.europa.com/~swayze    Swayze Optical home page
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