Re: [ATM] First project

[Mark Holm <mdholm@telerama.com>]

A whole lot of atm's have started in the 6 - 10 inch range,  That has 
been the standard advice for first timers for many decades.  The basics 
haven't really changed so much in all that time, so it is still a fairly 
good recommendation.  Of course there are those who like a bigger 
challenge, and just can't resist starting bigger.  A high fraction of 
those say, after the fact, that they could have done two mirrors, one in 
the 6 - 10 inch range and another bigger one, in the time it took them 
to do a big one as their first effort.  There is a lot to learn, and a 
lot of it can be learned with a smaller mirror.  Then the bigger one 
becomes easier.

Also, a 6 - 10 inch telescope is relatively easy to build and use.  
Bigger ones require more sophisticated construction to be easily 
transported, and that usually translates into more complex setup.  
Simple scopes are more likely to get used.

A good 6 - 10 inch scope will show you a lot in the sky, especially if 
you can get it to a dark site.  6 - 10 in a dark site is probably worth 
twice that under typical bright suburban skies.  6 - 10 will work great 
for showing the moon and brighter planets to the neighbors, too!

Mark Holm
mdholm@telerama.com

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