ATM a

[Sue&Alan French <72724.2270@compuserve.com>]

Allen,  
        Here are my thoughts on some of your questions. 

>       1. For medium size scope ( 8 - 12 inches ) are 
>       the mirrors from the mirror shops, Nova, Galaxy et al.
>       better than the mirrors in a off the self telescope?
>       I am interested in excellent optics.  Could somebody
>       rate the optical quality of the various mirror shops.
>       Please dont start a flame war over this.

        Sue and I have seen or heard of bad mirrors from just about everyone. Our
memories are not good enough to provide specifics, and we would hesitate to make
a generalization about any one company anyway.   Our club's mirror tester has
also seen very bad "off the shelf" mirrors and excellent "off the shelf"
mirrors.  Our advice has always been to test or have tested any mirror,
reguardless of where it was purchased.  Of course you're sure to get some folks
here advising you to make your own mirror <g>!

>       3. For a first ATM scope, should I even consider the 
>       fancy Cassegrain designs or should stick with 
>       a Newtonian design?
>       4. This scope will be used primarily for planetary
>       viewing since there is so much light pollution
>       in my neck of the universe.

        Stick with a Newtonian.  You can hardly go wrong with a moderate to long
focus Newt if you make sure you have a good mirror and diagonal.  My first real
telescope was an 8" f/8 with a very nice Cave mirror and it was a real joy.
With care and quality optics a somewhat more managable f/6 would also be a fine
instrument, but someone would be hard pressed to convince either Sue or I to go
any shorter than that.  
                                                Clear skies, Alan


Thanks!

Allen Chan