ATM 6" f/10 vs 10" f/6

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

James A. Klutts wrote on Thu, 12 Sep 1996

Could anyone give advice on how difficult it would be to grind a 6in, F/10
or F/12 mirror? Assuming no previous experience, how long should it take to
complete it? would a mirror such as this give better planetary and lunar
images than a 10in. F/6/ Any help appreciated!  JIM

Jim,
        Making a mirror f/10 or f/12 does not give it any magic properties, and a
well made 10" f/6 would certainly give nicer planetary views than a 6" /10 or
12. 
         A few nights ago we had some very good seeing and Sue had her 10" f/6
out.  I dragged out my old 60mm Unitron, a 3.5" Questar, and a 6" f/8 Newtonian.
The Questar did a bit better than the 60mm, the 6" did a lot better than the
Questar, and the 10" showed more detail than the 6".  
                                                        Clear skies, Alan