Myths of Astronomy
By John Sparks
I have been observing the sky for the majority of my life. In that time, I can boast that I have barely scratched the surface of what our universe has to offer. My largest telescope has a 13.1” mirror and it will fall apart long before I can say I have seen all it has to offer.
In fact, I doubt I can cover the number of objects an 8” can see from East Tennessee . I have gained enough understanding to realize that I don't know SQUAT! When it comes to the universe, I may do better than most people but otherwise, I am an idiot! I get really stupid sometimes and boast how I founded the concept of the Astronomical League's Master Observers club and how I plan to become one myself soon. I talk how I am the most decorated amateur astronomer in the state, like it means something. “Vanity, vanity, ALL is Vanity! When I look at the sky, I am humbled by the fact that what I know is a sad joke compared to what there IS to know about our universe.
At the same time, this amateur astronomer has met a few “Arm-chair Astronomers” who try to tell others what they can and cannot see with their telescopes. My advice for novice, beginner and intermediate observers is this: Don't listen to them, find out for yourself! You were born with some nasty grey stuff between your ears and you used a small percentage of it, and your eyes to look into the sky and wonder. Otherwise, you wouldn't be reading this article.
First, tease your appetite to know the sky with binoculars and learn a few constellations. You don't need to spend $1,000 on a scope, get a Dobsonian mounted reflector that you can at least save up for. You could just buy a reflector without a mount and you will find KO members that will help you build a Dobsonian mount for it costing about $20. I found an 8” reflector for $200 and spent $15 building a Dobsonian mount for it. I spent $50 on a 2” 34mm eyepiece for a total cost of $265. That scope collects about 8 times as much light as a 4.5” department store reflector.
Here are some myths I have heard from supposed “Knowledgeable Arm-chair Astronomers”:
“Barlow's are a waste of money”: This is true for many low-quality Barlow's. However, a good Barlow can actually improve the image by magnification and improve the contrast.
“Magnification doesn't help”: This is also true when you look at a “450X Jason or Bushnell” from a department store. However, when I first looked for Pluto with my 13” reflector with a 33mm eyepiece at 45X, I found nothing. When I used my 10.5mm eyepiece at 145X, there it was! This occurred in 1994. The same goes for small galaxies, quasars, nebula and dim stars. If the object is small and you have enough aperture, CRANK IT UP! That is, up to 50X per inch of aperture.
“You can't see a quasar with an amateur telescope”: Try 3C273 with an 8” reflector in E. Tennessee ! My 13.1” Coulter reflector has also seen 3C48 and 1634+706 in E. Tennessee . At the Nebraska Starparty, I found 1946+7658 in Draco. This object is estimated at 7,600,000,000 light years away! That's more than half way across the universe! I suspect my 13.1” Coulter can see many more.
“You can't see the moons of Mars with an amateur telescope!” When Mars was far away, I seen Phobos and Deimos with Clint Bach's 17.75” “Junk-Scope” reflector in 1995. He made most of it from stuff found at a junk yard, spent $80 on it. This observation was near downtown Sevierville , TN. When Mars was close, I have seen Phobos and Deimos with an 8” at Bays Mountain , near Kingsport ! Ten years earlier, I have seen most of 100 amateur astronomers laugh at such a thought at Bays Mountain !
“You can't see the Horse-Head Nebula without an H-Beta Filter” Well, it wasn't easy but I saw the Horse Head from Clingman's Dome in my 13” with NO filter on Sep/7/1997! I had a fellow astronomer named Dennis Cosner to confirm this sighting.
“No amateur telescope can see more than the 4 Galileo moons of Jupiter!” Well, I have seen Amalthia with Clint Bach's 17.75” Reflector (Junk-Scope). This was near downtown Sevierville.
Here is my favorite lie: “Refractors are better than Reflectors for planetary viewing!” Well, department store refractors aren't even comparable to any reflector, even ones from a department store. I bought a second hand 6” F/9.2 Edmund Scientific reflector with an Equatorial mount made in 1960 for $300. With one exception so far, I have not seen any refractors that can match its views of the planets, our moon or for star-splitting! It beat the 8” Observatory Refractor at Bays Mountain and when they put in another 8” Refractor, it beat it again! If you spent over $1000 on a Tel-View, don't even try. You need more aperture yet the fact is, aperture isn't everything when it comes to planetary, lunar views or star-splitting as that 6” reflector has beaten every trick from larger reflectors. What one must also consider is atmospheric turbulence and East Tennessee has plenty of it! An 18” reflector “Stopped down” is still no match because it creates more turbulence and distortion. The aperture limit for planetary, lunar and star-splitting in E. Tennessee on the average clear night is 5-6”. In skies of less turbulence, the story can be very different. However, one CAN see the Cassini, Enke and a third division on the rings of Saturn in E. Tennessee with a good telescope. One can even see a hint of the 4 th inner ring at times. Can a 13” Reflector see 8 moons of Saturn? Bet on it! Can a Reflector see more moons? My 13” has found 21 so far. I have converted many who paid far more than I did. Don't ever think that more money means better views or you will get your feelings hurt.
What matters most is how far YOU want to go with your universe. I will take a determined observer with little money any day over any amateur who thinks he/she can trade technology for experience. Learn the sky and your “Go-To” will be obsolete and you will learn about the sky. Use the money saved on better optics.
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