Expert: Paul Wagner - 12/3/2005

Question
 My Question is how much magnificaeion is needed to see/photograph most galixies. Is 40x enough, or will I need more? My 25x telescope has not been enough so I may get a 4.5" reflector.  

Answer
Hi Michael:

it's not just a question of magnification...light gathering power is more important for these dim fuzzies.  I have a 17 inch scope, and it still doesn't give me the kinds of views that you see in a astrophotograph---because those are time exposures that capture light over the span of an hour or more.  

Before you buy a new scope, I suggest you go to a star party with the local astronomy club, and look through a bunch of scopes.  You will find that bigger is usually better, that mountings matter as much as optics, and that none of the scopes show what those photographs can.

Paul Wagner