Re: Planet X: Alternative Explanation 2

danco@pebble.org wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 30 Aug 2001 15:11:18 -0700, The Small Kahuna <person@company.com> wrote:
> 
> > [One can never be sure with some of these postings on the difference
> > between a wild attempt at confusion and deep subtle sarcasm, but] I
> > *really* don't think you have a 200" anything.
> 
> Yes, Bob does have a 200" refractor.  I looked through it myself at
> the 2001 RTMC.  It's a 200" FOCAL LENGTH refractor.  It looks like
> a scope an English lord would have used two or three hundred years
> ago.  It's also more portable than you'd think.
> 
> - Dan


Oh.  The old apples and oranges kind of thing.  200" long as opposed to
200" in diameter like the Mt Palomar reflector.  I'm sure its a really
cool toy but not necessarily very good light gathering capability or
necessarily a good mount for a camera.

Based on the original thread [finding - or not - our Favorite New
Planet] the issue was light gathering not, um, length.  I can go to Home
Depot and get an even longer telescope with a unity magnification (i.e.
a piece of pipe) but that won't necessarily help...  :-)

The Small Kahuna