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Message: <blockquote data-quote="John Dracon" data-source="post: 1425119" data-attributes="member: 14799"><p>Henry - You obviously have more experience with high magnification than do I, and from your comments you have considerably more special eye pieces than I do.  I have looked through all the high end stuff for years, and here in Montana where distances are great, and where wind is almost a constant factor, with mirage from wind and temperature variations almost universally present (a snow landscape the worst on a sunny day) 40 power is really about all that will really be handled before the image really degrades.  Now I am talking about a handy, compact spotting scope that can be carried in a knapsack or put on a small, light weight tripod, not some large star gazing scope.  On a clear day at higher elevation with relatively low humidity, we in Montana (on special days) can see over 100 miles from mountain range to mountain range.  I doubt that in North Carolina where you live that is possble, but I may be mistaken.  Interestly, I have found star gazing better in the Lake Powell area than any where in Montana, even at elevations over 8,000 feet., which I believe is a function of lower relative humidity.  One interesting discovery I made using a Zeiss 20 power stabilized spotting scope is this: The human eye accommodates minute movement without the viewer being conscious of it.  When the Zeiss is used on a wooden tripod (which seems to dampen slight vibrations better than metal tripods) when the stabilizer feature is engaged, the three dimensional image is enhanced - something like everything has a chiseled outline - and resolution is improved.  I would like to see your equipment sometime.  John</p></blockquote><p></p>

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