Telescope Reviews: Lunar Eclipse

The main reason the views were most impressive through the lower magnification 7x binoculars was that the sheer depth and richness of colour and the glowing transluscence of umber as so brilliantly portrayed in Alan's photograph which Mark linked us to , was ONLY so evident through my 7x binoculars , and not even through my 10x binoculars , of which I have three .

Naked eye also provided the colour and transluscence , but without the added wonder and mystique of so many stars sharing the 7 degree true field of view in what became an area of sky magically illuminated by the warm , almost other - wordly glow .

Like Stephen , I also shared about half an hour of the experience speaking on my mobile phone to one of my daughters , while she was looking at it through 8 x 42 binoculars , and earlier , like Jess , had marvelled at the sudden appearance of that star from the right hand edge of the main globe , which reminded me a little of observing Jupiter at higher magnifications when one of it's moons emerges from in front of or behind it .

Although I realise that both earth and moon are constantly moving both of themselves and in relation to each other , I even began wondering at one stage which precise section of the earth's surface we were seeing the sillouette of , as it slowly crept upwards across and devoured the lunar surface .

At no point did the intersection appear perfectly smooth , so it was as if mountains on the earth's surface were being sillouetted against the moon .

All in all , a most memorable experience for me !

Yet again , I found the celestial views through my Captain's Helmsman distinctly " superior " to those through my Zeiss BGAT , which is an instrument four times more expensive .

My long awaited article on the Helmsman has , I understand , following a mystery of three months duration , finally found it's way out of the CN " Lost Property " file , and is due to appear in the near future , providing it is considered worthy of publication , of course .

Perhaps readers will be thankful I don't often spend SO much time studying celestial events , or my posts to this forum would become even MORE laborious to read than they already must be ! :-)

Regards and clear skies , Kenny

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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton

Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera