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Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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As I continue my ongoing and never ending contemplation of future equipment purchases, it got me thinking about where binoculars fit in as deep sky viewing tools. It seems that there are many who view primarily with binoculars and they don’t feel like they are missing out on anything. These people have many different binoculars to fit the viewing situation. Others seem to prefer to use binoculars if they don’t have time to set up their telescope or they use them to locate objects so that they can be viewed with a telescope. Where do you fall into these groups and why? Also, at what size binocular does it make more sense to use a telescope? For example, if you have an 80mm telescope, does it make sense to buy 80mm binoculars? Are binoculars ever your primary observing tool when traveling to dark skies? If so, what size? Thanks for your thoughts.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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aa5te
Genial Procrastinator
Reged: 08/30/08
Posts: 430
Loc: Clinton, TN
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Why I like my binos:
1. Ultimate portable viewing
2. Ultimate GOTO if you are familiar with the sky
3. Wider FOV than most telescopes
4. Perfect for daytime viewing
5. Less maintenance and care required in some instances
Why I like my scopes:
1. A lot sharper to the edge than my binos
2. Can go a LOT deeper by cranking up the magnification
3. Easier to accessorize
4. Easier to work on
Now, last night I got real frustrated with what my 10" dob showed me on M31 and the Perseus double cluster - the sky background was too bright and they were somewhat washed out at 39x. The view through my Pentax 20x60's of both of these objects was outstanding compared to the dob - M31 was more expansive in the binos than in the dob - a lot of this has to do with the FOV and exit pupil size differences between the two instruments. Also, the best view I've ever had of M31/32/110 was through my 25x100's. I could also barely detect M33 through the binos as well, but the dob wouldn't show it (sky was too bright). The views through the dob will probably be a lot better in coming months with clear skies, cooler temperatures and less humidity.
But, also last night, I could barely detect M57 through the binos. I could crank up the dob to over 300x on it and still see it - the best magnification was about 150x or so for it. Same thing with Jupiter.
One other comparison from a few months ago - the view of M51 through the 25x100's from a grey/black site on the light pollution scale was essentially the same as the view through the dob in a green zone.
So what I'd say (my opinion here) is for details, go with a scope. For general viewing, I'd go with binos.
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Shane
Binos: Apogee 25x100 / Burgess Optical 25x100 / Pentax 20x60 PCF WP / Tasco InFocus 10x50
Tripods: Sunpak PlatinumPlus Ultra 7500TM / Quickset Samson
Refractors: Meade DS-2102AT-TC 102mm f/7.8; Sears Discoverer 3 (4454) 80mm f/15; Jason 313 Discoverer 60mm f/15.2
Reflectors (Dob): Hardin Optical DSH10 10" f/5
EP's: Zoom: Zhumell 8-24mm & Circle K 7.5-22.5mm 0.965"; 9-52mm Plössls; Zhumell 2x barlow
Kodak Z760; Orion SteadyPix camera mount; Orion LaserMate Deluxe Collimator
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John F
sage
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 383
Loc: Washington State
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I agree with the preceding poster that it not be posed as an Either/Or question. Both types of instruments have their respective advantages and disadvantages but since there are many deep sky objects that are best viewed through a telescope or binocular it is desirable to have both.
John Finnan
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BINOCULARS
Nikon 7x50 Prostar
Swarovski 8.5x42 EL
Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe
Zeiss 15x60 B/GAT
Takahashi 22x60 Astronomer
SCOPES
Questar 3.5-Inch
Tele Vue NP-127 with TV Bino Vue
EYEPIECES
Deep Sky: 31Nagler, 17-13-10-8-6 Ethos
Lunar & Planetary: 16-10-6-4 ZAO-II
Binoviewing: 24Pan,16Nagler, 10ZOA-II,7.5Taks
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Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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Thanks for the responses. What percentage of your viewing would you is say is done with binoculars.
Part of the reason I ask these questions is that my viewing preferences have changed. I've started to appreciated quality of view vs larger scopes. Consequently, I've been think about either larger binoculars (I currently 10X50 & 15X70's) or a binocular telescope or a larger high quality refractor. I'm also trying to find ways to view more by either buying new equipement or upgrading what I have. Having said that, I'm not looking for buying recommendations at this time (got a lot of saving to do first)but just looking for insight from people who love binoculars.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12909
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Steve ,
Probably 80% of my uses of binoculars and scopes is carried out between sunrise and sunset , but if I concentrate on just that 20% of night sky viewing , then I would say 50% of it is spent looking through the TeleVue 76 -- the superior image quality , flexibility of magnification options and above all , 90 degree viewing angle , being the key elements as to why I prefer that to either my 15 x 70 or 20 x 90 binoculars .
When I prefer to use binoculars for night sky viewing is when I feel like laying back in a chair or on a sun lounger and just enjoying the relaxation of lower magnification , wider true fields of view .
For the latter purposes , the 7 x 50 and 10 x 42 provide different , but equally satisfying ( for ME ) views .
Personally , for HAND - HELD use , I cannot see much point in going bigger than 50mm in aperture or higher than 10x magnification .
My conclusion : If I could only have TWO of the instruments in my signature list exclusively for ASTRO use , it would be the TeleVue 76 and Helmsman 7 x 50.
Kenny
P.S -- Another Cloudy Nights member who shall remain nameless once claimed that when my post count here reaches the figure 12345 , the end of the world will occur ! :-)
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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
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aa5te
Genial Procrastinator
Reged: 08/30/08
Posts: 430
Loc: Clinton, TN
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Quote:
What percentage of your viewing would you is say is done with binoculars?
I'd say about 80%.
I can just grab them and take them out whenever I wish. I don't have to worry about getting a tripod through the door often times as I hand hold them a lot (I handhold my 25x100's about 40% of the time, and tripod mount them the other 60%). I also don't have to fiddle with eyepieces when viewing with binos.
I often times ask myself why I even have telescopes, and I routinely search for binos on the web, not scopes.
The things that the scopes have gotten a lot of usage out of so far are high mag views of Jupiter, Saturn, the Pleiades, the Trapezium, M57, and M13 (where I can actually resolve some stars, which my binos can't do), as well as splitting a few double stars here and there.
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Shane
Binos: Apogee 25x100 / Burgess Optical 25x100 / Pentax 20x60 PCF WP / Tasco InFocus 10x50
Tripods: Sunpak PlatinumPlus Ultra 7500TM / Quickset Samson
Refractors: Meade DS-2102AT-TC 102mm f/7.8; Sears Discoverer 3 (4454) 80mm f/15; Jason 313 Discoverer 60mm f/15.2
Reflectors (Dob): Hardin Optical DSH10 10" f/5
EP's: Zoom: Zhumell 8-24mm & Circle K 7.5-22.5mm 0.965"; 9-52mm Plössls; Zhumell 2x barlow
Kodak Z760; Orion SteadyPix camera mount; Orion LaserMate Deluxe Collimator
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Gordon Rayner
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 971
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At low light levels, the eye-brain detects about 40% more in a binocular. So, for a given apparent field of view and exit pupil size, a binocular is superior. It is also more comfortable and natural. One (usually) gets an erect, unreversed image, which makes finding targets easier
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aa5te
Genial Procrastinator
Reged: 08/30/08
Posts: 430
Loc: Clinton, TN
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Gordon,
Thanks for bringing those things up. I completely took those things for granted in my first post.
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Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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Kenny, great information. I appreciated your response. It kind of mirrors my current thoughts.
I'd love to hear from some of the people who have binocular telescopes as well as big binoculars.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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Thanks Gordon and aa5te,
Your thought's mirror mine. I'm not a big plantary viewing but a refractor is more flexible. Having said that, I find myself looking for binoculars more often that scopes.
Binoculars are just easy to use, no eyepieces to carry out and I just like using two eyes.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 567
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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I love the portability of binos. Around 80-90% of my observing is done with them and the longer I observe from year to year the more I observe with smaller apertures (50mm).
I never cease to be amazed at how much a reasonably compact pair of handheld (from a sun lounger) 10x50s under a darkish sky can show me. My favourite way to observe these days.
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Clear skies
Rich
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GlennLeDrew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/08
Posts: 1304
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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I do virtually ALL of my observing with binos. The 41% gain in signal-to-noise that two-eyed viewing affords just makes the view seem more 'alive.' I'm a deep-sky guy, and knowing that a humble bino will reveal so much more in the galaxy in which we live than can a huge 'scope scrutinizing any other external galaxies, I feel that I don't miss much. In the main, I'd rather have a small, wide field bino than a big light bucket of a 'scope.
Because craning my neck just won't do, I've made my own right angle binos and now can observe in total comfort all night.
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Home-made 11X50 right angle bino, 8.1 deg. FOV
Modified 26X100 bino, 3.5 deg. FOV
Home-made Mk II RA bino, using interchangeable objectives and eyepieces
My Gallery
Mediocre minds discuss people. Good minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.
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gnowellsct
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/24/09
Posts: 733
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I've used several bino mounts and not liked any of them. So I use my 10x40s on the ground. That's comfortable.
Binoculars are fun but in my experience there's nothing to compare with a 4" fast refractor on a good mount.
I *do* get a kick out of seeing M57 as a tiny pinprick, and it is fun to real in some Messiers with the binoculars. But I am not "an enthusiast." Nor would I recommend them for beginners. I think a star blast with a wide field 1.25" eyepiece is a much better deal. By the time one gets binoculars and has them customized in some way so that viewing is comfortable, one might as well have gotten the star blast and a good eyepiece.
I've used bigger binoculars too. One thing that strikes me is that a lot of the inexpensive large diameter binoculars that are out there seem to be losing a lot of light. Someone on Yahoo! refractor said it is not uncommon for low end binoculars to lose 50% of their light. I have had the experience of my 10x40 Pentax DCFs giving a brighter view than some 10x50s.
What I *will* say is that owning a good pair of binoculars has really enriched my life in many unexpected ways. I never realized how much stuff was 'getting away from me' in daytime situations till I had the binos.
my 2c
Greg N
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"Aperture will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no aperture."
featuring selected astrojunk:
bunch o' widefield eyepieces
bunch o' narrowfield eyepieces
couple o' Barlows
couple o' scopes
couple o' mounts
couple o' tripods
and a pier 'n' stuff
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
As I continue my ongoing and never ending contemplation of future equipment purchases, it got me thinking about where binoculars fit in as deep sky viewing tools.
An interesting question.
Quote:
It seems that there are many who view primarily with binoculars and they don’t feel like they are missing out on anything.
I'm certainly not one of those! Even setting the Moon and planets aside, binoculars simply don't have enough magnification for whole major categories of deep-sky viewing. If you're willing to settle for exactly one planetary nebula -- the Helix -- then binoculars do OK for this class of objects. Want to view the Ring, the Eskimo, or any of dozens other showpieces? Binos won't give you much satisfaction.
If you're happy to see globular clusters as bright, diffuse glows, binos are fine. Want to resolve stars within them? Better use a telescope.
I could go on and on.
Quote:
Others seem to prefer to use binoculars if they don’t have time to set up their telescope or they use them to locate objects so that they can be viewed with a telescope.
I'm not one of those either. Well, sure, I do use binos sometimes just because they're quick, and I *certainly* use them in conjunction with a telescope. But I also value them very highly for their own sake.
For ultralow-power, richest field views, binoculars reign supreme.
Actually, I take that back. The ultimate in low-power, richest-field viewing is naked-eye, and in some ways, I love that best of all. But in the 2X to 10X range, binoculars have no real competition. And all manner of things in the sky are best viewed at those low powers.
Quote:
At what size binocular does it make more sense to use a telescope?
I'd phrase that more in terms of magnification than aperture. As I said, binoculars are clearly the best choice up to 10X. Well, there *are* also monoculars (I own two), but those are highly specialized tools useful mainly when I *really* care about portability.
Around 15X, small refractors start to compete with binoculars. Here, things get trickier.
Strictly in terms of quality of views, and ignoring convenience, binos clearly win at 15X. Large, diffuse objects show significantly better in 15x70s than in any monocular telescope at 15X, no matter how much aperture it has.
But once I start using a mount, telescopes clearly win in terms of convenience, comfort, and portability, due to the fact that almost all scopes provide a 90-degree viewing angle, and very few binos do. Moreover, the binos that do provide 90-degree angle are *heavy* -- undercutting any portability benefit they might offer in terms of mounting them.
I like my 15x70s, but I'll never use them as often as I use the smaller models. I have seriously considered getting binos in the 80-mm or maybe even 85-mm class, but nothing bigger than that.
IMHO, anything bigger makes sense only for people who *really* care about using two eyes. And I'm definitely not one of those. I find one-eyed viewing every bit as natural and comfortable as two-eyed viewing. I value two-eyed viewing only insofar as it enhances my low-power views.
I enjoy sneaking views through other people's binocular telescopes and through binoviewers. But I don't like either of those enough to invest in a whole set of duplicate eyepieces.
Quote:
Are binoculars ever your primary observing tool when traveling to dark skies?
Fairly frequently. Most recently, on a 2-week trip to CA and OR, spent mostly at dark locations, I took only my IS 10x30s and a pair of 12x60s. The darker the site, the more of my time I want to spend with small instruments and at low magnifications. I can always view small, bright planetary nebulae at home. But only under dark skies can I get great views of the Pelican Nebula.
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Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
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harbinjer
super member
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 127
Loc: Southeastern Minnesota
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Quote:
I never realized how much stuff was 'getting away from me' in daytime situations till I had the binos.
Could you elaborate a little more on this?
Now as for my 2 cents:
I use binoculars when I have some free time but not enough for a scope. It is a little disappointing from the city after going to a really dark sky site though. But I also bring several binoculars to darker sites, because all the optics benefit. There are several ways to use them. I have Extra-wide angle ones for scanning the sky and just marveling at the milky way. They're also great for seeing satellites. I also have larger ones for viewing specific things, which are often tripod mounted. I do also use them as finders. Usually to look at a starfield in an atlas and find it in detail in the sky before pointing my scope. From even a medium-dark site, full sized binoculars can show more stars than are printed in any atlas I've seen. There is a significant difference in feel from hand held standing, to lounge chair, to monopod, to tripod. I haven't tried IS binoculars but would love to. For some people, they only use binoculars that they can hand hold. Others have elaborate parallelogram mounts and even cooler observing chairs to match. You'll have to try and find your own limit.
As for when it makes sense to use a scope, well that's up to you. If the use of two eyes works very well for you, then there's no upper size. The only real issue is magnification. The smaller the exit pupil the less comfortable binoculars become, for me at least. I'm not sure that 100x100 binoculars would more than a novelty to me. Putting one eye correctly over a small exit pupil can be hard enough, and matching 2 might be a downright chore.
There is one other thing: when using binoculars you're usually looking up, so you'll often see more meteors and satellites.
Binoculars are also more personal than telescopes and eyepieces, so they must fit your hands and face to be comfortable. They are also more personal because you can look at the same thing with your naked eye and then right away through binoculars, with the same way being up, and the large field of view keeps it somewhat familiar.
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Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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Tony,exellent points. I like your idea of thinking of binoculars in terms of magnification instead of aperture. The more I think about it, I think you're right about when a telescope becomes more useful to use. One of EdZ's recent observing reports indicated that he saw as many stars in one open cluster with his TV85 at 43X as he saw with his BT100's at 34X. This shows the importance of magnification. I also think this supports your idea that an 80mm scope takes over after 15X70 binoculars have maxed out their usefulness when viewing specific targets.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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Rich V.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1395
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada, USA
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Quote:
One of EdZ's recent observing reports indicated that he saw as many stars in one open cluster with his TV85 at 43X as he saw with his BT100's at 34X. This shows the importance of magnification. I also think this supports your idea that an 80mm scope takes over after 15X70 binoculars have maxed out their usefulness when viewing specific targets.
This is where a BT type binocular becomes useful; the 85mm scope at 43x showed as many stars as the 100mm bins at 34x but how about the 100mm bins at 43x? Now the bins will show quite a bit more than the scope. Two 100mm objectives just plain overpower one 80ish objective when examining open clusters, for instance. You'll always see more stars at the same mag. with the larger binoculars.
I have a fine 80mm apo scope and while it shows finer pinpoint stars at all mags, my 16x70 binoculars are my preference for low mag. views and my 100mm Miyauchis are preferred at 33x, 50x and 75x as long as I'm not looking at bright objects. On DSOs the 100mm bins always show more than the 80mm scope at similar magnifications.
The 80mm scope, however, comes into it's own for lunar and planetary viewing as well as double stars. No contest. It's superior optical quality walks away from the binoculars every time, the higher the magnification, the greater it outdistances the bins. With the binoculars, at higher mags., the CA and softness of the image become more and more apparent. Not so with the refractor.
The problem with larger aperture binoculars and BTs in particular is that their bulk begins to compromise their ease of use. They quickly reach a point where they are not "grab n go" like a mid sized tripod mounted bin or alt/az mounted small refractor. I drew the line at the Miyauchis and their 28# mounted weight which is close enough to my 80mm refractor's 23# mounted weight. I can carry them out in one piece and make one more trip for my adjustable chair and I'm done. Dragging out 60# of binocular and mount isn't that attractive to me. YMMV, of course.
As usual, it really boils down to an individual decision based on your own preferences and limitations.
Rich V
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Binoculars:
33/50/75/150x100 Saturn III, 16x70 FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes:
C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14732
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
This is where a BT type binocular becomes useful; the 85mm scope at 43x showed as many stars as the 100mm bins at 34x but how about the 100mm bins at 43x? Now the bins will show quite a bit more than the scope. Two 100mm objectives just plain overpower one 80ish objective when examining open clusters, for instance. You'll always see more stars at the same mag. with the larger binoculars.
Likewise you'll always see more stars with higher mag in the same size aperture. The example chosen here, might simply be showing that the next faintest stars are beyond both scopes. If I were to have turned both of these towards the Pleiades, I would have seen more stars in the 85mm scope at 43x.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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94bamf
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/08
Posts: 722
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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Quote:
It seems that there are many who view primarily with binoculars and they don’t feel like they are missing out on anything. These people have many different binoculars to fit the viewing situation. Others seem to prefer to use binoculars if they don’t have time to set up their telescope or they use them to locate objects so that they can be viewed with a telescope. Where do you fall into these groups and why?
As you can see from my signature, I have many different observing tools. I love binoculars, but I don't believe there is any one perfect observing tool(Or if there is, I can't afford it). I would never say I view primarily with binoculars, but some nights it might be the only tool I use. There is something really great about sitting out in my backyard with a lawn chair, and just scanning the heavens with binoculars. I do tend to use binoculars to try and find targets to observe with the telescope. Either I am looking for a specific target with star charts, and I use binoculars for that, or I am just scanning, and find something cool and decide I need a closer look at whatever it is, so I point the telescope at it.
Quote:
Also, at what size binocular does it make more sense to use a telescope? For example, if you have an 80mm telescope, does it make sense to buy 80mm binoculars?
For me personally, I can't imagine binoculars bigger than 25x100's because..
A. I probably couldn't afford binoculars bigger than 25x100.
B. I probably couldn't afford a mount to hold binos bigger than 25x100.
C. Binoculars bigger than 25x100 are huge, and it would probably make more sense to use a telescope. Although if I had the financial means, I would have the biggest binoculars I could buy, because there is something special about the kind of low power views you get through binos, a 3d effect that doesn't come through with only using one eye on a telescope. Binoviewers can somewhat fill that gap though.
Quote:
Are binoculars ever your primary observing tool when traveling to dark skies? If so, what size? Thanks for your thoughts.
Primary, no, but an important part of any trip. Let me put it this way. I could imagine going to a dark site with only binoculars, but I doubt I would go to a dark site with only a telescope and no binoculars. The main reason why is because I personally have yet to find anything as cool as scanning along the milky way from a darksite with binoculars. The amount of stars you see in the FOV is amazing. Binoculars are a way to sit down and relax at a dark site. Telescopes require setup, alignment, collimation checks, assembly, etc. Binoculars you just pull out of the case and use. I always take my 10x50's, 12x50's and 20x80's..
Ken
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Telescopes:
Celestron C6 SCT on CG4 mount
Skywatcher 8 inch F/5 Newt on a GEM
Celestron 8 inch Starhopper Dob
Celestron Oynx 80ED
Celestron C130 Mak
Celestron C102HD
Binoculars:
Nikon 7x35 Action
Nikon 7x50 Action
Zen Ray Summit 10x42
Celestron 10x42 Noble
Orion 10x50 Scenix
Celestron 10x50 Noble
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II
Celestron 15x70 Skymaster
Oberwerk 20x60
Zhumell 20x80
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1276
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Steve,
I view the sky with binoculars a great majority of the time, never bigger than 16x70, often 7x50 or 8x42. But I don't think I would be satisfied with that, had I not been a big scope junkie for years, and learned my way around the sky pretty well. My sky at home is around 5.5LM, and I find to my amazement that I can see, albeit not in much, or any, detail in many cases, a great number of objects that I considered only telescope targets back in the day. ( I saw the arc of the eastern segment of the Veil tonight with my 7x50, for instance.) Having busted my butt many many times to get the most incredible possible views of things with scopes up to 20" in the darkest sites I can find in high and dry New Mexico, I feel kind of maxed out with that, and happy enough now just to relax in my chair and see that the galaxies, nebulae, and things are still up there in their places. The Messier objects through modest binoculars look about like the difficult index catalog objects that I was chasing with a big telescope.
I'm 59 years old, but even though binocular observing is perhaps physically easier than dealing with a big scope in a remote site, I will not admit that my change in observing style is attributable primarily to old age. I think, rather, that I am getting somewhere better. Perspective is ultimately what I'm after with sky watching, a feel when I look up of some degree of 3-D understanding of distances, and how it all works. The upward-looking, right side up views presented by binoculars do this for me. I don't need spiral arms or resolution to the core of globular clusters to get the feeling of oneness that I'm searching for.
Ron
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chefboy
member
Reged: 08/17/09
Posts: 11
Loc: Eugene, Oregon
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Ron, well said! My own course is a very similar one. The chase with bigger scopes was fun but I notice that with Binoculars I am ready at a moments notice and my time spent at the eyepieces has risen dramatically. The wfov and 3-d affect along with trying to stay current with all of the advances in astronomy(and understand) make this viewing very relaxing and oh so beautiful.
Clear skies, Doug..........
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Tasco 8x30
Nikon Action 10x50
NcSTAR 20x70
Meade Telestar 60mm
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Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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Wow! Great posts. I've really enjoyed all of the comments.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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