Telescope Reviews: Binocular Icons No 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.

Hello everyone,

I decided to start a little project around binocular deep-sky observing. I have planned to observe and sketch a few beautiful binocular targets. Targets that are within reach of most backyard skies. I call them: Binocular Icons.
Binoculars are widely spread. Most people have a pair at home. Fewer people know that they can be used to admire the heavens as well. However, binocular astronomy has a very low threshold. Binoculars are very straightforward to use. The image is errect. And the low power is very convenient to look up objects. Even kids learn quickly how much fun it is to use them. Binoculars are very portable and offer instant enjoyment. They are excellent travel companions because of their compact size and weight.

About the making of the sketches: These Binocular Icons are intented for the occasional observer, who wants to spend a few spare minutes under the stars. For the ease of prolonged gazing and sketching, I on the other hand needed a mounted solution. Otherwise I would have come short of hands. I decided to use a mirror mount. It allows me to observe and sketch in a more relaxed position. The pair of bino's that I use is the Bresser 8x56 Spezial Jagd. There is nothing special about them. But they offer adequate eye relief for people like me who wear glasses while observing.

I hope you don't mind that I post these sketches in the forum.

Binocular Icons Number 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.

The famous M81 and M82 form a nice duo in a pair of binoculars. First try to locate the star 24 Ursae Majoris. With that star in the center of the fov, M81 should be visible near the western edge of the field. M82 can be glimpsed at about 40' to the north of M81. M81 is the brighter one of the two. It looks like a small glowing patch of light. Its center appears to be a tad brighter. M82 is rather weak, but the cigar shape is clearly present! I find it amazing that at a distance of 13 million lightyears, this duo is recognizable in a simple pair of binoculars.

Observing data:
Date : March 31, 2008
Time : around 21.30UT
Binoculars : Bresser 8x56
FOV: 5,9°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 2,5/5
Transp. : 2,5/5
Nelm : 5,0
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with PhotoPaint, based on a raw pencil sketch.

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Rony

My Astronomical Sketches

My Binocular Sketches

Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.

Edited by rodelaet (04/03/08 01:30 AM)