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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1078
Loc: West Virginia
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For those with binocs,I'm curious what a view of Jupiter through one is like. Is the bands visible and possibly the GRS,and maybe it's moons too? I can spot Jupiter early enough that using binocs would be a advantage(especially on a work night and won't have time to use my trusty 10" Classic),since it'll be too late for me to use my scope in seeing it. I'm just throwing it out there,since I'm kinda curious.
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Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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hallelujah
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1435
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Many binoculars will allow you to see the four moons of Jupiter. Both of my 30x binoculars allow me to see the two bands of this planet. The better the atmospheric conditions the better the viewing.
Even at 30x Jupiter is still very small.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/Japan
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/Japan
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/Japan
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
Edited by hallelujah (07/01/08 11:24 PM)
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Tad S.
super member
Reged: 08/28/06
Posts: 136
Loc: SW Virginia
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Hi Bert! The satisfaction you get from looking at Jupiter through binos will depend upon which binos you are using, and--more importantly--what your expectations are. With just about anything 8x or bigger (maybe smaller, too), you should be able to pull out the Galilean moons. You can also typically see some faint banding. The banding will be more distinct in larger binos. I was using a pair last night at 43x and I could easily discern at least five different bands with good color. And, the moons were brilliant! Standard 10x binoculars will show less, but are still a joy for quick looks at planets. But you should not expect to see anything close to the brightness and detail that you will get in your LX200. To describe what you can see a different way, think of Saturn. In 10-12x bino, I see it as a rice kernel, kinda elongated, but not too exciting. You will need 15-20x to make out any space between the bands and orb.
One of the great advantages of binos is their ease of use and portability. So, I would bet you would use them more than you might expect. A quick look at Jupiter may turn into an extended outing cruising open clusters. Of course, they are a different instrument, much more adept for rich field rather than planetary work, but planets please, too.
--Tad
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Orion XT8i, Vixen ED80Sf, Oberwerk BT-80/45
20x80 Oberwerk Std., 12x50 Nikon AE,
10x42 Celestron Regal LX, 8x40 Pentax PCF WP
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jrw11
sage
Reged: 06/09/07
Posts: 492
Loc: U.S.A.
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With my binocs, even my 9x50 finder scope, I can see the moons. But, even with my 20x80's I haven't been able to see any of the bands.Jupiter at 20x is maybe a 16th of an inch?
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Celestron C6n -HD Reflector
dual axis drive motors added
Orion 80mm Short tube refractor
Skyscout
Early 70's Pentax 7x50
Garrett Optical 12x60
Garrett Optical 15x70
Oberwerk 20x80 Standards
Canon Rebel Ti (film)
4 Minolta Srt cameras
Mamiya RB67 Pro-s with 180 lens
127mm KL lens for RB, Bellows hood for RB67
120 and 220 film backs
over 50 other film cameras
several eyepieces
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Mike Rapchak
sage
Reged: 11/17/06
Posts: 409
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Bert,
Hopefully this will help: I have two binos - 10x50 and 16x80. Both easily show Jupiter's four brightest moons. Both show Jupiter as a disk. As far as visible banding, the 10x50s fall short and it's iffy with the 16x80s (I can almost detect the two main bands - more by color than by shape, but nothing to write home about). Of course the view through the 80s is superior overall to that of the 50s. Still, a good 20x80 pair would no doubt perform even better.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
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Tad S.
super member
Reged: 08/28/06
Posts: 136
Loc: SW Virginia
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Hmm, maybe I am using the wrong terminology here. When I said I saw five bands, I am referring to (I think) the equatorial zone, northern and southern temperate belts, and the N and S polar regions. Regions, bands, belts, zones? Its is all so striated. I guess I should say, "distinctly shaded regions." This was using my big binos, BT80s with XF12mm eps. Not trying to confuse or make outlandish claims,
--Tad
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Orion XT8i, Vixen ED80Sf, Oberwerk BT-80/45
20x80 Oberwerk Std., 12x50 Nikon AE,
10x42 Celestron Regal LX, 8x40 Pentax PCF WP
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ronharper
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 888
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Dark stripes are belts, light one are zones. My 16x70 will barely hint one of the equatorial belts, the most obvious feature on the planet. It takes some kind of big fine bino to show them decently, lucky guys you are. The best easy view of things like this is probably through a little apo refractor. A Televue 76 on a lightweight altaz mount would be nice.
Ron
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12147
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I can easily detect the two main equatoral bands with my 15x70s and 16x70s.
I have seen the two main equatoral bands in a 12x50, but with considerable difficulty.
The 4 moons are easy even in 8x40s.
The GRS is difficult even in a 5" scope at 100-150x.
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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OldDeadOne
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 1078
Loc: West Virginia
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Well that shoots that down,I guess I'll have to wait for a day off night and put my scope up then :P
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Bert O'Dell
PROUD GOTO USER
LX200 10" Classic
various meade plossi's eyepieces
Konig MX70 40mm" eyepiece
11mm T6
7mm T1
Insane under a full moon
I duck from Iron Skillets
Charleston WV clearsky
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SeanOD
member
Reged: 06/10/08
Posts: 12
Loc: South Africa
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Bert,
I can also (like Edz) see the two main equatorial bands with 15X70's from a city sky. Some nights seem to be easier than others and all my binocular observing of late is giving me new insight as to how tired my eyes get after too much work on a computer.
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Oberwerk 15X70
Pentax PCF 12X50
Nikon 7X50
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jmcdonald
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/05
Posts: 1451
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I can see the moons and discern the disk. If my binoculars were better optically I could probably see the center bands but with my set, it's too smeared with false color.
Planetary viewing with binoculars isn't very rewarding IMO. A quick look to see where Jupiter's moons are, or to gauge the phase of Venus is about all they're good for.
Now DSO, double star, rich field, and lunar viewing are another story.
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Jerel
Discovery 12.5" modified truss DOB
Orion 100mm f/6 achromat
Garret 15x70 LW Binoculars
22-T4,13-T6
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