5 replies to this topic

[btschumy]

I wanna hunt galaxies and clusters but I'd also like the best views of Mars and Jupiter possible for $100-$150.

20x or 15x binoculars are the wrong instruments for looking at planets. Mars will probably only look like a reddish star. You will be able to see the moons of Jupiter and, if you've got especially good eyes and optics, you might be able to detect some banding. That's about it.

If you really want to get a better look at planets then you should pick up a used ST-80 or some other inexpensive achromatic refractor.

[NHRob]

Forget planetary detail with typical binos. You want high magnification, scope, and good mount for that.
Rob

[Glassthrower]

Forget planetary detail with typical binos. You want high magnification, scope, and good mount for that.

Even in my 25x100 binos, planetary detail is virtually non-existent. Bands of Jupiter are visible, but not prominent, against a small, milky featureless disc.

Saturn is visible as a tiny orangish/brownish disc with no detail apparent. Rings are distinct but on a very small scale with a division visible just barely with averted vision.

Mars is a reddish "disc" that almost stellar, with good skies and careful looking, a disc is more apparent.

Venus is a very bright, creamy white disc that will show phases with careful viewing, but no other detail.

Mercury - forget it, it's a red dot, utterly stellar.

That's my experience with planets through my big binos, definitely not for looking at planetary objects. Although the views of the moon are very nice, but in the 15-20x range, it will be on a much smaller scale than through a 25x even.

A 15x binoc, which I also use, is best (IMHO) for viewing open clusters, faint fuzzies, and "wide" views of interesting areas like Cygnus, Sagittarius, etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide to get though!

MikeG

[Joad]

I would definitely go with the 15X70. You will gather more light (essential for DSOs) and have a better chance at hand using them (it will be tough, but 20X60 is simply impossible--even if they are lighter than the 15X70s the magnification is too high to hand hold).