Great night with binoculars

[rmcpb]

Well, you could have put money on it. This week I pulled my scope to pieces for some mods and while it was in the workshop in as many pieces I could reduce it to we had a beautiful night last night.

So, out with the fold up camping chair, binocs and star charts. I originally thought I would only spend a few minutes out there but got a bit carried away and was out for two and a half hours cruising the sky, visiting some old favourites, and checking out some more obscure constellations. What started out as a frustrating night ended up to be brilliant following some of my own advice to newbies of using binocs to cruise the sky. Sometimes we possibly get a bit too centred on the scope and forget the binocs as an observing tool in their own right and viewing on the broad scale they offer. The hardest part all night was getting up to change the angle of my chair, maybe I need to set up a chair platform :P

A great night after all :cheers:

[toetoe]

Sounds like you had good fun Rob, i believe that having a pair of binocs is a must. At times i would say (depending on what you are looking at) the viewing is just as good as using the telescope. A lot quicker to set up to..:)

[rmcpb]

Yep, and you have to take into account the comfort factor lying back in a camp lounge :)

[toetoe]

A Jason recliner with a swivel base sounds good for binoc viewing.

[Starkler]

This is what you want :)

http://www.starchair.com/images/gallery5_b.jpg

[toetoe]

If that chair has a cup holder for my coffee i will take 2.
One for the front veranda one for the back yard. :)

[rmcpb]

Looks a bit like going to the dentist but, if you want to buy it Geoff, I think I could bring myself to do a review of it for the site :)

[acropolite]

I'll have one too.... Can she cook???....:P Seriously though, we go for a walk in the dark most nights and take the binocs, in fact HRH Liz says she prefers to look with her naked eye(s). That's how the astronomy bug kicked in; while walking, we saw the ISS doodle over and decided to do some research. There's something special about looking up and seeing the whole milky way. :astron:

[Striker]

I love that chair.......wonder if i can make one...looks simple.

[johnno]

I must agree, Bino's are terrific for wide field views,makes finding things,AND identification of objects much easier.
I have quite a few pairs of bino's from 9x25s, up to 15x70s,but my most used pair have to be the old Pentax 8x40s with their massive 9.5 degree fov.I am aware with such a wide fov,they are not sharp to the edge,who cares,as long as you can identify what it is you are looking at.
Like Rob said,sit back in a observing chair and enjoy the view.
Regards.John

[dhumpie]

Binoculars are a great way to observe. My cheap pair of 15x70's have become my ultimate travel scope. And I don't have to bring any of my other astro gear like eyepieces and stuff. All I need is the binocs and if I am up to it, a tripod. But for general gazing and star hopping, you just can't beat those 10x50's.

Darren

p/s: and the 15x70's go deep enough and also have enough magnification for some detailed observation of some of the larger and brighter objects.

[toetoe]

I agree with you Darren, i have a old brass set of binocs i got off my father, only about 3 or 4x mag and they do the job in there own sort of way. The day will come when i can get a good set of my own.

[dhumpie]

One of the reason's I got my 15x70's was because I wanted enough power and light gathering to make easy work of bright objects. I also wanted more detail (which the 10x50's were just not adequate). To me, it has just the right mixture for a great grab and go instrument. And I have compared it on extended objects and the views I am getting in these are just as bright as a 102mm f/5 refractor at the same magnification. The views are brighter than my Orion 80ST at the same magnification. Plus I can be out in a moments notice before bed time.

Nuff said ;)

Darren

[ving]

cheryl would never let me have her... oh the chair!!!

does it come in puce?

[dhumpie]

Yah but have you see the price on them (the binoculars I mean ;)

Darren