[Jared]

Hi. I've just signed up to IceInSpace.

I've been using some cheap 10x50 binoculars on-and-off for about a year and have just put a pair of Celestron 15x70s on lay-by (still pretty cheap I know, but not as cheap). Celestron says they're "multi-coated". I've read somewhere that sometimes the lenses are coated but not the prisms.

Firstly, I was just wondering which applies to my Skymasters, and secondly, what exactly are lens coatings? ... what material are they made from, what is the application process, what effect does it have on the performance of the binoculars, exactly how does it alter the behaviour of light etc.

I am really interested in this aspect of astronomy at the moment and am ready to soak up any knowledge that anyone might have.

Thanks a lot.