Which Eye ?

norm · #1 30-10-2006, 10:40 PM

Viewing Survey:

View with the left eye open, right eye shut
View with left eye, with right eye open but covered (eg patch)
View with the right eye open, left eye shut
View with right eye, with left eye open but covered (eg patch)
View with left eye, with right eye open uncovered
View with right eye, with left eye open uncovered
Alternate between both eyes, open, shut, covered, uncovered

I pose this question simply due to a discussion at my local club one of our
members was adamant that you should view with both eyes open. There was no explanation for it, except that one member mentioned that by shutting one eye, you place additional strain on your muscles and in turn rget tired quicker.
Personally, I prefer the left eye for viewing and cover the right with my hand - only because I can't

with my right eye. But I also alternate in case I
think my left eye is missing something.

Interested to know other peoples preference.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #2 30-10-2006, 11:05 PM

I alternate through the evening...and usually keep my eye not in use closed or hand covered...

I do however almost always start out looking with my left eye first...

janoskiss (Steve H) · #3 30-10-2006, 11:10 PM

I was very right-eyed when I started in this hobby but I've quickly and very naturally become ambidextrous wrt eyeballs. Now I tend look through the EP with my left eye because I have a right-angle finder and telrad that I look through with my right eye and it's minimal effort to switch btw these and a left-eyed EP in the focuser. When observing for extended periods I regularly switch between left and right. I wish I had a DSO capable binoviewer.

johnno · #4 31-10-2006, 01:52 AM

Very interesting topic Norm,

My hands are Ambidextrous,but unfortunately,my eyes,are not.
I view with my right eye open,and left eye closed,allways.

Must admit though,I would love to be able to use both methods.

Maybe, thats why I Prefer Binoculars,Both eyes open.

All the best.
Regards.
John

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #5 31-10-2006, 06:26 AM

Very interesting topis, I alternate between eyes during an observing run, since both eyes are slightly different I Usually see more detail swapping from one to another, but usually with both eyes open in dark spots.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #6 31-10-2006, 07:59 AM

It would be interesting to know if left handers, like me, tend to use their left eye, also like me, and right handers the right. I expect they probably would. Although most right handers are usually very much "right handed" with many things, while left handers can often do some things with either hand or in some cases are "right handed".

It is also interesting that apparently, the incidence of left handedness is about the same in other primates....although very few of them write left handed, or right come to think about it

Tamtarn · #7 31-10-2006, 09:35 AM

I use my right eye with the left one closed. David uses his left eye with his right eye closed.

Maybe we should get a pair of Binos and we can both use them at the same time

Barb

Ric · #8 31-10-2006, 10:42 AM

Hi Norm, I am completely left handed and left eyed but I leave my right eye open and cover it with my hand.

Cheers

neB · #9 31-10-2006, 11:01 AM

Only a newbie, but I use right eye mainly with left open or hamd-covered.

Interestingly, I used to shoot competition handguns and the rule-of-thumb there is to keep both eyes open as you get better vision/focussing.

I'm right handed but my left eye is dominant, so when I shoot my grip is right handed and left eye focuses on the front sight (with right eye open). Takes some practice but works well. I guess the same - both eyes open - applies to telescopes.

CoombellKid · #10 31-10-2006, 11:49 AM

I try to observe alternating between eyes, I feel it is good to have both
trained.

btw, I'm a lefty

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

casstony · #11 31-10-2006, 12:22 PM

I'm trying to alternate between eyes after being alerted to the fact that my left eye is noticeably more color sensitive than the right. If I look at a bright piece of red or green plastic, covering one eye then the other, the color is more vivid in the left eye.

norm · #12 31-10-2006, 12:48 PM

Hi All,

Interesting responses. Like many I'm left handed, but if I were to play cricket I would stand as a right hander. But if I played tennis, squash I would hold the racket left handed. But then my guitar is right handed.

ving (David) · #13 31-10-2006, 12:53 PM

well i am glad you gave us more than one option.

always left eye for me, but closed right in dim dsos untill i get tired then i cover my right and have it open. on bright planets i have both eyes open.

33South (Chris) · #14 31-10-2006, 01:13 PM

Im just about completely left handed and eyed.
Interesting thing is when using a knife and fork, like most left handers I hold them the same as right handers.
I only ever met one person who held them with the fork in the right hand and knife in the left - looked really odd.

asimov (John) · #15 31-10-2006, 01:13 PM

I usually keep both open & use my right eye for observing, but the left..I use an eye patch.

Rodstar (Rod) · #16 31-10-2006, 02:05 PM

I am almost completely right-eyed for observing, and I close my left eye.

I used to find that I would tire from closing my left eye, and use a patch, but now I comfortably observe for long sessions without any tiredness.

Occasionally I look at an object with my left eye for comparison, almost always I prefer the view in my right eye.

ving (David) · #17 31-10-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

I usually keep both open & use my right eye for observing, but the left..I use an eye patch.

Arrr!!!

its amazing what pirates and astronomers have in common

sheeny (Al) · #18 31-10-2006, 03:13 PM

I favour using my left eye. Occasionally I swap if the EP is in an awkward position for my left eye or if I feel I'm straining my left eye with difficult focus/seeing.

Just for the record I am right handed, except for two handed tasks like using a bat or an axe... then I'm left handed.

Al.

rogerg (Roger) · #19 31-10-2006, 03:53 PM

I use my right eye with left eye closed. Sometimes I leave the left eye open but not often. I think it's mostly habbit and which eye I started using when I started astronomy. For some strange reason I find it harder to view through my right eye but I think it's just what I have adjusted to.

I am left handed. Yet I view right eyed. But then I've always been a bit odd

When I was younger I played tennis and golf, would switch between left & right as I felt like it at any point in the game. Got some people really confused.

Wouldn't be surprised if I've lost that ability as I've got older.

I find it interesting that the pole shows almost perfect 50/50 split between left & right.

Roger.

spacezebra (Petra) · #20 31-10-2006, 05:04 PM

Left eye shut, right eye open. Cool survey.

Cheers Petra