Fantastic night with the 20x80T Knockies

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I have just come inside from a night with the Andrews 20x80 Triplet Knockies.

We have had lousy weather for over a month as most of you have had, but all of a sudden the sky cleared and WOW! it is the best I have seen it since November Camp last year. Remember how good it was (for those that were here). Easily 8-9/10!!! Standing in my back yard with unaided eyes the whole Milky Way is on show with its beautiful dark bands, LMC, SMC, Coal Sack, etc etc all naked eye!

Being in a hurry to grab the sky while it is on show I didn't set any scopes up, I just grabbed the Knockies (hand held) and went for it.

Items clearly observed were Jewel Box, Omega Cent, 47Tuc, M4 Glob, Antares Nebula, Lagoon Neb, Trifid Neb and about 8 different open clusters including the ones around Scorpius.

Then I went on the harder search. I found Sombrero Galaxy but could not spot Ringtail Galaxies, or Glob M68. Then I realised why! It has now lightly fogged over and frost is forming again. A quick look at Joop and then inside to write this.

All I can say is that these 20x80 Triplet Knockies are FANTASTIC! Contrast is amazing.

Weather report is for 3 more clear nights, so I might get to test the 12" on the EQ tomorrow night or next!

[acropolite (Phil)]

Sounds good Ken; when are you making a motorised chair???

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Go the knockies

My first view of the andromeda galaxy was through the 15x70 knockies at snake valley

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I hope to have it made before the 28th of this month Phil.

Great on Galaxies and Nebs hey Geoff!!!

[davidpretorius]

awesome ken.

i get so focussed on imaging, i forget that binos offer a fantastic alternative view that should never be underestimated

[johnno]

I have to agree,

Mostly,
Binoculars Tend to be regarded as DAYTIME,Viewing Instruments,and MOST,people regard them as a poor Alternative to telescopes.

Personally,They are my 1st CHOICE.for Astronomy.

WHY?.

Well,for 1, they are lightweight,(usually).

2,
they often provide a wider FOV.

3,
You can pick up the tripod,with Binos,in 1 hand,and be outside,viewing,in seconds,
AND,if the clouds block your viewing for the night,you haven't wasted a lot of time setting up.
Simply pick them up,go inside, and
try again later.

BINOCULARS,DONT,do it all.
I am the first one to agree,with this.

IF,you want to look at Planets,IN ANY DETAIL,
FORGET BINOCULARS.

BUT,
if you want to look at the PLEIADES,for eg,15x70 Binoculars,will Blow away a Telescope,
NOT,in Magnification,
BUT,Because,you will see the whole thing.NOT,just SOME segments of it.

Just my 2 cents,
for anyone interested.(past experience,probably,no one)

Regards.
John

[Lee]

I always have binos around my neck when I'm out with the Dob - mainly to scout the field I'm about to observe in, and for that awesome widefield.... I guess that stars are never resolved as anything other than points, so if you can actually see it with binos, it is really about the same as a 12" Dob view anyway (or Hubble really!)....
On cloudy nights you can always peek into sucker holes with your binos quickly with no lost time if the thing closes over on you before you get there.....

[matt]

Thanks guys

This thread reminds me I really must get around to buying a pair of binos.

I'll have to start a thread with recommendations

[TidaLpHasE]

Sounds like you had a ball Ken, your post has made me set my binno's on the tripod tonight

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Excellent Trevor!!!!

Please give is a report after your session

[dhumpie]

Like Ken I too use my AOE 20x80LW's often (like almost every other clear night). They are so much easier to use and you don't have any extra baggage when observing and offer much brighter views that my Orion 80ST. But for the weekend's, the 10" GS comes out to play

Darren