Hello all! Very new at this observing business - been out three nights now with my Takahashi. Each night I've come in with a slight headache, and I'm concerned that I'm straining my eyes. I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice on avoiding this in future.
I am shortsighted, and have been observing without my glasses - much easier to see through the eyepiece, and I can focus it for my eyes easily enough. However, I sometimes don't re-focus it after my perfect-eyesight-husband has been observing, especially when looking at nebulae and similar; it doesn't seem to make much difference, but I'm now wondering if it's stressing my eyes. I also wondered whether switching from eye to eye, which I have been doing, is also not a good idea?
If anyone's experienced something similar, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how not to get a headache!
Welcome to IIS. When you observe leave both eyes open, cover the eye you are not using with your hand, but leave it open.
This relaxes the muscles in both eyes so you wont get a headache or eyestrain through squinting with one eye shut for extended periods.
A good idea is to go to your local Chemist and get an eye patch, this will achieve the same thing but with both hands free, so long as you remember to still leave that eye open.
This might be unrelated to your eyes, but also check your observing posture.
When I first started looking through telescopes, my eagerness to view the amazing celestial delights through the eyepiece made me forget/ignore the ergonomics of comfortable viewing and after a few minutes, I’d realise that I was either stooping, crouching, twisting my neck awkwardly, etc which was not good, resulting in my feeling tense and un-rested after such a session. I now use my feet as much as my eyes!
I have since learned to sit comfortably at the eyepiece, in a relaxed but upright manner whilst (mostly!) maintaining some awareness of my body/posture to guard against unconscious bending, twisting, stooping, etc.
Thanks, Trevor - that's an interesting suggestion - I'll try that next time I get out! (tonight is looking doubtful...)
Also thanks Dennis - I admit that I've been awfully eager to view the stuff and haven't been thinking about posture! The freezing cold these few nights have probably also not helped when it's come to standing properly. We're thinking about getting chairs - haven't yet figured out the best height etc for viewing.
As (comfortable) viewing height very much depends on which type of ‘scope you use, Newtonian/Dobsonain, SCT/Mak or Refractor and their respective eyepiece positions, I would recommend an adjustable height chair.
I built my own (attached file) but I know that BinTel sell a nice model that at what looks like a reasonable price.
I agree with Dennis here about posture. Especailly if you have a low
laying finder scope where you have to bend down as well as crane your
neck up and around to view through it.
You tend to find you squint a lot more when you new to the hobby or
observing, mostly because the muscles in your face are still getting used
to having one eye closed and the other open. Do what Trevor suggests,
(some people dont like this approach either) but it does work really well.
After a while your brain gets used to it and focuses your attention to
eyeball at the eyepiece, and you wont notice half a scope and part of
your backyard the other eyeball is seeing.
Another thing you could consider is to get yourself a camera such as the GStar EX and have a TV/computer monitor to do your observing with. The GStar is, in effect, a specialised video camera for astronomical use. You can send the images you get through the scope either through a laptop or directly to the screen you're using. That way, no more eyestrain, plus you can also take piccies of what you're looking at too
Thanks, CS, for seconding the posture issue - I do have trouble with the finder scope (although the husband has less, and enjoys finding things anyway...). We're looking into a chair of some sort. Raining cats&dogs right now so there'll be no viewing tonight.
Carl - thanks for the suggestion about the monitor etc - right now I'm enjoying the physical viewing too much!!
Hello Alexandra,
This gem of wisdom from my Optometrist or Opthamologist or whatever, who tells me I now need reading glasses (after having perfect vision for 49 1/2 years!):
"You don't know how many astonomers come in here complaining of headaches. I ask 'do you wear your glasses?' Always the answer is 'No' or 'Sometimes'. So I tell them: If you wear glasses especially for short-sightedness, use them when observing or you will get horrible headaches, eyestrain etc etc. Your eye is constantly trying to compensate and bring the object (any object) into focus and since you have to wear glasses in the first place, it can't". She sounded annoyed so I didn't pursue it any further.
The good news is there are now a fair number of eyepiecs on the market with long eye-relief (15-20mm) that should allow you to wear glasses without bumping the EP.
Also Televue make something called a dioptrix which attaches to their EPs, and, as I understand it, effectively takes the place of your glasses
Posture also has a lot to do with pain but unless you're upside down with your neck bent at a 90 degree angle, shouldn't give you headaches.
The eyepatch by the way, is an excellent idea i've often used one.
That's interesting, PJH - some of the other stuff I've read online has suggested it doesn't make much difference if you wear them or not? And since I can focus the eyepiece such that the objects are clear, I would have thought my eyes wouldn't need to compensate?
Hi Alexandra,
