Old binoculars for astronomy use?

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turboscrew
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Old binoculars for astronomy use?

#1

Post by turboscrew »


Since I know virtually nothing about binoculars...

I just realized that my old binoculars might be OK for astronomy use too.
There's no indication about make or model, but they are 10x50, so I think they are made for bird watching.
They seem to have a mounting, and I have an old Manfrotto (model #055) camera tripod.

I wonder if they sound OK for astronomy use - I don't think the binoculars are especially great, though.
How probable it is, that if I buy a "standard" binocular mount, it will fit to both the binoculars and the tripod?
The front lenses of the binoculars are quite far from each other (about 60 mm, if opened for my eyes).
- Juha

Senior Embedded SW Designer
Telescope: OrionOptics XV12, Mount: CEM120, Tri-pier 360 and alternative dobson mount.
Grab 'n go: Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount
Eyepieces: 26 mm Omegon SWAN 70°, 15 mm TV Plössl, 12.5 mm Baader Morpheus, 10 mm TV Delos, 6 mm Baader Classic Ortho, 5 mm TV DeLite, 4 mm and 3 mm TV Radians
Cameras: ZWO ASI 294MM Pro, Omegon veLOX 178C
OAG: TS-Optics TSOAG09, ZWO EFW 7 x 36 mm, ZWO filter sets: LRGB and Ha/OIII/SII
Explore Scientific HR 2" coma corrector, Meade x3 1.25" Barlow, TV PowerMate 4x 2"
Some filters (#80A, ND-96, ND-09, Astronomik UHC)
Laptop: Acer Enduro Urban N3 semi-rugged, Windows 11
LAT 61° 28' 10.9" N, Bortle 5

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John Baars Netherlands
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Re: Old binoculars for astronomy use?

#2

Post by John Baars »


They will surprise you when you look through it at the stars. 10X50 are standard astro-binoculars.
There are two standards for camera's an bino's. 3/8 inch and 1/4 inch thread. Often 3/8 for the connection of the tripod to the tripod head. And 1/4 for the attachment of camera. The last one is the most common used for camera's / bino's. And if it doesn't fit there are always adapters. When you want to be sure try visiting a nearby shop.
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
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helicon United States of America
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Re: Old binoculars for astronomy use?

#3

Post by helicon »


10x50's will perform well on DSO's - open star clusters, nebulae, globular star clusters, and some of the brighter galaxies. You should also be able to see the moons of Jupiter, as well.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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turboscrew
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Re: Old binoculars for astronomy use?

#4

Post by turboscrew »


Thanks. I take your feedback as encouragement to get the mount and start using the binoculars for watching the night skies.
- Juha

Senior Embedded SW Designer
Telescope: OrionOptics XV12, Mount: CEM120, Tri-pier 360 and alternative dobson mount.
Grab 'n go: Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount
Eyepieces: 26 mm Omegon SWAN 70°, 15 mm TV Plössl, 12.5 mm Baader Morpheus, 10 mm TV Delos, 6 mm Baader Classic Ortho, 5 mm TV DeLite, 4 mm and 3 mm TV Radians
Cameras: ZWO ASI 294MM Pro, Omegon veLOX 178C
OAG: TS-Optics TSOAG09, ZWO EFW 7 x 36 mm, ZWO filter sets: LRGB and Ha/OIII/SII
Explore Scientific HR 2" coma corrector, Meade x3 1.25" Barlow, TV PowerMate 4x 2"
Some filters (#80A, ND-96, ND-09, Astronomik UHC)
Laptop: Acer Enduro Urban N3 semi-rugged, Windows 11
LAT 61° 28' 10.9" N, Bortle 5

I don't suffer from insanity. I'm enjoying every minute of it.

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