Binoviewers for Moon and planets

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Bigzmey United States of America
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Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#1

Post by Bigzmey »


It is the planets season now and I see many reports from folks enjoying Jupiter and Saturn views. Mars is getting close to opposition and I anticipate many fun session observing it this winter.

I would like to emphasize benefits of binoviewers for lunar and planetary. Observing with two eyes is more relaxing and natural and since the brain is processing input from two eyes one can typically pick more planetary details vs observing with one eye.

Planets and Moon are bright target and with mono setup one typically need to use filters to control the glare. Since binoviewers split the light coming from scope the glare is significantly reduced and even the full Moon can be comfortably observed without filters.

Even the basic prism binoviewers like this Orion model are quite good and with included barlow will work in most refractors, Maks and SCTs out of the box. You do need to get EP pair or two, but basic EPs like Plossls and Orthos work great, so it will not cost you arm and leg.

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-B ... binoviewer

One can also pick this type of binoviewers used on CN and AM classifieds quite easily for a fraction of cost. This is how I got mine. :)
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#2

Post by JayTee »


This is a great idea for an early self-gifted holiday present! I'm looking for one right now.

Thanks, Andrey
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#3

Post by Bigzmey »


JayTee wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:31 pm This is a great idea for an early self-gifted holiday present! I'm looking for one right now.

Thanks, Andrey
You will love them! One does not realize how much strain one eye observing causes until you try binoviewing. For lunar and planets this is the way to go.

They will be perfect for your yard canon. :D
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


I enjoy using one or both eyes depending on what I am looking at.
Some nights I even leave the diagonal in the case and just view straight through.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#5

Post by JayTee »


My narrow IPD just made it for these bino viewers, so I just purchased it. I then went over to Agena Astro and picked up 2 of the SWA 10mm EPs. I've been wanting this 10mm EP for a while. Now I'll have 2, the more the merrier!

@BigzmeyThanks Andrey, Cheers,
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#6

Post by Bigzmey »


JayTee wrote: Sun Nov 13, 2022 12:19 am My narrow IPD just made it for these bino viewers, so I just purchased it. I then went over to Agena Astro and picked up 2 of the SWA 10mm EPs. I've been wanting this 10mm EP for a while. Now I'll have 2, the more the merrier!

@BigzmeyThanks Andrey, Cheers,
Congrats JT! If you use BVs for SCT, 10mm EPs will be equivalent of 7-8mm, and in a frac you will need to use 2x GPC so the effective FL will be ~5mm. Both should work nicely for planets and Moon. If you like to fit whole Moon disk you may use 25mm or 32mm Plossls.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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davesellars
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Re: Binoviewers for Moon and planets

#7

Post by davesellars »


I concur... Binoviewers for me have had a dramatic effect on viewing the planets and Moon. Unfortunately, Saturn is now too low for viewing but Jupiter maintains a good position until around 11pm and Mars, should the ever-present clouds decide to move off now also in a great position by late evening.

I really think that with BVs, you can pick up more detail but the advantage of easily being able to view through the EPs for a long time and be comfortable doing makes it worth it. I agree with the loss of brightness also solves the issue of the planets (or Moon) being too bright and this also possibly helps considerably to pick up more detail? I've had some fantastic views this summer with my BV setup using the 4" refractor. I'm yet to try them with my 12" dob though.
SW Flextube 12" Dobsonian.
Starfield ED102 f/7; SW ED80; SW 120ST
EQ5 and AZ4 mounts
Eyepieces: TV Delos 17.3 & 10; Pentax XW 7 & 5; BCO 32,18,10; Fuyiyama Ortho 12.5; Vixen SLV 25.
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