Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
We all started somewhere! We are a friendly bunch! Most of your questions can be posted here, but if you are interested in Astrophotography please use the new Beginner Astrophotography forum. The response time will be much better.
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.
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.
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 The only culture I have is from yogurt My day was going well until... people
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!
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.
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.