| masraum |
08-21-2022 07:27 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugstrider
(Post 11776560)
Thanks! The wifey did just say that she would like a smaller, more manageable sized pair for general use…. [emoji2957]
|
It's generally accepted that a pretty good size for that sort of thing is 10x50. I believe the reason that folks focus on that is because the "average eye" will dilate in the dark up to 5mm and a 10x50 gives an 5mm exit pupil so you get maximum light. But, as we get older, I think it's supposed to be the case that our eyes often don't dilate as much as when younger. When trying to use binoculars to stargaze (without some sort of mount) you want to keep the magnification low enough and the weight low enough that you can comfortably hold them without a lot of motion. A good size for that is 8x42 or 10x42. I've got some Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 that we bought for something different, but they are really nice binos at a reasonable price. The focus is really nice, weight, coatings, etc... 8x42 Nikon Monarch 5s are available for about $285, and 10x42 are available for about $315.
But I spent some time viewing at my parents house years ago with a really cheap set of Bushnell 10x50 and those were pretty good too.
Quote:
I knew these bad boys seriously need a mount of some sort. I am diggin the lounge chair option, looks almost too comforrrrrzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
|
LOL
Quote:
I honestly can’t wait to get them into action. We are blessed here at the house where 8 out of 10 clear nights, you can see the Milky Way cut across the night sky. When we got home last night, we immediately saw what looked like a large satellite cutting across the night sky. Using the ol trusty star app, it looked like a big rocket booster.
|
I've almost always lived some place with heavy light pollution. 1.5 years ago, we moved to the country. When the sky is clear (frequently) you can see the milky way from the house. It's breath-taking and amazing to me every time I step out and see it. It's also amazing to spend a little time outside to let the eyes dark adapt and to them be able to see "things" without binoculars or telescope or anything. But a good pair of binoculars is really great for stargazing, especially when you've got dark skies.
Quote:
I still think it would be cool to build our own telescope. Probably way more expensive than pre-built ones.
|
I'm not sure. I've read about home built stuff. I think most of the time it's a Newtonian style. I suspect you could do it fairly inexpensively, or you could spend a ton of money. THere are even people that grind their own mirrors.
Quote:
When I was 15-16 years old, my father arranged for us to visit an amateur astronomer who built his own observatory near Folsom Lake. He was one of five amateur astronomers who were invited to the observatory in Hawaii when Haley’s Comet passed in 1986. Yes, he is that good. It was the first time I saw our sister Galaxy with a pair of simple field glasses. One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
|
Very cool!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
|
