Binoculars

[Crespo_Vieri]

I don't have a lot of money so thinking of betting a pair of binoculars to start off with before trying to get a telescope.

What's a good specification for a pair of binoculars? The maximum I can find right now is $29.99 CDN for a 12x50. Will 12x50 suffice for amature viewing?

[astromark]

12x50 Binoc's will be fine. What field of view they have is important. If the field is to small it will be difacult to hold them still enuff to be usfull. Try befor you buy...
The quality of the optics is the most important thing to look for. You should be able to focus on a distant object and see it clearly in both eyes without the need to strugle with un-alined images. I use 9x40, and find them as usefull for finding objects of interest. Good luck.

[Crespo_Vieri]

Thanks for the information astromark. I'm probably going to go sometime this week to look at them and hopefully purchase.

I'm wanting to see the Mars and Uranus view on the 15th very badly. No one I know has any type of equipment so I think it's time I finally bought a pair :).

By the way, the pair is listed here (http://www.xscargo.com/product.php?dept=Sports%20/%20Recreation&cat=Binoculars%20/%20Telesco&index=0&item=JC018).

[suntrack2]

you are looking an optimist that's very fine, crespo, observations are always good to learn something different in the night sky, and now the binacular is in your hand and let me tell what you have viewed through that? once upon a time my cousin gave order for a binacular there was a binacular in the packing but without lences, later he received that but as soon as he saw at the first moment the stars were as it is. this story was happened before 10 years. :D

sunil

[astromark]

Now I have a little more time to go in to this a little deeper. . .
Even with 12x50 bins., you wont see a lot of detail on Mars, Looking at Jupiter you may see bands of colour and four of her moons. Satern is always a fine object, but is soon getting to near the sun for good viewing.
The best views with bino's are the star clusters and the Moon.
For seriouse astronomy you need a seriouse telescope, Just a 6inch reflector will make all the diferance. Small is often the most conveiniant to use. And a dark viewing site is a must.
For shear convieniance, binoculars are a good investment. I often have mine with me at puplic viewing nights at the observatory. After all, all you gota do is point and look. You cant do that with a 20 inch reflector.
For comet hunting I think your bins will be hard to improve on. . .mark.

[Dave Mitsky]

I'm afraid that you won't see any sort of planetary detail with binoculars, even 20 or 25x giant binoculars. Saturn may appear to be elongated at 12x but I have been never able to resolve the rings as being distinctly separate from the globe of the planet with my Celestron 20x80's.

I suggest buying binoculars with a magnification of 10x or less unless you plan on mounting them on a tripod or, better still, a binocular guider.

A binocular is great for rich-field observing but the planets require a telescope.

Dave Mitsky

[dougreed]

hi, I have meade 10x40 and they do a fine job of seperating saturn and it's ring. In fact , with pristine sky conditions near durango, colorado I saw for the first time the dust lanes in the andromeda galaxy- yes, with 10x binoculars!!!. HOWEVER, do not expect ultra-clear air at ANY time, and 12x may be a bit much to hand hold. As was mentioned, if possible, try them out somewhere BEFORE you buy. somehow $29.99 doesn't seem like a fair price for good optics. even if you don't buy from Orion Telescope, they have lots of info on binoculars...whatever you do, or get, go out and use 'em, lots and lots of wonders to discover for yourself...see-ya, doug

[viperbob]

Binoculars viewing is like using a telescope. So many different choices to make. IF I was starting out again, I'd go for a pair of 7 X 50's. Nothing under 50mm will
give you a decent amount of light to work with. Second 7 power will give you some of the fuzzies and a nice look at the moon. Some planets are viewable with the 7 power. Much stronger will need a tripod and mount and this is where money comes into the pic. Until then you can get if your lucky say on Astromart a used pair of binoculars on the cheap. Not much money laid out and if you change your
mind its ok.
Most families should have a pair of binoculars to take on vacation, watch some birds or whatever, so its not a complete loss. But when you go a purchase anything over 7 power and a tripod mount etc., the money starts leaveing ya in one heck of a hurry.
Binocular astronomy can be very rewarding as you look at the night sky right side up. Its a good way to get into astronomy before you start looking at what kinds of a telecope you want to buy.........then the fun realily begins. ;)
bob ellis
[email]viperbob@verizon.net

[blueshift]

I highly recommend that you go to a star party and take a look through all types of equipment before buying anything. Every dime you spend now is a dime against something you might really want to wait for.

Join an astronomy club. Dues are really dirt cheap..$35 per year usually. You can rent telescopes with 6 inches of aperture for just $8 a month in our club..There are people who don't have scopes or binocs at all and still come out to the star parties. We love to share and show off our equipment to anyone interested in the hobby.

[astromark]

Yes, Blue Shift this is good advice.

[Ricter]

Originally posted by dougreed@May 14 2005, 02:17 AM
hi, I have meade 10x40 and they do a fine job of seperating saturn and it's ring. In fact , with pristine sky conditions near durango, colorado I saw for the first time the dust lanes in the andromeda galaxy- yes, with 10x binoculars!!!. HOWEVER, do not expect ultra-clear air at ANY time, and 12x may be a bit much to hand hold. As was mentioned, if possible, try them out somewhere BEFORE you buy. somehow $29.99 doesn't seem like a fair price for good optics. even if you don't buy from Orion Telescope, they have lots of info on binoculars...whatever you do, or get, go out and use 'em, lots and lots of wonders to discover for yourself...see-ya, doug
I have a pair of 11x88 Celestron which I use mounted on a high-end Manfrotto tripod. Most of my gazing has been done in the truly black skies north of 60, and I have NEVER been able to see Saturn's rings. Saturn elongated, yes, rings, no. I support Mr. Mitsky's reply. Bands on Jupiter? Forget it. The thing they say about binos though, is that if it turns out astronomy is not your thing, you still have a pair of binos you can use. Better than being saddled with a telescope--they're not the best for hanging laundry on.

Hmm, Mitsky=Man in the sky, a play on Mr. Mits? :D

[viperbob]

Sometimes people don't live near anyone sharing there equiipment, or having a Astronomy club nearby. If nothing else works, and I myself don't like viewing by myself, use the net. There are so many sites with people willing to share there knowledge. I've been to star parites do to a site on the web. Its here in New Jersey called NJNightsky.com. Just a few guys getting together a couple of years ago an now iv'e been to 8 star parties and counting.
Yes star parties are a great start along with Astronomy clubs, but if that don't work, don't give up. We have a great hobby and it works from age 8 to 80.
bob ellis

[dougreed]

If you guys are telling the truth about the limitations of your binoculars I do feel bad that something must be amiss. I find Saturn w/rings and Jupiter w/belts pleasant sights in my bino's. Of course there is no details, but it's not a featurless speck or elongated blob. ( I used them to keep track of one of the comet impact sites on Jupiter back in 94?) I also find some of the more common nebula-trifid,lagoon,orion- to be as nice as view as one could want in such portable optics. I also use 6" newt w/ a university optics mirror, and a 90mm celestron. I'll be out later checking out the planet grouping...see-ya

[viperbob]

My biggest binocular set up is a 15X70 Burgess mounted on a T&T mount and that's on a Bogen tripod. I can see Saturn/w its rings an if the night sky is black with min background lighting, at least 4 moons of Jupiter. But the seeing has to
be great and the sky black.
To me anything under say 12 power is a waste of money and time if your going to just use the bino's for astronomy. If you going to "learn" the night sky and just want to look around anything is ok, including your eyes. But with bino's you should use nothing under 50mm to get some serious light input.
Binoculars are like telescopes. Different strokes for different folks. You can't make a mistake. You'll just wind up with more then one (binoculars & telescopes).
Clear skies to all...........
bob ellis