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    A guide on what you can see with a decent pair of binoculars. Have fun!

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    A guide on what you can see with a decent pair of binoculars. Have fun!

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    1K views57 pages

    Binocular Highlights

    Uploaded by

    yahushuasaves
    A guide on what you can see with a decent pair of binoculars. Have fun!

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 57
    Bees a | - ol asda: . DECEMBER - JANUARY - FEBRUARY. ‘WHEN To USE THIS STAR MAP: Early December: Midnight Late December: II pm. Earty Jus lopm ate January. 9pm Early February: 8 pm ate February; Dusk d within an hour or the times listed and is plotted for vers located bet and SO® north latitu of you and rotate it llow label corresponding to natch those depicted on the cha tom, righ ould xe much larger in the sky thar he circled numbers on the chart refer to the pages wher n of the objects in that n scribed in this book The numbers highlighted in red ndicate the objects best seen a Star monies, the times and dates listed above. MARCH « APRIL ~ HAY (WHEN TO USE THIS STAR MAP: Early March: 2am. Late March; lam Early Apri Midnighe Late Apri Hi pm. Early May: 10 pm. This star chart is most accurate sed within an hour ot so of the time and is plotted fo F ol located between 3 E 0° north All times an Fi ndard time; if daylight-saving Bs » use this char, hold It in front of nd rotate itso that the yellow onding tothe dir re fecing s positioned at the bottom, right-side up. The stars inthe sky should match those dlepicted on the chart. The center of the charts the zenith, the point the sky dlrectly overhead. ‘The ci numbers on the chat to the pages where ob that region of the sky are des in this book. The numbers ed objects best seen atthe times and nigh indicate the dates listed above ro Binocular Highlights Ets ue (GARY SERONIK. NEW TRACK MEDIA LLC ‘Camicridge, Massachusetts 2006. 5 Baer nezet ecco or one poate ates rt review, no part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, nor may it 15 be quoted in an information retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise copie for public or private use, without the writen permission ofthe copyright holder. Requests for permission 3 for further information should be addressed to Permissions. Sky Publishing, 49 Bay State Road, Cambridge, MA02135- 1200, USA Library of Congress Cataloyingin-Publication Data Seronik, Gary 79 Binocular highlights: 99 celestial sights for binocular uses / Gary Seronik. — Ist ed p-em 1. Constellations — Observers’ manuals. 2. Constellatic ‘Al chars by Gary Sern Greg Dndorman and Caney Reed. Printed Chia Fenaya Tee Tcl TRARY It's July. The coals in the barbe to cool and the aroma of dinner still lingers in the warm twilight air. Glancing up, you notice a solitary star high overhead, and later another, and another. Soon, there are more points of light shining in the darkening sky than you can count. Perhaps you're noticing them for the very first time, or may the stars are as familar to you as the birds and trees in your own backyard. It d matter. For anyone susceptible to the chanms of them twilight is a magic time, ripe with anticipation. Ifthe sight of a starlit sky excites your curiosity then this book is for you The night sky ts full of wonders; some sub ‘And you don't need a telescope to appreciate th come grand. sm, Within these f pages you will find descriptions and finder charts for a vari interesting objects that can be seen by anyone with binocular ‘This collection is neither a “best of (though many of the sky's finest deep-sky objects are included) n everything within the grasp of ordinary bin B —all given the binocular highlight treatment. lars. It is, however, a representative selection of star clusters, galaxies, n double sta But what is a binocular highlight? At its most prosaic level, Bh ts the name of a monthly column that cular High appears in Sky & Telescope mag wzne. I's the place in the ine where we Introduce readers to wonders of mage ight sky that can be viewed with average binoculars, usually under less-than-perfect viewing conditions. The objects we profile each month also provide a jumping-off point to explore the universe from your backyard, and to lear a little about the craft of see Is one reward forthe effort and erving. Learning to real patience expended through many nights of poking around the constellations. But there fs more to be enjoyed than Just the satisfaction of finding some of the sky's many treas When the vie Is fi ind our Imaginations engaged, we are transported far from our daily cares and concems, into the true vastness and awful indifference ofthe universe. It is humbling to gaze, for example, ata globular star cluster that Is twice as ancient as the planet we inhabit. We are thrust directly to the limits of comprehension when we behold a nebula so vast that ‘we have no earthly means of fully grasping its enormity. Our sense of time and space is subverted when we look at a distant galaxy whose light has traveled for millennia just to reach our ‘eyes this particular night. And yet, as French art historian and. writer André Malraux noted, “The greatest mystery is not that ‘we have been flung at random between the profusion of matter and of the stars, but that within this prison we can draw from ‘ourselves images powerful enough to deny our nothingness. Take this book with you, along with your binoculars, and go ‘out into fading twilight to begin your exploration, A universe full cof wonder awaits, Gary Seronik Associate Editor Sky & Telescope June 2006 HH a sgified one is rela ncomplicated n binoculars. Even if they them than with your eyes alone. That said, some bin: lef itely hawaguited to stargazing than aibers. Objeanelee 4 Boars const of two ental sets of apts each nn on obgetne rs, internal pm ase, nd eepece The objective rss gather the ight end he pris rect tes ih oes hich ogy the og: -_ Making Choices ‘So what combination of magnificatio ns diam est for astronomy? The short answer is 10x {nd now, the long n general, the bigger the objective lenses, the more light they collect —and collecting light i part of the game. Consequently, 50-mm binoculars are usu better choice than 35-mm models. So if bigger is better, why splurge for 70-mm or even 100-mm binoculars? Because large binoculars are heavy and tiring to use andl usually have restrict ed fields of view. Years of sta e taught me (and many zing han others) that 50-mm binos hit the sweet spot between capabilit and manageable si When it comes to the ideal magnification, lit most sky a more complex. In general, low-power binoculars show the ‘and more sky means your to find. However, most of the things you'll want to loo! pear more conspicuous and detailed with higher magn So why fication increases, the field of view shrinks until you reach a ie as the m ot get 15x oF 20x binoculars? Be gat a lange building 1,000 yards away, you'd s fect ofits height and 367 feet of ts width. But, when it comes toastronomy, where distances are usually in billions or trillions of Point where aiming the binoculars at a particular spot in the sky Recto cheat as) aperture numbers together to gauge _—_—Royal Astronomical Socletyof Canada's the relative performance of diferent Observers Handbook, and my experiences binoculars — simply multiply one number closely agree with his ratings. The by the other So, 10x 50 binoculars would important point is that magifiation and get performance rating of 500, while 8x _ objective-lens size are interrelated — it 40s would only rate 320. In this ase, the isnt simply a matter of picking the biggest 10x 50s should provide better views binoculars or the ones that magnify the Roy Bishop frst proposed this method of | most. Root prism versus porro prism binoculars. Quality bin- ‘oculars can be made in either design; one isnt inherently bet- ter than the other, though roof-prism models tend to be more expensive. Also, roof-prism binoculars that lack “phase coated optics” generally produce relatively dim, low-contrast views and. are best avoided. BK7 versus BaK4 prism. These terms refer to two fer ent types of optical glass used in a binocular’ internal prisms. ‘While BaKé prisms potentially offer better performance, the im- provement is usualy sight Big binoculars. Binoculars that feature objective lenses 70, ‘mm and larger can provide amazing views — no question about it. That said, I have to confess that I'm not a fan. I've owned several palr over the years, but they always end gathering dust (on a shelf. find that their relatively small feld of view, and the added hassle of setting up the required heavy-duty tripod and ‘mount, completely offset the benefits. I'm going to haul out that much equipment and get afield of only 3° or less, I'm going {0 opt fora telescope instead. becomes a serious challenge. Also, as magnification goes up, the mote difficult it becomes to hold the binoculars steady. All things considered, 10x seems to be the optimal magnification for binocular astronomy. Other Features ‘A quick perusal of your local camera stores binocular section or advertisements on the Internet will bring you face to face with an overwhelming array of features. Fortunately, many ofthese can be safely ignored, but here are some things that are nice to have. ‘Tripod socket. Usually hidden under a plastic cap at the front of the binoculars is a socket threaded to mate with a right- angle binocular adapter that attaches to standard camera tri- pod. This makes ita breeze to mount your binos on a tripod or other support for steadier views. Center-focus adjustment. There are two kinds of focusing schemes for binoculars — center focus (the most common) and -Anocig your ais a camera tripod sexy you use ariheaige trp aot 0 shown ee May Sina hove 20 tread ket Individual eyeplece focusing. With center focus, you tum a dial located between the eyepleces to adjust the focus of both halves of the binocular simultaneously. This design is quick and easy to-use. Although individual-focus eyepleces are mechanically simpler and generally more robust, focusing one eyepiece at a time can be tedious. Go with center focus. On the other hand, here are a few things that don’t matter (or at least usualy arent worth paying extra for). CCOCC0 00TH Binocular Optics: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Stargazing places the great: here's nothing like a feld of stars to make shortcomings alarmingly obvious. Binoculars 1 fine for bird watch ng or other daytime a not be stellar performers a night. So how do you go about choosing good optics? The best, fay isto try before you buy. If you perform two simple check: you can safely avold the most serious problem: Test for sharpness. Center a star (or, if testing in the daytime a glint of sunlight off a distant electrical pole insulator) and bring the binocular to a sharp focus. Next, slowly move th \d of view. De does it fuzz out? Most binoculars will not produce tar stay sharp and glint) to the edge of th pointike, eld of view, but good atthe very edge of the ‘ones will retain their sharpness over most ofthe field. Poor bin: ‘culars will show sharp images only atthe very center ofthe feld of view —and sometimes, not even then Testing for optical alignment. To prevent eyestraln (which can lead to headaches), both halves of a binocular need to b arallel and optically aligned. Mount the binocular on a tripod cr sett on a ladder or some other stationary platform. Alm the binocular, ant building (at least several blocks away — the farther the better), and focus. Now, look inthe right barrel only and note where objects are positioned relativ x of the ro the ft10-rght) direztion. Com erything me place 2 Nextenote the position of, 5 the same? Ani {AHHH nnd binocular that shows a significant diference in image position between the left and right bartels should be rejected. Cf course there are many other factors that distinguish ‘good binoculars from better ones, but as long as the optics are aligned and the image Is sharp for most ofthe field of view, they will at least be usable. The Allure of Cheap Binoculars once purchased a pair of perfectly serviceable 10> 50 binocu lars for $30 at an electronics retaller. These binocular owed that if you choose carefully, you can get good optics for relatively ttle money. So what do you get if you spend ten times as much? In terms ofthe actual view, not as much as you might expect, Yes, more expensive binoculars have better optics that will deliver more light to your eyes and sharper images, but the diffe- cence fs not night and day. ‘What the extra money does buy is mechanical quality. Expen sive binoculars can withstand the inevitable bumps and knocks, of everyday use without trouble, and have focusing mechanisms that are sure and precise, Holding Steady: Binocular Mounts Being able to hold your binoculars steady while viewing is jus: as Important as the quality ofthe binoculars themselves. A shaky View prevents you from seeing as much as the optics can del ‘Two factors play the biggest part in determining how steady the views will be: binocular weight and magnification. Heavy binocu make your muscles work harder and shake more, And the higher the magnification, the mor apparent the jigaling becomes. Indeed, even ordinary 10 x 50 binoculars benefit from some kind. of support. Here are some suggestions. A chair. Any kind of chatt is b will you be more comfortable, b er than none at all. Not only you'll be able to binoculars steadier ftom a seated position. A reclining chaise lounge is best of al A camera tripod. This is only tripod does steady the view, for objects high in the sky things artial solution. While a qulekly get uncomfortable as you crane your neck to the binocular A specialized binocular mount. These devices usually provide steady and comfortable view but at additional cost and by sacrificing portability ‘A camera monopod. This is my per- sonal favorite. Used from a seated po: ton it is possible to get steady and com- fortable views. Adding a block of wood to the top and resting the binoculars against that (as shown at lft) provides even better performance. motion and the dreaded jigles. The te espe beauty of ISBs is that they provide won- derfully steady views without any extra gear. Essentially they preserve the true essence of binocular astronomy — the ability to go outside at a moments notice fo ‘minimum of equipment and fuss. (Over the years, I have owned and tested many different night of observing with a SBs. Of the current crop, my favorite Is the 10x 42 made by Canon. ‘The: ‘my view, are the ultimate tool for binocular stargazing. How. nbine superb opt with image stabilization and, in ever, the than $1,000. For the budget-minded stargazer, Canon al jonder-binos aren't cheap expect t0 pay more o makes a nice pair of 10 x 30 ISBs. These also feature excellent optics. Although their aperture is little tng I found they show as n % 50s. The Canons are small and lightweight enough to travel small, infield uch as ordinary 7 ‘well, yt deliver performance quite beyond what you might expect for binos of this size. In fact, my 10 x 30s get used often than any other binocular I own, Final Thoughts Although this ch: all about choosing binoculars, ying the night sky Is not all about the equipment. Binoculars are simply a tool like any other. Keep in mind that any binoct is better than none. The main thing isto get outside and view the sky, to seek out its treasures, and soak up the starlight. When, oing that, I guarantee that you'll be thinking about the beauty ofthe starry heavens, not the binoculars you're holding in your hanes. 7 DECEMBER + JANUARY » FEBRUARY 1 Camelopardalis (Kemble’s Cascade, NGC 1502) Perseus (Double Cluster, Alpha Perseus Association, M34, Algol) ss (Pleiades, Hyades, NGC 1647) (M36, M37, M38) 2 Gemini ae (M35, NGC 2158) (Betelgeuse, M42, Struve 747, NGC 1981) Cani (mal) 29 Monoceros, (M50) pis (M46, M47, NGC 2877, NGC 2451) PLANETARY NEBULA GLOBULAR CLUSTER DIFFUSE NEBULA ‘OPEN CLUSTER seomside and the closeup ABOUT THE CHARTS: ofthe star maps in thi caper has been rendered de 80, 1 magnitude 85, Regards, the VARIABLE STAR. darkened crcular area abays represents the fh aaa pesrpertisarerneenfes detente DECEMBER b nd the brain are re ons are one nd hin the constellati he distinc ven det. One exception to th able string of stars in Ca own as Kemble’s Cascade. T had my first encount ile examin ‘Comet Hyakutake that I night. Not far from obably long and st jozen or $0 stars of roughl iat at fist I dismissed it as a "This string of stars gets it JANUARY FEBRUARY. id Ru ces far column in Sky & 7 hich Walter Scott F letter he had eur Lucian J. Kembh describ aut s" In the constella K quit bin FQQCODGODDDEDDDDDDDDDDDDD. DECEMBER - JANUARY - FERRIJARY. Cetera Ears fe) The Glorious Double Cluster. Without doubt, one of the most spectacu Jar binocular sights in the sky is the fam Double Cluster in Perseus. For Northern Hemisphere observers, there are perhaps fewer than a dozen abjects that are as im= pressive under typical light-polluted subur ban skies. And w sky locations, these stellar mounds will convince even the most doubting observer that binocular astronomy has an appeal al The Doubl (also known as NGC £884 and 869) les inthe rich stretch of Milky ‘Way between Perseus and Casslopela. appropriate when you keep in mind that ‘open star clusters form near the plane of ‘our Milky Way galaxy's disk. These two are ‘about 7,600 light-years from us and only 23 million years old. After soaking up the richness ofthe field i view, look carefully atthe individual n observed from dark

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