Aug 05 2002
Date: August 5, 2002
Time: 0840 UTC
Seeing: 7/10
Transparency mag 3.5, LP
Instrument Used: Orion 10x50 Ultraview binoculars, mounted on Bogen 3021 tripod with tripod adapter.
Objects Observed:
Moon
Saturn
M45
I had been on the ‘net a long while and was completely unable to sleep before 0430 local time. This frequently happens to me since I work shift work. Not having to be back at work for a few days I didn’t worry about it. But I noticed the waning crescent moon from my deck and decided to take a look with my new binoculars.
I didn’t look long enough nor consult references to find any specific features on what little of the moon was illuminated, but this being my first view of the moon with these I was very pleased. I was really impressed with how much larger the image is just comparing 10x to 7x. The limb was very sharp with a hint of false color that was far FAR less than in my little 7x35 Bushnells. For whatever reason, those little binos show a very prominent blue/violet fringe on the lunar limb. My new Orions showed a much smaller yellow fringe, or perhaps a hint of blue on the inside of the bright/dark dividing line and yellow on the other, the yellow being against the black of the sky. Earthshine was very prominent and almost breathtakingly beautiful.
I then turned toward Saturn a few degrees away. Now here was a surprise. I have always heard that about 30x is needed to see Saturn’s rings. I’d certainly never seen a hint of them in binoculars before. I didn’t see clear rings now, either, but like Galileo I could tell “something wasn’t right.” The planet was very clearly elongated and by looking very closely in moments of good seeing I could almost convince myself that I saw the rings against the sky, though not, of course, the rings against the planet. When I came inside I checked the position angle with SNP and found I was correct about the orientation of the rings!
I then noticed M45, always a favorite object of mine, higher up and had a look. In spite of the LP, it was gorgeous! Of course, the Pleiades are gorgeous with most any optical aid. I counted 40 stars visible, though I wasn’t sure exactly where the cluster ended so wasn’t entirely sure where to stop counting. No hint of nebulosity, though.
I find debates about the Pleiades nebulosity a bit curious and puzzling. Consolmagno and Davis indicate in Turn Left at Orion that a 6” or larger scope is needed to see it, while O’Meara in Deep Sky Companions, The Messier Objects says that he can see it unaided and the late Walter Scott Houston scoffed at those who claimed it wasn’t visible unaided! I have a suspicion that this depends very much on sky conditions. TLAO is written toward the urban and suburban beginner, while O’Meara observes from some of the best sites available anywhere (plus has very keen eyes.) Maybe any LP just washes out the background too much?I suspect.
Date: August 5, 2002
Time: 0840 UTC
Seeing: 7/10
Transparency mag 3.5, LP
Instrument Used: Orion 10x50 Ultraview binoculars, mounted on Bogen 3021 tripod with tripod adapter.
Objects Observed:
Moon
Saturn
M45
I had been on the ‘net a long while and was completely unable to sleep before 0430 local time. This frequently happens to me since I work shift work. Not having to be back at work for a few days I didn’t worry about it. But I noticed the waning crescent moon from my deck and decided to take a look with my new binoculars.
I didn’t look long enough nor consult references to find any specific features on what little of the moon was illuminated, but this being my first view of the moon with these I was very pleased. I was really impressed with how much larger the image is just comparing 10x to 7x. The limb was very sharp with a hint of false color that was far FAR less than in my little 7x35 Bushnells. For whatever reason, those little binos show a very prominent blue/violet fringe on the lunar limb. My new Orions showed a much smaller yellow fringe, or perhaps a hint of blue on the inside of the bright/dark dividing line and yellow on the other, the yellow being against the black of the sky. Earthshine was very prominent and almost breathtakingly beautiful.
I then turned toward Saturn a few degrees away. Now here was a surprise. I have always heard that about 30x is needed to see Saturn’s rings. I’d certainly never seen a hint of them in binoculars before. I didn’t see clear rings now, either, but like Galileo I could tell “something wasn’t right.” The planet was very clearly elongated and by looking very closely in moments of good seeing I could almost convince myself that I saw the rings against the sky, though not, of course, the rings against the planet. When I came inside I checked the position angle with SNP and found I was correct about the orientation of the rings!
I then noticed M45, always a favorite object of mine, higher up and had a look. In spite of the LP, it was gorgeous! Of course, the Pleiades are gorgeous with most any optical aid. I counted 40 stars visible, though I wasn’t sure exactly where the cluster ended so wasn’t entirely sure where to stop counting. No hint of nebulosity, though.
I find debates about the Pleiades nebulosity a bit curious and puzzling. Consolmagno and Davis indicate in Turn Left at Orion that a 6” or larger scope is needed to see it, while O’Meara in Deep Sky Companions, The Messier Objects says that he can see it unaided and the late Walter Scott Houston scoffed at those who claimed it wasn’t visible unaided! I have a suspicion that this depends very much on sky conditions. TLAO is written toward the urban and suburban beginner, while O’Meara observes from some of the best sites available anywhere (plus has very keen eyes.) Maybe any LP just washes out the background too much?I suspect.
