Differences with built in equipmentPosted By Anthony Lutton |
Tonight while doing some lunar observing with an Orion ED80, and a 4mm Radian eyepiece I noticed that the views through different eyes were quite different. I only noticed this phenomenon at high powers too (150x... roughly 50x per inch on this scope). If I popped in my 14mm Meade UWA, I didn't see much of a difference.
In my right eye (the one I observe with most of the time), the image was slightly dimmer and I could detect more craters, irregularities in the surface and rilles.
In my left eye some of the smaller features weren't visible or easy to pick out... what WAS easy to see where crater rays, differences in contrast of the crater floors and sea floors.
While looking at the area near Aristarchus and the Schroter Vallis, in my right eye (which I was viewing with first) I could detect many of the smaller craters in the area. Comparing the view against Rukl's Atlas of the Moon, I could see many little craters and offshoots of the valley. For some reason I looked at the area with my left eye and was stunned that the view was completely different.
In my left eye, I couldn't make out more than a few craters besides the big ones. What I could see were variations in color the ejecta from Aristarchus created on the lunar surface. While looking at the shadows along the valley, I could see variations in the contrast of the shadows!!
At first I chalked it up to my right eye being "trained" to pick out detail and the image was more "dim" because I'd been staring at the moon for so long with it. So I took a 10 minute break for a drink and went back to viewing after my eyes had relaxed. The difference between my eyes was still as prominent.
Has anyone else ever noticed this type of thing?
I'm going to start observing the moon/planets alternating eyes to pick out different details. And a binoviewer to view with both at the same time is out of the question for now... my wife would kill me 8)
In my right eye (the one I observe with most of the time), the image was slightly dimmer and I could detect more craters, irregularities in the surface and rilles.
In my left eye some of the smaller features weren't visible or easy to pick out... what WAS easy to see where crater rays, differences in contrast of the crater floors and sea floors.
While looking at the area near Aristarchus and the Schroter Vallis, in my right eye (which I was viewing with first) I could detect many of the smaller craters in the area. Comparing the view against Rukl's Atlas of the Moon, I could see many little craters and offshoots of the valley. For some reason I looked at the area with my left eye and was stunned that the view was completely different.
In my left eye, I couldn't make out more than a few craters besides the big ones. What I could see were variations in color the ejecta from Aristarchus created on the lunar surface. While looking at the shadows along the valley, I could see variations in the contrast of the shadows!!
At first I chalked it up to my right eye being "trained" to pick out detail and the image was more "dim" because I'd been staring at the moon for so long with it. So I took a 10 minute break for a drink and went back to viewing after my eyes had relaxed. The difference between my eyes was still as prominent.
Has anyone else ever noticed this type of thing?
I'm going to start observing the moon/planets alternating eyes to pick out different details. And a binoviewer to view with both at the same time is out of the question for now... my wife would kill me 8)