A few doubles with the Big Bins

[StarSapling]

I was tired last and didn't feel like getting the scopes out, so I set up my 20x80's on the P-mount  to look at a few doubles.  I have on occasion, on nights when all conditions were favorable, been able make some splits in the 9" range with these bins (depending on the magnitudes involved of course).  Last night was not one of those nights.  The waxing moon and poor transparency really washed out the colors.

4/22/2015 - Oracle, Arizona - seeing good - transparency fair/poor - observer poor (tired) - waxing crescent moon

20x80 Binoculars

Bootes:

Kappa - 13” - Nice and tight, but easy split when I could get my eyes in the right position - white/blue - Iota (38”) in the same field to the east - white/blue

Canes Venatici:

Alpha - Cor Coroli - 20” - Close but easy - white/white - Lovely - neck breaker though with it being near the zenith.

Virgo:

17 - 20” - Close but easy - big magnitude difference - waxing moon made secondary somewhat difficult to detect - light blue/blue - Galaxy M61 just detectable in same field to the south.

Corvus:

Delta - 24” - Close but easy - big magnitude difference - yellow/blue

[cotterless45]

Some great targets there. It makes a change to just glide around with big bins,

Nick.

[lunator]

I use my 15x70 Binos sometimes. It does give a different view on some of the brighter wider doubles

Cheers

Ian

[neural]

I really enjoy hunting doubles with my 16x70s. As lunator says, some doubles just need lower magnification. Also splitting is a different challenge; in a scope you can increase the magnification as much as you like, but in binocs you're mostly testing your own visual acuity.

Quickly scanning my notes, I've recorded some favourites at 16x as 145 CMa, 59 And, 62 Tau, psi1 Psc, STF 222, and for the present season kappa Her and of course Albireo. STF 2470/2474 should be just barely doable, easier at 20x I expect.

Might have a look tonight if I can motivate myself ... the nights are getting short!