GrillBoss

Thank you for the feedback. I have a new pair of Pentax 16x50 on the way as well as a Fuji Glimpz 5x21 ($30!) and a Nikon AE 7x35. Once I have enough binoculars to compare I should be able to figure out if the problem is my eyes or the binos.

Last night we had crystal clear skies but it was too cold for a long session (-33 degrees) so I brought out my binoculars for some short observing sessions. I have had these Zeiss 10x40 binoculars for more than 30 years and I always had best results using them without my eyeglasses on and the eyecups extended out. When I use them on terrestrial objects I still get good results, but recently I started viewing celestial objects with them and I notice a bit of a double image. I adjust the front dial (diopter?) as far as it will go but I can never resolve to a good single pinpoint image. Since these are high quality binoculars I assume the problem is with my eyes, likely astigmatism. I have tried wearing glasses while I view but I can't seem to get consistent sharp views. I think the problem may be that I am wearing "progressive" lenses, which are a multi-focal design. I am looking for some input from experienced viewers who wear glasses. Do I need a pair of "single vision" reading glasses for observing with binoculars? Do you have the eyecups extended or rolled down when you view with glasses? Any tips are appreciated.

According to Google Maps I am about 1600km east of the nearest ocean and I'm behind the Rocky Mountains too which often makes for clear dry weather here. It is a dry cold here and it does make it easier to take.

I know Regina, and while it gets pretty darn cold there we have them beat in that department up here at 55 degrees North latitude. One good thing about sky watching up here is we might get a nice Aurora Borealis display this winter. If so I am hoping for clear skies so I can try my hand at long exposure pictures.

This cold is hard on the equipment too. I was worried I was going to snap off the helical focuser on my Heritage 150p when the PFTE tape froze in place. I have since quit using the tape. I have to move the scope with it extended full length as it won't retract when it gets cold. Bringing the scope back inside results in an immediate thick coating of frost on every surface. I have to gently clean my secondary mirror from water marks left behind when it all warms up and dries off too. I'm looking forward to warmer weather but this cold is continuing for the entire next week's forecast. I will say when it gets this cold the sky sometimes is very clear. Three nights like that are in the week's forecast - "clear and cold".

I've only had two clear nights in the three weeks since I got my new telescope. Now it is finally supposed to be mostly clear tonight and the forecast low temperature is -43 degrees with wind chills that will feel like -50. Too cold even for me. How frustrating! Alberta is a pretty dry place and usually has a lot of clear skies. It's the dreaded new telescope curse again, without a doubt. Of course, I'll on here in June complaining that the sky only gets dark for 4 hours a night so it would be nice to get some observing time when it's dark 14 hours out of 24 right now.

I have full face ski masks that can keep my face warm as well as a full snowmobile suit but at some point it all gets too difficult to observe. I prefer to just pop into the house to warm up every 20 minutes or so when it gets this cold.

I already use the electrically heated socks. For the rest I just layer on the warm clothes until I look like the Michelin Man. My fingers and nose freeze first. I'll have to try those heated gloves but some things (like changing eyepieces) require bare hands.

I had a cold feet issue when fishing through the ice on frozen lakes. Standing on a sheet of ice for hours requires good boots of course, but I also recommend electrically heated socks. They make a big difference in comfort. I buy them on Amazon and a pair lasts me a couple of fishing seasons.

I took early retirement last year and with more time for hobbies I recently took up star gazing with the purchase of a Heritage 150p. My skies are Bortle 4 and I'm 550 meters above sea level so my night skies often have great views of the Milky Way and other DSOs. I also have regular opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis as I am at 55 degrees north latitude. The only problem is the weather, tonight it is forecast to drop to -26 degrees with wind chills that feel like -36. I have to pop into the house often to warm up so my night vision suffers.

After playing around with a Celestron 70AZ (a gift) and enjoying some lunar viewing, I went ahead and ordered a Heritage 150p, a red headlamp and a copy of Turn Left at Orion to take this hobby to a step higher level. I purchased a Celestron Xcel-LX in 12mm for my refractor and am very happy with how it performed. It was a huge improvement from the 10mm eyepiece that came with the 70AZ and I am looking forward to using it with the new Heritage 150p. I want to get a couple more eyepieces for the new scope and am leaning towards staying with the Xcel-LX as they suit my budget and I have seen them recommended online for my scope. My first question is regarding reaching higher magnifications for lunar and planetary viewing. I would like to achieve magnifications of 150x or even higher. 150x is achieved with 5mm EP and has exit pupil of 1mm by my calculations. With a fast F5 scope like the Heritage 150p, can I use a Barlow 2x effectively? Is the weight too much for the small scope? The Barlow weighs 157 grams and the 9mm weighs 180 grams, so total of 337 grams. If the weight is not an issue, would I be better off with buying a Barlow 2x and a Xcel-LX 9mm, vs a Xcel-LX 5mm? Obviously the Barlow (if practical) could be used with my current 12mm Xcel-LX as well. One more eyepiece question is in regards to wide field viewing of some DSOs. I live in a Bortle class 4 area on a farm so I have pretty good opportunities to view DSOs. What EP would be a good choice for viewing DSOs with a Heritage 150p? Thanks in advance for your help everyone.