BinocularSky

+1 for the Heritage 130P - it's a very capable little scope and, being dovetail-mounted, it can also be used on an Altaz (+GOTO) mount if you like (not a GEM, though: the eyepiece position is fixed and could get into some seriously awkward positions.

Not so keen on the 100P for adults - the finder position makes it very awkward to use.

However, the 130P boxed takes up quite a bit of space for a small camper. We have a Merc Vito conversion; I find 16x70 binos + monopod/triggergrip to be ideal and easily stashable out of the way.

Optrep. https://www.opticalrepairs.com/ (No connection, etc...)

I have the 20x80 (and 15x70) Skymaster Pro for review at the mo. If you can hold on for a couple of weeks, I'll let you know in detail what I think.

12 minutes ago, Mr niall said:

This is a really good one - really liked the context stuff about the plane of the milky way and how stuff is arranged around it, really adds something.

Thanks. The southern Milky Way on these summer nights is ideally orientated for this. Don't know why I haven't thought of writing it up before. 🙂

The latest edition of the Binocular Sky Newsletter is ready. As well as the usual overview of DSOs, variable and double stars, this month we have:

* Astronomical darkness returns
* Three lunar occultations (all dark-limb disappearances)
* See both ice giants
* Review of the Manfrotto Magic Arm

I hope it helps you to get the best out of these short summer nights with your binoculars or small telescopes.

To pick up your free copy, just head over to http://binocularsky.com and click on the Newsletter tab. You can also subscribe (also free) and have it emailed each month.

On 28/06/2019 at 14:01, daemon said:

I think you'll find you need to use an Ha filter (7nm best) to bring out that third leg! 😉

Nah, there's an occultation in progress.

Blimey, you guys are so negative! Here's what you get with zoom binoculars:
* A gorgeous soft-focus, usually associated (or so I am told) with the type of movie you wouldn't take a maiden aunt to see.
* Low magnification "vistas" that save you the trouble of travelling to Cornwall (and the danger of being Darwinned by a train) if you want to know what it's like to look along the BrownQueen Tunnel.
* Two images for the price of one.
* And, as long as you get the ones with "the latest ruby coatings", you get to see exactly what the world would look like after a zombie apocalypse.

What's not to like? Huh?

3 hours ago, johninderby said:

Ordered same time and arrived at the same time. Bigger stuff came in the cardboard envelope? 

Ridiculous! The sooner packagers have to pay the full environmental cost of packaging and its disposal, the better!

I have been told that there is a sound financial reason for this wasteful practice: Apparently, by having only a few different carton sizes, they save due to quantity discounts. But you'd think those adapters could have been sent in one of those tear-strip cardboard envelopes that they use.

On 22/05/2019 at 20:03, Telescope40 said:

Hello Chaz.  Can you swop these easily between binoculars ?? 

Yes I have three that I currently swap amongst seven binoculars. But I'm going to get 4 more as funds permit.

Another peeve is my camera strap. In its "native" state, it is fiddly and time-consuming to get it off and, in particular, on the strap lugs on the camera. Obviously, the strap is useful for non-astro use when I neck-sling the camera, but is a right pain when I mount it for astro-photography. This solution seems to do it for me: OP/TECH Utility Loops (NB: Adapt-Its System Connectors don't fit the Canon 700D/Kiss X7i strap-lugs) and mini locking S-biners:

I've been mucking about with a Bino-Bandit on my Vixen 6.5x32 for a couple of months. Really good at cutting out peripheral light, comfortable to use, and also doubles as eyepiece caps in the field. Designed for birders/hunters, so naff camo livery, but who cares in the dark? So impressed that I got a couple more (I'll do a full review in the next BinocularSky Newsletter). Only UK outlet I've found is Vortex, but I got mine direct from the US.

Also, I get fed up with the way neck-slung binoculars get in the way when I'm setting up mounted scope or binos; taking them off is an option, but a nuisance in the field: they have to be put somewhere. Tried out a Tract harness: no more swinging binocs (also a benefit when I'm out walking). It's elasticated, so fits comfortably over just a tee-shirt, or shirt, jumper and jacket without needing adjustment. I'll do a proper review when I've had it for a bit longer.

On the Vixen 6.5x32:

On the Vixen 6.5x32 - focusers are accessible:

Also useful on the 2.1x42 (but does obstruct focusers, not that this is a huge hassle, since I don't change focus for astronomy 🙂  ):

Tract harness on my "nature" binoculars: note how the BinoBandit doubles as field-use eyepiece caps:

18 hours ago, ThomasLondon said:

You do not adjust non-adjustable solar finders.

Ah. I suppose I must have missed the word "non-adjustable" in the original description of it.
 

18 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

The one I made just fits in a normal finder holder:

Ditto. Off-the-shelf plumbing parts, apart from the screen, which I cut from a plastic milk bottle.

2 hours ago, johninderby said:

A solar finder. Better pic in my scope thread.

How do you adjust it so that it's parallel to the OTA optical axis?

On 28/03/2019 at 13:11, AdeKing said:

Very nice Steve, that will make a nice difference to the contrast.

Hope it wasn't looking through the DS Lunt at Sixpenny Handley that sparked that purchase.

Yup, it was looking through your DS - but don't apologise ?. Definite contrast increase.

Quick and nasties with a LifeCam (unprocessed):

It is, of course hazy, and the Sun is a tad quiet...

I'll probably pop a camera onto the scope later - there's a nice prom (visible without the double-stack filter).

On 26/10/2009 at 12:19, Breakintheclouds said:

As a relative newbie to astronomy I can't really contribute any tutorials on nebulae and planets, but in the spirit of giving back to this forum, from where I've learnt so much, here is a short primer on the eye and how it works in the dark, in the hope it helps people understand all this stuff about red lights, averted gaze and telescope tapping. (I'm a psychologist with a background in neuroscience...)

[snip]

Excellent post! Thank you.

On 27/01/2019 at 14:53, happy-kat said:

Hi. I'm not sure as I haven't looked lately but there may be a collimation guide on binocularsky.com. 

There is, but it's terse. Also I did do one for Sky at Night a while back: http://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/feature/how-guide/how-collimate-binoculars-astronomy

Also, see Bill Cook's excellent new book: Understanding & Attaining 3-Axis Binocular Collimation (review in the pipeline)

3 hours ago, mark81 said:

And being attacked by the slow Mo controls doesn't look too appealing either ?

I expected that to be a nuisance, but a slomo in each hand was fine. Alternatively, you could put short knobs on the slomos.

Here you go. For reference, I am 178 cm (5' 10") tall. (& No, I am not looking at the Sun & Yes, the objective caps are still on ? )

In short, it can be done, but I wouldn't do it: too many legs in a territorial dispute for my liking, and my ageing neck really doesn't like looking up beyond about 45*.

When this wind and rain calms down a bit, I'll try it and take some photos.

1 hour ago, mark81 said:

I came across this on FLO, I guess a binocular bracket would go with this....

It does. I have an AZ3 with that on it. I find the AZ3 too low for binos, though.

In case you need it, I've written an instruction/maintenance manual for that trigger-grip (it usually comes with woeful instructions) - see the "Choosing and Using tab on http://binocularsky.com

Also, I see you have the 7DayShop monopod. Just a heads-up: if it is the one I think it is, the clamps are not adjustable for tension.The top clamp gets a lot of use and the one I had became too slack after about 18 months (still, lots of use for such an inexpensive monopod) and would no longer support the weight of my Helios Apollo 15x70, so you might want to start thinking about your eventual upgrade.

12 hours ago, Bamo said:

Just an update; last night I've used a camping 12v hairdryer with Sky-watcher power bank 7Ah. I guess I turned on the hair dryer for a couple or 3 mins in total. I can tell that it sucked all the energy in the power bank. and I was left the rest of the night helpless!.

I'll need to think of something else. You can always go cheap but would it work?. In my case it just didn't.

I'm not very impressed with the batteries they use in those power packs. Mine started losing capacity very soon after I got it. I replaced the battery with a Yuasa one (also 7Ah) about 5 years ago and it's been fine ever since; much better than the original.

4 hours ago, Bamo said:

Any precautions whilst using the hairdryer during observation?.

As a matter of habit I let it run for a few seconds (to expel any loose dust) before directing it across the optic, and obviously you don't want to touch the optic with it. At 12v, electrical safety isn't a major concern.