mark81

Doug,

I would never get bored of just looking at that 'cannon' ....not to mention viewing through it...

Enjoy

Mark

Hi all,

I just noticed that FLO seem to have stopped selling the SE range from Celestron - I known it will be available in other stores for quite some time, but does this mean Celestron have stopped making them ? I know they have been around for at least 10 years and by all accounts been very popular so just out of interest I was wondering if they were releasing an alternative? 

Thanks

Mark

Thanks Steve,

Looks like a good edition with lots going on...

Mark

Ciaran, 

Nice set of doubles there - better have a look at a few of these myself...

I must gather a list of binocular doubles which have different colours to them...

Mark

6 minutes ago, domstar said:

That's excellent. Sketching is definitely on my to do list. Just can't seem to make that first step. This picture brings me that much closer to giving it a try.

 

Sometimes when I do a sketch, I look at it and wonder 'what was I thinking?' but more often than not they turn out OK....

Definitely give it a go, it's great fun (and does improve your observing skills )

Mark

I often like to sit back and take in the stars on very clear nights and with Orion on its way down for the season I took the opportunity to take a little sketch. 

It's often surprising what you can see when you really take your time and allow your eyes to fully adjust.  I didn't sketch in every star I could see as many appeared with averted vision but I was treated to some faint wisps of the milky way and could resolve a few stars in NGC 1981. Orions nebula wasn't as clear as it been recently but still nice to see.

Black card, white gel, white pencil and a red light.

Mark

1 hour ago, Jiggy 67 said:

I have mixed results quite often based on the transparency. Last night was pretty good but, like you John, no detail. I did have a fantastic view of M94 though, it was really bright and jumped right out. M94 is a lovely target for galaxy hunters, almost appearing as a globular cluster with its bright core

its funny you should say that, last night i grabbed m94 in the little st80 after I noticed it on my star map and the notes I take at the eyepiece I marked it as a Glob😁

it wasnt untill I came indoors and noticed it was a galaxy which confused me and made me wonder if I was looking at something completly different.....

Russ,

The Stella ii do have a good reputation. I think you get slightly better light transmission and correction on the Apollo s but the Stella's really are good quality and of course much lighter than the Apollo's so a trigger grip should work well... 

Clear skies

Mark

I certainly think they serve a purpose and are capable of showing you great things... But the problem with cheaper 100mm bins is the way the image loses its sharpness quite quickly from the centre. Of course they are also heavy so they need tripod mounting and they require straight through viewing.  If your using them for astro only you'll really you've got your neck to consider or you could get a parallelogram mount... But some good astro viewing can be done.  

Although they are cheap for a pair of 100mm binoculars , I'd be thinking about what telescope I could buy for the same money...

Mark

Another nice session  Ciaran.

Yea, you do often have to convince yourself about m66 with bins. I did a bit not convincing a few nights back.  Good to see you had a go at some doubles too - people often forget about them when using bins.  Might have a go at those ones tonight...

Enjoy the clear skies

Mark

Marios, 

That is a seriosly delicate sketch..

Nice one

Mark

Nice one Mike.. very interesting to see what subtle differences these filters make - and not an easy job to sketch either, I bet...

Mark

One thing to consider is the size of binocular.   A pair of 50mm from a very dark site will show you plenty - obviosly the faint fuzzies are literally going to be that, but you can at least hand hold them.  Once you begin to venture into the world of 70-80mm bins you can use them for brief sessions but to get the most out of then youll need a tripod/monopod.... And then of course you begin to wonder if you should have just bought a scope...

I guess it comes down to what type of observing your going to go for.... At the end of the day, a small dob is easily transportable - will show you much more for you money and stood in a corner really won't take up that much room (but then again, a dob is not a pair of binoculars)

Mark

I have great North Norfolk dark skies and have never seen M1 with 50mm's.... Although last night I did see it as the smallest of smudges with my st80 at x26 - that was a first for me... But now that I've located it maybe I'll have another go with the 50's

I always find magazine/ online challenges overly optimistic - but there's always that determined part of you that wants to prove them right....

On 16/03/2020 at 16:59, Ships and Stars said:

Hi all,

Some might have seen my earlier post lamenting the lack of filter threads for my Quantum 5.1 observation binoculars, as the Quantum 5.1 20x and 40x EPs don't have any threaded attachment points top or bottom, and these older style bins don't accept standard 1.25" eyepieces. 

I bought a cheap set of planetary filters, unscrewed the filter retainers, cut the holders down to increase eye relief and used a neat bead of JB Weld to attach filter threads to my 40x eyepieces. These attach now in the same way as the Helios Apollos binoculars to the user side of the eyepiece. I would have attached them to the objective side, but this would not allow the eyepiece to insert fully.

After letting the maximum strength JB Weld cure for 24hours, I now have filter threads!

By the way, JB Weld is an incredibly strong steel-reinforced epoxy with a tensile strength of over 5,000PSI, I've used it for years on various items with great success. You can sand it to shape or even drill and tap it for threads 👍 

The eyecups were missing, but now I think some generic ones will fit will a little trimming. 

Still have the 20x eyepieces to do, these still have the original eyecups, so those will get trimmed to neatly fit around the exterior of the filter holders. 

A little touch of black paint over the JB Weld with a super-fine model brush, and all is good. 

Brilliant work! Really looking to hearing how you get on with these...

Nice session Mark. I always look around Cassiopeia and Auriga, you never get bored...

I'm taking as much of Orion and Monoceros as I can at the moment. Very nicely placed and not around for much longer....

Mark

10x50s too! perfect

Great Find

18 minutes ago, Ciaran Meier said:

Hi Mark

Just arrived back home from a stint out with the scope. Cloud rolled in so have called it quits for the night. There's such a difference between using the big bins and the scope. Yep, the scope of course can pick out the detail but the big bins are great for  general viewing and kind of feel a bit more natural to use.  If I had to choose between the 8 inch newt or the 15×70's it would be a close call to be sure. 

Agreed.  Using both eyes, seeing things the right way round and most of all, the convenience of them and how easy they are to use make them so appealing...

Nice one Ciaran,

Impressive observations there, M1 is always tricky and as you said, easily missed if your not sure exactly where it is.  Maybe I will give it a go as it's higher in the sky and less prone to poorer conditions lower down. 

M51 is also a great find. Looks like a nice weekend ahead so that might have a go.

Mark

Nice observations once again and it's nice to see the written record too. It's something I always try and do but tend to rush...

Hi all,

So, I have done a load of sketching over the last year or so using black card and white pens. This has been fun and improved my observing, but I would much prefer to sketch on white paper with nice sharp pencils and then turn it into dark sky with white stars for a more professional finish.  Also adding a pitch black surround would be nice.  Is there an app for pc/android that anyone could recommend?

Thanks

Mark

Good to see your back observing ..  I remember all the problems you had a few months back and it's been interesting seeing all the different scopes you've had..

The Vixen has a nice focal length, good enough aperture and still falls into that portable category...

I'll look forward to hearing how it performs...

Clear skies

Mark

Nice session Ciaran,

People do tend to overlook doubles with binoculars but they really can be nice to look at.  Monoceros and Orion are up there as my favourites for binoculars,. So much going on.

Half to hear the monopod is working well...

Mark

If the cost of a parallelogram mount is too much, there are of course plenty of photo mounts that will hold this bins.  The Fotomate 680 easily holds up to 7kg and extends to about 197cm

That is a serious observation right there! 

The detail you have been able to pick up is incredible when you consider the size of its appearance in the EP.  It just goes to show that with a lot of practice, a very keen eye, patience, a great scope and a night of good seeing (yes, that's a lot of things) great things can be achieved.

Another great drawing Mike

Mark