If 2 eyes are better than 1 ?

[gazza63]

If 2 eyes are better than 1.......

Why do we only use 1 eye through a telescope?

Yet, binoculars use both eyes.

I know that closing each eye in turn gives a different image, and our brain compensates when both eyes are open.

If we were able to use both eyes in a telescope, would we see any better?

Just a thought ( I must be bored) ha.

[LukeSkywatcher]

You could try a binoviewer. People say good things about them.

[Schorhr]

Yes, you would, if you have a big bino telescope ;-)

I read from experience reports a bino will show as much as a telescope 1.3-1.6x the aperture of the bino...

The human brain is made for binocular vision, but the large binos are heavy, bulky and expensive... And the bino adapters will have some draw-backs as well, especially regarding getting the image aligned, focused, and some telescopes may have difficulties to handle the extra weight... Plus the optics will reduce the brightness of course.

[Mark at Beaufort]

I can tell that the view through binoviewers is mind blowing. If I use the binoviewers on my 180mm Mak/Cass or 4" APO frac the view of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn is like viewing in 3D - its fantastic. I also use binoviewers to view the Sun with my Lunt Herschel Wedge - again its mind blowing.

I don't use binoviewers to view DSOs because you do have some light reduction - not much but I prefer to use my Ethos EPs on the Dob.

If you get the chance to use binoviewers you won't regret it.

Mark

[anthony]

I have a very fine time with my WO binoviewers on my SCT (8" F10). They are very nice on refractors as well but they take up quite a bit of the light path and you can end up having to use a barlow to get focus. The SCT with moving mirror has loads of focus travel. Superb for planets and lunar. Any drawbacks are more than compensated for by the views.

[astrokoma]

Try to observe Moon, Jupiter, Saturn , Globular clusters or bright DSO's, with a binoviewer. It is a experience!

(the bigger the instrumen'ts aperture, the better  of course)

[Knight of Clear Skies]

If 2 eyes are better than 1.......

Why do we only use 1 eye through a telescope?

Yet, binoculars use both eyes.

Cost would be the biggest issue, binoculars simply duplicate all the optics.

[Naemeth]

Cost would be the biggest issue, binoculars simply duplicate all the optics.

Weight, as Marcus pointed out is also an issue. A 10" mirror already weighs quite a lot, and a 16" mirror is usually quite heavy. Two would be very heavy, and would be a lot harder to transport as they would be set side by side.

[Luke]

+1 for binoviewer. I still use mono a lot of the time but the bino can make for more relaxed viewing and a 3D look. The sun in white light through binos can be amazing You need to take care that you will be able to reach focus with your telescope, so a bit of research is needed before taking the plunge.