Eye patch?

[NewHeart]

Hi, my first post - I am a newbie so please forgive any dumb questions! I have read that you should keep both eyes open when using a scope? But when I do this, I find the view from the other eye very distracting - too much light in my garden perhaps, all I see is the white bits of my dob and bits of my garden with stars floating around on top if you see what I mean. I tried putting a patch on my 'spare' eye last night and it was miles better. Do others do this? Note I wear glasses.

Note I have only had my scope for about a fortnight.

Cheers - oh, and "Clear Skies"!

[Gomtuu]

I normally use one eye only when using my scope - I don't know why you'd want to keep the other one open while looking through the eyepiece. 

I also wear glasses, but take them off when using the scope.

People often wear an eyepatch over their observing eye when not looking through the scope, so that if they are unexpectedly hit by a bright light, the night vision in their observing eye is protected.

[Qualia]

I tried putting a patch on my 'spare' eye last night and it was miles better. Do others do this?

Here's one of mine, New Heart The 'Tanga'. Think I'd be lost without it

[Sirius Starwatcher]

Hello Newheart and welcome to SGL. My 8 inch Dob is due for delivery TODAY. What Dob are you using? Using an eye patch on the eye you don't use would certainly help until you get use to observing. Good luck with your new scope

[m0dal]

Keeping both eyes open is more relaxing than screwing one eye shut. Using an eyepatch on the none scope eye means you can observe for longer and see more detail. Flipping the eye patch to the observing eye when not looking through the scope can preserve night vision.

Regards, AlanP

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[Vox45]

i did a little ressearch

www.eyepatchstore.com/id3.html

From what I understand, closing one eye create tensions and affect the eye that stays open. So, using an eyepatch should help you when observing for a long period of time.

cheers,

[daiwelly]

Hi Newheart Welcome to SGL

I use a patch all the time, when I am using the telescope it helps blanking out other distractions nowt wrong in that !!

[spaceboy]

I use these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291150394686 which save me no end of headaches.

[NewHeart]

Wow thanks for all the replies! Qualia I don't think my sewing is up to that! Vox45 yes I read something similar, something about how if the muscles are holding one eye [removed word] this compromises the vision in the open eye. M0dal - great tip about preserving night vision, thanks. Nebula, I bought the Skyliner 200p (same one you are getting?) Great scope, now I just need to learn my way around the skies...

So it is not just me that wears an eye patch - thanks everyone :-)

 

[Chris]

Thanks space boy, just ordered one :-)

[glowjet]

Hi Newhart and welcome to SGL, eye patches are worn by many observers, another trick is to remove one lens of a pair of dark Sun glasses so you do not have to bother with elastic round you head, enjoy

[davedownsouth]

If you are going to look like a pirate in a field, you may as well go the whole hog:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pirates-Eyepatch-Black-Silver-Diamante/dp/B003CJ0SLC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1411469547&sr=8-15&keywords=eye+patch

[glowjet]

Very nice, but you forgot the Parrot

[steppenwolf]

I occasionally wear an eyepatch when observing for long periods as crunching up the unused eye gets very tiring after a while!

Avast there me hearties ......

[Charic]

I keep both eyes open when viewing through a FinderScope, but not generally through an eyepiece! Closing one eye all night can be tiresome, and not everyone is comfortable with using either eye, so a patch can help at the eyepiece.

[Pingster]

A patch for me is far better than squinting with one eye closed. Its far more relaxing and enjoyable. I cant imagine how those do it with two eyes open unless binoviewing.

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[Tinker1947]

I use a patch so much better than squinting, on your finding your way around if you don't have it Stellarium  is a free download.......

http://stellarium.org/

[NotSoSuperNova]

You guys are all crazy. Why bother with an eye patch that is either made or bought. For a stylish yet affordable option just make an eye sized hole in a hessian sack, pop it over your head and voila!!! I've even modded mine to have straw hole in case I get thirsty. 

[davedownsouth]

You guys are all crazy. Why bother with an eye patch that is either made or bought. For a stylish yet affordable option just make an eye sized hole in a hessian sack, pop it over your head and voila!!! I've even modded mine to have straw hole in case I get thirsty. 

My wife is already suspicious of me sneaking off to fields in the middle of the night.  If I go wearing a sack on my head with just one eye hole; things could start getting sticky

[Andy Mitchell]

Arrr, yee land lubbers. This ere thread be just too late for International Talk Like a Pirate Day

[ronl]

I always use an eye patch, and I have modified mine by fixing black sponge

around the edges, to keep out any stray light, it gives a comfortable fit for 

long observing sessions.

[nicoscy]

An eyepatch is convenient (and I do have one), but I prefer to use an observing vest with a Monk hood. Plenty of pockets for eyepieces and bits and bobs and also the hood helps a lot for dark adaptation, keeping stray light away and of course to aid in keeping both eyes open to avoid strain:

http://www.darkskiesapparel.com/hooded_vests.html

[ghostdance]

Here's one of mine, New Heart The 'Tanga'. Think I'd be lost without it

Oh god.....tell me it's not what I think it was

[Astro Imp]

Always use an eye patch. I've learnt to put up with all the pirate/parrot jibes from Mrs Astro Imp