March 14, 2019: Quick Bash with Bins

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Surprised by clear skies, but clouds threatening in the west, I grabbed the big Helios LightQuest 16x80 binoculars and had a quick look around. First spotted M3, always an easy target. I swing over to zenith, to pick out M81 and M82, which stood out nicely despite half a moon. I then went for M51, difficult, much lower in the skies, followed by M101, of which only the central part could be made out. M65 and M66 were next, rounding off my little galaxy hunt. I bade a quick farewell to M42 in Orion, and swept up M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga. I tried M35, but that was very hard so close to the moon. I ended by admiring the craters on the moon, and thoroughly wrecking my dark adaptation. Short session, but a nice break from the wind and rain

[Paul73]

Short session. Concise report. Job done!

Can you resolve the Auriga clusters with the 16x80’s?

Paul

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

6 hours ago, Paul73 said:

Short session. Concise report. Job done!

Can you resolve the Auriga clusters with the 16x80’s?

Paul

I can. The Helios Apollo 15x70 didn't quite manage that, but the LightQuest 16x80 do.

[Demonperformer]

A lot crammed into a short session. Well worth the effort.

[Stu]

Always good to get out there with whatever kit you can Michael. I assume you don't hand hold the 16x80s?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

3 hours ago, Stu said:

Always good to get out there with whatever kit you can Michael. I assume you don't hand hold the 16x80s?

Actually, for this kind of short session I do. The P-mount is really only for outreach sessions, and the monopod only gets used for longer binocular sessions

[Stu]

59 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

Actually, for this kind of short session I do. The P-mount is really only for outreach sessions, and the monopod only gets used for longer binocular sessions

??

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

??

No need for huge muscles, the LightQuest 16x80 are the same weight as the Apollo 15x70s (2.5 kg)