10x50s and really dark skies

[Jove]

Just got back from a week in Sardinia... the skies there were magnificent. I didn't take a scope but did pack my 10x50 bins, an wow, am I glad I did.

We stayed by the sea on the east coast and could walk down the harbour wall at night, shielded from what few lights were on in the town (most of them are switched off around 11). For the first time for a very long time I was able to make out the milky way flowing through Cygnus and Cassiopea, and the star fields in Cygnus were spectacular. M31 was very easy to find and looked better than I had ever seen it before. It was magical to watch the stars appear over the eastern horizon. In the early hours Orion presented itself to the east, the bins gave a better view of M42 that I have ever had through my scope. To top it off, an hour or so before dawn the zodiacal light could be clearly seen rising up through a near vertical Leo.

While many individual objects looked stunning what really impressed was the sheer splendour of the night sky unsullied by light pollution, if only we could get those kind of skies here!

[Worzsel]

Sounds wonderful !

[Moonshane]

brilliant! I bought a monopod and some 15x70s specifically to take on holidays. not used them yet (on holidays) but looking forward to going to Lanzarote next summer!

[asteria]

Very inspiring! What limits most of our activities in UK is the quality of the skies - light pollution being a key factor. Binos can really do a good sky proud. Thanks. Ed