what can I do with 8x42 binoculars?
Mamadu...@gmail.com
I have recently bought a pair of Nikon ATB Monarch 8x42 binoculars
mainly for outdoor use and wildlife observation (I live in East
Central Florida) and I realize that these are less than ideal for
observing stars or planets and that something like a 10x70 (or more)
would be better. Still, since I have three kids which I am
homeschooling, a green laser and a decent astronomy program on my
computers (Kstars) I was wondering what I could do with the binoculars
I have. Is 8x42 really useless for night sky observation on can I see
some planets besides the Moon? What else, if anything, can one
observe with such low power bins?
Many thanks for any pointers!
M.
PS: Any chance of seeing the Space Station?
William Hamblen
>I have recently bought a pair of Nikon ATB Monarch 8x42 binoculars
>mainly for outdoor use and wildlife observation (I live in East
>Central Florida) and I realize that these are less than ideal for
>observing stars or planets and that something like a 10x70 (or more)
>would be better. Still, since I have three kids which I am
>homeschooling, a green laser and a decent astronomy program on my
>computers (Kstars) I was wondering what I could do with the binoculars
>I have. Is 8x42 really useless for night sky observation on can I see
>some planets besides the Moon? What else, if anything, can one
>observe with such low power bins?
8 x 42 binoculars are fine for star gazing.
Hand held binoculars don't have enough magnification to show any
detail on the planets. You can easily see the large moons of Jupiter
in binoculars. You can detect many features on the moon. A good
guide is the Cherrington book, Exploring the Moon through Binoculars
and Small Telescopes, which is still in print. Many deep sky objects
are visible in binoculars. Some deep sky objects look better in
binoculars than in telescopes. There are plenty of binocular
observing handbooks in print. Touring the Universe through Binoculars
is a recent one. You also want a star atlas. You also can print maps
from a computer planetarium program, some of which are free. An
outdoor chaise lounge that lets you lean back to see up make binocular
star gazing more comfortable.
You can see the ISS with the unaided eye. It might be large enough to
show some shape through binoculars. I haven't tried to see.
Get with your local astronomy club. Most have stars parties on new
moon weekends.
Dennis Woos
Your binos are a wonderful instrument for doing astronomy! I recommend that
you get a mount for them, as 1) steadily hand-holding for astronomy is hard
to do, and 2) a mount allows the binos to stay positioned on a target while
you and your children share viewing. This mount is very inexpensive and very
high quality:
http://www.burgessoptical.com/Mounts/TinyTitanII.html
You will need some kind of tripod to attach it to - a simple photo tripod is
fine.
So far as observing goes, if your sky is reasonably dark then there is a
lifetime of astronomy to be done with your binos. This isn't to say that you
might not want more apperture at some point, but rather that you won't run
out of things to observe and study. I am sure that you will get a lot of
tips on what to observe here, and it will be good info. For instance, right
now you can observe Jupiter and up to four of it's moons, as well as Uranus
and maybe Neptune. The Milky Way contains dozens of great targets for
naked-eye and small bino observing. You can't go wrong locating and
observing any of the bright Messier objects that are available (e.g. M22,
M11, M8, M13, and the non-Messier Double Cluster), and your software should
help you with this.
Finally, you should join your local astronomy club, where you will find
folks who are eager to help you and your children figure out how and what to
observe. In fact, I wouldn't argue with you discounting everything else I
have told you, and following whatever advice your club folks give you.
Dennis
nik
Definitely look for andromeda - I shown it to people of all ages
using
binocs, and they've all absolutely loved it (without exception). I
always
expected people to either not see it or not see the significance of
the
little smudge, but they all get it and appreciate what they're seeing.
The other thing is that the milky way itself is cool with binoculars
just
from the feel of going from quite a lot of stars with the naked eye
to
millions and millions. Once you then explain the shape of the galaxy,
where
we are and why you see different numbers of stars in different
directions
again people get really interested...
Then the pleiades aren't bad, and Orions sword is usually visible. As
the
other poster said, jupiters moons are also quite impressive...
Nik
Mark S.
UNIVERSE THROUGH BINOCULARS ATLAS.
Freeware and can be found at...
http://www.philharrington.net/tuba.htm
D/L link is near the bottom of the page.
Enjoy!
Mark S.
Curtis Croulet
binoculars) for astronomy. You can see most of the Messier objects with
them. Most galaxies, aside from M31 & M33, look like tiny fuzzy spots,
usually oval. Globular clusters are little round fuzzy things. At this
time of year, there are dozens of globulars that you can see in 8x42
binoculars. You can also see the full scope of the Veil Nebula and the
North America Nebula. The Ring Nebula (M57) looks like a star.
--
Curtis Croulet
Temecula, California
cal...@verizon.net
AstroS...@gmail.com
Is 8x42 really useless for night sky observation on can I see
> some planets besides the Moon? What else, if anything, can one
> observe with such low power bins?
As others have stated, 8x42s can be both useful and enjoyable for
astronomical observations. My own 8x42s have sometimes been my
'instrument of choice' for observing certain celestial objects -- such
as certain comets and Milky Way star fields.
From a *dark* sky many deep sky objects (with the aid of a magnitude 6
star atlas) can be detected with 8x42 binoculars. It can be enjoyable
to relax and simply look around in the night sky with 8x42s even
without an atlas.
As for planets; Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are easy to
see with the unaided eye. Sometimes Uranus can be seen with the
unaided eye from a sufficiently dark observing site. 8x42 binoculars
will add Uranus and Neptune to the list of visible planets, but expect
to see *no* details on any of those planets.
With suitable white-light solar filters securely attached over the
objectives you'll be able to see sunspots (when there are sunspots to
be seen ;-) A tripod and mount will make it easier to pick out
details (most of which will be quite small) on the sun and moon, but
for most purposes you should be fine using the binoculars hand-held.
> PS: Any chance of seeing the Space Station?
The space station is bright enough to be seen easily (looking like a
bright, rapidly moving 'star') with the unaided eye. You can
certainly expect to *see* the space station with 8x42 binoculars, but
you shouldn't expect to see any structural detail.
If you look around in my blog and website you'll probably find 8x42
binoculars mentioned for some of my observations. Such binoculars get
used for astronomy even by people who have larger binoculars and
telescopes.
Bill Greer
To sketch is to see.
http://cejour.blogspot.com
http://www.rangeweb.net/~sketcher
Curtis Croulet
in the West Palm Beach area (Lake Worth, Boynton Beach), and I've found the
skies to be murky, light-polluted and generally difficult for astronomy.
I've never been there earlier in the year than April or later than
September, so I don't know what winter is like.
Mamadu...@gmail.com
First, I want to thank you all for your replies and encouragements. I
did not expect at all that 8x42 could be used for amateur astronomy
and I am quite delighted.
@Dennis: Jupiter's moons?!?!?! I would never have imagined that. I
will try, thanks!
@ G=EMC^2 : thanks for the tip. I am scouting ebay for some cheapo
bins in the 10x50 12x50 range. I know that this is less than ideal
quality, but this is all that I can afford right now.
@Nik: I will follow on your advice and try to see Andromeda. I can
use Kstars to find it or TUBA (which Mark recommended)
@ Mark: Thanks for the TUBA tip. Though all my computers are GNU/
Linux (I never use Windows or Apple) I got TUBA and installed it via
an emulator (called WINE). It works *perfectly*. Thanks again for
the tip!
@ Saul: I expect that you Celestron 8x56 can get a *lot* more light
than my Nikon ATB Monarch in 8x42. I did consider the Nikon ATB
Monarch in 8.5x56 but I just could not afford them (I got my 8x42 at
200 bucks, so I can hardly complain about the price). I suppose that
42 vs. 56 is a huge difference, but I hope to be able to afford some
decent x56 or even x70 one day :-)
@Bill: thanks for all the info. Is there an easy way to find out
where/when to look for the ISS?
catzz66
> Dear friends,
>
> First, I want to thank you all for your replies and encouragements. I
> did not expect at all that 8x42 could be used for amateur astronomy
> and I am quite delighted.
>
Even when you have a telescope, there is always a lot to see with
binoculars. Binoculars are also a lot more convenient to transport when
space is limited, like when you're traveling.
Iordani
> @Bill: thanks for all the info. Is there an easy way to find out
> where/when to look for the ISS?
One of many
http://www.heavens-above.com/
Painius
news:0ed1732f-ab39-4378...@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
I'm sure all are "you're welcome"ing you, Mamadu!
Here's an image that shows where the ISS at any time...
That site also gives location predictions.
HTH
happy days and...
starry starry nights!
--
Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth
P.S.: Thank YOU for reading!
P.P.S.: http://painellsworth.net
Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
I have the same binos -- purchased them for birding but use them for
astronomy. Last night, I checked out most of the objects around
Saggitarius -- M20, M22, M23, etc. Had no problem with any of them.
Get this book:
Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users (Spiral-
bound)
by Gary Seronik
You can purchase the book on Amazon.com or from Sky and Telescope.
The space station is a naked-eye object -- when it's visible, you can
watch it coast across the sky.
Mamadu...@gmail.com
track the ISS
@Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names: I just ordered the book from Amazon.
Thanks!
PS: this is the most newbie-friendly group I have ever come across!
Thanks guys, you are all great :-)
William Hamblen
>thanks for all the info. Is there an easy way to find out
>where/when to look for the ISS?
Try http://www.heavens-above.com/
Bud
Howard Lester
> Your binoculars are just fine. I regularly use 8x42 bins (my birding
> binoculars) for astronomy.
The only objection *I* have to these binoculars is their relatively narrow
field of view. Per the Nikon website, they have an effective apparent field
of [only] 50.4 degrees. (That translates to 330 ft.@ 1000 yards, or 6.3
degrees of sky.) It of course doesn't change what can be seen, but
especially for astronomy I much prefer a wider-angle binocular to give a
more "breathtaking" view.
Curtis Croulet
> field of view. Per the Nikon website, they have an effective apparent
> field of [only] 50.4 degrees. (That translates to 330 ft.@ 1000 yards, or
> 6.3
The FOV is typical in their price range. I have the Zeiss FL 8x42, which
has a wider FOV, but which also costs many times as much. I also have an
Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 8x42, which has specs similar to the OP's
Monarch ATB, and which I used with great pleasure for birding and astronomy
prior to buying the Zeiss. The OP seemed to be worried that his binoculars
were a poor choice for astronomy, perhaps (my guess) because they didn't
match the classic 7x50 specification. I say his bins are fine for
astronomy. He should just relax and enjoy them. If he decides he has lots
of spare cash, then, sure, investigate what it'll buy.
John C. Polasek
You may be interested to know that your eye, in night accommodation,
opens to 7 mm. The exit pupil or "light spot" from an 8x42 = 42/8 =
5mm. The exit pupilfrom a 10x70 is 70/10 = 7 mm. Any exit pupil
larger than 7 mm will be of no value.
The intensities are as 7^2/5^2 = 49/25 = 2:1.
John Polasek
A.Lee
> On Mon, 4 Aug 2008 06:11:56 -0700 (PDT), Mamadu...@gmail.com wrote:
> >I have recently bought a pair of Nikon ATB Monarch 8x42 binoculars
> >mainly for outdoor use and wildlife observation.....
> > Is 8x42 really useless for night sky observation on can I see
> >some planets besides the Moon? ....
> You may be interested to know that your eye, in night accommodation,
> opens to 7 mm. The exit pupil or "light spot" from an 8x42 = 42/8 =
> 5mm. The exit pupilfrom a 10x70 is 70/10 = 7 mm. Any exit pupil
> larger than 7 mm will be of no value.
> The intensities are as 7^2/5^2 = 49/25 = 2:1.
For the mathematically challenged amongst us, was that a yes or no to
the query?
Are you saying a pair of 10x80's will be no good, and a pair of 7x30
will be better?
Thanks
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
Painius
news:1ilrkp0.gsndjy1vbulbsN%alan@darkroom.+.com...
I'm no expert, Alan, but the way i read it, John is saying
that because the human eye dilates to no more than 7 mm,
it might cost more for a larger than 7 mm "light spot" or
"exit pupil", and it would be no better than one with the
7 mm exit pupil. And yet the 7 mm would be larger than
the one you mention, 30/7 = 4.3, so the 7 mm would be
better than that, yes.
So if you have to pay a little more for the 7 mm, it would
be better than the 4.3 mm. But if you had to pay more
for an 8 mm, you're better off with a less costly 7 mm.
HTH
happy days and...
starry starry nights!
--
Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth
P.S.: Thank *YOU* for reading!
P.P.S.: http://painellsworth.net
Dennis Woos
binoculars and telescopes. For a good general discussion of the issues, see:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/equipment/basics/3077091.html?page=4&c=y
With binos, there are the added factors of size/weight, and the benefits of
an oversized exit pupil for ease of eye positioning. I think the bottom line
is that there are no hard rules here, and that obsessing over exit pupil
size is pointless. Every aperture/magnification/exit
pupil/optical-mechanical package has advantages and disadvantages. Your 8x42
binos will capture some number of objects as well as or better than every
other instrument! Enjoy them.
Dennis
wsne...@hotmail.com
>
> @ Saul: I expect that you Celestron 8x56 can get a *lot* more light
> than my Nikon ATB Monarch in 8x42. I did consider the Nikon ATB
> Monarch in 8.5x56 but I just could not afford them (I got my 8x42 at
> 200 bucks, so I can hardly complain about the price). I suppose that
> 42 vs. 56 is a huge difference, but I hope to be able to afford some
> decent x56 or even x70 one day :-)
Your binoculars should be fine to use for astronomy. Rather than
getting some larger 70-80 mm binos, think more in terms of a simple
150 mm or larger Newtonian telescope for a similar price.
Dead Paul
Exit pupil value depends on the observers age. A youngster may be able to
accommodate a 7mm exit pupil when fully dilated but a 40 or 50 year old?
Not a chance. Think approx 4mm exit pupil being more useful.
--
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Painius
in message news:g9cd8h$pcn$1...@news.datemas.de...
>
> . . .
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Better?
hth
happy days and...
starry starry nights!
--
Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth
P.S.: Thank *YOU* for reading!
P.P.S.: http://yummycake.secretsgolden.com