Binocular Astronomy

distances using binoculars?

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:59:00 +0000

I want to know how to use binoculars to calculate the distance from me to an object.

The only good way that I am aware of to range using an optical sight is the way the navy used to do it. They had a calibrated reticle at the intermediate image. This allow one to measure the angular subtense of a target. If the size of the target is known then you can calculate its range.

This worked fine at sea because the dimensions of most enemy ships were known. (This method was very common before radar and laser rangefinders.) On land you may be able to estimate the size of various objects such as houses (ten feet per story) or people or cars or even trees.

Why do my night vision binoculars whine?

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:56:00 +0000

I bought a pair of 1st generation Seben binoculars and am curious as to what causes the whine when they are active. I understand the principle behind how they work, but what causes the whine?

I have night vision stuff because I like nature and I like gadgets.

Image intensifier tubes require a high voltage source to operate. I'd guess your binoculars use something like a high frequency flyback transformer to provide that voltage.

Zoom binoculars for astronomy?

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:52:00 +0000

I have a pair of 50$ bushnell 15x zoom binoculars and I can clearly see nebula the moon and even the andromeda galaxy. I would like to know if I am the only one that thinks inexpensive zoom binoculars are good.

Pretty much. Low cost zoom binoculars invariably introduce severe field distortion - it is not a question of what you can see, but how much of the field is sharp and whether they are free of astigmatism. Field flatteners are used on higher quality zoom binoculars which greatly improve things, but you need to spend several hundred dollars before you get one of those.

Finally, have you ever actually used a high quality pair of binos? A lot of newbies claim their budget binos are top notch, and even it is pointless to spend more, until they actually try a pair of premium binos. Then all those remarks about what a bargain they got tend to stop because they can see what they have been missing. I've seen the rings of Saturn through a pair of 12x binos - that is the kind of thing that demands the very best optical quality.

Why is the terminal line on the moon the best area to point a telescope or binoculars?

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 04:48:00 +0000

The question reads, "The best place to aim a telescope or binoculars on the Moonis among the terminal line- the line between the Moon's light and dark hemispheres. Why?"

You get high contrast near the terminator due to the long shadows. At the edge of light and dark is like sunset. At sunset, the Sun is at the horizon, and your shadow can be quite long.

"Best" is a highly subjective word, and should be avoided in school science homework questions. I give the question a grade of B+.

What kind of binoculars do you recommend for star gazing?

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 04:37:00 +0000

I want to buy binoculars for star gazing and to see Mars at the end of August. What is the cheapest brand, yet good quality that I can get?

If you try to view Mars at the end of this month through binoculars then you could go blind! Mars is currently about to pass behind the Sun through the end of this year. Never, under any circumstances view the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a full understanding and use of special filters (and you won't be able to see Mars Through the filters in any case).

Having said that, if you plan to use binoculars for general nighttime sky observing there is a lot to be said in favor of them. A good starting size that are usually under $100 (a reasonable price these days) are 10x50mm. This won't show planetary detail except for the larger craters on the moon and will show Jupiter's four largest moons. But they will show many star clusters and nebulae as well as some galaxies (alot depending on how much light pollution there is in your observing area) if you know where to look.

Learn About Earth's Nearest Neighbor - The Moon

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:01:00 +0000

Since the publication of Charles Wood's 'Lunar 100', in Sky and Telescope I have become a very keen observer of the Moon.

LunarPhase Pro is a utility for Windows which provides a range of information on the Moon and, to a lesser degree, the Sun, graphically displaying the current phase of the moon and lunar data, in real time. Lunarphase Pro (LPP) needs about 35Mb hard disk space for its installation. The recommended minimum amount of RAM on a PC is 128Mb (this will display the Moon in medium resolution graphics) but 256Mb is required for high-resolution displays. A 500Mhz or faster PC is recommended but some screen load times on calculation-intensive screens will be slow on less-specified PCs. I obtained a review copy of the software via a download rather than getting the CD. I installed the software on a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 PC. Installation is straightforward and finished without incident.

The initial window is clean and uncluttered. The 'skin' is chrome-like, it is impossible for the user to change this to give a more conventional Windows 'feel'. The number of buttons on the toolbar is small; however one of the buttons is entitled Display Menu of Other Functions. This gives an extensive list of other functions, all which really deserve their own icons. While this would increase the 'busyness' of the Window, I feel it would be preferable to the current situation. In general, I think that while some users might be unhappy with the non-standard appearance of the User Interface, this departure from the standard Windows 'look' looks very high-tech.

There is a downloadable manual which is available to you before you buy the software which I like. The file is a zip file which you extract and view using a browser. Instructions on viewing the manual are provided on the manual's download page.

LPP is primarily a planning tool for lunar observers and offers an enormous amount of information to assist the observer in this regard. Obviously, it graphically displays the current phase of the moon in real time and displays the times and dates of the major lunar phases for the month. However, it also provides much more information for planning your next night of moongazing, including the real-time position of the moon in both RA/Dec and Alt/Az coordinates, a calendar of lunar phases for each day in the selected month and monthly lunar libration diagrams. It is also possible to display a Lunar visibility diagram for the month showing when the moon is above the horizon and the brightness of the Moon. In addition, the software calculates and displays Moon's Rise, Set and Transit times. If you see an interesting feature under a particular illumination condition, it is possible to find times and dates when this feature will be under similar illumination, taking into account libration effects. Far-side and North/South Polar features can also be viewed and identified.

Lunar Explorer

Clicking the Lunar Explorer button is the gateway to the mapping functions of this software tool. If you want to take full advantage of the features here, you should activate Use OpenGL and High Resolution Graphics in the configuration screen.

The appearance of the Moon is very realistic once your PC has sufficient graphics capability (which shoudn't be a problem for modern PCs) to take advantage of the maps. Maps can also be oriented to match the view through your telescope or binoculars. Zooming and panning is smooth, although when you zoom in to the maximum, the image quality suffers a little. A new feature added to Version 3 of the software is diplaying very high resolution Moon charts. These have to be downloaded from the internet (LPP handles all of that for you) but you can save them for later viewing through the software. All maps in LPP can be printed out if you need to take something out to to the 'scope.

The feature identification tool is excellent; however, when you ask the tool to identify a named feature, it places a yellow ring (the colour of which can be changed on the Configuration screen) around the feature. Features can also be identified by clicking on the maps; feature information appears in a window at the bottom right of the screen. It's also possible to label features on the maps with the labelling tool which lets you select which features to label and lets you set different label colours for different types of features. The font characteristics used can be changed as well. You can also identify lists of features, such as Charles Wood's excellent 'Lunar 100'. Over 20 different feature lists are provided.

A recent addition to the package is a Feature Search facility which lets you find all features in LPP's database that match the criteria you set; e.g. A latitude/longitude range, features only within certain sizes or only specific types of feature. Any features returned by the search can be clicked to see where they appear on the maps. Icons also show if there are any observing notes or images associated with the features and you can jump to online webpages that show satellite images of the selected feature. This is very handy for just getting lists of features within small areas on the Moon.

One very nice feature is that the software allows you to produce a high resolution animation of lunar libration showing how the moon wobbles over the course of a month. If you don't know what libration is, click this button once and all will be revealed!! It's a pity that the feature only runs for 1 month, it would be nice if it ran until the user decided to stop it. The Lunar Explorer also lists which lunar features are currently on the moon's terminator. The utility includes Rukl Chart outlines and a list of features on the chart, a feature which will become of more importance with the imminent re-issue of these charts by Sky and Telescope. Once you have entered the details of your telescope/ eyepiece combination it can emulate the view through your instrument. It is possible to link images to specific lunar features and record your observations in the software in order to keep a permanent record of your observations (there are over 800 observing notes provided with LPP to get you going). Not only is a visible view of the Moon provided, you can choose to view 3 mineral maps, a gravity map and a Clementine image, a nice touch for educational purposes.

By entering your telescope and eyepiece information, LPP can emulate the view through your 'scope, so you can do dry-run observing sessions on cloudy nights. Also, for those cloudy nights, you can watch hundreds of online astronomy videos as well as NASA TV, dorectly through LPP.

Conclusions

Lunar Phase Pro is a great observation planning tool for lunar observers or imagers. The utility can teach you a lot about how the Moon orbits the Earth. In addition, it provides near photo-realistic views of the Lunar surface via the Lunar Explorer utility and these can be printed as custom built maps. Support for the software is excellent, there is a dedicated webpage at: http://www.lunarphasepro.com/support and the author, Gary Nugent, is very responsive to requests for enhancements.

To conclude, I would highly recommend this software, a steal at only $49.95 with ten bucks off if you download rather than get the CD. I bought it!

More...

Kevin Berwick

This is what the page looks like when you click on the following link. Click Here!

Once you decide to buy this software you will be directed to a that looks like the image below. This a secure purchase page were you can get the software with your credit or debit card.

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Internet Astronomy

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:37:00 +0000

by: M6.net

For many generations various human cultures have had great knowledge about the star constellations. However, these days most of the so-called modernized breed of human can’t tell you much about what’s around us in the infinite Universe. The funny thing is, technically we now know more about what’s there than ever before, we’ve even got photos. With the Hubble Telescope we now have access to the most unbelievable pictures imaginable: galaxies, nebulae and millions of stars close up. You don’t need to buy a book or DVD to see this stuff, just sit down at your computer and let the Internet take you on a galactic journey.

A lot of the images can be accessed for free just by finding the right sites. At http://wires.news.com.au/special/mm/030811-hubble.htm#panup2 you can watch a stream of beautiful visuals that are literally out of this world. The beauty of the photos, the fact that they are moving, and the musical accompaniment makes the whole trip quite ethereal. The other great aspect is the information the scientists have uncovered, mind-blowing ideas like the fact that some stars are 60 times brighter than our own sun, or the idea that there are thousands of stars in one tiny spot in the sky. The concept that galaxies are 150 million light years away-do you know how fast light travels?

For the average human who spends their existence in one place working hard everyday to make ends meet, life can become somewhat monotonous and insulated. You forget that there’s a whole world out there. The Universe however might be a random thought that only appears once in a month. The stars seem so disconnected to our everyday reality, but the fact is that we are part of a much bigger picture-the biggest picture of all, infinite space. Maybe if we did focus a bit more ‘outside the box’ of our familiar routines we could grasp on to the magic and perfection that surrounds us all the time, the real neighborhood that we belong to.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16616

http://www.spaceweather.com/

http://www.sec.noaa.gov/

These are a few more sites I discovered that give us more insight or ‘outsight’ into what is going on around us. Again I find the Internet has become my medium for accessing knowledge about life. Without leaving the office or my house I can travel to the most beautiful places, real places, we’re not talking Star Trek here people! I’ve seen many magical things in my life thus far: snow –capped mountains, rainbows over waterfalls, sunsets on tropical beaches. I’ve seen art, heard music, watched films; I’ve lived a very fortunate life indeed. But, to see these pictures and to learn about the incredible worlds outside our own…on a computer at home…it has taken me to a new level of understanding, new level of reverence for what it is we are part of. The only way to describe these galaxies, stars, and giant gas clouds close up is to speak the word ‘magic’. You will never see real paintings like this, beauty that stretches for millions of miles.

My computer screen has become a looking glass portal.

About The Author

Jesse S. Somer
M6.Net
http://www.m6.net
Jesse S. Somer is from Earth, his connection to the Internet has now connected him to other worlds, real worlds.
danielp@m6.net

How To Start A Child In An Astronomy Hobby, And Avoid The Pitfalls!

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:35:00 +0000

by: Tom Ryan

I caught the astronomy bug at an early age. It was right after my dinosaur-obsession and right before my car-obsession. Unfortunately, my interest in astronomy ended as abruptly as it began and on a very sour note. It took almost 30 years for me to decide to take it up again, and when I did it was hard to imagine waiting so long. Upon reflection, I realized I didn’t just stop; I stopped out of anger and frustration. My mother confirmed this recalling that when I was about 8 years old, my father and I went out with my little telescope for the first time. A half hour later when we came back in I wanted nothing more to do with it and wouldn’t even talk about it! It’s very easy to get a child interested in astronomy but it’s even easier for them to get frustrated and quit. I’ve come up with four suggestions that I feel may help you avoid the pitfalls I experienced and inspire your future scientist to take up the amazing hobby of astronomy and enjoy it for a lifetime!

First, you don’t need a telescope for an astronomy hobby. You heard that right! The very best way to start out is by learning about what you’re looking at. And you don’t need any equipment to do it. Get a book on constellations, sit down with your future astronomer (during the day), and start with the constellations that are visible for that time of year. Learn to identify the patterns, associate them with their names, and read the stories behind the historical characters they are named after. Kids have amazing memories and are fantastic at learning patterns and associating the names with them. Perfect for constellations! Check out science kits, science toys, and Janice VanCleave science experiment books, they are a great way to get started. After your child has become familiar with and can identify some of the constellations in the book, wait for a dark clear night, lie out on a blanket, and identify as many as you can. It will be so much fun you will count the days until the next time you go stargazing!

Now let’s talk about what you can and cannot see. The moon is amazing to look at through either binoculars or a telescope, but it’s bright so make sure you have a moon filter so you don’t hurt your eyes! A moon filter is like wearing sunglasses, it reduces the amount of light entering your eye(s). And don’t observe the moon when it’s full, it’s too washed out. Shadows bring out details in craters and other landscape features. Meteor showers are fun and there are schedules that will tell you when and where to look for them. Constellations are easy to see with the naked eye, but try to go out during a new moon (also called a dark moon) or close to it. The brighter the moon the harder it is to see celestial objects. With binoculars you will be able to see many open clusters and globular clusters, quite beautiful! With a low powered telescope you’ll be able to see both types of clusters, some double stars, and a few nebulae. You may also get to see Jupiter and Saturn. The only galaxy you should expect to see is Andromeda (M31), the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way. Unless you live under extremely dark skies and have a big telescope, galaxies are just too faint and too far away to see. Even Andromeda will look like a faint fuzzy in most parts of the country.

This leads right into my second postulate. Objects seen through a telescope rarely look like the clear, colorful, large photos you see. The human eye is unable to see the color that can be picked up by a camera. Therefore, a nebula that shows up in photos with wonderful reds and purples, and sticks out in sharp contrast to neighboring stars will look gray, faint, and ghostly through your telescope. And that’s if you can see it at all. Jupiter will show some color, but the image will be very small in your eyepiece and making out details will be difficult. I’m not saying the objects you see will be disappointing, quite the contrary. But if expectations are set too high for a child, the let-down can be damaging. Learning about the objects first will make them much more interesting to observe.

Let’s take the following example: Imagine looking at a globular cluster (personally, my favorite object in the sky). Looks pretty amazing through your telescope, believe me. But look at it again knowing its M-13 or Messier 13, the Hercules Cluster, the best globular cluster north of the celestial equator. This is a naked eye object under very dark skies with 500,000 stars extending 150 light years across and a distance of 26,000 light years from Earth. Discovered by Edmond Halley (of Halley’s Comet) in 1714. While Messier never saw its individual stars, even a small telescope brings out the details in this magnificent mass of stars. This globular cluster is about 14 billion years old! Three dark rifts radiate outward from near the center, like a dark “propeller”. M-13 is located in the constellation Hercules, son of Zeus, the hero who was made to perform twelve great tasks to cleanse himself after he went temporarily insane, killing his wife and children. Even if your child can’t grasp all the concepts, do you see how the constellation and the objects now have life?

Third, (as I’ve previously mentioned) you need to manage a child’s expectations. If they expect to see a big, bright, colorful object, and they end up having to struggle to see a bland, blurry one that takes you a long time to find, they will get frustrated and lose interest. Kids have big imaginations as we can see by the cartoons they watch. Their world is big, loud, and colorful and their attention span is short. It also depends on what age your child is. The Janice VanCleave science experiment books are for kids 8 years and older, and that’s probably a good age to start them with a telescope. They may be interested in constellations at an earlier age but when it comes time to look at things through the telescope it’s a little tougher. Astronomy can be a slow and deliberate hobby, with beauty in the very subtle details of the objects. As a parent you need to decide when to start your child in this fantastic hobby. If they have become interested, teach them as much as they can soak up!

And fourth, when you are ready to buy a telescope, don’t buy a cheap piece of junk! Now let me tell you how I really feel. ? You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but buying an inferior scope is a recipe for disaster. Walking through department stores you’ll notice the no-name brand telescopes being sold that advertise 400x power (sounds good, right?) and show beautiful large color pictures of heavenly objects on the box. As we’ve discussed, you won’t be seeing those objects on the box the way they are shown, but it’s a nice marketing tool. Cheap telescopes don’t focus well and 400 power just blurs images. A low power scope with quality optics is the best way to go, and they are inexpensive. A great source on the web is Science Store for the Stars for telescopes and Janice VanCleave science books.

Years after I put my telescope into “storage”, I got it out again and took it apart to see what was inside. The primary mirror was basically a piece of tin foil that reflected the little bit of light it could muster onto a small mirror that looked just like the hand mirror a dentist puts into your mouth. It was a complete piece of junk! It never focused or showed anything in detail. Even the moon was blurry. No wonder I angrily quit the hobby! Of course there was no way for my parents to know, and how would you?

Very briefly let’s talk about telescopes. The purpose of a telescope is to first, capture light with the primary mirror or refracting lens(s), and second, to focus it (with an eyepiece) into a clear and sharp image. The eyepieces are what give you different powers (also called magnifications). One lesson I learned rather quickly was that you don’t need an expensive, large, and powerful scope to see some of the best objects in the sky. But you do need a quality telescope. There are many different designs of telescopes, but there are really only 2 types; refractors and reflectors. Refractor telescopes use lenses like binoculars to refract or bend the light coming in. Reflectors, on the other hand, use a primary mirror which reflects light to a smaller secondary mirror, then through an eyepiece (a lens) before it gets to your eye. There are many different kinds of reflectors including the Dobsonian, SCT or Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, Maksutov-Cassegrain, Newtonian reflectors, Ritchey-Chretien, and others. We won’t get into the specifics of these, but the different types of reflectors all basically work the same way; by reflecting light.

If you start by learning about the constellations and other celestial objects and manage your child’s expectations, they will appreciate what they see. When it comes time to buy a telescope, do your research! There are plenty of inexpensive telescopes with quality optics out there. Try Science Store for the Stars for great starter scopes by Smithsonian and Educational Insights. Both are affordable with high quality optics. They also have Janice VanCleave science books on astronomy and constellations. If you follow these guidelines, you and your young astronomer will enjoy the hobby of astronomy for a lifetime!

Copyright © Thomas J Ryan - Science Store for the Stars 2007

About The Author

Tom Ryan owns Science Store for the Stars, an eStore selling science kits, educational toys, games, science experiment books, telescopes, microscopes and more for future scientists ages 3-16. His hobbies are astronomy, physics, and all things science. Come visit us online and see how you can improve your child’s knowledge of science, in a fun way!

http://www.sciencestoreforthestars.com/

Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:47:00 +0000

The SkyScout is a revolutionary handheld device that uses advanced GPS technology with point and click convenience to identify thousands of stars, planets, constellations and more.

Simply point the SkyScout at any star in the sky and click the target button. The SkyScout will tell you what object you are looking at.

To locate a star or planet, select the object's name from the menu and follow the directional arrows through the viewfinder. SkyScout tells you when you are on target. It's that easy!

Once you have targeted an object the real fun begins. The SkyScout includes entertaining and educational audio and text information, including facts, trivia, history and mythology about our most popular celestial objects. A fun learning tool for all ages, the SkyScout personal planetarium puts the knowledge of an expert astronomer in the palm of your hand.

SkyScout features

Identifies celestial objects with the click of a button.
Locates over 6,000 stars, planets and constellations from built-in celestial database and provides scientific information for each object.
Provides comprehensive text and audio descriptions providing history, mythology and other entertaining information for the most popular objects.
Tonight's Highlights: a customized list of the 20 best objects to view for your exact date, time and location anywhere in the world.
Constellation lessons: if the star you identify or locate is part of a constellation like the Big Dipper, you can actually take a guided tour through all the stars in that constellation and even see an onscreen map of the constellation.
Built-in field guide includes:
Introduction to astronomy: a six part audio lesson on the origin and history of astronomy
Glossary of terms: text defining popular astronomy terms including planets, comets, galaxies and more
Great Astronomers: text bios on some of the world's greatest astronomers including Galileo, Einstein and Copernicus
Man-made space objects: text description of some of the coolest objects man has sent into space including the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Space Shuttle
Comet guide: text descriptions about history's most famous comets including Halley's Comet and Comet Hale-Bop
SD card slot: for optional Sky Tour audio presentations that provide hours of entertainment on a variety of topics
USB port: allows database to be updated with new objects as they are discovered, comets, etc.
Simple enough for all ages: just turn it on and it's ready to use
Built-in help menu: includes a quick start instruction guide for using the SkyScout
Bring it anywhere: compact and light design makes it easy to carry and durable construction makes it safe for rugged environments
Backed by Celestron's 2-year warranty

Binocular Maintenance Tips - 101

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:42:00 +0000

by: Lu Otico

If you’re deciding to buy a brand new pair of binoculars in the near future not only do you need to learn what kind of binoculars will suit you best but you also should know the proper binocular maintenance to keep your optics working well for years to come. Just because your binoculars are made of durable high quality materials and craftsmanship doesn’t mean you should abuse them.

A good place to start with is the accessories associated with binoculars. Most commonly, the binocular strap, it should always maintain around your neck as a high percentage of damage is caused when binoculars are dropped and banged up. Make sure the clips and locking devices are securely fastened, as you don’t want to assume and end up with an accident. If you are physically participating in any activity that could cause your binoculars to get caught or trapped in something, be sure to remove them from your neck and store them securely to avoid any possible injuries or strangulation.

A properly fit carrying case with padding should be the only storage home for your new binoculars. Anytime the binocular is not is use, take a moment to put it away while enroute to your next hunting trip, hiking adventure, bird watching escape and star gazing hill.

Another simple way to maintain your lenses is with the eyecups, if your keeping your binoculars on your neck it’s a good idea to put the lens cups back on to keep any dirt and dust off of the lenses. Also, do not leave your binoculars in direct sunlight as the increase in heat can possibly cause damage internally and externally.

When cleaning the binocular lenses follow manufacturer lens maintenance guidelines. Never, wipe or rub dry lenses with dirt, dust or debris on it as that will scratch and damage the surface leaving you with a less than clear image. First, dust off any loose debris, and then with a proper maintenance cleaning solution or lens pen moisten the surface. Use a soft, suitable cleaning cloth to wipe residual oil and dirt away.

It is also a good idea to wipe down your binoculars with a damp cloth to remove any oils from your skin as well as any dirt or debris that may have accumulated on the binoculars themselves before placing them away in storage. This will keep your binoculars looking good as new every time you take them out for that next amazing site to see.

About The Author

Lu Otico is a contributing binocular review author at www.binocular-review.net with detailed information, consumer resources and helpful tips on the best selling binoculars on the market including Bushnell, Leica, Zeiss, Nikon, Kahles, Celestron, Canon, Swarovski, Steiner and more.

info@binocular-review.net

The Many Different Kinds of Binoculars

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:20:00 +0000

by Jason Heff

You can get a pair of Cheap Binoculars, also known as field glasses, for under a $100. Binoculars are two telescopes connected together. Having two pieces helps depth perception.
Telescopes have been around for a while, ever since the 17th century. It didn't take people long to start connecting telescopes together, creating binoculars.

In the late 1800's, a prism type of binocular was created that enabled greater depth because the eye pieces were farther apart. Prism Binoculars also allowed more magnification.
The cheapest kind of prism binocular is the porro prism binocular. These are more affordable than other kinds and still have a great picture. One downside is that they need to be adjusted from time to time.

A more expensive kind of prism binoculars is a roof prism binoculars. These binoculars don't need be readjusted as much as porro prism binoculars. These binoculars are lighter weight and smaller.

UV coating on binoculars is very important because it reduces the amount of light that is reflected inside of the binoculars. Reflected light inside of the binoculars causes the image to become hazy.

General focus binoculars can be focused by moving the wheel in between the two eye pieces. Independent Focus Binoculars require that both eye pieces are focused independently.
High powered binoculars move a lot when hand held. This is very disturbing when trying to look through your binoculars. Some high powered binoculars have a image stability device that cuts down on the changes in movement. This is a great feature, but it is very expensive.
Tourist attractions usually have coin-op binoculars. They offer a really good view of the surroundings for people that don't have their own binoculars.

Military Binoculars are normally 7x magnification. The elements of the outdoors require that military binoculars be extra sturdy. Military Binoculars are almost always independent focus because it is more reliable than general focusing. Military Binoculars sometimes have special coatings that reflect laser beams. Sea Binoculars are coated to block out the sun and to protect against salt.

Astronomy Binoculars are used for viewing the night time sky. You can see a lot more stars with binoculars than with your naked eye. While some people use high powered binoculars for astronomy, binoculars with a large field of view are better if you need help finding things.
If you enjoyed this article be sure to check out Jason's site, Cheap Binoculars.

About the Author

Please visit our sites Cheap Binoculars ,Cheap Night Vision Binoculars, and Swarovski e1 Binoculars.

NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:19:00 +0000

PASADENA, Calif. --

A NASA spacecraft today sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars. The images from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within reach of the lander's robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site's soil and ice. "We see the lack of rocks that we expected, we see the polygons that we saw from space, we don't see ice on the surface, but we think we will see it beneath the surface. It looks great to me," said Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, principal investigator for the Phoenix mission. Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) confirmed that the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown 15 minutes earlier. In the intervening time, those signals crossed the distance from Mars to Earth at the speed of light. The confirmation ignited cheers by mission team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver; and the University of Arizona. As planned, Phoenix stopped transmitting one minute after landing and focused its limited battery power on opening its solar arrays, and other critical activities. About two hours after touchdown, it sent more good news. The first pictures confirmed that the solar arrays needed for the mission's energy supply had unfolded properly, and masts for the stereo camera and weather station had swung into vertical position.

"Seeing these images after a successful landing reaffirmed the thorough work over the past five years by a great team," said Phoenix Project Manager Barry Goldstein of JPL. A key milestone still ahead is the first use of the lander's 7.7-foot-long robotic arm, not planned before Tuesday. "Only five of our planet's 11 previous attempts to land on the Red Planet have succeeded. In exploring the universe, we accept some risk in exchange for the potential of great scientific rewards," said Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Phoenix carries science instruments to assess whether ice just below the surface ever thaws and whether some chemical ingredients of life are preserved in the icy soil. These are key questions in evaluating whether the environment has ever been favorable for microbial life. Phoenix will also study other aspects of the soil and atmosphere with instrument capabilities never before used on Mars. Canada supplied the lander's weather station. Transmissions from Phoenix have reported results after a check of several components and systems on the spacecraft. "Phoenix is an amazing machine, and it was built and flown by an amazing team. Through the entire entry, descent and landing phase, it performed flawlessly," said Ed Sedivy, Phoenix program manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "The spacecraft stayed in contact with Earth during that critical period, and we received a lot of data about its health and performance. I'm happy to report it's in great shape." Phoenix uses hardware from a spacecraft built for a 2001 launch that was canceled in response to the loss of a similar Mars spacecraft during a 1999 landing attempt. Researchers who proposed the Phoenix mission in 2002 saw the unused spacecraft as a resource for pursuing a new science opportunity. A few months earlier, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter discovered that plentiful water ice lies just beneath the surface throughout much of high-latitude Mars. NASA chose the Phoenix proposal over 24 other proposals to become the first endeavor in the Mars Scout program of competitively selected missions. The signal confirming that Phoenix had survived touchdown and the transmission of the first pictures were relayed via Mars Odyssey and received on Earth at the Goldstone, Calif., antenna station of NASA's Deep Space Network. The Phoenix mission is led by Smith at the University of Arizona with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. For more about Phoenix, visit http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix.

Media contacts: Guy Webster 818-354-6278 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.guy.webster@jpl.nasa.govDwayne Brown 202-358-1726NASA Headquarters, Washington dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov Sara Hammond 520-626-1974University of Arizona, Tucsonshammond@lpl.arizona.edu

Benefits Of Using A Star Atlas With Your Astronomy Telescope

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:13:00 +0000

Recently you got a telescope, and it looks great. You see this instrument in front of you, and it looks powerful. You point it up, see the moon. Then you try pointing it at the stars, and realize you just do not have a clue about navigating the heavens!

A star atlas is an essential piece of any telescope, whether this be a home telescope or a telescope in a large observatory. Simply pointing your telescope at a shinning speck in the sky does not necessarily mean you will see great things, though depending what you are seeking.

Most of the objects in space look like the same speck, but larger! I am sure you simply did not want a magnifying glass, but an instrument that would help you see the planets and the beautiful views of the heavens, like distant galaxies and nebula. With a star atlas this becomes possible.

A star atlas can help you navigate the skies, and find objects. Now the star atlas may not be as extensive as a book, though you have a few options, which I will be getting to. The star atlas however, does help with finding where constellations are.

There are many types of star atlas, and all show you the constellations, and major objects to navigate to. Depending on the star atlas you purchase, some look circular and allow you to change the map to the time you are viewing. This is great as the Earth moves through space, so the objects seen in the sky are constantly changing. You can see this by pointing your telescope at the moon.

There are many other options also when you want to find objects in space. Extensive databases cataloging space objects can be found online. An even better option is the computer software planetariums. These planetarium software such as Redshift, allow you to see almost all objects that have been found. You can set up the software to where you are located. This planetarium then will show you the objects you can see in your backyard.

You can then find what you want to look for, and depending on your telescopes abilities, you can find the location, and take a look with your telescope. I have found this method can be useful, yet daunting. With a PC, you may need to quickly jot down the location, and go and then go back out to find the space object with your telescope. Some of the software planetarium software may allow you to print up the location or you can use your star atlas with your telescope to locate the object, once you know roughly where it is.

One of the greatest books on helping the amateur telescope user is Turn Left At Orion. This book I can not give more words of recommendation. When you get a new telescope, especially a good one, you may not have information to help you find objects in space. Most cheaper telescope brands found in toy stores may do, but I have yet to see a comprehensive 'this is how you start' guide.

A telescope coupled with a star atlas, a good astronomy book that helps the amateur telescope user and the planetarium software are keys to having a life long fun time with astronomy. Astronomy can come to life, and the stars, nebula, planets, galaxies and the many other beautiful things in the universe, can come to life in your backyard, with proper knowledge on where and how to locate objects in space.

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10 Tips When Buying A Binocular

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:45:00 +0000

The term binocular covers a whole range of optics, binoculars, spotting scopes, night vision goggles, and so on. So before you even think of buying a binocular you need to find out what you need and what you are going to use it for. Binoculars are used by people in operas, while hunting, in war, for bird watching, and in astronomy. For astronomy and bird watching you will need high powered binoculars while for other uses you could even consider compact binoculars which weigh little.

The joy of watching things up close cannot be described; you will be able to see every small detail clearly as though you are within touching distance. When buying a pair you must think of quality, long lasting, good grip, ideal weight, and lens power. Before you buy ask about what kind of prism and lens the binocular has, plastic lenses are more expensive than glass and often have coatings that enable you to see even in low light conditions. The functionality of a binocular depends on factors like lens size and quality prism quality; lens coatings; adjustable and easy to use settings.

Here are a few thoughts:

1. Know your need. Read all about binoculars their power and uses.

2. Determine how often you will use a pair and what its cost is. Think about it should you spend valuable dollars to satisfy a whim and then let the pair reside in your cupboard?

3. Surf the internet and make a study of the different brands. There are so many options available; Canon, Bushnell, Nikon, Steiner, Leupold, Olympus, Meade, Vanguard, and more. Weigh the pros and cons of each kind and read unbiased reviews.

4. Always make the effort of taking a survey. Comparison shopping is a mantra that is being followed world wide. Get quotes from different sites.

5. Check out auction sites too. Very often designer glasses are sold for almost a pittance at auctions. Here you could even buy a second hand binocular.

6. If you have patience then wait for off season sales this is when binoculars are sold at discounted prices.

7. Always check what the lens specifications are and about warrantees.

8. Since binoculars are specialized items it is best you buy from online stores that specialize in binoculars. Only specialists will be able to answer your questions and guide you on what kind of binoculars would be ideal for your needs.

9. Be sure to ask about whether the pair you are buying are waterproof and also whether they can be use at night. Only a few models have night vision capabilities.

10. While purchasing online be sure to check payment gateway securities and shipping time. Find out where the binoculars will be shipped from and also about what happens if there is breakage in transit.

According to experts the most common tip is to buy the most expensive binocular you can afford.

About the author:
Arthur Raise is a writer for Night Vision Binoculars , the premier website to find Binoculars, night vision binoculars, binocular reviews, camera binoculars, binoculars telescope, best binoculars, binocular reviews and many more.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Yuri's View

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:28:00 +0000

On April 12th, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alexseyevich Gagarin became the first human in space. His remotely controlled Vostok 1 spacecraft lofted him to an altitude of 200 miles and carried him once around planet Earth. Commenting on the first view from space he reported, "The sky is very dark; the Earth is bluish. Everything is seen very clearly".
Yuri's Planet - NASA Astonomy Picture of the Day: Photo by ISS Expedition 7 Crew, EOL, NASA
Alan Shepard, the first US astronaut, would not be launched until almost a month later and then on a comparatively short suborbital flight.
Born on March 9, 1934, Gagarin was a military pilot before being chosen for the first group of cosmonauts in 1960. As a result of his historic flight he became an international hero and legend.
Killed when his MIG jet crashed during a training flight on March 27, 1968, Gagarin was given a hero's funeral, his ashes interred in the Kremlin Wall.
On yet another April 12th, in 1981, NASA launched the first space shuttle.
Source: NASA

An Awesome International Space Station Photo

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:18:00 +0000

The International Space Station Expands Again Credit: STS-122 Shuttle Crew, NASA The developing International Space Station (ISS) has changed its appearance again. Last month, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis visited the ISS and added components that included the Columbus Science Laboratory. The entire array of expansive solar panels is visible in this picture taken by the Atlantis Crew after leaving the ISS to return to Earth. The world's foremost space outpost can be seen developing over the past several years by comparing the [linked image below] to past images. Also visible above are many different types of modules, a robotic arm, another impressive set of solar panels, and a supply ship. Construction began on the ISS in 1998.Image of ISS:http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0803/iss_sts122_big.jpgFor an International Space Station (ISS) visible pass schedule for your location, see:http://www.heavens-above.com/

Tripod

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:16:00 +0000

A binocular tripod adapter provides you a steady and hands-free viewing. It can typically be fitted into any binocular that has a standard 1/4 - 20 thread tripod socket. There are different types of tripod adapters like L-Type, Roof Prism and Centre Focus. These adapters come handy when you require a high degree of viewing stability. They can also be fitted to any standard photographic tripod.
Bushnell's light-duty binocular tripod adapter is particularly suitable for prolonged star-gazing and terrestrial viewing. The tripod connects to any binocular whose lens has apertures ranging from 35 mm to 50 mm. As the adapter measures only 3/4 inches in width, it can easily be fitted to any roof prism type binocular.
Some people may develop neck pain if they do not use this device properly during prolonged stars observation. The best way to use the adapter is to lean back in a lawn chair and let two of its legs straddle of their own. Now tilt the tripod a little towards yourself so that its far leg leaves the ground. The hand that you use to hold the tripod acts as its third leg. This allows you to lean forward and backward to explore the skies. Also remember to position the pan handle of the tripod under the objective lens of the binocular, pointing away from you. This will allow you to control the motion of the tripod pan hand and at the same time will prevent it from poking into your chest or throat.
The adapters have become a useful accessory for those who often use binoculars. These help you to get a vibration-free viewing. You can watch wildlife or observe the stars for long hours with the help of the binocular tripod adapters Retailers like Bushnell and Fujicom are offering tripods that have rugged corrosion-resistant finishes and adjustable legs. They provide you a solid foundation for viewing at high magnifications. These tripods and binoculars are available at leading online retailers of the UK.
Jayson Pablo, a dedicated writer of Rupizcompare.co.uk which provide information on consumer electronics as binocular
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayson_Pablo

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Planets Align Over Australian Radio Telescope Array Credit & Copyright: Graeme L. White & Glen Cozens (James Cook University)
Explanation: Last week, Mercury, Venus, and the Moon all appeared close together in Earth's sky. This picturesque conjunction was caught on camera behind elements of the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) near the town of Narrabri in rural New South Wales. The ATCA consists of six radio telescopes in total, each one larger than a house. Together they form one of the highest resolution measurement devices in the world. Impressive planetary conjunctions occur every few years. Involving the brightest objects in the night sky, this alignment was easy to spot just before sunrise. In the picture, taken on the morning of March 6, Mercury is the highest of the three bright celestial beacons.

The biggest binoculars in the world!

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Not only is it the largest binoculars but it also is the world’s most powerful telescope in the world. Located on a remote mountain top near Safford Arizona USA the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory has both mirrors come online recently. Each mirror measures 28 feet in diameter and weighing more than 35,000 pounds. The $120 million dollar project has been in the works for more than 20 years. The primary mirror became operational in October 2005. We look forward to many fascinating images to come. Scientists took “first light” images with the telescope's first mirror on Oct. 12, 2005. The image shows a galaxy 24 million light years away in the constellation Andromeda.

The Basics

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:08:00 +0000

Well, lets get started with the basics in binocular observations. For those of you who are new to binoculars this articel provides the beginners guide to " What should I look for". For those of you that are experienced, this is quic review. This informaiton will be transfered to the archives so new members to this blog can bring themslves up to date. So sit back and enjoy!

KJ

Clear Skies and Dark Eyes

The ABCs of Binoculars by: Kelham Regress
Binoculars
Binoculars are actually two telescopes placed side by side so a viewer can see through them with both eyes. Unlike monoculars which is one small telescope and can only been seen through using one eye. The advantages of using binoculars over monoculars are:
1. Both eyes can see comfortably through both lenses with having to squint one eye to see.
2. Binoculars provide three dimensional images that have more depth. Two views are drawn together to make one total picture and allow the viewer to see things at some distances up close and personal.
3. Binoculars are just more comfortable to look through and hold steady because both hands are usually used.
Binoculars come in the convenient hand-held sizes which make them very easy to take with you wherever you go. However, binoculars can also come in very large sizes but those are usually used by more professional viewers and need to be steadied by being placed on a tripod for support.
Most binoculars are used to view objects at very far distances and have to be focused for the viewer to see things clearly. Focus adjustments on each set of binoculars are different, some binocular lenses can be focused independently while others can be focused at the same time by turning a little wheel in between the telescopes. Many viewers using prescription glasses do not need them to see through most telescopes and can see more comfortably by taking off their glasses.
Numbers are used to describe the telescopic strength of the binoculars. The first number gives the power of the magnification and the second number tells the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters which measures its light gathering strength. For instance, a pair of binoculars that reads 7x50 can magnify things seven times stronger than they actually are with a 50mm objective lens.
Viewers can use a pair of binoculars for bird watching, star gazing, observing far off animals, spotting ships at sea, watching a concert, or enjoying a sports game from a "nosebleed seat." They can be used while hiking, camping, boating and hunting. One fascinating use of binoculars is looking at the night sky. They enable the user to spot far more stars, comets, galaxies, and nebulae far better than with the naked eye. For example, galactic clouds and star clusters look dim when viewed by the naked eye, but with binoculars they are much clearer. Unlike the inverted view a telescope provides, binoculars show the world right-side up, just as a person would see things normally. Furthermore, binoculars with a wide field of view allow a user to observe a wide area, making it easier to observe star clusters, comets, and galactic clouds. Binoculars are easy to operate and allow viewers to concentrate fully on looking up into the sky.
About The Author
Kelham Regress runs the website and is the writer for Link Binoculars, Inc. which is a one-stop research center for all the very latest news and views Binoculars related. Please visit http://www.linkbinoculars.com for any questions or comments about this article.

Binocular Astronomy in the beginning

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:29:00 +0000

At long last I have started this blog that has been on my mind for years. Binocular Astronomy is has been an increasing method for amateur astronomers to carry out their nightly observations in these fast paced times we live in. Also binoculars allow the urban astronomer a way to view lunar and planetary objects and the events related to them without dragging out the old scope, setting up aligning, finder scoping and focusing. More on this theme as time goes on. I hope you enjoy the blog. Please feel free to share you experiences and observations.