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From: co175fat@sdcc3.UUCP (Kevin Baird)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: Binocular astronomy
Message-ID: <3109@sdcc3.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 7-Dec-85 00:14:23 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc3.3109
Posted: Sat Dec  7 00:14:23 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Dec-85 06:42:35 EST
References: <1343@decwrl.UUCP> <642@cadomin.UUCP> <1665@teddy.UUCP> <669@spar.UUCP>
Reply-To: co175fat@sdcc3.UUCP (Kevin Baird{|stu)
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 17
Summary: You don't even need big binocs...


Jay Freeman points out that binoculars are a good stargazing device.
They certainly are better than nothing, which is what I own.  Almost
all the skywatching I have done has been through 7 x 30 binoculars,
so I am fairly experienced with technique.  The best way to look up,
if you haven't already discovered, is to avoid looking UP.  Lie on a
lawn chair or a sleeping bag and look straight ahead.  It is much
easier on the neck, and it makes holding the binoculars steady much
less of a chore.  It is warmer in a sleeping bag, so you don't
shiver as much!

Binoculars are most suited for scanning the sky, looking for comets,
browsing around the Milky Way, and other wide field stuff.  Finding
M1 (the Crab Nebula) is quite a task for binoculars, but, as Mr.
Freeman says, it IS possible.   * Happy Gazing *  (and Holidays)

Kevin Baird       sdcsvax!sdcc3!co175fat  (but my acct expires 12/14.)