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Started By
Message
Anyone else own Astronomical Binoculars?
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:09 pm
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:09 pm
I bought the Zhumell 80 x 100 back in the winter and use them a lot. Started out staring a great deal at Jupiter and it's 4 largest moons, The Pleides and the Orion Nebula. All those are to low on the horizon this time of year and I haven't pulled them out since April.
I pulled them out last night because it was a clear night with hundreds of stars visible to the naked eye. Looked to some bright stars(saw about 10 real brights ones with the naked eye in a small area) and literally couldn't believe the thousands of stars in that one field of view moving my head maybe 4" to the left and right. It was like specks of light layered upon layer upon layer. Mesmerized!
Now, what prompted me to write this was something I saw that I had never seen before. While I was staring at one spot, I saw what looked like a distant star(a speck....really) hauling arse in a straight line across my field of view. I knew immediately it wasn't an airliner at 30+ thousand feet as I can clearly see their strobe lights and even fuselage detail at that height. Finally realized I was watching a satellite. Trailed it for about 2 minutes. That prompted me to try it again and again. I ended up catching 6 in a 20 minute span by just starting back at the same cluster of stars, holding my Binocs completely still on the tripod and really focusing my eyes on noticing any of the thousands of points of light that appeared to be moving. Bear in mind, you really have to look intently because the satellites you can see are like the tiniest specks of light in the field of view. Like the thousands of specks you see behind the hundreds and hundreds of brighter points of light.
Those jokers are hauling arse! Did some research afterwards about the amount of satellites orbiting earth and came to the conclusion I was either seeing man made low earth (200-400 miles up) satellites or space junk. They travel about 17,000 mph and would explain the speed. I know they were not high altitude geosynchronous as those are stationary above the earth....meaning they orbit at the same speed that the earth spins.
I don't know why but I am amazed that I actually watched satellites in orbit from my backyard. Guess it is just the novelty of seeing something for the first time that you never considered being capable of seeing while standing on the Earth without a high powered telescope.
I pulled them out last night because it was a clear night with hundreds of stars visible to the naked eye. Looked to some bright stars(saw about 10 real brights ones with the naked eye in a small area) and literally couldn't believe the thousands of stars in that one field of view moving my head maybe 4" to the left and right. It was like specks of light layered upon layer upon layer. Mesmerized!
Now, what prompted me to write this was something I saw that I had never seen before. While I was staring at one spot, I saw what looked like a distant star(a speck....really) hauling arse in a straight line across my field of view. I knew immediately it wasn't an airliner at 30+ thousand feet as I can clearly see their strobe lights and even fuselage detail at that height. Finally realized I was watching a satellite. Trailed it for about 2 minutes. That prompted me to try it again and again. I ended up catching 6 in a 20 minute span by just starting back at the same cluster of stars, holding my Binocs completely still on the tripod and really focusing my eyes on noticing any of the thousands of points of light that appeared to be moving. Bear in mind, you really have to look intently because the satellites you can see are like the tiniest specks of light in the field of view. Like the thousands of specks you see behind the hundreds and hundreds of brighter points of light.
Those jokers are hauling arse! Did some research afterwards about the amount of satellites orbiting earth and came to the conclusion I was either seeing man made low earth (200-400 miles up) satellites or space junk. They travel about 17,000 mph and would explain the speed. I know they were not high altitude geosynchronous as those are stationary above the earth....meaning they orbit at the same speed that the earth spins.
I don't know why but I am amazed that I actually watched satellites in orbit from my backyard. Guess it is just the novelty of seeing something for the first time that you never considered being capable of seeing while standing on the Earth without a high powered telescope.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:19 pm to Dick Leverage
As kids in the late 60s we would lie on our backs in the front yard and watch for satellites, there were not that many back then, but we might see 3 or 4 in an hour. It was a small town, and the sky was very dark, didn't have the light pollution like today, there was no cable TV, internet, or video games, so this was just one of the many things we did for entertainment.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:20 pm to Dick Leverage
That's actually a really cool story. I am intrigued by the stars and I'll pull out some binoculars to check out a full moon pretty often. Sounds really neat.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:31 pm to Dick Leverage
The really big ones like ISS and Hubble you can see with the naked eye. Same for the so-called "Iridium flashes" where an Iridium sat catches a Sun reflection at just the right time.
If you really want to see something cool go to the Texas Star Party held each year in Ft. Davis. The time I went I was able to look through a 25 inch reflector at one of the nearer galaxes (M33 I think) and you could see the ghostly blue spiral arms. A very different viewing experience than the long-exposure images you see published.
If you really want to see something cool go to the Texas Star Party held each year in Ft. Davis. The time I went I was able to look through a 25 inch reflector at one of the nearer galaxes (M33 I think) and you could see the ghostly blue spiral arms. A very different viewing experience than the long-exposure images you see published.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:34 pm to EA6B
Luckily, I live about 45 miles west of a Atlanta in a small town. My property is at a pretty high elevation relative to the surrounding area. Makes viewing much easier.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:37 pm to foshizzle
My long term goal is to purchase the Meade LT200 14" system. Will have to buy used for around $4-5 grand. Can't afford a $12k telescope. Well, I could but I prefer to remain married!
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:40 pm to Dick Leverage
A guy at Highland Park had a pair one night, they're pretty cool.
This post was edited on 7/17/14 at 12:42 pm
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:42 pm to Dick Leverage
One of my favorite apps on my iPhone is "Star Chart". It works off the phones compass and you can hold it up to the sky and it shows you the names of the objects your looking at. You can touch the name and it will give you info about it. Before I got it, I would look at something in the night sky and wonder what it was. No need to wonder anymore. It will even show you objects below the horizon. Doesn't do satellites or the ISS tho.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:46 pm to Dick Leverage
quote:
Astronomical Binoculars
I've actually never heard of these before. But they sound pretty fricking cool. How much does a pair of these babies run? I absolutely love sitting in the yard at night and just staring up in the sky.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 12:56 pm to GeauxColonels
quote:
How much does a pair of these babies run?
$200-$10,000
Posted on 7/17/14 at 1:09 pm to Tbobby
quote:
$200-$10,000
Well that's a rather large range
Posted on 7/17/14 at 2:10 pm to GeauxColonels
looking at ebay. whats a good brand.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 2:15 pm to prplhze2000
Fujinon 10x70 is a good bang for the buck at $650
Posted on 7/17/14 at 2:17 pm to GeauxColonels
The ones I bought were on Hayneedle.com. They were $125 and the tripod was $45 but they are sold out.
Just saw Amazon has 6 in stock. They are $149. They come with a very nice leather case.
They are Zhumell 20 x 80. ( I wrote 80 x 100 in the OP)
They weigh about 5 lbs and a tripod is needed to keep the view from bouncing around and arm fatigue as well.
Just saw Amazon has 6 in stock. They are $149. They come with a very nice leather case.
They are Zhumell 20 x 80. ( I wrote 80 x 100 in the OP)
They weigh about 5 lbs and a tripod is needed to keep the view from bouncing around and arm fatigue as well.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 2:17 pm to Dick Leverage
quote:
Anyone else own Astronomical Binoculars?
Nah, I've got no need for them...
This post was edited on 7/17/14 at 2:18 pm
Posted on 7/17/14 at 2:21 pm to prplhze2000
I did a few days of research myself before buying. The Zhumell 20 x 80 that I got were rated very good on several forums. I couldn't be happier with the purchase. I know there are other good brands but I think these are the best value. Excellent optics at a value price.
Posted on 7/17/14 at 2:24 pm to wiltznucs
Me neither. But I have a bunch of stuff I don't need.
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