Having astronomy as a hobby can be a difficult thing where the weather is not the friendliest on the planet. In Canada, for more than six months, the skies are either too cloudy to see the sky, or the temperatures are just too darn cold! As beautiful as the sky is, it is difficult to concentrate on observing the stars when your teeth are chattering.
Having said that, however, the hobby has a lot of rewards for the person who is willing to put the effort into learning about the sky and getting the right equipment. While astronomy can be a very equipment-intensive hobby, it does not have to be. Many astronomical phenomena may be seen with the naked eye or minimal equipment.
For instance, meteor showers are best observed with just the naked eye. No equipment required. In fact, you don't have to wait for meteor showers to observe random meteors. They can be seen any clear night. All you need is a lawn chair and warm clothing. A thermos of hot chocolate is also a good idea.
For those who want to take a closer look at the sky, an expensive telescope isn't necessary. A good pair of binoculars may be enough. In fact, almost any binoculars will work well, but to get the best viewing experience, look for several features in binoculars.
What do the Numbers on Binoculars Mean?
First, look at the numbers on the side of the instrument. Binoculars are rated by two numbers, the amount of magnification or power that they have, and the size of the large objective lenses. A typical set of binoculars will have a set of numbers like 7 X 50. This means that they will magnify objects by 7 times (the power) and that the size of the objective lenses is 50 mm.
The power has an effect upon the field of view. The higher the power, the smaller the amount of sky the viewer actually sees in the eyepieces. Low power is good for wide, sweeping views of the sky and higher powers are best for detailed looks at specific objects.
Zoom Binoculars
Zoom binoculars are the best of both worlds. These allow you to change the power of the instrument with the press of a lever. While zoom binoculars are good, they tend to be more expensive and sometimes suffer from image shifts as while zooming.
Objects in the night sky, except for the moon, are typically very dim. The amount of visible detail and contrast will depend upon how much light you can get into your eye. The larger the objective lenses of the binoculars, the more clear the image.
A pair of 100 mm objective lenses will give a much better view than a pair of 50 mm lenses but at the cost of a heavier and more expensive instrument. Holding a heavy pair of binoculars pointing at the sky can get very tiring.
Lenses Need a Coat Too!
Try to get coated lenses. If the glass seems to have a green or reddish coating on the lens, the performance will be better as this coating keeps light from being reflected and lost. Select binoculars with fully-coated optics, not just a coating on the external surface of the lenses.
As with any instrument, price is an indication of quality. Be sure that you can see properly through the binoculars before you buy them. Give them a shake to make sure that nothing rattles and that they seem to be of solid construction.
Binocular astronomy can be a fun, inexpensive way to start the hobby. Dig out those old binoculars from the closet and put them to good use scanning the sky. You won't be disappointed.
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