Really short Bino session...5° F

[helicon]

Well a blast of Artic air has settled in after the rain and snow. Cold enough to squeeze all the moisture, fog, and haze out of the air.

Getting up early I rose to a beautiful Orion in the sky which looked absolutely bejeweled. I stepped out on the deck and putting my glasses on had a wonderful naked eye view. However, I quickly moved back in from the cold.

Going out a couple of hours later before sunrise I was just in time for the rising Leo the lion, this time with 15x70 binos in hand.

I thought, well, will I be able to see M65 and M66? Sure enough, it was dark enough to show a faint gauzy patch in their suspected location, though I was not able to resolve them separately.

I also, panning the other way detected M96 and M105, though not the third member of the Triplet. They are just large enough to be visible at 15x, and just bright enough to be discerned in a 70mm objective. Easy objects in my old 10" Dob, they were challenging but doable this morning.

I have to be careful with my right hand as I once had frostbite from working outside in a trucking terminal at night (Teamster days) when it was around 30 below zero in Colorado. I had to use my right hand to do a piece count on the manifest for each load and couldn't wear my heavy glove on that hand. Lesson learned. These days it still bothers me when exposed to temperatures below freezing....

Nevertheless it turned out to be a worthy session and perfect for a new moon evening. Tonight hopefully with a bit more preparation to stay warm I will take out the scope(s), though probably I will use the XLT and take a crack at KT4HX's (Alan's) current list.

In days of yore observers without light pollution were able to conquer the entire Messier list with a four inch refractor, much to the chagrin of the urban or suburban astronomer over the past several decades. We also can say that now with EAA those days may have returned!

[Bigzmey]

Nice session Michael! Kudos for braving the chill. One can be surprised by what could be detected with small binos even under LPed skies.

Good point about EAA. Hopefully, the recent inexpensive units revitalize backyard observing. Maybe we should introduce EAA Messier award?

[Xio1996]

Hi Michael,

A lovely report. It got me reminiscing about my journey in astronomy. About 4 years ago, I switched to EAA with the same kit I had been using for a decade with visual astronomy. The difference was unbelievable. I often say that I have seen more in the last 4 years with EAA than I have in the last 4+ decades of visual astronomy. However, I don't want to dismiss those 40+ years of visual astronomy, I loved them and learnt so much. Even if it meant freezing to death or being bitten by most insect life on Earth!

I completely agree with you that the advent of cheap'ish EAA telescopes will encourage a new age of backyard astronomers. Now young and older people can view the night sky and be inspired with colour and detail rather than the grey smudges I use to view through my 60mm Greenkat refractor. Hopefully, a new generation of scientists, engineers or perhaps just astronomy hobbyists will spring forth.

Thank you for your report.

Pete

[Thefatkitty]

Nice deal Michael, good for you! Sometimes it takes some nice frigid temps to move in and clear all the "crap" out. Binos.... I haven't done that in so long it seems. You picked some nice targets, the views must have been stunning.

All the best,

[jrkirkham]

Bravo for the courage and fortitude to crawl out the door at 5 F! My personal record is 18 F. As I get older I have determined never to break that record! I am torn with the advent of EAA telescopes. I offer an annual star party for friends. It is expensive, but I could sure imagine having something like that new 6" RASA shining on a big screen to go along with my other scopes and binoculars for that party. It looks like you had a great night viewing. It doesn't take long for the night to be special.

[kt4hx]

I like your fortitude Michael. Its not easy getting out there in such cold air, especially given your history with frostbite. Good luck with your pursuit of the "Challenge" objects, and hope you get some warmer air soon. Our cold air is coming in a few days, and it will be rough out there for sure!

[helicon]

I like your fortitude Michael. Its not easy getting out there in such cold air, especially given your history with frostbite. Good luck with your pursuit of the "Challenge" objects, and hope you get some warmer air soon. Our cold air is coming in a few days, and it will be rough out there for sure!

Thanks Alan. Looking forward to them!

[helicon]

Hi Michael,

A lovely report. It got me reminiscing about my journey in astronomy. About 4 years ago, I switched to EAA with the same kit I had been using for a decade with visual astronomy. The difference was unbelievable. I often say that I have seen more in the last 4 years with EAA than I have in the last 4+ decades of visual astronomy. However, I don't want to dismiss those 40+ years of visual astronomy, I loved them and learnt so much. Even if it meant freezing to death or being bitten by most insect life on Earth!

I completely agree with you that the advent of cheap'ish EAA telescopes will encourage a new age of backyard astronomers. Now young and older people can view the night sky and be inspired with colour and detail rather than the grey smudges I use to view through my 60mm Greenkat refractor. Hopefully, a new generation of scientists, engineers or perhaps just astronomy hobbyists will spring forth.

Thank you for your report.

Pete

Thanks Pete. I am really bullish on EAA now. Both clubs I am a member of - in California and Washington have started to get EAA devotees. At first I was a bit of a curmudgeon - toys and Asimov's geegaws is how I saw them. When I was working on the UPS Online team back in the mid-90's senior management often looked with a jaundiced eye at our presentations and products intended for the U.S. market. "The Internet is a joke for hucksters, surely it will go away" some said.