Binocular Highlights - October/November

Many people I know do not have a telescope but they have a pair of binoculars.  Whether they're used for hunting, birding or creeping they can also be used for astronomy.  In some cases, binoculars offer better views of wide objects than telescopes.  I posted a blog back in March regarding the use of binoculars for astronomy linked below.

http://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/03/binoculars-what-should-i-look-for.html

Binoculars are a great way to start learning the sky.  Their wide field of view allows for a wide margin of error when looking for a star or other celestial object.  Practice by finding your favourite constellation and see if you can pick out all the naked eye stars with your binoculars.  Count how many binocular fields of view they are away from each other.  Write it down.  This will get you accustomed to aiming them in the correct direction and finding your footing around the sky.  You may get the shakes while looking through them.  There are a few things you can do that can help.

• Hold the binoculars with your hands close to the aperture.
• Lie on your back and rest the binoculars on your eyes.
• Hook them up to a tripod.
• Lean them on a fence or other study object.
• Don't hold your breath.  It may seem like a good idea but it can negatively affect your eyesight among other things.
• Buy image stabilizing binoculars for a small fortune.

I use the pair of binoculars shown below.  They give a wide 4.4° field of view with generous 70mm apertures to collect a lot of light.

15x70 Binoculars (4.4° Field of View)

Once you have taken on several constellations and feel confident you can hop from star to star and can take in some Autumn sights that are beautiful in a set of binoculars.

One of the best places to start is in the constellation: Perseus.  Provided in the link below is a target sheet with objects of interested highlighted in red with the size of a typical binocular field.

Perseus Binocular Observing Sheet

If you follow along with the provided observing sheet you can see that the Double Cluster is a great target.  Just below Cassiopeia this pair of open clusters can be found.  In fact, Gamma Cassiopeiae and Delta Cassiopeiae point in a straight line right to the pair of clusters.  In the same field as these two there is a third cluster known as the 'Muscleman Cluster' or Stock 2.  See if you can see what looks like a person posing with the double bicep flex.

Moving a few binocular fields to the northwest you should come upon Kemble's Cascade.  This region looks like a waterfall of stars cascading down in a straight line.  Lucian Kemble was born in Southern Alberta so feel a sense of Canadian pride as you find this asterism.

A few binocular fields from the Double Cluster in the other direction will get you to M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy.

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

Below the Double Cluster is a very large cluster of stars around Perseus' brightest star.  This cluster is known as Melotte 20.  A few fields East of this location may bring you to M34; another open cluster.

Another good place in the sky to jump around with binoculars is Aquarius and Pegasus.  The observing sheet for this region is provided below.

Aquarius Binocular Observing Sheet

This area I would consider you require some intermediate skill with your binoculars.  There is a familiar sideways 'Y' shape in Aquarius that I always look for.  It has helped me find Neptune in my early astronomy days.  If you find this 'Y' with your naked eye, stick it in your binoculars.  Scan slightly to the West toward the bright star Altair (Southern Star of the Summer Triangle).  If you are lucky you may pick out a small fuzzy object.  This is the globular cluster M2.  Cruise North of M2 toward the naked eye star Enif.  If you have good eyesight you should be able to split this star into a double.  One binocular field to the West should be another faint fuzzy; the globular cluster M15.

We are hoping to plan some binocular sky nights in the school field in the next little while so keep posted for details!