First Preliminary test of the Orion Binoviewers...



It is a gorgeous absolutely clear night in Chicago...and despite the hacking cough and cold temps, I had to test out the new equipment. I asked Maria to come and join me for a brief garage observation/test session.

I tried to use the 90mm Refractor first for the test, but I just could not get enough focus to bring it to a sharp image of the Moon. Too cold and not feeling robust, I immediately removed it from the mount and mounted the C5 with much better results.



Targeting the Moon first, it was a blurry blob. Using the SCTs focus knob, it slowly came into sharp focus, (Much like the opening of the old "Outer Limits" tv show... ) The near full Moon was not the best phase for a test, but even so, with the binoviewers, the lunar surface, of which I spent decades observing....came to a newly appreciated life.



Using my banged up 25mm Celestron 25mm Plossel workhorses, the entire lunar orb fit nicely within the FOV, displaying the ejecta ray systems all over the surface in great detail. Closing one eye and then the other, one ocular was not as sharp as the other one. Twisting the helical focuser on that eye brought it into sharp focus...and now, absolute clarity!



Familiar landmarks such as Kepler, Copernicus and Clavius took on a total different feel. Now, I have peered through Binoviewers of other Chicago Astronomers, (some really high-end sets), and really enjoyed them, but now with the luxury of unlimited time, I could totally enjoy and take it all in.



I prompted Maria to come and enjoy what I was relishing in and immediately gasped in astonishment on what she was now viewing with both eyes. This was her first time using a Binoviewer and only brought into urban astronomy through me recently.

She approves of the purchase...

I then slewed over to Jupiter and liked what I saw. The banding on the planet in the C5 popped out nicely and three of his Satellites took on a 3-D effect. I was punching through branches of my now leafless backyard tree and I could discern clarity issues - as the planet would vary in sharpness & brightness dodging limbs, as it traversed the ecliptic. But, it looked good...



Popping in the 2x mini Barlow lens, I appreciated the now 12.5mm views of Jupiter, with nice clarity. The two EQ band were very prominent, but quite a few minor banding was visible - along with splotches and other markings.

With the Barlow still in place, I slewed back over to the Moon and and enjoyed the higher magnified view, best on the southern limb, where shadowing was still offering some relief detail. The Barlow did not diminish the sharpness and clarity, but as expected, does dim the object some, but not objectionable.

Satisfied on this 20 minute test, I wondered if I could use the Binoviewer as a make-shift guide scope for imaging - using one ocular for the camera and the other for guiding. Attaching the Canon w/ adapter on one eyepiece, I went through the motions of imaging the Moon - but without power to the mount, imaging would be poor. But, it works!



With that, the cold air was affecting my lungs and I concluded the test session.


Evaluation:

No doubt, a great addition to the Chicago Astronomer arsenal of astronomical tools. I need to attach this to the C11 for a true test of it's ability, but I expect nothing short of remarkable views. Using the 2" to 1.25" adapter will enable me use utilize my 2" filters for some great seeing. I would like to see how this performs on other Chicago Astronomer scopes...perhaps next week during the brief warm-up that's coming our way.

(Maria says I'm happiest behind a scope and would be content spending hours in my yet to be built Observatory on top of the garage.)

She's sooo right!.... ;D

The Orion Binoviewer - Highly Recommended.... #Thumbsup#

Paulie,

DSOs also get a kick from binocular viewing.

Clusters will certainly take on the 3D effect nicely and the Orion Nebula is great with them. The barlow can accept a filter, but if the one you get does not, you can always screw it on to the binoviewer and then the barlow onto that. And...I would screw a filter onto a eyepiece - leaving the other one naked....ENHANCING the 3-D effect.

The eyepieces themselves is a more difficult area and a matter of preference and application.

Teeners are great for lunar and planetary, but the views may be dimmed with scopes under 8" in aperture. I would grab the 20/25mm eyepieces for a brighter/wider FOV. Now....you already have the Eyepiece kit. Why not get matching eyepieces to whatever you now got? Let's say a matching 25mm and something in the higher mags that you already have? - instead of a dedicated dual mm set.

OR....

Get a Zoom eyepiece...then my friend...you can match all of your eyepiece with just one extra eyepiece...!

Next time we are together, let's try this out on your scopes with my zoom eyepiece/Binoviewer and see if you like it. If so, then you'll know ahead of time.

You'll dig the binowviewers bunches and will not regret it.