3 - A word on binoculars and telescopes

Summary

Someone may have once told you that astronomy calls for large, expensive equipment. You may even have flipped through the pages of an astronomy magazine in amazement at all the fantastic technology on display there. At some point in your development as an astronomer, you may feel that a telescope will build your interest and extend the power of your observations. But for now, you are probably much better off with a simple pair of binoculars, and this is true for viewing some of the most interesting variable stars, the large, bright “semiregular” stars. Because binoculars are mass-produced and sold almost everywhere, they are far less expensive than are telescopes, even those of the same size. By taking advantage of both your eyes, binoculars present the sky in an efficient, almost three-dimensional way.

Choosing binoculars

The only problem with binoculars is that the two small telescopes that form their optical system must be precisely aligned. So many binoculars lose their adjustment with the bumps and insults of regular use. Before you buy, test the binoculars by pointing them to a distant building or mountain. Holding them securely, make certain that the image in one side is precisely the same as that in the other; landmarks should fall in the same place in both circular fields of view. If the distant object, like mountain or telephone pole, is in the center of one field but near the edge in the other, then the binoculars are out of alignment.