Simple Star Gazing with Binoculars

You should know a few things;in regards to choosing binoculars for observing the stars during your camping trip. Every pair has a two number designation for magnification and aperture( the diameter of the front lense in millimeters). The higher the magnification the less your field of view will be. So, 10 for magnification is sufficient and will not limit your field of vision; an important thing to consider when trying to pick out constellations and viewing the tail of a comet. A higher magnification will also amplify the effect of shaky hands. A telescope with a tripod would take care of this problem but for our purposes a pair of binoculars is often more convenient for camping and backpacking trips. You can get image stabilized binoculars for a higher price. The higher the aperture the more light you collect which is important for star gazing ( not as important for bird watching during the day) So, the larger the front lense the better for gazing. When all is said and done, 8 x 50 is a nice choice for astronomy and Binoculars.

A few useful links:

JackStarGazer.com - the web site for a PBS television series dedicated to star gazing. The show and site mainly focus on astronomy with the unaided eye ( useful for binocular viewing as well). Weather Underground - View a star map for your zipcode StarDate.com - Features a star gazing tip of the day and an online radio program with helpful tips for beginners. Todd Gross's Binocular Evaluation a list and review of binoculars good for star gazing. Stargazing For Beginners - Amazon Books Star Maps For Beginners - Amazon Books

Science @ NASA A Tale of Planetary Woe  -  Long ago, something calamitous happened to Mars, transforming a hospitable world into the apparently lifeless desert we see today. Many scientists believe the Red Planet lost most of its atmosphere, but how? A new NASA mission named MAVEN is specifically designed to answer that question. Hidden Territory on Mercury Revealed  -  The MESSENGER spacecraft's third flyby of the planet Mercury has given scientists an almost complete view of the planet's surface and revealed some dramatic changes in Mercury's comet-like tail. A Mars Rover Named "Curiosity"  -  NASA's next Mars rover, a super-capable robot named "Curiosity," will push Mars exploration to a new level. The Sun's Sneaky Variability  -  It might not be obvious to the naked eye, but the sun is a variable star. A sensor slated for launch onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory will probe the sun's "sneaky variability" with better time and spectral resolution than ever before. NASA Mission to Study the Moon's Fragile Atmosphere  -  NASA is planning a mission to study the Moon's fragile atmosphere--before it's too late.