Beginners can be so annoying. I should know as I am one of these people who, when he finds a new interest, becomes obsessed with it and talks about it with friends. Good way to chase people away that you don't like.


However I have been surprised by how many people are interested. It seems many have tried astronomy but backed away because they had no help or guidance. A lot of them have telescopes of one kind or another sitting in a closet.


I had a little personal Star Party for a friend about a month ago. I had 3 scopes as well as 10X50 and 15X70 binoculars out for use. We talked about his interest in astronomy and my getting back into it 8 months ago. Between an 8" Dob, an 80 mm refractor and a 76 MM reflector we looked at the Orion Nebulae as our sample for the evening. I like this one because it can just barely be seen naked eye where I live so I can point it out with my green laser.


This was something he had never taken notice of before. When we put the binoculars and then the telescopes on it he was fascinated, having never seen this before.


We also looked at the Pleiades. This is probably my favorite binocular target and he was impressed. In my opinion the Pleiades look best in binoculars.


I tell this story because of all the glass I had out, it was the 10X50 binoculars that really held his attention. Understand that this is about a Bortel 7 light polluted area so there are very few stars in the sky. Gemini is almost devoid of stars unless it is VERY clear. I have parts of the Southern sky that are blank. I did a survey one night and the dimmest stars I could see were around mag 3.5, so I say my visual limit is about mag 4.


So, when he put the 10X50s up to his eyes he could not believe how many more stars he could see in my $25 Gordon 10X50s that I purchased at Harbor Freight. I understood because I had the same reaction only a few months ago. We looked in the scopes at different magnifications and we shifted to different targets but he would not put down the 10X50s.

I told him to take them home, along with my planisphere. A few weeks later I offered to sell him the set for $10 to get him launched. For $10 we sealed the deal and he is now solidly into astronomy. I have a star buddy.

So, we are both at a dinner together last Friday night. My wife's Rotary club, about 15 couples. He starts to talk about the stars and the star party and the binoculars. There were several people who were interested but one of the women was really into it. And she was surprised you could start with binoculars. Others commented that they had binoculars and never thought of turning them skyward.


Saturday night I organized a Star Party and invited 6 people to join me. I had a dentist appointment Saturday morning so I told my dentist about my new hobby. He wanted to hear more. I asked if he had binoculars and pulled out some really nice Nikon 8X40s and asked if these would be good enough. Sure! He was planning to join us that night. His assistant has two boys and she was thinking of coming too. (I am the pied piper of hobbies. )


Saturday night 9pm was the gathering time at a darker area. Around 8:30 I was packing the car to go to a darker site for the gathering. Sky was forecast to be clear till midnight but the clouds rolled in around 8:30. We will reschedule.


Despite the clouds I slipped in some 10 minute binocular viewings in the sky rivers that came and went using my 15X70s on the monopod. I love them but was really missing my 10X50s, my are weapon of choice for these quick views. I needed to replace them.


Oberwerk had a closeout on Garrett Gemini 10X50s so I picked up a pair. They arrived today. In daylight they look REALLY nice. Crisp and bright and feel very good in the hand. Hopefully I can find a sky river among the clouds soon, or maybe even have a clear night to try them on the sky.


Bottom line, I love binoculars. With all the other glass that I have, the 10X50s get so much use and give me so much enjoyment. I will probably take them with me on my next business trip too.


And when I have people over for my little sky gazing gatherings they all love the 10X50s. I am thinking of adding some 7X35s for kids and people who might feel the 10X50s are too hard to hold.


Beginners, buy your telescopes but don't forget the binoculars. They are so wonderful for quick views and for travel. They are a joy!