New Binoculars question.

[Markusfen]

I have ordered some 10x50 binoculars for some basic astronomy.
I was just after some sky landmarks I should be looking out for, and what I should be able to see with these binoculars.
I know about the moon (obviously) and the Orion Nebula at this time of the year, but give me some more suggestions!

Thanks in advance!

Oh, and I live in Stockport, just outside Manchester, if that helps

Mark

[David Frydman]

Welcome.
My post got wiped out.

Pleiades, Hyades, Jupiter's moons every night.
Venus crescent in twilight, Earthshine on the Moons' crescent dark side.
M13, M31, Albireo, Mizar/Alcor.
Bright star clusters.
Artificial satellites will appear.

Make sure binocular is collimated, if not change it.
Sorry brief, but I don't want to lose post again.

Book 'Turn left at Orion' latest edition.

Regards, David

[stella]

The International Space Station, as published by Alan Pickup in the Guardian newspaper:
From Manchester

Oct Time (B.S.T.)
24 19:01 19:07 54 S W/ESE*

25 19:49 19:53 29 SSW W/S*

26 19:59 19:06 38 SSW W/SE*

27 19:47 19:51 17 SW W/S*

MAX ELEVATION ^

[Markusfen]

Yes! I have been watching the ISS pass over recently (although not the last 2 nights; clouds )

The speed of that thing........ :O

[brian livesey]

About 17,000 MPH, more than enough for an Olympic medal .

[Brian]

You could also try "Stellarium", a PC-based free starmap/planetarium programme which will show you whats about for every time of the year and allow you to plane ahead. You should also be able to place a "field of view" circle scaled to your binoculars onto the map to help you locate objects.
http://www.stellarium.org/
HTH,

[David1952]

Lots to see with binoculars! I agree with using Stellarium, great software. Other things to see: Double cluster in Perseus, Uranus, Lots of the Messier clusters. There are many clusters around the Mag 6 brightness which you can see. Try watching Algol each night and see its brightness change.

Lots and lots to see.

Good luck

David

[peteuplink]

There is a bit of free software called TUBA (Touring the Universe through Binoculars Atlas). It's a companion to the book of the same name. I found it useful when I was starting out. It's old, though. Worked on Windows XP (and Ubuntu Linux through an emulator) but not sure if it runs on anything newer. I'm in North Manchester (Harpurhey) and managed to see quite a lot of things with my 10x40 binoculars... These days I tend to use online scope more than my telescope and binoculars, due to the pesky clouds that seem to be permanently over Manchester, but I still get out with the binoculars when I can.

[brian livesey]

Ther's also our Robin Scagell's/David Frydman's "Stargazing with Binoculars".

[peteuplink]

Ooh yeah! I forgot about that one

Good book!

[Markusfen]

Thanks everyone for the tip / software and ideas.

I have downloaded Stellarium, but as yet have not had chance to actually look at the sky! As Pete said, Manchester is a cloudy place.

Even a small sight of the moon would be nice, lol.

[peteuplink]

I think I saw the moon briefly earlier in the week... But it could have been a Chinese lantern

[Markusfen]

Well, I'm off work for a week from tonight, so hopefully.... one day? Please ?

No car, so I might have to coerce someone (mum) to take me into the Peak District, if the skies are clear.

[David Frydman]

A very good idea to go somewhere dark to observe if the sky is clear and transparent.

You will obviously see much more and there are so many objects visible in a 10 x 50 binocular.
Dress warmly.

Regards, David

[brian livesey]

It's been exceptionally bad in the north-west this year. There has been some consolation, though, by observing the Sun in H-a with the PST in the clear slots we've had. To some extent, it's made up for the frequent cloudy nights.
Soon, the cold will drive some of us indoors .