Magnifying your experience
A pair of binoculars or a telescope can bring out the very best features of the night sky
Naked-eye astronomy is a rewarding experience, but to really see as far into the universe as possible, you need an optical aid. Binoculars are always good to begin with, and just being in possession of a pair of 10x50s immediately opens up the opportunity to grab sights of night-sky targets that your eyes can’t make out alone. Not only that, but simply increasing the magnification can provide even better views of objects that you can already see with the naked eye.
You should still give your eyes time to adapt to the darkness. Given that targets will be more difficult to find and that they can’t be seen as well with the naked eye, you should make good use of a night-sky guide or planisphere and use a red torch to read it to preserve your night vision.
On your first night, you shouldn’t expect too much. You are likely to see galaxies and nebulae that resemble faint, fuzzy patches of light. Planets, on the other hand, can appear marginally better, and the greater your magnification, the more impressive your view of our Solar System will be.
All’s not lost with getting the best out of observing fainter targets though. With the help of averted gazing, which involves looking at an object using your peripheral vision, a faint object seen through your telescope or binoculars will appear brighter, since the rod cells around the outside of your eye are much more sensitive to the dim light of an object.
To get the best views, you should take care of where you place your telescope. A stable surface is essential. Before you head outside you should also have an idea of what you wish to observe. Once you’re outside and ready to gaze at the wonders of the night sky, experimenting with the magnification of your telescope by changing eyepieces will provide you with different and more impressive views of your chosen targets.
“Increasing the magnification can provide even better views of objects”