Optical Instrument comparison note

From: MALEY, PAUL D. (JSC-DO511) (USA) (paul.d.maley1@jsc.nasa.gov)
Date: Wed Sep 04 2002 - 07:55:29 EDT

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    Reading the posts comparing optical instruments, I was able to buy a pair of
    25x150 Fujinions in Osaka in 1980 and have used these as a standard ever
    since primarily because of the 21 street lights that I can see from my
    viewing location. 90% of my observations are made with the Fujinons. Three
    of the street lights plus neighbors security lights constantly impact my
    observing location (driveway) making it impossible to get much done in the
    evening. These binoculars perform superbly in a dark sky, except that this
    pair has never been in one as seen from Houston. The binoculars are quite
    heavy and can tip over presenting a real nighttime safety hazard since I had
    to have a mount constructed instead of buying the very expensive commercial
    mounting. Now, on a great night in Houston [naked eye stars to +4], I can
    see +11 magnitude satellites; on a good night, limiting magnitude in the
    Fujinons is +10. I also use these binoculars for fruitless comet hunting
    searches. The dew shields help minimize stray light and are much better than
    any Celestron or Meade product for satellite viewing, locating and tracking.
    For low altitude satellites I can move to another location across the street
    and use 7x35 wide angle binoculars and they do the job quite well. However,
    because of a malfunctioning water sprinkling system that sends a geyser of
    water 30 feet into the air at 1:00 every morning, I must time observing to
    avoid being inundated.
    
    Paul
    
    Paul D. Maley
    
    Houston, Texas 77058 USA
    
    email: paul.d.maley1@jsc.nasa.gov
    Tel. 281.244.0208; Fax. 281.244.1140
    
    
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