Binocular Lab (Developed by Emilie Royer) Name :
•
•
Be sure to write your name & answer all short answer questions in complete sentences.
You need your binoculars for this lab
Part 1:
Objective:
The objective of this Lab is to learn how to use binoculars, learn about binocular magnification, aperture, field of view, and
how to observe some distant objects.
There are 3 parts to this lab. All 3 parts can be done at the same time or separately.
Now
lab in the
Parts
2 &scan
3 areyour
to becompleted
done in the evening.
Partcorrect
1 can bepage
done order
during using
daylightGoogle
hours. Drive app on your phone and
submit. Your google drive should be connected to your MtSAC email address.
Introduction:
First, you need to know how to adjust binoculars correctly to make them usable in the field. When you are trying to watch an
object from far away, you have to calibrate your binoculars according to your eyes. If you usually wear glasses, keep your
glasses on to observe with the binoculars.
Adjusting the Binoculars (From the Up-close Binoculars manual)
Adjusting the Interpupillary Distance (IPD) Since the distance between the eyes (specifically, the distance between the centers of the
pupils) varies among individuals, the two eyepieces of the binoculars must be correctly aligned (adjusted). This is called adjusting the
interpupillary distance. To adjust this distance, lift the binoculars up to your eyes (using both hands) and look through them at an object
in the distance. Move the two halves of the binoculars about the hinge until you see one clear circle of image through both eyes.
Adjusting Focus: Since most people have a variance of vision from their left eye to their right eye, you must adjust the focusing system.
46
Use the following steps to achieve focus:
1.
2.
What is the aperture of your binoculars? (find # x #, the last # is the aperture in mm) _______
Is the answer above more than 40? Yes No
*If your answer is less than 40 mm, please stop, contact your instructor and/or get a pair of
binoculars with greater than 40 mm aperture size.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Close your right eye and look through the left side of the binoculars with your left eye at the subject matter.
Rotate the center focusing wheel until the image appears in sharp focus
Close your left eye and look through the right eyepiece (called the diopter). Rotate the right eyepiece until the image appears in
sharp focus
Now look through both eyepieces with both eyes open. Since you’ve already adjusted the right eyepiece, use only the center
focusing wheel to refocus on a new object at a different distance.
The binocular adjustments you just made will differ from the adjustments your friend will make. So, keep your pair of binoculars to
yourself as giving them to others will call for these adjustments again.
Let’s practice! It is easier to practice focusing the binoculars during daylight hours. Generally, treetops, hilltops, or buildings work
well for this purpose. You are not allowed to look into other people’s houses!!!
Reminder: Do not look at the Sun with binoculars!!!
Focus adjustment practice 1
Date: ____________________________ Time: ______________________________
Object used to focus (i.e. tree top, mountain peak, etc.): ________________________________________________________
Left eye focus: successfully completed? Yes
No
*If your answer is “no”: explain why. Please contact your instructor ASAP for assistance.
Right eye: successfully completed?
Yes
No
If you were to give others a pointer on how to adjust the binoculars, what would it be?
If you are in an online section please submit your binoculars tutorial video:
Set up your camera (phone camera) and create a “how to focus and use the binoculars” video. The video should be 1-2 minutes, and
you will explain how to focus your binoculars. You and your binoculars must be in the video together as you demonstrate how to
adjust and focus the binoculars. Include the view through the binoculars to demonstrate magnified view. Please be sure to include
an image of the telescope properties (magnification (range) and aperture size) in your video. You can create your video with your
phone. I am not expecting a super smooth, edited video, but rather, a quick video of you explaining how to focus your binoculars.
Upload the video to the Introduction to Binoculars assignment.
47
Binoculars Part 2 –
Name: ___________________________
Observations of the Moon, planets and other bright objects
Date:
Time:
Let’s start with a few naked eye observations and we will pick up the binoculars again after that. This first set of observations
will help you to find the Cardinal points at your location (North, South, East, and West) and find a few bright stars and
constellations in the sky. This is a good time to bring your planisphere outside! Remember to set the planisphere for the day
of observation and the correct time. Use daylight saving on your planisphere for the best results.
Please complete this lab when the Moon is easily visible!
Easier to complete during the evening hours.
Question 1: What is the phase of the Moon today? _______________________________
Question 2: Describe the location of the Moon using the Topocentric coordinate system.
Altitude:
Azimuth:
Question 3: Use your binoculars to view the Moon. Draw what you see in your view in the circle on the next page.
Question 4: What is the brightest object in the sky today, aside from the Moon? (Hint: Look for some planets located along
the ecliptic)
___________________________________________
Question 5: Describe the location of the object in the question above, using the Topocentric Coordinate System
Altitude:
Azimuth:
Question 6: Use your binoculars to view this bright object. Draw what you see in your view in the circle on the next page.
Question 7: Use your camera (phone camera) to take a long exposure picture of the sky. Your images should include each of the
objects above. Include the images with your submission.
Finding the Moon or the Brightest object with binoculars:
Reminder: Do not look at the Sun with binoculars!!!
First # is
field of view
in degrees
1. Once you have located the Moon or another bright object, it
is now time to pick up your binoculars! Lets now find the
magnification, diameter / aperture and Field of view Please
locate two numbers, separated by an ‘x’, written Magnification x diameter or aperture in mm
somewhere on your binoculars. Those numbers indicate
the magnification and diameter, also called aperture, of your binoculars. Don’t forget to
include the units!
Field of view: __________________________
Magnification :______________________________________
Diameter or aperture: ___________________________________________
48
2. Look into the binoculars to make a careful sketch of the objects & describe (in as many details
please!) what you see:
*The circle is your view through the binoculars, not the outline of the Moon or Jupiter, or other
interesting objects! Please review https://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html to lean about
the list of currently available objects. (see the next page)
You are observing using your binoculars, sketching and describing 2 bright objects visible for this part of the lab.
Name of the object
The Moon
This circle is not the
Moon, but rather it is
your view in the
binoculars!
Description of the object:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Name of the bright object (celestial object in the
night sky. No daytime observation of terrestrial
object please!). One of the planets or known binary
systems would make ideal targets!
__________________________________
Description of the object:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
49
Take a photo for each of these items through your
binoculars, and add to the end of this activity.
How to use the Evening Sky Maps by SkyMaps.com
1.
2.
3.
Go to the website - https://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html
Download the current month’s star map.
Open the downloaded document. You will find the star map,
including the planets locations, and the objects list on the back
side. From the “Easily seen” list, select a planet, binary system,
bright nebula or star cluster for the 2nd object.
4.
5.
50
Binoculars Part 3 - Calculating the size of the Moon
Name: _________________________
To calculate the size of the moon, you will need to observe on a night (or a day) when the
Moon is present in the sky!
Resolution is an important term to evaluate your telescope or binoculars. Calculate the resolution of your binoculars:
What is resolution? We use the term resolutions with binoculars, human eyes, telescopes and etc.
To observe details of Mars’ surface, would you want a telescope’s resolution to be a larger number or smaller number? Explain.
Lets go back to your binoculars!
What is the aperture of your binoculars (see part 2 above) _____________________
What is the resolution of your binoculars: ____________________________
𝑅𝑅𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑅𝑅𝑙𝑙𝐴𝐴𝑐𝑐𝐷𝐷𝑅𝑅𝑐𝑐 =
115"
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
*Human eye resolution with perfect condition is about 1’ or 60 “ How do the resolution of this binoculars compared to human eye
resolution?
Time & Date of your field of view observation: ___________________________________________________________
What is the phase of the Moon:
What is the Field of view printed on your binoculars?
_____________________________________
Draw what you see in your binoculars with
the correct ratio of the field of view to the
size of the moon.
A grid is added to this so you can
correctly size the moon. You need the
ratio of the moon to the field of view
for the next step
Use your careful drawing to calculate
the size of the Moon.
There are 10 squares vertical and
horizontal diameter. How many squares
is your moon taking up?
If the moon occupies 5 squares, that
means, 5 / 10, so the ratio is 0.5, or 50%.
If the moon occupies 3 squares, 3/10, the
ratio is 0.33, or 33%.
51
Review your drawing from the last page. How many square is the moon’s vertical diameter taking up? _______________________
What is the R (ratio) of the Moon? 𝑅𝑅 =
# 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑚ℎ𝑜𝑜 𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑎𝑎𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑜𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑜𝐴𝐴𝑖𝑖𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑑 𝑏𝑏𝑑𝑑 𝑚𝑚ℎ𝑜𝑜 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑣 𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑚ℎ𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑖𝑖 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑑𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑘𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑐𝑐ℎ
10
R = ___________________________
Use the formula below to calculate the size of the moon.
𝑶𝑶 =
𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑭 ∗ 𝑫𝑫 ∗ 𝑹𝑹
𝟐𝟐𝟓𝟓. 𝟑𝟑𝟎𝟎
Where:
• FoV is Field of View (field of view printed on your binoculars, see above) If you have a variable magnification binocular, adjust
accordingly.
*If the binoculars are 10x to 30x, the field of view printed is for 10x magnification. If you are observing at 30x, that will
reduce the field of view. If magnification is 3 times as much, divide the field of view by 3 as well.
• R is the ratio of the object with respect to the diameter
• D is the distance of the object from you (384,400 km for the distance from the Moon to Earth)
• O is the diameter of the Moon itself. Show your calculation:
What is the field of view of your binoculars? (see part 2) ______________________________________________
What is R of the Moon in the view (See above) _____________________________________________________
Calculated size of the moon (including unit) __________________________
*If your calculated size of the Moon is not between 1000km and 10,000km, please see your
instructor.
This is the end of the Binoculars lab. Please submit part 1 to part 3, including the photos of the 2 objects you
views through the binoculars.
52