When crowd gather around binoculars and
see the Moon for the first time through binoculars, their reaction is that, the
moon looks the same even without the aid of binoculars. Ask them to spend some
time at the binoculars and slowly they will start enjoying the view, as they
start to Observe the details on the moon surface. This is true even with low
power telescopes.
This is the difference between looking
and observing which I am sure most people would have experienced in their
initial stages.
Even when it comes to other celestial
wonders, the situation is the same spend very little time at eyepiece and there
is little to be seen but spend more time at eyepiece and details we can see are
amazing.
Let me give an example of difference
between looking and observing. Take a look at the image and at first sight it
appears the same, little closer look will show couple of differences but as on
spending time and studying the details will show lots of differences in the
images.
When at eyepiece spend as much time as
possible studying the object, for example if it is the moon study the shape of
the craters, the shadow patterns at different phases of moon and so on. If it
is a galaxy, study the dust lane, the arms and structure. Cluster
offers their own challenges like resolving and types of stars in the cluster.
We cannot pick up such fine details if we are in a hurry, more time at eyepiece
more details we will pick up. Change the magnification, use
different filters, study the object in different telescopes, you will be amazed
on how on objects appears in different magnification, filters and apertures.
I always advice people not to fill the
pages with number of objects they saw in a single night, but to fill the pages
with the details on what they observed. There is no rush, take time in
observing and keep challenging yourselves on how much more details you can see
and minimum aperture needed to see the details.
Why just Look when
you can Observe!
