Is the oberwerk 11x56 a good astronomy binocular for use without a tripod?
964811
No.  The binocular is fine, but for most people 8X is about the highest power to hold by hand.  If you are steady you could try up to 10X but even then you would have to hold it agains something steady.  With 11X it would be very hard to hold them steady enough to really see something.
583537
Adding to the above... If you can afford it and you want more than about 7x magnification, you should consider buying IS (image stabilizing) binoculars.   These need batteries, but dynamically correct for the shaking of your hands.  You can get them up to 15x magnification.\n\nAlso, it's important to consider what you want to use the binoculars for.  If you're going to use them at comparatively short distances, you don't want a pair that magnify too much because you'll have to keep moving the glasses around to see entire objects.  (That's why opera glasses, which are a form of binocular, are such low magnification - typically 2-4x).   Also, if you plan to use them at night or in low light, you want a large objective lens size (50mm or larger) because that allows the glasses to gather more light.\n\nLastly, if you'll use them in unstable situations (like a moving boat), consider the size of the exit pupil.  This is the objective diameter divided by the magnification, and measures the diameter of the image which your eye looks at.   This is important because it affects how precisely your eye has to be lined up with the eyepiece for you to see the image.
896744
I've never heard of an astronomy laser but if you mean one for pointing out the stars, a normal laser pointer will work.
860328
No,\nI wouldn't say that's entirely impossible but it'd be a small technical challange.\n\nIf you can't afford a telescope you should contact your local astronomical society. Many will let members borrow telescopes for free or they may be able to tell you of a star party where you can go and others will let you look through their telescopes.
845520
A 6" Newtonian is an excellent starter scope.  If you can get a clock drive to go with it, you'll have countless hours of entertainment.  That kind of scope has all the power you will need to see some of the more spectacular deep sky objects as well as all of the planets.  You'll be able to see four of the moons of Jupiter and the colored bands and even the great red spot on occasion.  You'll see the rings of Saturn quite well and possibly even the Cassini Division and Titan.\nYou'll be able to see Uranus and Neptune, but I doubt you will see any features.\nFor deep space, start out with the nebula in Orion and M31.  There are some nice open clusters in Cancer (the bee hive) and then you can move on to globulars like M3 and M13.  You'll be able to see binaries like Alberio and Cor Caroli (my personal fav) and even the Ring Nebula in Lyra without any problems whatsoever.  \nGood Choice for a beginner's scope.
245028
I reccomend Lycos tripod thy've got lots of great stuff its really easy and free.\n\nwww.tripod.com
964951
I believe that you are referring to a stereo-microscope. Generally stereo-microscopes have low magnification and are used for the study of macroscopic 3-dimensional objects like insects. Hope this helps.
1134720
Hi, great question.  I got a new telescope a year ago and have found a couple of excellent sites.  First try 'skyandtelescope.com'  this site has several features including a sky chart.  Enter your info, and it gives hour by hour info on whats up there to see, as well as info on upcoming events.  It offers 'how to advice' for telescopes, binocs and  astro photography.\nThe second is 'astromart.com'   this is one of THE BEST and most helpfull sites I have been to.  What a great forum.  Several active members are well known scientists and professors as well as very knowledgeable amature astronomy buffs.  No question is to stupid for them and you won't find a better place to gain advice and knowledge.   Questions posted are answered very quickly, usually in no more then a few hours, sometimes immediately.  Try both of these, I'm sure you will find what you need.    They are both  free of charge, believe it or not!!!\n\nLet me know what you think,  my s/n on astromart is lilkritter!!  Good Luck!
749447
Hi. A good one might be Regulus because it lies pretty close to the ecliptic and is very bright. But you can use any star. For much better accuracy scientists use quasars due to their vast distance. This eliminates parallax error.
788820
Sky and Telescope reviewed under $200 telescopes in the December '05 edition, and their well-rated telescopes (in order of preference) were:\nOrion SkyQuest XT4.5 Dobsonian\nOrion StarBlast Astro Telescope\nOrion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth\nOrion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor\nScientifics Astroscan\n\nThe two at the top of the list have the largest apertures, at 4.5", and will therefore show you more than the others. The next two on the list are smaller, and the Astroscan won't take enough magnification for planets.\n\nDon't listen to people who will try to tell you that a small telescope is better for light polluted skies - bigger is ALWAYS better.\n\nStay away from Walmart and other discount stores, sporting goods stores,  science stores, camera stores, and eBay. Buy from a reputable telescope dealer. I've listed a couple below.
1056956
No, I read an article and it said that you need a strong telescope and lots and lots of astronomy experience. I was hoping I'd be able to see it too, but I have neither!
38143
If you mean optical, I use one.  They are much better than the old roller-ball mice and much lighter weight too.  I suggest investing in one, they really do make life easier (instead of trying to clean those little white wheels almost constantly!)
333994
I was very confused also with all this different eyepieces. From what I learned from reading and from my own and others experience this is what I can tell you: \n\nRamsden is the less expensive between the three of them, very similar to the Huygens. Choose it only if the price is a limitation. Anyway you will be able to see good images.\n\nKellner is much better than Ramsden, it has three optic elements, Ramsden has two. Kellner eyepieces usualy have about 40º of apparent field. They say that the main problem with Kernells is internal refelction between the optics, but it has improved very much with new coatings, I`ve never noticed it in Kernells I have used.\n\nPlossl is even better but more expensive. If you can afford it choose the Plossl. The size will depend on the telescope you have and what you want to look at, but they recomend to have an 8mm and a 25mm or 30mm Plossl.  \n\nI have no experience with Orthoscopic, but they've told me Plossl are better. \n\nIf you want a very wide field of view choose a good Erfle, with low power, and point at the Milky Way.\n\nA final advice is that is better to have 1 or 2 very good eyepieces than a lot of regular eyepieces.\nGood luck.
984480
buy two convex lens, both should have different focal lengths and it is advisable that you should buy lenses of high focal lengths. and a tube is also required.the length of the tube should be equal to the sum of the focal lengths of the two lenses.\nNow, make the bigger lens as the eyepiece and the smaller one as objective. your telescope is ready to wander through the universe.
784963
Lots of options and opportunities to specialize in that price range.\n\nA few possibilities: \nCatadioptric: 12" Meade LX200R http://www.astronomics.com/main/product.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/SH2RX8FAHP0M9KU9QPNE5T8P61/product_id/12210RU\nDob-Newt: 14.5" Starmaster\nhttp://www.starmastertelescopes.com/new14.htm\nor 15" Obsession\nhttp://obsessiontelescopes.com/telescopes/index.html\nRefractor: 130mm TMB Signature (you'll have to skimp on the mount to stay under $5k; maybe a used GM-8)\nhttp://www.astronomics.com/main/product.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/X9S97ENNVDED9JVW6C3HAN0S10/product_id/TMB130\nor a 102mm Stellarvue and plenty left for a good mount\nhttp://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=11163&m=93
898999
Orion Telescope and Binoculars - http://www.telescope.com - good selection of cheap-to-moderate scopes, decent quality.\nFirst Telescope - http://www.first-telescope.com/ - all scopes under $500.\nAstronomics - http://www.astronomics.com/ - parent of First Telescope, a good full-line telescope dealer.
1018864
You can purchase a Tasco 4.5 inch reflector telescope that comes with eyepieces that give magnifications of 50x 100x and 200x. \n\nTasco however is not known for great optics. They are better know for cheap optics. \n\nYou did not mention what you wanted to use the telescope for. \n\nFor a decent spotting scope, select a Celestron Ultima 100 mm. \n\nAnd do not scimp on the tripod. \n\nFor a top of the line spotting scope, select a Swarovski. The best of the best. \n\nFor astronomical viewing you want something a tad larger. An 8 inch reflector.  \n\nCheck out the link to this one.