A Window on the Sky

February 4, 2010

We haven’t done an observing tip in a while.  So here’s one that’s brief but a little… unusual.  If you like to look at the sky with your unaided eye or binoculars, but don’t like getting a stiff neck and sore back, then today’s idea might be worth trying out.  It takes a little practice, but it’s simple and works amazingly well.

This idea’s been around for a long time, no doubt.  But I first thought of it when hearing about tourists and artists observing Michaelangelo’s paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Instead of craning their necks for hours, the art lovers looked at a reflection of the ceiling from mirrors held at waist level.  It’s far more comfortable, and even an inexpensive mirror does a fine job giving a true image of priceless art.

The same idea works for stars.  If you want to spare your neck, get a small mirror (say at least 12 inches square), hold it face-up towards the sky, and let the star light reflect into your eyes while holding your neck at a comfortable angle. Or if you really like comfort, hold the mirror on your lap as you sit in a comfortable chair.  It’s a little strange at first, since the image you see is flipped left-to-right, but you’ll get the hang of it after a little practice.  It sounds obvious, but you won’t find many people trying this at a star party.

Some have adapted this idea for binoculars.  Here’s a home-made version of a mirror-binocular combination…

A binocular mount with a mirror to capture the sky in reflection.  Great for preventing neck strain.  Here’s a link to help you build your own.

I’ve used a commercial version of this mount a couple of times, and it works well.  Even a low-cost mirror doesn’t seem to impart much distortion to the image from binoculars.  If your neck pain gets in the way of stargazing, try out a mirror… you’ll enjoy the sky more if you do.

Posted in Telescopes and Observing