Choosing the Right Binoculars

Spring is a great time of year to grab your camera or a  pair of binoculars and head outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty that is appearing all around us every day.

When choosing binoculars consider how well they fit your hands, eyes and of course, pocketbook. Numbers such as “8X42,” refer to the magnification (first number) and field of view (second number), or how much area can be seen. To choose the best ones for you, "field-test” binoculars indoors first by looking at small type on distant signs, items of similar color, and poorly-lit areas. Ask yourself “field” questions, such as: Do they fit your hands? Are they light enough to hold up to your eyes for a while? Can you focus quickly, and on something nearby, or only on distant objects?

There are many great articles and reviews online with expert advice to help you choose the best pair for your needs. For more information, check out this review at Bird Watcher's Digest or feel free to call a Chippewa Nature Center Naturalist at (989) 631-0830.

lights out!

Night, or what is left of it,
in North America.

From parking lots to ball diamonds to our own backyards, we have lit up our nights to the point that we don't really have "night" anymore.  Light seemed like a good idea back when we lived around campfires, but it turns out there really is too much of a good thing.  Our relunctance to deal with the dark has been proven to have a negative impact not just on backyard stargazers and professional astronomers, but on wildlife , and on our own health and safety.  From baby sea turtles crawling away from the ocean instead of into it (due to nearby town lights), to various cancers (due to a decrease in the production of melatonin when exposed to nighttime lights), to safety issues caused by outdoor lights that create glare rather than security, night sky pollution is a serious hazard!  For more information on this topic, and to learn how you can use light without reducing your safety or endangering your health or that of wildlife, check out the website of the International Dark Sky Association, http://www.darksky.org/.

Typical mercury "security"
light that provides
more glare than security.

This organization does not recommend simply turning lights off and living in the dark, but using lights WISELY -- as needed, where needed, and most importantly, with light fixtures that put light where it is needed, rather than shooting it off into the sky (or worse, into your eyes, which keeps you from seeing the very dangers you are trying to expose).  The "frequently asked questions" page is a good starting point. So as always, turn off lights where you can. But where you can't, use the right light.

too cold for stargazing?

Winter constellations are beautiful to behold -- on the few clear nights we get!  But if you would like to go beyond stargazing, or just want to learn more in the warmth of your living room, check out this amazing website by a retired astronomy professor from the University of Illinois:  http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/sowlist.html  Whether your interest is the ancient stories of the constellations, or the science of star formations and supernovas, this website has it all! 

In the meantime, enjoy the great views of the waning moon (waning gibbous at first, then "last quarter" on the 24th, followed by waning crescent), along with the planet Jupiter glowing brightly in the western sky just before sunset.  'Tis also the season for spectacular views of the constellations in the southern sky, such as Orion, the Winter Hexagon (called a "circle" by some, but really, it's more of a hexagon), and Orion's hunting dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor). For great information on finding these constellations, check out this website; click on "tonight" in the upper right-hand corner:  http://earthsky.org/space From there, you can see not only stars for "tonight", but see what the coming week is bringing or search through previous articles.