Had the Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe binocular out last night under my light polluted and hazy Chicago skies and have to report that even though I didn't see much, I did enjoy using this great binocular. As I stated in my previous post, I buy high end optics to see things as good as they can be seen. After last night, I am now adding a footnote that I also buy high end optics to see things under poor conditions as good as they can be seen. No matter what the conditions, though, observing is always more fun when you use good equipment.

In truth, I knew up front that I would never realize the full potential of this great binocular until I make the journey to a truly dark sky site, but I bought it with that very thing in mind. "Porro parum", carry little is one of the things I live by. Of course, it's all relative. The Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe is a giant binocular, after all, but compared to traveling with a telescope, even this giant binocular is small.

By now you might be thinking that I prefer a binocular for astronomy and, in fact, you would be right. The binocular better suits my on the move lifestyle and simple approach to all things. I'm not sure if my favorite objects are open star clusters as a result of using a binocular for so long or if I use a binocular because my favorite objects are open star clusters, but it's a match made in optical heaven as far as I'm concerned. See you out under the Beehive.