by Gregory Edwards
Last Wednesday evening I found my last four Herschel 400 objejects at Bumpass Hell, Mt. Lassen. While I found the last dozen or so Tuesday and Wednesday at Bumpass Hell, I observed the rest from MB, Fremont Peak, Dino, Coe, and Half Moon Bay over the past year or so.
What did I learn? Vixen 30x125 binoculars are wonderful.
The MSA is wonderful. It matched the binos exactly. Every star I could see in the 30x125 I could see in the MSA (at Fremont Peak, etc., at Lassen I could see more stars).
Using a piece of thick cloth over my head to block stray light seemed to gain me a magnitude or more, even at Bumpass Hell. Cheapest way to a bigger scope known.
I note that at 30x I could not see details on all the objects, but I was able to see at least a point object and confirm via MSA that it was the right point object and not just a star.
In looking at old favorites, after finding all the Herschel 400, I find that I am seeing more detail, and can see much fainter objects. In other words, I am a much better observer than I was before. I can also starhop better...
I would strongly recommend others who wish to become better observers also view all of the Herschel 400.
I would like to congratulate all of the other who completed the Herschel 400 last week (there were at least 4 of us).
Thank you.
Greg (binoculars) Edwards