RE: ATM RE: Bino Scope

[Chuck Dethloff <telmor@teleport.com>]

I have never owned a binoscope, but can attest that on a few occasions I 
definitely have seen an effect in the quality of higher power planetary 
images when folks were standing in front of my Dobsonians at star parties. 
After asking them to please move the image improved in these instances. No 
imagination needed to see the difference either.

So, while this may not be a problem most of the time for low to moderate 
power viewing (I accept the real world evidence offered from Clive, Marty 
and others), I don't think that one can say it could never be a problem. 
Especially during calm high power planetary viewing when conditions allow 
for sub arc second seeing.

I would be very interested in seeing infrared pictures or video taken of 
folks observing through various telescope designs and see what happens to 
their exhaust plumes after exhaling. Especially for those of us that 
observe in almost dead calm conditions most of the time.

Has anyone on this list done that?

Chuck Dethloff