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Unpopular opinion: I think a full moon is actually a decent time for backyard astronomy
I got a new 8-inch Dobsonian telescope in December and decided to test it out during the full moon last week. I figured I'd just look at the moon itself, but then I tried for the Orion Nebula. The view was washed out, sure, but I could still see the Trapezium stars clearly. It made me wonder if we write off bright nights too fast. Has anyone else found good targets when the moon is up?
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shanejackson6mo ago
Read an article once that said double stars are great for bright nights. Makes sense, right? They're just points of light.
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wyattc766mo ago
Yeah double stars cut through light pollution pretty well. They stay bright even when the moon's out, so you can still get a good view. Honestly they're a lifesaver when you can't get to dark skies.
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averysullivan5mo ago
That "they're just points of light" bit is exactly what my buddy Greg told me after he tried it. He dragged his little refractor out during a full moon last summer just to see, and he said splitting Epsilon Lyrae was like watching two tiny diamonds appear out of nowhere. Said it was the best surprise he'd had all year with his scope.
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