So the big dipper, is really big ?

originally posted by: Bigburgh
a reply to: CrawlingChaos

My link is of night vision goggles. And in all honesty. If you need a telescope. Don't waste your time unless you are prepared to spend a little. I did that. All it did was take a bright dot. And make it brighter with no detail. Eriktheaweful is here. I trust he can get you started.

Those were night vision binoculars... x24... Way "cooler" than the cheapies I got... I bet you can do some cool night sky watching with those. Anyways, to what you said about cheap telescopes ; Ya... Like I said I usually use the one I got for looking at the moon, cause I can't get it to focus well on anything else heheh. Even when I do get it trained on a star it does what you said, just makes a bigger dot.

Well the front half of the "dipper" is well below the tree line now.

originally posted by: Bigburgh
a reply to: chr0naut

I've seen you post.. your mind is greater

IRL I do some dumb stuff, though but thanx.

a reply to: CrawlingChaos

Got nothing but clouds now here in Pittsburgh PA.
I got my binoculars because an Air force neighbor has been noticing a newer Gen aircraft going by. Only Zaphod58 can give info on this.

These binoculars can give off a con trail in the heat of the night.
But the background! Soooo many stars! You can pick out a satellite from a passing asteroid. Seriously. Difference is night and day.

a reply to: Bigburgh

Well that purchase is sealed... I'm naming YOU, when my wife wants to know why I needed these... LOL ! Well this guy on the internet said... How could that argument fail ?


The aircraft ? I grew up on naval aviation bases, I'm pretty good with I.D.'ing aircraft ( U.S.) I'd be interested in that ! Does your neighbor make out any markings ? Navy, Air Force ? Sweep wing, fixed ? Is it super sonic when he see's it ? I'm really into planes & subs.

I'm on the east coast, and I noticed the other night that it looked bigger than usual to me.
I thought it was kinda weird, so it's not just you.

That's just it !!! It's not spinning, or out of place LOL, nothing like that it just seemed larger than usual !

I'm in the Mid-West.

Don't worry about some of the dismissive responses. There have been times when I looked at the moon & had to do a double take because its size seemed off. And I'm not talking about during "supermoons". Maybe the sky is a little clearer than normal, or maybe the city lights aren't as bright. So that could be why. Other times, the crescent moons just look incredibly sharp and they catch my eye as well.

Sometimes we just notice things differently. Stuff like that usually happens with me when I haven't paid attention to them for a while.

EDIT: Had to clarify my post since it wasn't properly conveying my thoughts.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

There are no dismissive posts. We have explained the phenomenon. Yes we ALL have seen it.

originally posted by: CrawlingChaos
a reply to: NowWhat

LOL funny. But seriously, the big dipper just seems overly large tonight.

I don't know, maybe it's just me /shrug

It is atmospheric lensing.

Like how the sun and moon look much bigger one the horizon than overhead.