This morning the sky was clear, just below freezing but not particularly transparent.
Jupiter was at about 20 degree elevation at 02.36 UT.
I thought I'd try the 10x42L for a change.
I could see Callisto well to the right of Jupiter.
Closer to the limb was Ganymede but with a possible close companion, I thought Io, but I couldn't clearly separate them.
Often the 10x42L IS shows Jupiter's moons just as well as the 18x50 IS.
Not this morning.
I then used the 18x50 and the difference was very great.
Callisto was much brighter, both because of the larger aperture and increased magnification.
Instead of a difficult pair, a triangle of moons was easily seen with a moon hidden in the 10x42L easily seen nearer the limb.
All 3 closer moons were bright and well separated.
The 18x50 is really in a league of its own in hand held binoculars for resolving things, only beaten by the Zeiss 20x60S and possibly the Russian 20x50 and 25x55 stabilized.
I don't know if current 18x50s are up to my old 18x50 IS.
Jupiter was at about 20 degree elevation at 02.36 UT.
I thought I'd try the 10x42L for a change.
I could see Callisto well to the right of Jupiter.
Closer to the limb was Ganymede but with a possible close companion, I thought Io, but I couldn't clearly separate them.
Often the 10x42L IS shows Jupiter's moons just as well as the 18x50 IS.
Not this morning.
I then used the 18x50 and the difference was very great.
Callisto was much brighter, both because of the larger aperture and increased magnification.
Instead of a difficult pair, a triangle of moons was easily seen with a moon hidden in the 10x42L easily seen nearer the limb.
All 3 closer moons were bright and well separated.
The 18x50 is really in a league of its own in hand held binoculars for resolving things, only beaten by the Zeiss 20x60S and possibly the Russian 20x50 and 25x55 stabilized.
I don't know if current 18x50s are up to my old 18x50 IS.