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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars

The Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars are impressive mainly because of their sheer size. An 80mm objective lens is enormous for binoculars and collects a surprising amount of light for wide-field astronomical observing.

In the photos below, the Zhumell 20x80mm binoculars are shown in two different setups. In some images, they are placed side-by-side with a Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope for direct size comparison. In others, the binoculars are mounted on a tripod, which is the typical configuration for stable wide-field observing. Together, these setups give a clear sense of both scale and practical use.

Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant astronomy binoculars piggyback mounted on Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope
Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars and Celestron 4SE



Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant astronomy binoculars piggyback mounted on Celestron NexStar 4SE for sky tracking
Zhumell 20x80mm and Celestron 4SE

Unlike telescopes, large astronomy binoculars offer a wide field of view and natural, two-eye observing. With 20× magnification and large 80mm objectives, the Zhumell SuperGiants are especially effective for:

  • Star fields and Milky Way scanning
  • Large open clusters
  • Bright nebulae under dark skies
  • Casual lunar observing

Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant astronomy binoculars mounted on tripod
SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars

Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 astronomy binoculars close-up
20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binocular

Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant astronomy binoculars mounted on tripod observing the Moon
ET Astrophotography - Astronomical Binocular and Super Moon

In the first photo, the binoculars are mounted piggyback on the Celestron NexStar 4SE, a setup I jokingly called the “Mickey Mouse setup.”

The NexStar 4SE’s automated tracking allows the binoculars to follow the sky smoothly, making it possible to observe wide fields without manually moving a heavy binocular mount. It’s simple, unconventional, and surprisingly effective.

Related Celestron NexStar 4SE Astrophotography

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Brooklyn in the night lights

Brooklyn, NYC in the night lights. Canon 40D,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. Night photos.

Brooklyn in the night lights, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Brooklyn at night, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
Brooklyn Astronomy, Orion Constellation as seen in Brooklyn, NYC
Brooklyn at Night, NYC night sky
Brooklyn Moonrise
NYC Astronomy - Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Night Sky

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Brooklyn Sunset NYC

In March 2013, I went out to Brooklyn hoping to photograph Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4). Urban skies and timing were not on my side, and the comet never became visible from my location. Instead, the evening delivered something else — a dramatic sunset over New York City.

These images capture the transition from daylight to night as seen from Brooklyn, New York City, with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge silhouetted against vivid clouds and fading twilight. Even when astrophotography plans fail, the sky often offers a different reward.


Brooklyn sunset over New York City with colorful clouds during twilight
Brooklyn Sunset, Astronomy and Astrophotography,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
NYC sunset from Brooklyn with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on the horizon
NYC Sunset (as seen in Brooklyn), Verrazano Bridge, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, Astronomy and Astrophotography
Twilight sky over Brooklyn NYC with fading sunset light
Sunset as seen in Brooklyn (NYC), Verrazano Bridge, Astronomy and Astrophotography,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Gear: Canon EOS DSLR + Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Location: Brooklyn, New York City
Date: March 2013

Related NYC & Urban Astrophotography

Note: A few years later, from the same Brooklyn location, conditions were much better and I was finally able to photograph a comet. See Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC .