Astro Engineering Sky-Mirror

My wife has mobility problems with her neck and finds even deck-chair observing with binoculars uncomfortable.

We saw an Astro Engineering Sky-Mirror on demonstration at Green Witch Observatory (near Cambridge, UK) and bought one.

The Sky-Mirror has given hours of easy binocular viewing for my wife (and myself). We tend to place the Sky-Mirror on a high, bar-type table in our backyard and stand to use the device; the recommendation is to sit with the mirror on a low table but I think we feel it more natural to stand to look through telescopes.

The mirror movement allows view from the horizon through the vertical to some tens of degrees behind you - before it becomes normal to the axis of the binoculars.

The unit is a solid, robust device which gives steady viewing. The binocular pillar has a standard binocular thread mount, we use a Leica cradle screwed into this mount as we have a pair of Canon binoculars which have no thread mount. The mirror has a good cover to protect its surface which is easily removed for use. Both the binocular pillar lateral position and the mirror height are adjustable. The mirror is moved by hand to point to the portion of the sky you require.

Our model comes with a dew heater on the underside of the mirror which is driven by a standard anti-dewing 12volt supply system. See cable on image to the right.

Of course, this device is easily transportable - we can be viewing within a couple of minutes. The Sky-Mirror provides a comfortable and convenient way to see the sky - particularly for disabled astronomers.

Astro Engineering have a large catalogue of useful accessories but are not good at providing all of the variety of items in their catalogue. I have been waiting for delivery of one item for 8 months!

We are now looking to decide whether to buy a 20x or 25x magnification pair of binoculars!