I can only speak for myself and my own experiences. Last year
during the 99 Persieds, I had both my contact and glasses prescriptions
updated at the same time. I performed the simple experiment of taking
both contacts and glasses out to my observing site and counting the IMO
fields with each. The contacts proved superior, but of course there
was always the possibility of the glasses not being as well fitted
to my eyes (prescription-wise) as the contacts. The glare was worse
with the glasses and naturally I had complete peripheral vision with the
contacts, unacheivable with the glasses.
I don't think one can compare
glasses to telescopes anymore or any less than one could compare contacts
and telescopes. Glasses and contacts do exactly the same thing.
We do have posters here (at least one, anyway) who are experienced observers
and state that they have glasses which are -if I recall correctly - a diopter
stronger than necessary - yet their present *meteor* perception doesn't
seem to be anything extraordinary. Their LM perception, on the other
hand, does appear quite a bit better than average. Help me out here,
Norm!
I have to wonder, however,
about the health aspects of using glasses that are too strong over extended
periods. It may be perfectly OK -- I'm no opthamalogist!
Joe Kaplonek wrote:
Hi there, Reference: Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2000 22:54:24 -0400
From: Kim Youmans <ksyo@pinelanddot net> <No one will ever convince me that that glasses are superior to contacts for observing. > Question: If a telescope extends visual limiting magnitude, wouldn't glasses (spectacles) do the same thing and actually be beneficial in helping observe fainter meteors? Regards,Joe. ****************************************************
Joe Kaplonek
Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Southampton
Southampton SO17 1BJTel: +44 (0)23 8059 4803
Fax:+44 (0)23 8059 5441
e-mail: jtk@soton.acdot uk
http://www.engineering.soton.acdot ukhttp://www.soton.acdot uk/~stargate****************************************************