If my neighbors weren't talking before, I'm sure they are, now.
Last night I was experimenting with a
Celestron OIII filter in front of one of the eyepieces on my
Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe bincoular - not something either item was designed to do and not a technique I recommend as a regular practice - but it did work to better show M27. What was previously the dimmest spot for this planetary and something visible only because I knew exactly where it was, became an obvious planetary nebula with a filter carefully placed in front of the eyepiece of the
binocular. In order to prevent stray light from reflecting off the bright surface of the filter and rendering everything invisible, though, I had to drape a towel over my head. Yes, the old towel trick still works. I've used it for years to block out stray light from annoying light sources, but for some strange reason, I hadn't thought to use one, lately.
I have no doubt that neighbors, walking in front of my apartment, were a bit puzzled to see a woman in her nightgown, with a towel draped over her head and a huge binocular peeking out from underneath the towel. Have the
aliens truly landed?