Practical limiting magnitude.

with more experience you'll see fainter and fainter stars.

Clear skies,

This is so true, it also applies to detail on a planet, an experianced observer will see more then a novice.

This might sound abit off the wall but, one curious effect I noticed many moons ago was that if I was observing with might right eye (which I usually do) at planets for an hour or so, and then switched to my left eye, it would take a while to see as much detail with my left eye, sometimes I just couldnt see the same detail with the other eye, it was as if I had switched telescopes!!
I thought I was imagining this until someone else mentioned it to me recently.
So its about training your eye/brain combination to see the detail.

Differences also exist between different eyes. From what I've noticed so far, right-handed people tend to look through a scope with their right eye and left handed people use their left eye. This might indicate that people are automatically using their better eye.

Micheal - funnily enough, I'm right handed but I also use my right eye at the 'scope... But I use my left ear to answer the phone.

Is this anything to do with 'm' theory?

Dave

Micheal - funnily enough, I'm right handed but I also use my right eye at the 'scope... But I use my left ear to answer the phone.

Dave ever considered that you might have a hearing problem with your right ear? I am almost totally deaf in my left ear which severely limits my ability to hear both sides of an argument

Seriously consider getting it tested.

Dave

Dave - you mightn't believe this but I've always had a hearing problem - in my left ear! Its not severe but maybe subconciously I just don't want to listen... Perhaps since hearing is related to 'balance', it might have had something to do with my recent posts

Cheers

Dave

As always guys, thanks a million.
Stephen.