crazy way of viewing thru the eon

Hi,
Call me crazy (I may be so don't worry). Last night I got tired of keeping one eye closed so I just opened both eyes.
Sure my left eye was seeing other stuff but what was in the ep was just floating around . It actually looked like it was outside the ep. It was one of the wierdest experiences. Anyway, maybe because my eyes were relaxed, but what was seen was clearer and sharper than when one eye was closed. This was so even though the left eye was not being used at all in the viewing of the planet.
I wasn't like using a binoviewer, of course, since then you are using both eyes but the relaxed feeling was certainly the same.
Has anyone tried this and have your results been similar?
Clear Skies
Itz

Hi Itz

I only see out of one eye, so it is not a problem with both eyes open.

You can buy comfortable eyepatches at the Walmart pharmacy eyecare rack for $1.79. Might make your 'two eyes open' viewing even less distracting... I wear an eyepatch most days to protect the bad cornea. Such an eyepatch can last weeks even with daily use if one takes care of it, so for occasional astronomy it ought to last a long time.

I spray an eyepatch lightly with alcohol every time I take it off to prevent turning the eyepatch into a bacteria science project. However if you really soak it with alcohol, the eyepatch gets wrinkles and doesn't last long.

Perhaps a unique perception, but I find the 'space window' effect is more impressive, and the AFOV seems wider, if I fold down or remove the eyepiece rubber eyeguard. Unfortunately some eyepieces make it difficult to maintain good eye position without the eyeguard, and is not so practical with such eyepieces.

If I am observing at a truely darksky site, I can observe with both eyes open with little distraction. Observing in my yard with the increased light pollution requires that I close one eye. I have been practicing using either eye, I find my right eye affords a sharper image even after refocusing, but I cannot seem to get as large a field of view through my right eye. I find binoviewing very relaxing with the ability to have both eyes open. Really enjoy observing the moon that way.

Chase

I find it necessary to keep both eyes open--closing the left eye seems to lead to strain in the right eye somehow. Occasionally I employ an eye patch, but usually I go out with a lightweight, very stretchy ski cap, and simply pull it over my left eye when approaching the eyepiece. It's not entirely opaque, but it does the job and is quite comfortable. This allows both eyes to be relaxed and lets me focus on the target.

I typically close one eye but occasionally view with both eyes open as you suggest. I believe both eyes open is actually the recommended technique, using an eye patch if necessary.

As has been suggested, closing one eye seems to put some unnecessary stress on the other which from an personal experimental basis seems to cause some minor aberrations in the view,

Somehow viewing with both eyes open does seem to add a three-D effect to the view.

Jon