Do you see many dim meteor streaks while observing sky with binoculars?

Question

While using a pair of 8x40 monoculars (made in China and incorrectly advertised as 16x40), attempting to resolve Alberio [successfully] and Theta Serpentis [unsuccessfully], I noticed faint meteor streaks zipping across the field of view several times. Is this usual, or did I happen to be observing during a period of exceptionally high meteor activity?

Tonight, I will try to divide and conquer Psi 1 Draconis.

Answer 1

It's quite common to see a satellite go through your field of view at 8x.  It's much less common to see a meteor through your field of view.  If it was a streak, it's a meteor.  If it's a point floating by, it's a satellite.

The best instrument for spotting meteors is your naked eyes.  Meteors don't last long, and you need to see as much of the sky at a time as possible.

I've tracked the International Space Station with the 9x50 finder on my scope, then managed to track it at 48x in my 254 mm scope, for a few seconds.  I could see solar panels.

Answer 2

are you sure they were meteors? i see satellites all the time in my binoculars.

Answer 3

Meteors hit the earths atmosphere several times a day. It would not be uncommon to witness activity if viewing the sky for extended periods of time.

Answer 4

The brighter the meteor, the rarer.  As meteors get fainter, they get more numerous.   In fact, there are more meteors invisible to the naked eye than ones that you can see.

With binoculars, you are likely to pull in the occasional "too faint to see with the naked eye" meteor.  However, given that you're only looking at a small portion of the night sky with your binos, some of the benefit you get from pulling in more light is tempered by the fact that you have to be pointed at the right place when a meteor plows into the atmosphere overhead.

So, yes, you can see meteors through binoculars.  Faint ones.

Most of the moving objects you see are likely to be satelites (including space junk), which also become more numerous as they get fainter.  Generally, in binoculars, you can tell a satellite from a meteor by its appearance and speed.  Meteors are extremely fast, and will flit across your binoculars' field of view seemingly instantaneously.   Satellites will move slowly enough for you to tell which direction they are going and, if you have steady hands, to follow them.    Satellites also appear as a small point of light, whereas meteors generally appear as faint streaks which quickly fade away.

Good luck with your double star observing.  With binos, it's quite a challenge.  Have you tried Nu Draconis?