Re: andromeda - is it visible through binoculars?

Eric <nospam@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:B4WdnQqDg-UKqafeRVn-tQ@xxxxxxxxxxx:

> Should i be able to see Andromeda galaxy through a pair of 10x50
> binoculars? I've been out looking and I cant see anything that looks
> like it might be it. Mars is quite bright and rising in the East (It's
> Mars isnt it?) and I've been looking up and to the right of that. How
> small is Andromeda? Can someone give me some hints on what i should
> expect to see etc. I'm at 47.11 N 122.77 w (Olympia WA) the nearest
> city light source is Lacy about 5 miles or so, skys are clear and
> things seem good for viewing. If i can find Andromeda with the binoc's
> I'll get out the nexstar 114GT and see if it looks any better.

Andromeda is pretty big, and in a dark sky, it can be seen with the naked
eye, although it's still just a faint fuzz. It's about as big as your
thumb, as seen with your arm held out straight. I don't know what that
comes to in degrees.
.