As a child, I was a big fan of 3D comics. I remember seeing really cool pictures of one super hero or another coming off the page. The images were made by creating the illusion of parallax by placing very close side-by-side images of the figure in both red and blue ink. Since each color showed a slightly different perspective of the subject from a slightly different angle, and by wearing glasses that restricted the red image to one eye and the blue image to the other eye, the perception of depth was created. I was amazed by this and it allowed me to understand how we all were experiencing our world with depth perception in everyday life. I began making my own simple drawings using blue and red ink and wearing the cardboard 3D glasses that came with the comic. I never forgot those 3D images that transfixed me in my early years. I was also a fan of the View-Master! With the View-Master, the same principle was at work. Using two side-by-side lenses, a double positive slide was produced. If each member of the slide pair was viewed simultaneously with the View-Master device, very realistic depth perception would result.

In binoviewers, even when using two eyes, no depth perception is possible. While many observers comment on a subtle "3D effect" on a few objects with binoviewers, it's clear that there is no real depth perception. True depth perception only works out to a distance of several feet, and astronomical objects are just too far away. The discernment of depth with distant objects is more of a 'mental calculation' and is not a true effect of depth perception.

At Denkmeier Optical, the very first centerplate logo I designed was a side-by-side 3D image. If you look at the picture of this logo center plate, which was part of the very first binoviewers that we shipped, you will see two black circles, each containing images of a galaxy and stars. I offset some stars in one circle so that if you slightly defocus and cross your eyes, you can see a third image in dead center. This is another simple illustration of depth perception.

I never thought it would be possible for me to develop a system that could actually produce 3D views of the heavens. But I am stubborn and persistent. I would periodically think of something that might work, try it, and fail. My attempts involved using neutral density filters to block some stars, offsetting eyepiece holders horizontally, and some other far-fetched ideas, Sometimes not being willing to give up is a good thing, while others times, not so much! However in this case, I could not let the hope of achieving 3D at the telescope go. It was not until 2014 that I had a "eureka moment" and realized that I could likely accomplish my quest for producing spectacular 3D views of deep-sky objects through binoviewers, giant binoculars, and even regular hand held binoculars using an array of optical elements at the eyepiece. But would building my proposed optical array and placing it in the light path allow for clean and natural 3D views of the heavens?