Buying binoculars for astronomy
THE ADVANTAGES OF BINOCULARS over telescopes are many — especially for night-sky novices. Not only are binoculars affordable, but they’re also easy to use thanks to the wide fields of view they offer and their right-side-up image orientation. Everyone starting out in astronomy should have a good pair of binoculars.
If you’re a veteran observer, you’re already aware of these advantages, but you might be using the same well-worn pair you’ve owned for decades. Every aspect of binocular performance — field of view, eye relief, optical coatings and build quality — has improved in recent years. It just might be time to consider an upgrade!
Here’s my up-to-date guide to buying the best binoculars for astronomy.
Aperture and power
Even otherwise commendable review websites often assume that the best stargazing binoculars must have at least 70-mm lenses and high magnification. Not so! While big, high-powered binoculars do have their place, they lack many of the advantages I just listed. My advice is to avoid the temptation of magnifications greater than 12x. Simply put, more power doesn’t always equal a better view.
Out of all the combinations
