Best Binoculars for Astronomy in 22 ‘ Five Top Models Reviewed

For some astronomers, telescopes may not be the best option for a variety of reasons. Whether it is because of space restrictions or budget, binoculars are a great alternative for seeing the night sky whilst also providing quality views.

Thanks to their wide viewing range and low magnification, they can be a brilliant starting point for budding astronomers. Even if you eventually purchase a telescope, you’ll find yourself using your binoculars again and again.

Ideal for those who like to stargaze, you will get many years of use out of using your binoculars.

If you’re unsure whether a telescope is the right thing for you, binoculars are a fantastic alternative place to start thanks to their cheaper price points and easy storage space thanks to the smaller size.

Naturally, telescopes allow you to look at specific details in the night sky whereas binoculars make a great introduction to the night sky as a whole making them great for those who want to observe constellations and the night sky as a whole rather than a particular planet.

For those who find the idea of astronomy intimidating and want to find out if it is right for them without investing too much time and money then binoculars are the best route for you to take.

As mentioned, they are cheaper which is the main reason as telescopes can sell at extortionate prices so you’re not sacrificing too much investment in the binoculars.

As well as the night sky, you can also use binoculars for day time activities as well such as bird watching meaning you’ll get even more of your money’s worth from the product. 

In this article, we’ll be taking you through everything there is to know about purchasing binoculars for astronomy and what to expect. We’ll delve into the advantages of using binoculars before discussing the top 10 binoculars on the market.

We’ll then conclude the article with an exclusive Buyers Guide and FAQ so you will know what to look for when conducting your own research.

By the end of this article, you can expect to go into researching and purchasing your binoculars with confidence and knowing that you are able to make a fully informed decision as to which are the best pair for you. 

Advantages of using binoculars

There are many advantages to using binoculars, some of which we have previously discussed.

In this section, we’ll be delving into these advantages into detail and explaining why binoculars may be the best choice for you. 

• One of the biggest advantages that we have touched upon is the cost of the binoculars. They are significantly cheaper than telescopes meaning that if you are unsure whether astronomy is right for you then it’s not too much of an investment if you decide not to pursue the route.
• Another financial advantage is that you can use binoculars for day time activities as well for example bird watching or going to outdoor events. Binoculars have a wider scope of usage than telescopes thanks to their portability.
• And speaking of portability, the smaller size of binoculars not only means that they are easier to travel with but you can also store them away easily as well. This is great for those who don’t have as much space at home for a large telescope. Once you’re settled with observing the night sky, you’ll feel more motivated and comfortable with arranging your space to cater a telescope.
• You can look through the binoculars with both eyes at the same time whereas with telescopes you have to look through a single eyepiece. Looking through binoculars makes your astronomy journey more comfortable because your eyes will feel natural and relaxed when observing. When viewing the wider view as well, you can observe more meaning that you can be assured of a successful and positive experience from your first time. This is because your brain will gather a more detailed and clear image from bother eyes rather than one which is great if you want to go looking for constellations.
• Looking through the binoculars with both eyes also means that you can navigate the skies quicker than using a telescope. If you eventually decide to purchase a telescope, you’ll find that you will be more confident when using it because you’ll have a better idea and understanding of how the night sky looks when magnified even if the telescopes allow you to see it in more detail. 
• Binoculars have the correct point of view when you observe through them. When looking through binoculars, you’re getting the same view as when you look at the night sky. Telescopes on the other hand may show upside-down or mirror-image views of the sky which can make navigating the night sky a bit tricky for the beginner astronomer.
• You can get adjusted to star hopping a lot quicker when viewing through binoculars because of the broader view which is a great skill to acquire. Leaning star hopping through a telescope is trickier because of the magnified view.
• Whereas telescopes require a lot of additional equipment such as eyepieces, filters and weights, binoculars are all that you need. This is highly convenient if you plan on travelling to go on observing trips as you won’t have to worry about packing a lot of equipment which takes a lot of space and time setting up. You simply take the binoculars out of their case and look through them up at the sky. 
• The last advantage is that they are easier to use than telescopes overall which is ideal for young children and beginner astronomers who may find using telescopes a bit difficult initially. Because of the shallow learning curve, it doesn’t take as long to learn how to use binoculars and have hours and hours of positive observing experiences. They can be used by young children without the supervision of adults as they are safe and simple to use.

Disadvantages of using binoculars

Just as we have discussed the advantages of using binoculars, it’s also best to discuss the disadvantages as well.

Here we have gathered some points that you should consider before deciding to make your final decision.

• The first thing to bear in mind is that binoculars are designed to give a broad view of the night sky rather than the details. If you’re wanting to look at the shading on the surface of the moon for example then you’ll have to invest in a telescope. Binoculars come with lower magnification so you get a broader view of the sky rather than a detailed view. If you’re wanting to venture into observing deep space then you’ll definitely need a telescope, however, deep space telescopes are for more advanced astronomers so you can start with binoculars and work your way up.
• The other disadvantage that comes with binoculars is that they usually don’t come with a tripod meaning that for longer observations, your arms may get tired. Tripods are available to buy for binoculars but that will mean an extra investment. On the other hand, telescopes always come with tripods so you can observe for longer periods of time. When observing with binoculars for a long time, it can cause your arms to shake resulting in vibrations thus creating a blurred view.

So now you know the advantages that come with binoculars, here are the top 10 binoculars for astronomy on the market right now for astronomers of any abilities. 

Best Binoculars for Astronomy Buying Guide

As you can probably gather, there is a lot that goes into the design and manufacturing of binoculars.

From ensuring that you can have a quality view whilst also ensuring your optical safety, brands are using advanced technology to further your positive experiences as you venture into your astronomy journey.

Now you’ve been informed of the advantages and disadvantages as well as the top 10 models on the market, we’ve curated this Buyers Guide letting you know everything there is to know when you are researching binoculars.

After this Guide, we’ve got an FAQ section where we answer the most commonly asked questions on the internet regarding binoculars to help give you additional information that may be useful.

If you are still undecided on what binoculars are the best ones for you, we’ve gathered the main aspects of binoculars that you should consider before making that final decision.

These are the size of the lens, the field of view, the size of the binoculars themselves and the budget.

Once you’ve considered all of these, you’ll be able to make a fully informed decision as to whether binoculars are the right choice for you and which ones will give you the most benefits and use over time to ensure that you have the most positive experience.

The size of the lens

The first thing you may notice when looking at the binoculars is that there are numbers among the names displayed as 7x50 or 16x50. What these numbers signify is the magnification and lens size of the binoculars.

The first number is the amount of magnification the binoculars provide whereas the second number displays the size of the lens.

Larger numbers indicate that the binoculars will have a wider range of view as well as higher magnification meaning you can observe the night sky in more detail. 

The lens indicates how much light the binoculars are receiving and the more light there is, the better the detail will be.

It is hugely important to ensure that the second number is as large as possible because the amount of light is more significant than the magnification.

As binoculars are provided to give a broader view of the sky rather than specific details which telescopes provide, you want a pair of binoculars that can give that clear view that you need through the aperture, which is where the light enters.

The same logic is also applied to telescopes although they can handle a lot more light and magnification than binoculars. 

For beginner astronomers looking to purchase binoculars, you want to ensure that your lens size is at least 50mm as this will give you the great starting point for observations.

To compare the use of binoculars with the naked eyes, you can see around 4,800 stars whereas binoculars with at least 50mm lens give you access to over 121,000 stars.

Even though it may not seem like a huge difference on the surface, when you start to use binoculars, you are immediately introduced to a whole new world of exploration. 

The one main object that you’ll be amazed by is the moon. You can see the moon clearly with the naked eye but with binoculars, you’ll be able to see specific details such as the craters on the surface if you have a larger lens.

The first time you see those details, it’s such a rewarding experience that will leave you wanting to explore more. 

Field of view

The second thing to consider is the field of view that the binoculars provide. The field of view is simply how much sky you can see when you’re looking through your binoculars.

As binoculars give you a wider range of the sky than telescopes thanks to the use of two eyes, you want to make sure that the field of view is clear. It’s completely dependent on the individual model itself as to how much range you’ll be able to view.

Two pairs of binoculars that have the same lens measurements may not necessarily give the same field of view. Instead, to find out the field of view, you should be able to find an angle in degrees or a width in feet in the description of the product. 

Usually, with astronomy binoculars, this number will be given in degrees as that is commonly a unit used in astronomy. So you could have a pair of binoculars with 8° view or 11°.

This means that the sky you can see will be a circle with a diameter of the degree. The larger the number, the wider the range of sky you can see. If you’re wanting to view constellations then it’s always best to go for binoculars that have a higher field of view.

Size of the binoculars

We’ve already touched on the importance of the size of the lens but it’s also important to consider the size of the binoculars themselves.

With such a wide variety of different models of all shapes and sizes available on the market, you may be confused as to which one is going to provide the best results and be right for you.

 However, there are pros and cons with both small and large binoculars that you should always think about before making your final decision.

Smaller binoculars are easy to carry and travel with, whereas the likelihood is that they won’t have a large lens meaning that you won’t have much access to a large image of the sky.

On the other hand, larger binoculars will give you that wider field of view of the sky whereas they can be heavy to hold and that can cause exhaustion when observing for longer periods of time.

If your arms are getting tired as you are observing, this may lead to a blurry vision due to vibrations and the overall experience will be negative.

It is possible to get a tripod to avoid any possible issues but the important point to consider is knowing what you want to get out of the binoculars so you can gauge the size and know what you are going to expect rather than just purchasing a pair without really thinking about how the size can affect the overall experiences.

Budget

Lastly, you want to think about the budget that you plan to spend. One of the main advantages of binoculars is how much cheaper than telescopes they are, however, it’s always important to consider the cost of any piece of equipment for any hobby that you plan to undergo.

As you can see from our recommendations, quality binoculars are available at great price points meaning that no astronomer has to suffer from purchasing a cheaper model.

 That being said, those who want to purchase a larger pair of binoculars that give you access to a wider field of view of the sky may also need to consider purchasing a tripod alongside the binoculars.

This is because it won’t have the strain on your arms that binoculars can have from long term observations.

You’ll have a better grip of control on them as well and be able to see clear images of the sky hands free meaning you will be more relaxed and comfortable leading to a positive experience. 

That being said, purchasing a tripod is not a necessity and if you’re planning to purchase a large pair for short periods of time then you probably won’t need one at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see planets with binoculars?

You can see certain planets through binoculars depending on the strength of their magnification. It may be a bit tricky as binoculars do not have the overall strength telescopes have.

However, there are some planets that can be found easily with binoculars rather than telescopes. If you are equipped with a finder chart to assist in locating them, you can find Uranus and Neptune through binoculars.

Because of the methane in its atmosphere, Uranus will appear as a greenish hue. Around once a year, Uranus can be faintly seen with the naked eye, although it is advised to locate it using binoculars for a more comfortable and detailed experience.

Neptune, on the other hand, looks like a bright star because it is further away although it has similar properties to Uranus. In order to view both in a lot of detail, you will need a telescope due to the magnification.

What strength binoculars do I need for stargazing?

The best binoculars for stargazing must be at least 50mm. If possible, try and get binoculars that are 70mm or above if you can.

When you purchase a pair of binoculars you want to opt for a larger lens because they gather more light and will give you a better view resulting in a positive experience every time.

The recommendations in this list are all between 50mm and 100mm meaning that they are ideal for stargazing thanks to the amount of light that they will collect.

Is it safe to look at the moon through binoculars?

Simply put, the answer is yes, it is safe to look at the moon through binoculars. Because the light you see from the moon is reflected from the sun, you are not directly looking at a strong level of brightness.

You can also see the darker portion of the moon that is reflected from the Earth light.

Conclusion

Now we’re rounding up this guide and hopefully you’re feeling more confident and excited about purchasing your binoculars.

From the advantages and disadvantages to consider before purchasing your binoculars to reviews on the top models on the market at the moment and finishing off with some additional pointers for when you conduct your own research, you’ll be able to go into your astronomy journey with the confidence and motivation whilst knowing what to expect.

Hopefully you’ll be an avid stargazer before you know it and whether you stick to your binoculars or purchase a telescope for more detailed images, your binoculars will come in handy for many other activities for years to come.

Alongside astronomy, you can also use them at live events and birdwatching during the day so they are always a worthy investment.

In terms of astronomy, lots of astronomers have a pair of binoculars in their repertoire because they have so many benefits that you can’t necessarily get with telescopes. 

The most important thing to remember about astronomy, as with any hobby, is to have fun. The information given in this guide is to help you have the most positive experiences possible when you use your binoculars.

So what are you waiting for? Make your decision, get your binoculars and go look at the amazing night sky and discover worlds beyond our own!