Find the Perfect Binocular for Stargazing: Expert Recommendations and Reviews

[Maxwells Demon]

Hello everyone..

I'm looking for a binocular to look at the stars.. I don't want a telescope, just a pair of binoculars.

I'm a total newbie in this market, I don't even know any brands or anything.. Oh perhaps Carl Zeiss?

Well, It has to be in the range of 100 - 250 $, but a good brandname is more important..

 

[neutrino]

Actually, you can get small binocs to get you started for less than $100. If you're just beginning to stargaze, a 10x50 from Celestron or Orion will be a good one to start with. It's been a while since I followed prices on astro-gear, so things might have changed. Bigger binocs will generally be heavy and will also provide you with a smaller field.

This one's somewhat bigger than the size mentioned above, but I've heard good things about it.
http://www.binoculars.com/products/celestron-skymaster-15x70-center-focus-14955.html

 

[DaveC426913]

An new atronomy buff that DOESN'T have to be convinced to start with binocs instead a $5,000 scope?

Wow, congrats - you're starting off on the right foot!

 

[ray b]

look for good optic's and construction over brand names on new stuff
brands get sold or deside to sell china made junk these days
with their good ''name'' on it

pawn shops and garage sales can produce old quality stuff
just watch out for mold inside

camera corps are about the best bets

 

[Maxwells Demon]

Is Celestron the best brand for looking at planets and the moon?

 

[Maxwells Demon]

Is Celestron Skymaster the only binocular made especially for astronomical use??

 

[neutrino]

Is Celestron Skymaster the only binocular made especially for astronomical use??

Celestron's not the only brand out there. If you further explore the site (binoculars.com) you can find binocs that suit your need. There's a panel on the left side of the main page which categorises binoculars, and the brands are also listed below.

 

[turbo]

My advice is to get binoculars made by companies known for their great optics, and buy their basic 7x50s. Mine are Nikons. A company like Nikon produces great optics and is less likely to produce clunkers. Beware of companies that re-brand stuff made overseas. Sometimes the quality is good, but they may not have adequate quality control if they are buying from the lowest-cost producers. Usually the basic 7x50s are less money than the more exotic/compact models. I use my Nikons a lot more than my telescopes because there is no set-up time, and if there's a break in the clouds I can be out on the back deck in seconds. Don't be afraid to pay a little more than you might want to for fully-multicoated optics and a good reputable manufacturer. If you like astronomy, you're going to be using that instrument for many, many years. Save enough money for a good set of charts, so you can learn your way around the sky. Paper charts and binos are THE way for a beginner to start out IMO. I suggest Tirion's SkyAtlas 2000 and maybe a Peterson Field Guide to give you ideas on what to search for. A Whitney star-finder is a good investment too - just a few bucks and it shows you what's above your horizon any time of night at any day of the year. It's great for planning observations - keep a spiral-bound notebook and make your plans in that, then record your observations in that, too. Some 3M Post-its will be handy, too, to flag your charts with observing targets. Good luck!

 

[MadScientist 1000]

http://www.russsscope.net/

That is the site of russwalters, who is one of the PF mentors who works on the Astronomy section of these forums. I think he has some tutorials about binocs somewhere on his page.