Dream to be an astronomer? Let’s begin with owning these 5 best binoculars for stargazing! Here you will find useful buying guide and thorough binoculars reviews.
The sky has always been an intriguing mystery to human kind! If you are passionate about astronomy or a fan of Star Wars, you will surely fall in love with stargazing.
To take a tour among the stars, you will need either a telescope or a pair of binoculars. Between these two optical devices, binoculars will give you a wider picture of the sky as well as more flexibility.
And that is why we want to introduce to you these top 5 best stargazing binoculars of 2019. First of all, you will need the following buying guide for astronomy binoculars.
What to Look for in Binoculars For Stargazing?
There are some essential features to consider when it comes to astronomy binoculars. Below are the criteria that a binocular for stargazing should have.
Magnification and Objective Lens Diameter
Many people are okay with the low magnification binoculars at 7x, 8x, or 10x. Meanwhile, the high-power fans will want to get details up to the bands of Jupiter with 20x or above.
However, we find no significant visual difference between these two types of magnification. Therefore, the choice depends on your taste!
Now if you prefer to obtain a broad view of the night sky, you should pay more attention to the number behind the “x”. The optimal choice may be a lower magnification paired with a higher objective lens diameter such as 10×42 or 8×50.
Exit Pupil
Exit pupils are the disk-shaped light spots that you will be looking through. For the best use, the exit pupils must fit your eye’s pupil. To calculate the size of the exit pupil, divide the objective size by the magnification.
Stabilizer
The more stable the binocular is, the better the experience you will get with skywatching. An image-stabilized binocular or one that comes with gyroscopes or liquid-filled prisms is more advisable.
Another excellent method to receive the clearest view of the sky is a tripod adapter. This tool is remarkably helpful when you own a large-size binocular.
Field of View
The field of view is also a crucial parameter that you should consider when buying astronomy binoculars. It indicates how many feet of the sky that you can view at 1000 yards.
Typically, a lower magnification gives a bigger field of view. Still, we cannot tell you which is better since it’s a matter of personal needs.
If you are planning on observing individual planisphere, you should only have little concern about this number. But if you want to capture the view of shooting stars, a large field of view would be better.
Those are some necessary things that you know before purchasing astronomy binoculars. Now, it’s time for our detail review of the 5 best binoculars for stargazing!
Top 5 Best Binoculars For Stargazing
After carrying out careful research, we have picked out the 5 most prominent names in the astronomy binoculars list of 2019. Here we will divide them into 3 groups based on price.
Stargazing Binoculars Under $300
# Celestron 71008 SkyMaster 25×70
Price: $65.64
Overall score: 92.5/100
| Clarity – 20% | 10/10 |
| Brightness – 20% | 10/10 |
| Field of view – 15% | 8/10 |
| Construction quality – 15% | 10/10 |
| Ease of adjustment – 10% | 8/10 |
| Comfort – 10% | 9/10 |
| Close focus range – 5% | 7/10 |
| Brand and warranty – 5% | 10/10 |
Tripod adapter: Yes
Pros:
- Excellent clarity and brightness
- Incredibly reasonable price
- Ideal for eyeglass wearers
Cons:
- Long close focus range
- Average field of view
The most impressive things to say about this Celestron 71008 SkyMaster 25×70 are the clear and bright views. With just under $70, you will receive up to 25x magnification, along with 70mm wide objective lenses.
What can you see with it?
Well, in a word, this pair of binoculars can give you the best image of the rings on Saturn with a minimum cost. The most attractive deal that you can get!
But there is a tradeoff for these two numbers. More magnification and objective lens diameter yield longer close focus distance. In this case, it is 75 feet, meaning that you cannot get to the subject any closer than this range.
However, since we are talking about the best binoculars for stargazing, you will be watching over a long distance to see the planets. Therefore, the close focus range does not matter.
# Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 ASTRO
Price: $295.93
Overall score: 92.5/100
| Clarity – 20% | 10/10 |
| Brightness – 20% | 10/10 |
| Field of view – 15% | 8/10 |
| Construction quality – 15% | 10/10 |
| Ease of adjustment – 10% | 9/10 |
| Comfort – 10% | 8/10 |
| Close focus range – 5% | 7/10 |
| Brand and warranty – 5% | 10/10 |
Tripod adapter: Yes
Pros:
- Exceptional clarity and brightness
- Ultra-sharp focus
- High construction quality
Cons:
- Heavy design
- Slightly uncomfortable use
Here is another pair of binoculars from the renowned brand Celestron. This time you will also receive a powerful magnification of 25x but with much wider objective lenses at 100mm.
Another noteworthy feature of this Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 ASTRO is the individual eyepiece focus. It allows you to independently adjust each eyepiece, providing the sharpest focus position possible.
The most significant weakness of this gadget is that it is quite heavy. In total, it weighs about 8.75 lbs. This means that you can hardly hold it with your hands.
So, for the best experience, you should also get a tripod. We suggest a heavy-duty Celestron tripod with slow-motion controls to obtain the best view of the night sky.
Binoculars for Stargazing From $300 To $750
# Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42
Price: $349.99
Overall score: 94/100
| Clarity – 20% | 9/10 |
| Brightness – 20% | 10/10 |
| Field of view – 15% | 10/10 |
| Construction quality – 15% | 9/10 |
| Ease of adjustment – 10% | 8/10 |
| Comfort – 10% | 10/10 |
| Close focus range – 5% | 10/10 |
| Brand and warranty – 5% | 9/10 |
Tripod adapter: No
Pros:
- A vast field of view
- Remarkable close focus range
- Lightweight construction
Cons:
- Falloff lens covers
- Difficulty in adjustment
Now if you are looking for flexible binoculars not only for stargazing but also, for example, birdwatching, this Vortex Diamondback 10×42 will be an ideal choice. This is because it can be perfect for a variety of use.
With an average magnification and a high objective lens diameter, these binoculars allow you to observe the flowers while skywatching is also straightforward. Besides, inspect a cute bug is nothing impossible with the 5-foot close focus range.
It is noticeable this pair is the massive field of view of up to 345 feet. Owning these Vortex binoculars will offer you a large picture of the illuminated stars. Awesome!
However, there are some problems that you may encounter when using this unit. A notable issue is that the optics are somehow too tight to adjust. So, you may need to use a little more force from the muscles.
# Orion 9326 Giant View 25×100
Price: $349.99
Overall score: 91.5/100
| Clarity – 20% | 10/10 |
| Brightness – 20% | 10/10 |
| Field of view – 15% | 8/10 |
| Construction quality – 15% | 10/10 |
| Ease of adjustment – 10% | 8/10 |
| Comfort – 10% | 8/10 |
| Close focus range – 5% | 8/10 |
| Brand and warranty – 5% | 9/10 |
Tripod adapter: Yes
Pros:
- Ideal for eyeglass wearers
- Excellent clarity and brightness
- Well-balanced aberrations
Cons:
- Heavy design
- Uncomfortable adjustment
These are the biggest and brightest astronomy binoculars supplied by Orion – a well-known brand in the optics industry. We have discussed enough on the number 25×100. Now let’s see the best part of this pair.
Good news for eyeglass wearers! This Orion Giant View has a long eye relief of up to 18mm. You will find no problems when enjoying stargazing with glasses on.
The only thing to complain about this one is its weight. This Orion device is truly an astronomy monster. It weighs up to 10 lbs. Undoubtedly, you cannot use it without a robust tripod.
Stargazing Binoculars From $750 To $1500
# Canon 18×50 Image Stabilization
Price: $1,128.82
Overall score: 94/100
| Clarity – 20% | 10/10 |
| Brightness – 20% | 10/10 |
| Field of view – 15% | 9/10 |
| Construction quality – 15% | 10/10 |
| Ease of adjustment – 10% | 8/10 |
| Comfort – 10% | 8/10 |
| Close focus range – 5% | 9/10 |
| Brand and warranty – 5% | 10/10 |
Tripod adapter: Yes
Pros:
- Built-in optical image stabilization
- Shock-resistant and waterproof
- Lightweight construction
Cons:
- Bulky design
- High cost
For the final unit on our list of the best binoculars for stargazing, we would like to introduce the Canon 18×50. This gadget is on the expensive side, but in return, you will acquire more and more.
Let’s find out why we rated it 94 out of 100!
The most superior thing to say about these binoculars is the image stabilization. As we mentioned earlier, this technology will help deliver the clearest and sharpest views. Double-image is not what you would experience!
The drawback is that, although this one is lightweight, its design is too bulky. As you can see in the picture above, the outer part of the binoculars towards the lenses bulges out. Therefore, it takes big hands to hold this gadget. And a tripod may be a better solution.
To Sum Up
Those are the 5 best binoculars for stargazing in 2019. Each of them fits particular situations. So, did you find the perfect one for yourself?
Do not wait any longer! Add these astronomy binoculars into your shopping cart immediately, and have the best time with the sparkling stars in the night sky!
Of course, remember to give us a like and share before you leave the page. And for any further advice, please feel free to comment. Thanks for reading!
Vilis-bino
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