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Astronomical Binoculars - Reviews
Big binoculars are often a better first investment than a telescope, for budding astronomers. They have wider field of view than most telescopes, are easier to move around the sky, are more portable take to locations with dark skies, and can be excellent for both the moon and deep sky objects.
For example, a decent pair of large aperture binoculars will enable you to see dozens of stars in the Plaeides star cluster and give wonderful views of the Orion nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy on a clear night with good seeing.
Like telescopes, aperture size is more important than magnification. In fact, we recommend that 25x magnification should be absolute maximum for binoculars when used for star gazing.
Good models can provide years of enjoyment, for kids, beginners and old hands alike.
Giant Binoculars
Giant binoculars are usually between 80-100mm in aperture. These can weigh nearly 5kg, or 11 pounds, so will require a suitable mount or tripod - a light photographic tripod won't be sturdy enough.
Large Binoculars
Large binoculars usually have an aperture of between 50-75mm. These can be more manageable, especially for children who are new to astronomy, prior to their first telescope. They are also more easily transported that giant binoculars and favoured by many seasoned amateur astronomers.
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