Binoculars & Spotting Scopes

Choosing Binoculars for Astronomy

• 7x50 and 10x50: Easy to hold, bright and wide. The classic astronomy sizes.
• 15x70 and 20x80: More magnification and light, but need a tripod or binocular mount.
• Large binoculars (100 mm and up): Explore Scientific BT and APM models with interchangeable eyepieces, essentially two telescopes side by side.
• Exit pupil: Aperture divided by magnification. 5 to 7 mm suits dark skies and young eyes, 4 to 5 mm suits most adults.

Spotting Scopes

Spotting scopes give 20x to 60x or more for birds, wildlife and target shooting, and can show lunar craters and Saturn's rings. ED glass reduces colour fringing on high-contrast edges. A steady tripod is essential above 30x. See spotting scopes.

Binoculars and Spotting Scopes: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best binoculars for astronomy?

For handheld use, a good 10x50 or 8x42. For more detail, 15x70 on a tripod. Quality prisms, full multi-coating and good collimation do more for the view than size.

Can I use a spotting scope for astronomy?

Yes for the Moon, planets and bright objects. A telescope gives more aperture for the money for deep-sky.

Choosing binoculars?

Tell us how you will use them, day and night. We will recommend a size and model.