22 best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing 2023
Binoculars are a great way of getting into astronomy and stargazing.
By Stephen Tonkin
Published: Wednesday, 08 November 2023 at 11:33 AM
Binoculars are often the best piece of equipment for astronomy beginners or those who enjoy a spot of stargazing, offering great views of the Moon and stars among other celestial objects.
All you have to do is step out into your garden on a clear night, grab a pair of good quality binoculars and enjoy the view.
But binoculars are by no means just a gateway instrument into astronomy before you buy your first telescope.
Many amateur astronomers prefer binocular observing over any other form of exploring the night sky, and a good, powerful model will enable you to examine the Moon, planets, stars and deep-sky objects for decades to come.
Explore Scientific’s G400 15×56 binoculars are a good option for someone who already owns a pair of smaller hand-held binoculars, but who’s on the hunt for a robust, compact model suitable for travel.
The G400 binoculars are suitable for astronomy and stargazing and general use, and during testing we found them a joy to use.
Stars appeared very sharp in the central 50% of the view and only became fuzzy near the edge. We were able to use them to scan colourful clusters like the Meissa Cluster, and found even subtle variation in colours was apparent.
Cluster Collinder 70 overflowed the 4° field of view, but the chains of stars really came to the fore. The texture of the Orion Nebula was immediately apparent and we could resolve three Trapezium stars.
Best features: Neck strap, waterproof and nitrogen-filled, tethered lens caps, fully multi-coated, well-designed case
Some of the best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing are image stablisation binoculars, which are designed to hold steady during use.
The Canon 12×36 IS III are a great example of this and come in a padded case with a neckstrap and individual eyepiece caps.
Holding the binoculars up to the light, we could see that the exit pupils are beautifully round with no cut-offs or grey sections. This tells us the prisms are full sized and the glasshas an appropriate refractive index.
We turned the binoculars to the Moon and Jupiter and found no ghost images. Similarly, control of stray light is excellent.
The feature we were really keen to try out was the image stabilisation ability, which we engaged with the turn of a button.
The image became completely still and fainter stars became visible.
This is a very impressive pair of binoculars, great for observing objects in the night sky.
Best features: Super Spectra multicoatings, Porro Type II prisms, objective lens focusing, battery-powered, good interpupillary distance range
The Bresser 10×50 Corvette binoculars come with an array of welcome extras such as a nylon case, 25cm-wide neck strap, tethered lens caps for the objective lenses, tethered rain guard for the eyepieces, a microfibre cleaning cloth and an instruction booklet.
The binoculars boast a precise focusing system that makes them ideal for astronomy. Indeed, we found that stars in the middle of the field of view snapped into best focus.
The Bresser 10×50 Corvette are a great option for those who want a moderately-priced general-purpose pair of binoculars of decent quality, and which are also perfectly suited for astronomy.
Best features: Precise focus, waterproof and inert gas-filled, tripod-mountable, tethered lens caps, anti-reflective coatings
The Opticron Oregon WA 10x50s are sturdy and well-performing.
They’re well-balanced and light enough for easy transport or using over extended periods.
Testing them out, we felt it was like someone had been noting down what binocular reviews have been asking for in an entry-level pair of 10x50s for years.
If you’re after an inexpensive pair, these are definitely worth a look, and are definitely among the best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing for those on a budget.
Best features: tethered lens caps, smooth focussing, good right eyepiece dioptre range, tripod-mountable, fold-down rubber eye cups
The Helios Stellar II binoculars have individual eyepiece focusing. This is the preferred option for astronomy, meaning you can set the focus and then leave it alone.
They are also quite heavy, which means that they are likely to tire your arms, although we did find that their mass also helps to reduce shake.
We were impressed with the brightness and excellent colour rendition of the image, which is sharp over the central 80% of the 6.5° field of view. This makes them ideal for scanning the sky.
They have several useful features, including tethered lens caps for the objective lenses and the eyepieces.
By having these caps attached to the binoculars, they won’t get lost and you’re probably more likely to use them, too.
They are covered in a substantial, ribbed rubber armour that offers protection against everyday knocks, and gives a secure grip even when the binoculars are damp from dew
The Opticron TGA binoculars are quite light, but this doesn’t come at the expense of ruggedness.
Not only are they covered in a substantial rubber armour, but they come with a semi-rigid case that offers excellent protection against the rigours of regular, varied use.
Their field of view is on the narrow side at 5.3°, but this is compensated for by extremely good colour correction and colour rendition.
Star colours were vibrant in the eyepieces. Images were bright and stars were tack-sharp across the middle 75% of the field of view.
We thoroughly enjoyed scanning colourful star-fields with these. They are very well-balanced, which makes them feel even lighter than they actually are.
This means you can use them for long periods before aches and strains set in.
The ribbing on the prism housing gives a very secure grip, even if they are damp with dew .
Best features: light yet rugged, covered in rubber armour, carry case included, good colour correction and rendition, well-balanced
From the moment you take these binoculars out of their lightly padded case, they ooze quality.
They have a robust feel in the hand and everything – hinge, focusing, twist-up eye-cups – works smoothly with just the right amount of stiffness to prevent accidental readjustment.
The eyepiece rain-guard is tethered, and the objective caps can be secured to the binoculars’ strap to prevent you mislaying them.
They are just as impressive under the stars, which snap to focus anywhere in the central 85 per cent of its 6.5° field of view, giving a bright, crisp, high-contrast image.
Colour rendition and control of false colour are both very good. There is just enough eye relief for spectacle-wearers to be able to see the entire field of view.
They are well-balanced and hence relatively easy to hold steady, and the chunky lugs on the right eyepiece dioptre make adjustments easy, even when you’re wearing thick gloves.
The rubber armour stops them from becoming slippery when wet with dew.
Best features: multi-click adjustable eyecups, front and back lens covers, wide strap, rubber armouring, nitrogen-filled waterproof optics, tripod mounting, carry case
The Vortex Crossfire is a good example of how modern manufacturing processes have narrowed the gap in optical quality between Porro and roof prism binoculars of similar prices.
The 6.1° field of view is on a par with Porros and flat enough that we could keep Albireo split into two components over the central 90%.
Colour rendition was excellent; not only do the deeply coloured stars seem vibrant, but the subtle differences between similarly coloured ones are easily visible as well.
The focus is smooth and precise and the short-hinge design leaves more room for your fingers, making these binoculars very comfortable to hold.
There is enough eye-relief to allow you to observe while wearing spectacles.
The objective lens caps are tethered to the screw in the adaptor bush in the hinge, so they become untethered if you mount the binoculars.
Apart from that, the only other niggle is the high minimum interpupillary distance (IPD: 60.5mm), which is an inevitable feature of the roof prism design used for 50mm aperture.
Best features: excellent colour rendition, smooth and precise focus, comfortable to hold, enough eye relief for spectacles
Key specs
Magnification: 10x
Objective lens diameter: 42 mm
Eye relief: 15 mm
Height: 6 inches
Width: 5.2 inches
Weight: 23 oz
Exit pupil: 4.2 mm
Interpupillary distance 58-75 mm
Celestron Outland X
Weighing just shy of 800g, we found these binos to be very comfortable to handle and enjoyed the sharp on-axis views they gave.
Colour correction was quite good, as was the colour rendition – it was easy to distinguish the orange of Herschel’s Garnet Star (Mu (μ) Cephei) from the brilliant white of Alderamin (Alpha (α) Cephei) and the yellow of Zeta (ζ) Cephei.
The eye relief is a very short 10mm, and some of this is taken up by the recess of the eye lens.
Consequently, we were unable to see the entire field of view when we tried observing while wearing spectacles.
They are specified as being ‘multi-coated’ and, although the anti-reflective coatings on the lenses were effective, the image was noticeably dimmer than with other binoculars.
In common with most 50mm roof prism binoculars, the minimum interpupillary distance is limited by the design and is relatively large at 61mm.
Best features: lightweight, comfortable to handle, sharp on-axis views.
The Pentax SP series of Porro prism binoculars is characterised by an unusual focusing mechanism.
Gone is the familiar eyepiece bridge, because all the workings are internal, aiding with waterproofing.
It also allows them to incorporate an enormously useful feature: focus locking. This is achieved by sliding the centre-focus band along its spindle.
Another helpful design feature is the inclusion of large lugs on the right eyepiece dioptre, which make it easy to adjust even with thick gloves.
The first thing you notice about the image these binoculars produce is how much of it is very sharp: the two components of Albireo only merged in the outside 10% of the field of view.
However, this field of view is only 5°.
Colour rendition is faithful, and on-axis chromatic aberration is very well controlled; false colour only appeared on the lunar limb towards the edge of the field.
The minimum interpupillary distance of 52mm makes these binoculars suitable for people with small faces or close-set eyes.
Best features: focus locking, easily adjustable, very sharp image, good colour rendition, little chromatic aberration, suitable for users with close-set eyes.
An inexpensive pair of 10×50 binoculars can serve as an ideal entry-level instrument, being the maximum aperture and magnification that you can easily hold by hand.
Celestron’s UpClose G2 is a lightweight candidate for this position.
Indeed, as a reputable manufacturer of astronomical equipment, Celestron make some of the best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing.
The binoculars are supplied with a soft, lightly padded case, caps for all lenses, a neck-strap and a microfibre cleaning cloth.
Best features: eyepiece covers, ‘beyond infinity’ focus wheel, small eyepieces, rubber armour, tripod bush
If you fancy trying a larger-than-standard pair of binoculars without breaking the bank, the Opticron Oregon Observation 20x80s should certainly be on your shortlist, particularly if you’re new to binocular astronomy.
These binoculars are pleasant to use, have no glaring faults and also come with a five-year UK guarantee to provide significant peace of mind.
Best features: objective lens caps, objective lenses, central mounting bar, folding rubber eye cups, carry case
With a price tag that’s certainly not to be sniffed at, the Orion Monster Parallelogram mount, GiantView 25×100 binoculars are for those observers who are serious about cranking their bino viewing up to 11.
They come in an aluminium case and boast a Porro-prism individual-eyepiece focusing design covered with a thin rubber armour.
You can instantly adjust your mount for people of different heights, and can work your way around the tripod, moving between different celestial targets to make the most of these big objective lenses.
Best features: locking lever, adjustable friction, fully multicoated optics, mini dovetail, individual eyepiece focussing
The Marine-3 7x50s are rubber-armoured, waterproof and come in a soft case with a strap included.
These binos feel nice and rugged and weigh 1.1kg, which most people will find just right for prolonged use.
What’s more, the Marine-3s can be attached to a tripod for extra stability, which we found particularly useful when trying to split double star Albireo (we could just about manage it, but only with a tripod).
Colour contrast is good too: the orange and red Garnet star was gorgeous under a moderately good but light summer night.
Best features: rubber eyecups, front and back lens covers, wide strap, rubber armouring, nitrogen-filled waterproof optics, tripod mounting, carry case
Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20×80 binoculars and 10Micron BM100 Leonardo mount
This is a serious pair of binoculars with a serious price tag, but offering good optics held rock steady by a sturdy tripod.
Contrast between the background sky and light from stars, planets and deep-sky objects is apparent across the field of view.
Anti-reflective coatings and well-designed light baffles combine with an exceptionally rigid tripod that leaves your observing free of wobbles.
A relatively short counterweight bar all but eliminates the longitudinal oscillation that can sometimes plague long-arm parallelograms.
Best features: waterproof. and nitrogen-filled, adjustable instrument platform, adjustable height and azimuth friction, finder rail, good stray light control
The Vixen Atera H12x30 comes with a hard-shell case, a 25mm-wide neoprene neck strap and individual eyepiece caps.
But the real selling point of this model is the The ‘Vibration Canceller’, which is an image-stabilisation system.
This feature compensates for natural shakiness that gets I the way of your ability to resolve fine detail on objects.
It’s a good system and the binoculars are lightweight, meaning you can hold them with one hand and use the other for taking notes.
Best features: effective coatings, readily available batteries, good IPD range, internal focusing, hard-shell case.
Key specs
Optics Fully multi-coated
Aperture 30mm
Magnification 12x
Prisms Roof (internal) and right-angled (eyepiece turrets)
Angularfieldofview 4.2°
Focusing Centre focus, moving internal lens group
Eyerelief 17.5mm
Interpupillarydistance 55–75mm
Weight 422g (without batteries)
Helios Stellar-II 7×50 binoculars
The Helios Stellar-II binoculars are stylish and have a good grip, while the front lens cap is a snug fit and directly attached to the underside of the objective barrels, meaning they won’t drop onto your face!
Actual field of view is 7.2°, so quite wide. We were able to fit the ‘box’ part of Lyra comfortably and enjoyed scanning the Milky Way’s star fields.
Both eyepieces can be focused independently and the interpupillary distance can be adjusted between 56–74mm.
The Andromeda Galaxy covered a good proportion of our view, and we could see both components of the Double Cluster easily.
The Cygnus Rift was nicely traced and continued down into Scutum where we had a good view of the Scutum Star Cloud.
And putting the binoculars on a tripod, we were able to observe four of Jupiter’s moons and a definite oval shape to Saturn.
Best features: Extras Foldable rubber eyecups, front and back lens covers, padded strap, rubber armouring, nitrogen-filled waterproof optics, tripod adaptor, carry case
The Celestron Echelon 16×70 binoculars are supplied in a plastic case with padded neck strap, lens caps, an eyepiece cover, cleaning cloth and an instruction leaflet.
We liked how the hinge moves very smoothly, with just enough resistance to enable easy adjustment, but without sagging once the binoculars are mounted.
Indeed, we mounted the Echelon 16x70s on a parallelogram mount under a good suburban sky and found it snapped to focus.
The images from each side merged, showing good collimation.
Coma Berenices was well placed so we used Melotte 111 to determine limiting magnitude.The faintest star with direct vision was mag. 10.1.
Observing the Moon we found lovely detail on the terminator, indicating good control of stray light.
Best features: waterproof and nitrogen-purged, multicoatings, recessed objective lenses, rugged case, neck strap
Have we missed any models you think should be included on our list? What’s your favourite pair of binoculars for astronomy? Let us know by contacting us at contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.
What night-sky objects can you see with binoculars?
Kemble’s Cascade by Bill McSorley, Leeds, UK. Equipment: QHY8L cooled ccd OSC camera, SW150P Newtonian, EQ5 GoTo Mount, SW80ST, MS lifecam.
If your passion is planetary detail, close double stars, globular clusters or planetary nebulae, then consider buying a telescope.
But for the rest of the visible Universe, binoculars are the better option.
The best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing will give you wonderful views of the night sky with minimal fuss.
Setting up handheld binoculars takes a few seconds, and even mounted ones can be set up in a few minutes, so you’ll be observing long before your Go-To telescope-using buddies are ready to start.
Many objects are ideally framed in the wider field of handheld binoculars: asterisms like Kemble’s Cascade or the Leaping Minnow overflow most telescope fields, as do large open clusters such as the Pleiades and the Beehive Cluster.
Even large faint objects like the Triangulum Galaxy and the North America Nebula can be easier to see in budget 10×50 binoculars than in amateur telescopes of several times the price.
What to look for in best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing
Binoculars are classified by two numbers that refer to their magnification and aperture.
A 10×50 pair of binoculars has a magnification of 10x, and each of the objective lenses has an aperture of 50mm.
These numbers also enable you to calculate the size of the circle of light – or ‘exit pupil’ – that emerges from the eyepieces: all youhave to do is divide theaperture by the magnification.
This means a 10×50 pair of binoculars has an exit pupil of 5mm.
The exit pupil should be no larger than the dark-dilated pupils of your eyes: a pupil of anywhere between 4-6mm is fine for your first pair of binoculars.
Larger apertures potentially show you more, but may need mounting if you want steady views over prolonged periods.
Common sizes of binoculars are:
8×40: which almost anyone over theage of 10 can hold steadily
10×50: which most adults can hold steadily (this size is a popular compromise between size and weight)
15×70: which really needs to be mounted, although they can be brieflyhandheld
You should also check that the distance between the eyepieces, or ‘interpupillary distance’ will adjust to your eyes.
If you wear glasses, ensure that the binoculars have enough distance (‘eye relief’) from the eyepiece to your ideal eye position; 18mm or more should be fine.
There are two basic types of binoculars: Porro-prism and roof-prism.
In any price range, roof-prisms are lighter, but Porro-prisms tend to have better optical quality.
Once you’ve decided on size and type, get the best quality you can for your budget and start exploring the night sky.
Can you use any binoculars for astronomy?
Even toy binoculars can give you a decent view of the night sky. Credit: iStock
In principle, yes: even plastic-lensed 4×20 toy binoculars can show you astronomical objects that you otherwise couldn’t see, such as the moons of Jupiter.
If you already have a pair of small binoculars, for example a 6×30 or 8×32 pair, try them out under the stars: you’ll be amazed at how much more you can see.
The optical quality will also make a difference and you may find that there are things you can see with good-quality small binoculars like 8x42s that are beyond the capability of an entry-level 15×70.
Or if easy transportation is what you’re after, there are also many telescopes that might fit the bill. Read our guide to the best travel telescopes.
Here, in no particular order, is our pick of the best binoculars for astronomy, including budget models for beginners and more pricey models for those who are looking to upgrade their current pair.
