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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Binastro" data-source="post: 3486082" data-attributes="member: 111403">Hi Martin,It depends on your budget to some degree, but a Nikon Aculon or Action VII 10x50 is pefectly adequate for astronomy. 6.5 degrees. Pentax 10x50 XCF low price option.Similar 12x50s 5.5 degrees.I have used, for astronomy, a selected Russian 12x45 5.5 deg about for 10 years, A Minolta 10x50 Standard MK 7.8 deg also for ten years.A Minolta Activa 12x50.Celestron 20x80 Japan 1970s best of three.  A handmade special Soviet 20x60.Canon 10x30 IS. The Mk II stabilizer is excellent.Canon 12x36 Mk III should be good, but expensive.Well collimated Revelation 15x70, but they are not robust.Barr and Stroud 12x56 ED Savannah.  Very nice if one gets a good one.If you can get a perfectly clean HR/5 10x50 Audubon Kestrel that would be nice.The needs of astronomy are different to birdwatching.Your 8.5x44 HR/5 is also good.The main factor is light pollution and how to minimise it.</blockquote>