Best Binoculars for Star Gazing? - 11/18/24 (1 Viewer)

[Binastro]

Firstly, if you have a truly dark sky, then even with the unaided eyes so many stars are visible that even experienced astronomers cannot easily make out the constellations.

For the best view of whole constellations, the VisionKing 5x25 is probably best IF you get a good example.
Mine has one tube that has dreadful optics.
The field is 15 degrees.

The 12x56 will show stars 0.5 magnitude fainter than the 10x42.

I would go with the 10x42, hoping it is a good example.
In a good sky it should also show 4 Jupiter moons if they are well separated and not near the limb.

I don't use tripods even with the 20x80.

A tripod will show stars about one magnitude fainter or with a high magnification binocular 1.5 magnitude fainter.

I would not think a 10x42 would need a tripod for general viewing.

It is also relevant how good your eyesight is for faint stars.
This varies rather widely.
Some with normal vision never see fainter than magnitude 5.9, even 5.5 while others can see down to magnitude 7.5 with unaided vision.
Personally, I could see to magnitude 6.8 in England and 7.2 on La Palma. 5.9 in suburbs.

I would go with the 10x42, but one size doesn't suit everything.

I use 4x21 Bushnall Xtrawide 18.5 degree field. no focus.
4x22 Libra/ Dowling and Rowe 16.5 degrees.
5x25 Foton 12.2 degrees.
7x35 Minolta MK 11.05 degrees.
8.5x44 Swift HR/5 8.26 degrees.
8x42 BA 7.7 degrees.
10x42 or 10x40 various from 5.6 to 9 .5 degree field.
10x50 Minolta MK 7.6 to 7.8 degree.
12x45 KOMZ 5.4 degrees.
12x50 or 12x56 about 5.7 degrees.
15x60 4.6 degrees.
15x70 4.4 degrees.
20x80 3.5 degrees.
18x50 IS 3.85 degrees.

These have been used over a lifetime of viewing.

Regards,
B.

 

[Cest]

I suggest you visit Cloudynights. For handheld a 10x is good, if you can hold them steady. A tripod is best. The Oberwerk deluxe 15x70 is very good and one of my favorites. The 20x80 is also excellent. It those are too large a 15x56 can work very well.

 

[Scott98]

From the comments on wanting to see and navigate constellations easily I would say don't go higher than 10x, and think about getting 7x or 8x. Higher than 10x is usually tripod-only and that makes it harder to pan around the sky and the FOV is narrower.

My 2 favorite astro binoculars are 8x42 and 10x56. Yes, 56mm will blow away the 42's and should cost double. The big ones - 60-80mm - are fun but generally much heavier and harder to handle without a tripod. I used to have 11x80's but I decided 56mm is my favorite size. Plenty of my astro-friends use 70-80mm handheld binos though.

 

[limonabe]

Specifically for looking at entire constellations and not too much else given the low magnification, there's the Vixen 2.1x42

It's a neat little bino under dark skies.

 

[Patudo]

I recommend this thread be moved to the specific Optics and Astronomy part of the site, where those with more interest/experience/knowledge in that branch of using optics can weigh in.

The Cloudynights forum mentioned earlier focuses on astronomy and seems to be quite busy. It should also be worth a read.

 

[ShlundoKyogre]

I think that the Celestron Outland 10x50 pair may be the best for me as they provide a wide fov and decent aperture for low light conditions not being much different than the 12x56, they seem like a good pair for an entry level astronomer like myself.

 

[Maljunulo]

Not to beat a dead horse, but your field of view is 5.5°.

This is the distance between the two “pointer stars” in the Big Dipper.

You might be able to see stars to Mag 10.5. (that’s a lot of stars)

 

[ShlundoKyogre]

I am now deciding between the Celestron Nature DX ED 10x50 and the Celestron Outback X 10x50. The Nature DX pair is about twice the price of the outback and have a exit pupil of 5mm as well as ED glass. The Outback X pair has an exit pupil of 3.1mm and does not use ED glass. Is the Nature DX pair worth the extra 100$ of the Outback pair?

Best Regards,
Shlundo

 

[Maljunulo]

Any 10X50 binocular will have a 5 mm exit pupil.

The 3.1 mm is either a typo, or something isn’t right with the binocular.

In my opinion, it is never wise to buy the cheapest optics you can find.

 

[ShlundoKyogre]

Ok, will the ED Glass in the Nature DX 10x50 really make a difference in viewing dim stars at night compared to viewing with the regular glass of the Outback X 10x50?

Best Regards,
Shlundo

 

[Binastro]

A 16x50 has a 3.1mm exit pupil.

Actually many 10x50s are about 47mm.

Alpha to beta Ursa Major is 5 degrees 22.4 mins.

ED glass will give less CA but for astronomy generally ordinary glass is O.K.

If one could test a minimum of three Outland 10x50s one might find a good one, but there will be sample variation.

I have a 6x30, I think, Outland monocular with a 9.5 degree field that is O.K.

I doubt very much that magnitude 10.5 stars will be seen in a 10x50. Maybe tripod mounted in a very dark sky.

Personally, I have no trouble using Nikon Action VII or Aculon 10x50s.

If one is buying a low end binocular it is essential to test it and preferably several, as some can be pretty poor and have collimation problems.

Oberwerk claim they test each binocular, so maybe better there.

An old but very good Japanese 10x50 will probably outlast a cheap Chinese 10x50.
There are also Zeiss Jenoptem and Tento 10x50s that are pretty good.
The old Japanese 10x50s have 7.0 to 7.9 degree fields.
But best without glasses.

Regards,
B.

 

[Binastro]

It is likely the 10x50 ED Celestron is better made than the cheaper 10x50.

But for faint stars perhaps a 0.1mag difference or 0.2 mag if the ED has better coatings.

B.

 

[ShlundoKyogre]

I decided to get the Celestron Nature DX 10x50 ED. Thank you so much to everyone helping me to decide which pair of binoculars were best for me. I have really been overall enlightened and better educated on the this subject than I was before.

Thanks again,
Shlundo

 

[Dennis Mau]

I decided to get the Celestron Nature DX 10x50 ED. Thank you so much to everyone helping me to decide which pair of binoculars were best for me. I have really been overall enlightened and better educated on the this subject than I was before.

Thanks again,
Shlundo

The Celestron Nature DX 10x50 ED is a good choice. A 10x50 is a good all around binocular for astronomy.