Pleiades


When buying binoculars for astronomy there are several things that need to be considered.

Will they be used along with a telescope or in place of one? Many people prefer
a quality pair of binoculars over a telescope. The binoculars are easier to transport,
easier to scan the skies with and much less awkward to use.

If you do choose binoculars to do your star gazing be sure to keep a few of these points in mind.

Although there are many models to choose from in the 7x to 12x these will not give near
the results that the 25X to 40X models will. The problem with the high magnification models
is blurriness due to hand tremors.

A good mount or tripod will go a long ways to eliminating the problem of blurring. Some
star gazers even go so far as to build custom mounts affixed to a chair or seat.
That way they can move easily about and the binoculars will remain fixed in place.

Try and get binoculars that have coated eyepieces and lenses. If buying used check for scratches
and white spots.

Be sure to get a pair with a center focusing wheel. This allows you to slowly dial in the
objects you are viewing which will not be the case with an auto focus pair.

Try to test the binoculars you want in person. Even if you plan on buying online it pays to
stop by the local sporting goods store. Then you can examine you prospects first hand.

How do they feel?
Are they awkward to handle?
Do they focus smoothly?
Do they have lens coatings?
Will mounting be a problem?

You can also quiz the sale person when buying binoculars for astronomy at the store,
then purchase online when an excellent deal is available. Be sure to quiz the online seller as well.