Some people think that binoculars are actually better than Telescopes. If you are new to star gazing, binoculars are a much more cost effective way to get started in the hobby than a telescope. Telescopes are bigger and harder to set up, but Binoculars are small and can be used hand held. Binoculars don't have to be assembled like telescopes do, allowing a faster view time for objects that move quickly. Telescopes have a much smaller field of view than binoculars, meaning it is harder to find what you are looking for with telescopes than with binoculars. If you own a telescope already, buying binoculars might not be a bad idea because it can come in handy trying to find something with binoculars before using your telescope. General observation with binoculars is much easier because of the bigger field of view.



If you are going to star gaze with binoculars, make sure you used the various resources available. The web has a calender that shows you when and where to look to see certain comets and moons. There are also sky atlas' that show you all the different parts of the night time sky. If you are using high powered Binoculars, a tripod helps you keep your view steady and allows for a better quality image. Make sure to pack chairs or blankets for long nights.

Binoculars allow you to see much more detail than when using just your plain eye. You can get a good pair of binoculars for much less than a good telescope. For one, they are a lot smaller, and easier to handle. Binoculars are also easier to use than telescopes. When looking at wide groups of stars, binoculars are much easier because of the greater field of view.

Chose a pair of binoculars that fit your needs. Most binoculars are made for a particular purpose. Astronomy Binoculars should be around 7x to 12x. Magnification above 12x is too hard to keep stable. If you require a higher magnification, then a tripod can help you get into a higher range.