Of course, binoculars for astronomy must first have a certain aperture. Binoculars with an exit pupil under 4mm are only of limited suitability. The magnification is dependent upon the object of your observing. Binoculars with low magnification are very well-suited to getting an overview of the starry sky or for looking for constellations.
To see details on the moon or the planets, the magnification should be at least 10 times or higher. Many customers prefer binoculars with single-ocular focus, because once set for personal visual acuity, no further sharpness correction is needed. Very often, customers use porro prism binoculars because they provide a more plastic image.
![Celestron Binoculars 7x50 Cometron](/Produktbilder/normal/33578_1/Celestron-Binoculars-7x50-Cometron.jpg)
Celestron
Binoculars 7x50 Cometron
$ 71.00
![Bushnell Binoculars Legacy 10x50](/Produktbilder/normal/2955_1/Bushnell-Binoculars-Legacy-10x50.jpg)
Bushnell
Binoculars Legacy 10x50
Our price:
RRP:
$ 188.00
$ 170.00
![Omegon Binoculars Nightstar 20x80](/Produktbilder/normal/12461_10/Omegon-Binoculars-Nightstar-20x80.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Nightstar 20x80
$ 199.00
![Omegon Binoculars Nightstar 15x70](/Produktbilder/normal/18759_10/Omegon-Binoculars-Nightstar-15x70.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Nightstar 15x70
$ 149.00
![Omegon Binoculars Argus 25x100](/Produktbilder/normal/47251_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Argus-25x100.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Argus 25x100
$ 839.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 30x100 - 90°](/Produktbilder/normal/61493_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-30x100-90d.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 30x100 - 90°
$ 1,890.00
![Omegon Brightsky 30x100 90° binoculars including Neptune fork mount with centre column and tripod](/Produktbilder/normal/69494_1/Omegon-Brightsky-30x100-90d-binoculars-including-Neptune-fork-mount-with-centre-column-and-tripod.jpg)
Omegon
Brightsky 30x100 90° binoculars including Neptune fork mount with centre column and tripod
Our price:
RRP:
$ 3,427.00
$ 3,190.00
![Omegon 2x54 binoculars for star field observation](/Produktbilder/normal/73882_3/Omegon-2x54-binoculars-for-star-field-observation.jpg)
Omegon
2x54 binoculars for star field observation
Sale price:
$ 199.00
$ 149.00
![Vixen Ascot 8-32x50 ZCF Zoom](/Produktbilder/normal/4412_13/Vixen-Ascot-8-32x50-ZCF-Zoom.jpg)
Vixen
Ascot 8-32x50 ZCF Zoom
$ 226.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 15x70](/Produktbilder/normal/33085_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-15x70.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 15x70
$ 599.00
![Omegon Binoculars Argus 16x70](/Produktbilder/normal/47249_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Argus-16x70.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Argus 16x70
$ 649.00
![Omegon Nightstar 16x70 - 45° binoculars](/Produktbilder/normal/47316_1/Omegon-Nightstar-16x70-45d-binoculars.jpg)
Omegon
Nightstar 16x70 - 45° binoculars
$ 969.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 22x70 - 90°](/Produktbilder/normal/61489_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-22x70-90d.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 22x70 - 90°
$ 1,490.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 22x70 - 45°](/Produktbilder/normal/61488_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-22x70-45d.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 22x70 - 45°
$ 1,490.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 10x50](/Produktbilder/normal/33083_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-10x50.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 10x50
$ 329.00
![Omegon Binoculars Argus 11x70](/Produktbilder/normal/47248_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Argus-11x70.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Argus 11x70
$ 539.00
![Omegon Zoomstar 15-45x80](/Produktbilder/normal/11347_10/Omegon-Zoomstar-15-45x80.jpg)
Omegon
Zoomstar 15-45x80
$ 299.00
![Omegon Binoculars Nightstar 25x100](/Produktbilder/normal/14698_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Nightstar-25x100.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Nightstar 25x100
$ 479.00
![Vixen Binoculars Ascot 7x50 ZCF](/Produktbilder/normal/4410_13/Vixen-Binoculars-Ascot-7x50-ZCF.jpg)
Vixen
Binoculars Ascot 7x50 ZCF
$ 194.00
![Omegon Binoculars Argus 12x50](/Produktbilder/normal/47247_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Argus-12x50.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Argus 12x50
$ 439.00
![Bresser Binoculars Spezial Jagd 11x56](/Produktbilder/normal/2189_1/Bresser-Binoculars-Spezial-Jagd-11x56.jpg)
Bresser
Binoculars Spezial Jagd 11x56
$ 205.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 22x85](/Produktbilder/normal/33087_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-22x85.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 22x85
$ 719.00
![Omegon Binoculars Argus 20x80](/Produktbilder/normal/47250_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Argus-20x80.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Argus 20x80
$ 769.00
![Omegon Nightstar 20+40x100 Doublet binoculars with interchangeable eyepieces](/Produktbilder/normal/14697_1/Omegon-Nightstar-20-40x100-Doublet-binoculars-with-interchangeable-eyepieces.jpg)
Omegon
Nightstar 20+40x100 Doublet binoculars with interchangeable eyepieces
$ 1,390.00
![Vixen Binoculars ATREK II 10x42 DCF](/Produktbilder/normal/56303_10/Vixen-Binoculars-ATREK-II-10x42-DCF.jpg)
Vixen
Binoculars ATREK II 10x42 DCF
$ 259.00
![Omegon Binoculars Hunter 8x56 HD](/Produktbilder/normal/18757_10/Omegon-Binoculars-Hunter-8x56-HD.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Hunter 8x56 HD
$ 349.00
![Vixen Binoculars BT 126 SS-A Binocular Telescope Set](/Produktbilder/normal/46804_1/Vixen-Binoculars-BT-126-SS-A-Binocular-Telescope-Set.jpg)
Vixen
Binoculars BT 126 SS-A Binocular Telescope Set
$ 5,500.00
![Minox Binoculars X-HD 8x56](/Produktbilder/normal/71595_1/Minox-Binoculars-X-HD-8x56.jpg)
Minox
Binoculars X-HD 8x56
Our price:
RRP:
$ 1,080.00
$ 980.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 7x50](/Produktbilder/normal/33082_2/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-7x50.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 7x50
$ 319.00
![Vixen Binoculars BT 126 SS-A Binocular Telescope](/Produktbilder/normal/46803_1/Vixen-Binoculars-BT-126-SS-A-Binocular-Telescope.jpg)
Vixen
Binoculars BT 126 SS-A Binocular Telescope
$ 4,690.00
![Vixen Binoculars BT-81S-A Binocular Telescope Set](/Produktbilder/normal/47979_1/Vixen-Binoculars-BT-81S-A-Binocular-Telescope-Set.jpg)
Vixen
Binoculars BT-81S-A Binocular Telescope Set
$ 2,220.00
![Vixen Binoculars BT-81S-A](/Produktbilder/normal/45518_1/Vixen-Binoculars-BT-81S-A.jpg)
Vixen
Binoculars BT-81S-A
$ 1,410.00
![Omegon Binoculars Hunter 8x56](/Produktbilder/normal/12470_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Hunter-8x56.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Hunter 8x56
$ 219.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 26x82 - 90°](/Produktbilder/normal/61491_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-26x82-90d.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 26x82 - 90°
$ 1,590.00
![Omegon Binoculars Brightsky 26x82 - 45°](/Produktbilder/normal/61490_1/Omegon-Binoculars-Brightsky-26x82-45d.jpg)
Omegon
Binoculars Brightsky 26x82 - 45°
$ 1,590.00
![Helios Optics Binoculars 10x50 Nitrosport Waterproof](/Produktbilder/normal/71112_1/Helios-Optics-Binoculars-10x50-Nitrosport-Waterproof.jpg)
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x50 Nitrosport Waterproof
$ 200.00
What is important when selecting binoculars for astronomy?
What criteria must be met?
The "very good" rating for binoculars is achieved if they meet the following:
- The magnification should be at least 10 times so that you can also see details of the sky canopy.
- A front lens diameter of 70 mm is required.
- The exit pupil must not be less than 5 mm in diameter.
- Other evaluation criteria: since temperatures often fall sharply at night, the binoculars should be watertight. This prevents the ingress of humidity, which would otherwise cause fogging inside the binoculars if the temperature drops suddenly. A tripod is absolutely necessary for overhead observing and with higher magnification levels, therefore a tripod attachment should be included.
- We consider the size of the field of view or the weight to be unimportant for astronomy.
- Positive influencing factors:
Special lens materials (FL, ED, HD) or lens construction (APO, field flattener) increase the rating. These ensure that binoculars that would have otherwise only reached a "good” are rated "very good”. - Negative influencing factors:
Information displayed in the field of view such as a compass, a reticle or an integrated distance meter, affects the view and causes the binoculars to be downgraded by a point.
For a "good", binoculars must achieve the following:
- Magnification: min. 7-times
- Front lens diameter: min. 50 mm
- Exit pupil: min. 4.5 mm
- Tripod attachment: should be available, but there are also solutions for this if necessary.
For a "medium" we will accept:
- Magnification: min. 7-times
- Front lens diameter: min. 40 mm
- Exit pupil: min. 4 mm
We rate binoculars with too little magnification or with an exit pupil of less than 4 mm as "not recommended" for astronomy.
Exceptions are, of course, special binoculars such as the Omegon 2.1x42 for star field observing.