When buying astronomy binoculars f one of the main considerations is the light gathering capability of the binoculars you are looking to buy and therefore the size of the objective lens is extremely important.

Before you start check out the range of astronomy binoculars that are currently on the market you need to consider the distance you are looking to cover and what level of detail you are hoping to see. If you can imagine that a telescope can provide you with a significantly larger aperature (objective lens) and a wide range of magnification abilities it's understandable that for viewing over longer distances, and to see the finer details, a telescope is often a better option. However that said binoculars can prove useful, even for the serious astronomer, and are an inexpensive way to get started.

The real pro's of using astronomy binoculars  is the minimal set up time, the relatively low cost, portability and the fact that there isn't an endless list of accessories that you need to buy.

Manufacturers generally indicate whether or not their binos are suitable astronomy binoculars but as a general guide you want to be looking for giant binoculars or binoculars with an objective lens that is 50mm or greater. 10x50's are often a popular choice for astronomy as they are reasonably comfortable to hold yet powerful enough for the basic astronomers needs.

Some manufacturers do make smaller astronomy binoculars for such as the Pentax PCF 8x40 or the higher quality Pentax DCF SP 8x43 and Olympus rate their EXPS I 8x42's as excellent astronomy binoculars. As a general rule, and particularly relating to the smaller binos, if the objective lens is 5 times or more than the magnification you can use them for astronomy.

If you are looking for a real meaty beast then the Celestron Skymaster series ranges from 15 x 70 up to 25 x 100 (which offers the power of a small telescope) and Nikon do the 10 x 70IF SP which is considerably more expensive (around £1200 versus up to £400 for a Skymaster) but you are paying for the quality of the lenses and the superior optical design (one of the leaders in it's class). The bigger you go when you are looking for astronomy binoculars for the greater the power and light gathering abilities so if you opt for a 25 x 100 (25x magnification, 100mm objective lens) you will be able to see further and view objects in greater detail than with a 7 x 35 or a 10 x 50 (for example).

Binoculars for Astronomy, quick check list:

• Fully multi-coated lenses are a must

• Waterproof binoculars are generally best if you want to prevent fogging and view in all weather conditions.

• The best astronomy binoculars come with Bak-4 Porro prisms (Bak-4 glass is high quality glass and porro prisms generally provide greater light transmission and a sharper image than their roof prism counterparts)

• Always check a binoculars suitability for astronomy

• Remember the more powerful the better and if you want a performance similar to a small telescope buy a binocular with the largest possible objective lens.

• For larger binoculars make sure you check tripod / mounting requirements.

• Quality optics is important and no more so than for astronomy binoculars. If you can afford high quality binoculars they are well worth paying for.

In the most basic sense, binoculars are two telescopes that have been attached to each other for the purpose of magnifying images. They are used for viewing nature, seeing sporting or cultural events up close, and are frequently used in astronomy. Unlike telescopes, binoculars require the use of both eyes to make a sharp and focused image. To know the variations of| binocular models and how much magnification that each model provides will guide you to select the right binoculars for your needs.

When choosing new binoculars, you?ll need to take multiple aspects into consideration to make sure you make the correct choice. First, you?ll need to decide what amount of money you will invest. Binoculars comes in many price levels and you should choose a pair that is within your budget. If you decide to go for a pair that is more expensive than your budget, taking the time to save up for those binoculars could be the best solution. Since magnification abilities vary with price range, it isn?t a good choice to try to go with a lower price and not select the binoculars that has the capabilities that you need. Doing so could mean that your binoculars isn?t powerfull enough to provide you with the quality that you require.

Once you?ve set your price range, you?ll also want to consider how much magnification you require. It?s important to understand that the higher the magnification, the more you will need to place the binoculars on a tripod, as any amount of movement will cause the image to become unclear. If you are planning on using your binoculars for close range viewing, then you won?t need to get one with the higher magnification levels. However, if you want to use binoculars for purposes such as astronomy, then you should pay close consideration to the amount of magnification the binoculars are capable of. Deciding your budget as well as the number of magnification you need, are two important things that must be considered when buying binoculars.

In addition to these factors, you should also decide what size binoculars are best for your needs. If you go camping and hiking, or even biking, you will want to buy} binoculars that are effective, have more than adequate magnification, but are also lightweight and easy to transport. For those who use binoculars to view concerts, operas, or sporting events, choosing smaller and compact binoculars is important. You?ll want to make certain that the binoculars can fit easily in a bag or bagpack and aren?t a hindrance. Yet, if you are using binoculars for late night viewing outdoors, you shouldn?t be concerned with whether or not they can fit easily in a briefcase, handbag, or purse.

To choose the best binoculars, you?ll need to know how to read the numbers. Every pair of binoculars has a set of two numbers, represented with the x or times symbol. The first number refers to the power of magnification. You might see the binoculars listed as 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x, 11x, 12x, 13x, 14x, 15x, etc. This refers to the amount of magnification and would suggest that a pair of binoculars with a magnification of 7x would allow you to see images seven times closer or seven times larger than they are with the ***** eye.

The second number refers to the width of the lens. The larger the second number, the clearer the image will appear. By taking all these factors into consideration you can rest assured that you will select the best pair of binoculars for your viewing needs.