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ARE TELESCOPES BETTER THAN BINOCULARS FOR STARGAZING

If you are in a hurry and need a quick answer here it is.

Binoculars are lighter and eraser to carry around than telescopes. But telescopes have far greater magnification than binoculars, their aperture is far larger than Binoculars and will let more light in for a better performance in low light conditions. Binoculars offer a 3D depth of field, whereas a telescope is flat.

If you are new to the world of stargazing and amateur astronomy, there is vicious debate among fellow enthusiasts about which equipment to get.

Each of them believe that their instruments are the best and therefore must be used by all others following into the hobby, making it super difficult for a novice to accurately decide what they really need to get started.

This often leads to complete beginners buying instruments they do not need or unnecessarily hoarding high end equipment without the knowhow based on faulty advice.

We know how confusing it can get for you as a beginner and we’re here to help!

If you want to take a look at our recommended Telescopes you can find them here. You can also find our recommend Binoculars here.

Now, should you get a binocular for your stargazing sessions over a telescope?

There is no doubt that as far as instruments go, telescopes are way more powerful than binoculars in terms of their aperture and magnification power. But you have to remember that power isn’t everything.

As a beginner, you should solely focus on if a telescope is easier to use than a binocular.

And the simple answer to that is NO. Telescopes are highly complicated instruments that need to be calibrated precisely and often need special care for storage.

Add to that the knowhow you need to operate one and as a beginner, it soon starts to become overwhelming.

A binocular is a very wise choice for a beginner. To begin with, they are relatively inexpensive so you can get a moderately powerful binocular without breaking the bank.

Secondly, they have two viewfinders instead of one as in a telescope making celestial viewing much more pleasurable for the average joe.

Getting your own binoculars.

Binoculars are manufactured basically for everything from birdwatching to amateur astronomy and it is up to you to get one that is adequately powerful to produce good pictures of the moon and other celestial objects that you’ll be hoping to observe through your binos. The best binoculars, fortunately, are very multi-purpose.

Like any other kit, binos have their very own terminology. You’ll see descriptions that include technical words and phrases such as ‘roof prism’ and ‘porro prism’, alongside estimations for the distance across of the target focal point being used.

Furthermore, there’s the temptation to pay a little extra for binoculars that are ‘nitrogen-filled’ to forestall fogging.

We realize that it is natural to get influenced by the majority of this extravagant stuff, however you probably won’t require an entire stack of tech for your purpose. That is the reason it’s ideal to remember the highlights you certainly need, and the things you can live without.

The motivation behind this article is to help you effectively decide what configuration of binoculars would be best for you, without you laboring through unlimited recommendations.

If you want more information on the best binoculars to buy the take a look at our guide TOP 10 BINOCULARS TO BUY here.

What to know when buying binoculars.

There are two key numbers to focus on with regards to picking the best binoculars for your requirements and deciding if you’re being offered a decent level of specification at the cost.

Initially, there’s amplification. Secondly, there’s the (objective) lens size: in combination written as 10×30, to give just one example.

Understanding binoculars magnification.

Video by Eagle Optics

This indicates a 30mm focal point with 10x amplification. As on a camera, the greater the focal point, the more light is let in and the more bright the picture.

Binoculars for hand held use may offer up to 8x or 10x amplification, which is fine for regular use.

For more expert interests, you may need something all the more powerful still, while being aware a higher magnification can also magnify any hand shake, except if the binoculars can be tripod mounted (through a typical screw string) or have image stabilization built in.

Further characteristics to look at are the build quality, structure, and whether they offer agreeable features, for example, a long eye relief, empowering the binos to be held further from your face. Normally, the more highlights offered, the higher the cost.

How to choose the best binoculars for you.

As a beginner, think about a lightweight, convenient and smaller pair of binoculars that can be carried in a coat pocket.

Some level of climate sealing and anti-fogging might be useful depending on the weather conditions of your location.

To be futureproof, you’ll need to add high amplification factor to the rundown, as you’ll be observing most celestial objects them from a distance.

A few methods for tripod mounting may likewise be helpful, to avoid hand-holding your binos for delayed periods. For low light viewing, a greater, brighter focal point is worth looking into.

You may also be offered a choice of ‘roof prism’ or ‘porro prism’ binoculars. Roof prism tends to be the most popular, as the way the light passes into and out of the prism allows for a more compact construction. That means smaller binos.

The downside, however, is that the outside of the prism crystal does not reflect 100 percent of the light.

On the other hand, porro prism binoculars will in general offer a more splendid picture at a lower cost, regardless of whether they are somewhat bulkier.

Taking into account how the above points apply to your observational needs, you should now be able to make a sound decision about what binos to get.

Switching to a telescope.

When you have adequately mastered the skies and feel confident enough to move on to the more complex instruments like telescopes, you have to be equipped with very specific information that can help you choose the right telescope for your circumstance.

Utilizing a telescope and investigating the skies can be a tremendously fulfilling, pleasant and captivating experience for amateur astronomers like yourself, all things considered.

With an enormous collection of telescopes for beginners out there, the correct one will bring the moon, stars, and planets right to your room. Below we list what you should look for when considering buying a telescope.

We have also written a article called common questions about telescopes and how to use one. You can find it here.

Aperture.

Aperture is the telescope’s most significant component. Aperture size controls the measure of light the telescope captures. Bigger apertures result in more splendid, clearer pictures.

In any case, the bigger the gap, the bigger the telescope which can be difficult for a kid to handle so it’s important to strike a balance.

Telescope Buying Guide: Aperture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eznCl-PjDc0

Video by expertvillage

Factor of amplification.

Amplification is dictated by the telescope’s eyepiece. High amplification is significant, yet its esteem is reliant on aperture. A high amplification eyepiece will do minimal good with a low aperture telescope.

Numerous telescopes accompany more than one eyepiece, for lower and higher amplification setting.

Picking a telescope for a beginner should take those angles into consideration, and a couple of more things. A novice’s telescope ought to be simple and uncomplicated to utilize.

An excessively complicated telescope just won’t be as much fun. Minimized size is significant. An absolute beginner won’t appreciate utilizing a tremendous telescope.

Telescopes: Refractor v Reflector v Compound.

There are generally three sorts in which telescopes can be categorized. While all work to segregate light from stars billions of miles away, they catch this light in various ways.

That gives them various qualities and shortcomings versus each other. There’s no “best” sort of telescope – one in particular that is best for the current circumstance.

Refractor telescopes.

The refractor telescope is the most widely recognized form type. It’s likely the same type you initially had as a child – in part as a result of the convenience, somewhat in light of the fact that it can take a tad of maltreatment and still work.

It’s comprised of an enormous lens close to the front of the telescope tube which directly sends light to the mirror. This mirror in the back reflects light to the eyepiece.

How a refracting telescope works.

Video by ABZ

Reflector telescopes.

A reflector telescope uses mirrors to reflect light to the eyepiece. The eyepiece is as a rule (however not constantly) close to the front of the telescope. These telescopes more often than not have bigger apertures – 114mm to 150mm are basic on starter models.

Reflecting telescopes.

Video by Physics & Biology & Chemistry

Compound telescopes.

These telescopes utilize a mix of mirrors and lenses in a fixed cylinder to make the sky seems nearer to the observer. Like the refractor, this kind of telescope for the most part has the eyepiece at the back of the telescope.

Which is better: binoculars or telescopes?

As we’ve tried to highlight in this article over and over again, there is no real comparison between binocular and telescopes when it comes to optical power.

Telescopes are way more powerful and enable the observer to see much farther than the most powerful of binoculars. But as a beginner, binoculars make much more sense.

They are affordable and are very compact so you can literally put it in your pocket, both of which cannot be said about the telescope. Also, if you are a beginner it makes sense to use a pair of binoculars because of the dual viewfinders.

It makes observing more comfortable and pleasant. Our suggestion is to start off with a good pair of binocular and then as you gain more experience, gradually proceed to upgrading to a telescope.

Are Telescopes Better Than Binoculars For Stargazing