Is this binoculars good for astronomy?

3 Responses to Is this binoculars good for astronomy?

1. George N says:

   March 20, 2011 at 1:22 pm

   Just going by the numbers, I’d go for the 15×70 Skymaster because it has the largest aperture and thus should be able to gather more light.
2. jonal says:

   March 20, 2011 at 2:03 pm

   For ease of use and for performance the three binoculars are quite different.
   The worst for astronomy is the 15 x 60. It’s too powerful to hold steady without a tripod and the power is too high for the aperture to get a bright image of extended objects like nebulae.
   Next worst is the 15 x 70, almost the same for power but it has a better aperture. It’s good for astronomy but best on a tripod.
   The best as a general purpose binocular for astronomy is the 10 x 50 because it can be hand held with relative ease and still provides a bright image with sufficient power for good views of hundreds of objects,
   10 x 50 is the best binocular unless you use a tripod and is always recommended as the size to buy for stargazing. It is also the best for wildlife watching and has a good brightness in poor light.
   Now for some figures.
   60/16 = 3.75 ….squared = 14.1
   70/15 = 4.67 …..squared = 21.8
   50/10 = 5 ….squared = 25
   That shows you the brightness level of each and you can see the 10 x 50 is the best.
   The 70mm will show fainter stars because for point sources the aperture is all that matters.For extended objects the light gets spread out more with more magnification so the image gets dimmer which is what the figures above are about.
   At dusk the 10 x50 will show more detail in the woods than the 15 x 70 because it has a brighter image and it will also give brighter views of nebulae, though smaller than the 15 x 70.
   Most amateur astronomers have 10 x 50 binoculars, or 7 x 50 which are even brighter and you can use either of them for long periods without tiring.
   I have that Celestron 15 x 70 but the Helios 10 x50 binoculars are used far more often.
   Another size you might want to consider is 9 x 63. Many companies do them. Mine is a Meade model which is recently discontinued but the Helios is sharper and more contrasty so the Meade doesn’t get so much use although if the optics were better it would be the one most used. It’s still fine as binoculars go but the Helios is better. The Celestron 15 x 70 is about the same for image quality.
   Not brilliant but OK. Not a patch on the Helios though.
   63/9 = 7…squared = 49, the same as 7 x 50 binos but with a bit more power.
   Twice as good as the 10 x 50.
   Just a shame about the softer images it gives, like the Celestron.
   One of Meade’s not so good, like their 60mm budget price refractor telescopes. They’re OK but better stuff is available for not much more cash.
   The Helios is the one that gets best buy in all the reviews for astro binoculars, and in birding magazines as well .
   It’s a good buy, better than the Pinnacle and reasonably priced.
   Scroll down to 10 x 50 Naturesport WA
   http://www.green-witch.com/acatalog/Porro_Prism_Range.html . . . . . .
   Here is a bino answer for a guy in Austalia. The advice is the same worldwide of course. All the brands mentioned and many others are available in USA, UK, Europe, Australia etc. You maybe won’t want shops in Perth though. Long way to go. Anacortes Telescope and Wild Bird is a good supplier in USA and their site is good for info.

   http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091020071654AAVvqW2 . . . .
3. Alan says:

   March 20, 2011 at 2:39 pm

   The 16 x 50 are no good, much to dim, the 10 x 50s are good, the 15 x 70 are best BUT you will probably need a tripod, my tripod is by Vanguard and very tall, about 2 meters (7 feet) so I don’t have to bend down to use them, cost me about £50 10 years ago.