Celestron Astronomy Binoculars

by MaggiePowell

Celestron Astronomy Binoculars proove that you don't need a telescope to enjoy viewing the heavens, a pair of good binoculars will allow you to see the moon, stars and planets.

I love looking at the stars, and Celestron Astronomy Binoculars make it easy. One of my favorite childhood memories is of Stargazing with my Mother. We used astronomy binoculars instead of a telescope, because they were easier for us to pull out and use wherever we happened to be.

Now that I have children of my own, I enjoy taking them out to to watch the stars. To make it fun, we use Celestron Astronomy Binoculars (and because I'm a wise mommy, we have a few pairs to share, not just one).

Celestron makes fantastic astronomy binoculars. You can find them in a variety of optical strengths, depending on how serious your astronomy hobby is, and what you plan to look at. They also have a wide price range, depending on what your budget looks like. In binoculars (like telescopes), you do get what you pay for.

Let me introduce you to a range of Celestron Astronomy Binoculars. I will explain some of the mysteries of binocular magnification. Then after reading about their various features, I'm sure you will find the right pair (or pairs) for you (and your family).

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Celestron Astronomy Binoculars

Celestron 72022 SkyMaster DX 8x56 Binoculars
Celestron 72022 SkyMaster DX 8x56 Bin...

Using Binoculars For Astronomy

Explore Space with Binoculars

Moon through BinocularsWhy would you use Binoculars for Astronomy?

Well.... I find them convenient. Set up is as simple as taking them out of the case. Point them up at the sky, and you see the moon, planets and even the stars.

Binoculars don't need to be mounted to a tripod (although they can be).

For family viewing, I find binoculars much more family friendly... they can be passed around, or you can even get a second or third pair for the kids to use. Let them discover their own sky objects with star charts and binoculars.

Remember, binoculars are two telescopes hooked together. Don't expect the Hubble telescope in your hands... but expect to be able to see and enjoy the heavens.

What are Binoculars?

Binoculars are essentially 2 telescopes fastened together....

Celestron Granite 10x50 Binocular

Great All Around Astronomy Binocular



The Celestron Granite Binocular compares well to European and Japanese Binoculars that cost much more. 

Because the body is made of Magnesium, they are relatively lightweight at 24 ounces, so they are good for extended viewing without a tripod (even one handed).  Magnesium is stronger than the usual Aluminum, so they are sturdy enough to carry along in a backpack without getting damaged.

Images are sharp, and the focus knob is easy to use.

With an exit pupil of 5mm, there is enough light let through for stargazing, and those moon craters will JUMP out at you, but you can also use these for daytime activities, such as birdwatching or sporting events.

For the money, these are very good Binoculars to have. 

 

Celestron Granite 10x50 Binocular, Black

Celestron Granite 10x50 Binocular, Black (71374)

They feature ED glass (low dispersion) in the optical design and they deliver edge-to-edge sharpness with excellent color correction & razor sharp images while virtually elimina...

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Binocular Magnification Explained

Binocular Numbers Explained

All Binoculars are created to meet certain specifications. These are indicated by numbers.... for example ....15 x 70 or 8 x 30 or 25 x 70.....
But what do the numbers mean?

The Binocular numbers indicate their strength of magnification and size of opening.

This means... the first number gives the binocular magnification strength. A binocular with a magnification strength of 15 indicates that the object you are looking at will be magnified 15 times. So, if you are looking at an eagle, it will look 15 times closer to you than if you are looking at it with your bare eyes. Now... while it is very nice to have things magnified... keep in mind, the higher the magnification, the more sensitive the image is to movement. (If you are kind of shaky, it will translate into a 15 times more shaky object.)

The second number is the width measured in millimeters across the objective lens (that's the lens closer to the object you are looking at....).So, the 15 x 70's have an objective lens 70 mm across. The bigger the number, the more light is let in.The more light... the clearer the object. When you are looking at stars or other deep sky objects (like the moon), you need as much light as possible. A bigger objective lens is generally better.

And now there is one more number to consider... the Exit Pupil (no, this isn't a kid sneaking out of class). The exit pupil is a calculation done by dividing the measurement of the objective lens by strength of magnification. (Don't worry, it's pretty easy as math goes.... using the 15 x 70 example, you have an Exit Pupil of 4.6666...yes, I'll let you round up to 5 ).

Now.. how is this important or useful?

The Exit Pupil determines how much light leaves the binoculars and goes in to your eye. (I realize this is getting technical, bear with me a bit longer, it will all come together....And I promise there will not be a quiz). So, think about the human eye... our pupils dilate and expand according to the amount of light. The average pupil width is 4 mm. If it's a bright and sunny day, our pupils will shrink down to 2 mm in diameter. If the light is low, our pupils will widen up to 7 mm in diameter. The width of light sent by the exit pupil should roughly correspond to the activity (and pupil width) for optimal viewing.

This means... if you are outside on a sunny day your pupils will shrink, and an exit pupil under 4 mm is great. If light is low (like it generally is when you are stargazing) you want a larger amount of light sent to your pupil... so you want a bigger exit pupil. Over 4mm is good.

One more thing... if you are holding binoculars in your hands, the binoculars are subject to the movement of your hand. Even when you are holding REALLY STILL, you are moving. Just a teeny bit. A Exit Pupil number over 7 mm will keep the image from bouncing around in your eye too much (bigger target is easier to hit).

Hope that helped!

Celestron SkyMaster Bioculars

What Makes the SkyMaster Series Worth Buying

The Celestron SkyMaster Series are well made binoculars with wide apatures for decent light gathering. The exit pupil (see the section on binocular magnification) is generally 4 to 5mm, which is a bit low for serious astronomy, these binoculars are more than adequate for the casual stargazer. 

One other note... some people love the versatility of a zoom binocular (changes the magnification), many say that the quality of the image is not as good. You will have to decide for yourself.

 

Celestron SkyMaster Binoculars

Celestron 72023 SkyMaster 9x63 Binoculars

celestron’s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars. Ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use, e...

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Celestron 72022 SkyMaster 8x56 Binoculars

celestron’s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars. Ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use, e...

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Celestron 71012 SkyMaster 20-100x70 Zoom Binoculars

SkyMaster 20-100x70 Zoom

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What is Binocular Eye Relief?

Eye Relief is the distance between the eyepiece and your eye.

The larger the number, the further away from your eye you can hold the binoculars.

This is important for people with glasses... you want an eye relief of 11mm or more.

Celestron Granite 12x50 Binoculars

Best Binoculars for Lunar and Planetary Viewing

The Celestron Granite 12x50 Binoculars are some of the best and most reasonably priced Astronomy Binoculars for Lunar and Planetary viewing that you can buy. 

Light weight enough to use one handed, these binoculars are great to pack along with you on night hikes or camping trips. 

Like all of the Granite Models, they are moisture and fog proof... so they won't be affected when dew sets in. 

Comes with a comfortable strap, so you can leave it around your neck with no discomfort, and has a case for transport.

If you are serious about looking at the moon, these are the astronomy binoculars for you.

Celestron Granite 12x50 Binocular

Celestron 71376 Granite Binocular (Black)

They feature ED glass (low dispersion) in the optical design and they deliver edge-to-edge sharpness with excellent color correction & razor sharp images while virtually elimina...

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Viewing Closer Objects like the Moon and Planets

Lighter Weight Binoculars

If you primarily want to look at the moon and the planets.... these are the Astronomy Binoculars for you. Most are lighter weight and easy to carry. They can be used to seek out the craters on the moon, or you can look at birds by day. All of these binoculars should be able to easily spot Saturn's rings, and the storm on Jupiter.

Multi-Purpose Binoculars

Great for Viewing the Moon by Night, and Birds by Day
Celestron Outland X 8x42 Binocular, Black

Celestron's mid-size Outland Series just got better with the new Outland X Series binoculars! Designed to meet the needs of every outdoor enthusiast, from birders and hunters to...

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Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 Porro Binocular 71256

High quality binoculars at an affordable and economical price. These binoculars are perfect for several activities such as bird watching, sporting events, nature and wildlife, h...

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Celestron 71353 Cypress 10x50 Binocular (Black)

The Cypress Series, new from Celestron, is an excellent beginner binocular with high-quality optics at an affordable price. Cypress porro models feature BaK-4 prisms for maximum...

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Celestron Ultima DX 9x63

Deep Sky Viewing Without the Heavy Weight

Great for Deep Sky Viewing. The lenses on the Celestron Ultima DX are super sharp making deep sky viewing or terrestrial viewing possilbe. The optics are coated to be fog proof and the case keeps moisture out.... important at night when dew starts to form.

I love that they are relatively lightweight for their size, so you can use them for an extended period without attaching them to a tripod. 

Eyecups can be adjusted for preference (so if you are a glasses wearer, you can still use them. The focus knob is easily adjusted with your thumb.

Comes with a carrying case and strap that you may want to replace if you want to carry it around a lot. '

For the price, this is a very good pair of Astronomy Binoculars to own. 

Celestron SkyMaster 9x63 Binoculars

View Deep Space, and Close Up
Celestron 72023 SkyMaster 9x63 Binoculars

celestron’s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars. Ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use, e...

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Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 Astro Binoculars

For Serious Deep Sky Viewing

The Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 Astro Binoculars are a fantastic buy for someone who wants to spend a lot of time looking up at the heavens. The 25 times magnification makes everything BIGGER, and the 100 mm objective lens lets in every bit of light that you need to see the night sky.

Celestron beefed the binoculars up a bit for extended use. To make them easier to use over extended time, there is a tripod mount. These aren't the binoculars you want to just throw into your purse and head out the door. 

Great optics, clear views, sharp focus.. all designed to bring those stars close to you. 

The eye relief is long, so you glasses wearers can easily use them. 

While they are reasonably priced, they compare well with Japanese and European binoculars of much higher price.

They are for serious viewing. 

Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 ASTRO Binoculars

Comes with a Carrying case and Tripod Adaptor
Celestron SkyMaster 25X100 ASTRO Binoculars with deluxe carrying case

Celestron 25x100 Skymaster Giant Porro Prism Binoculars w/ Tripod Adapter and Case 71017

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Get Involved in Astronomy

Go to a Star Party

Star Parties- A Gathering of Astonomers
You can be a serious astronomer or a hobbyist to enjoy a star party.

 

Updated: 11/20/2015, MaggiePowell
 
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Have I Helped Clear Up Some Binocular Mysteries? Ready to Take on the Stars?

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kimbesa on 05/17/2013

Yes! I'd never heard of eye relief before, but it cannot be ignored. I have to wear my glasses all the time.

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