Are these suitable for basic stargazing?
622876
If viewing relatively fixed objects at long distances is all you want to do, a telescope would be better. For general use and very basic star gazing, these would be fine.
622877
Very basic. I use them for airplane watching and they work well for that but I would want more power for stars.
622878
Yes, in fact this model was recommended to me by a friend who teaches astronomy.
821433
I wouldn't think so. They are actually very comfortable to hold and comfortable against your eyes. We've only used ours once or twice and usually use it with the Celestron telescope that we also have. They are the best value for the money.
97812
I've done some amateur stargazing, even built a telescope. Most astronomy authorities recommend a 7 x 50 set of binoculars. The higher the power, the more shaky the image is unless you use a tripod. And 7x50's aren't too, too big; they're still a manageable size for watching a football game, for instance. Google 'binoculars for astronomy' and you'll get lots of advice.
383150
I use them for birding,but seems to be fine for astronomy, as you say they are light and feel stable in hand.
219560
I think they would be okay for bird watching if you have not been using a higher quality set of binocs before. For me, the Tasco's are great for that once in a while need, but not for watching over a stretch. The eye strain starts setting in after a minute or so.
730729
Yes and no. It depends on what you want to do. This is a great starter scope. If your ideal night is looking out and seeing nothing more than planetary objects, then this will be the scope for you. If you have no experience with other telescopes, and this'll be the scope for you. I enjoyed this telescope however there are two big drawbacks. One is the telescope will only hold a 1.25 inch eyepiece. Once again this is ideal if you're just looking at planetary objects, however larger objects like Andromeda will require at least a 25mm to 35 mm eyepiece. The other drawback is the tripod, unfortunately it's very shaky despite what you do. When trying to look at things through the eyepiece a simple bump or even a little wind will knock it around, this is something that you would adjust to overtime. The upside are that it is very portable, Gives you a fundamental idea of how to use a telescope if you have no idea, and it has good imaging. I would highly recommend investing into new pieces as the two that come with it are very poor. Remember, your telescope is only as good as your eyepieces. If you are newer to telescopes then I would suggest this one, it's a cheap way to get an idea of what you're doing and will give let you know if you want to invest more into this fairly pricey hobby.
734206
Yes they will be great for that, very clear binoculars. I would also suggest the strap that holds it close to your body and not the one that comes with these binoculars.Regards,Terry L. shook
226158
Yes, they can, and more than just the moon. I have this 10x50 UpClose pair as well as their 15x70 Skymasters. These work well for stargazing, and BETTER than the skymaster in some regards. Of course the skymaster has a closer, slightly brighter image, but these can see all of the same things. And the wider field of view is better for certain things. The skymaster pair is HUGE in comparison, and without a GOOD tripod/mount or being able to hold it steady, can be harder to use. The 10x50's are much easier to hold and maintain a steady image. Hand held, the 15x70's give you a 'better' view for a shorter time, and the 10x50's give you a 'good' view for a longer time.
2014516
I think they would be excellent for that purpose. They are very compact and light and the optical quality is good.
1191836
They are a really good deal as far as being well constructed with a low price tag. That said, these are what I consider "basic" use binoculars. Any special use, like low light, you'd get better quality if you go up a little. I've used them at dusk, and they are very so-so. I still like them and would buy again.
1158918
You could, but I would not recommend it. With these binoculars you are not going to see small points of light all that clearly.
43652
These binoculars certainly does not bring the stars as close as a good tripod mounted telescope would. There is no mounting socket for a tripod on the binoculars. The binoculars DO give you a very clear and steady view of the moon, or planes or other flying objects in the atmosphere. The length of time you can watch an object is determined by the amount of time your arms can hold the binoculars up.The binoculars DO NOT give you an IR (infrared) night view such a nightscope, such as the military nightscopes. I'm not familiar with the cost and efficiency of nightscopes, so I can't make any recommendations. These binoculars certainly does not bring the stars as close as a good tripod mounted telescope would. There is no mounting socket for a tripod on the binoculars. The binoculars DO give you a very clear and steady view of the moon, or planes or other flying objects in the atmosphere. The length of time you can watch an object is determined by the amount of time your arms can hold the binoculars up.The binoculars DO NOT give you an IR (infrared) night view such a nightscope, such as the military nightscopes. I'm not familiar with the cost and efficiency of nightscopes, so I can't... » Read More These binoculars certainly does not bring the stars as close as a good tripod mounted telescope would. There is no mounting socket for a tripod on the binoculars. The binoculars DO give you a very clear and steady view of the moon, or planes or other flying objects in the atmosphere. The length of time you can watch an object is determined by the amount of time your arms can hold the binoculars up.The binoculars DO NOT give you an IR (infrared) night view such a nightscope, such as the military nightscopes. I'm not familiar with the cost and efficiency of nightscopes, so I can't make any recommendations. « Show Less
1771876
Yes, they are easy to use, very clear, lightweight, and I am very happy with my purchase! I use them for stargazing as well as during the day in the desert when looking for movement amongst the cacti.
1367622
I like mine. They aren't heavy duty. The shade works very well and gives gives a good field of view. I'd check with his instructor to be sure.
1920021
I would use a telescope that is specifically for that. I have taken these things out to the mountains in southern New Mexico for star gazing and they did work well. The biggest challenge with these is that sometimes it is difficult for them to hold their focus.
1135994
Not really. These are made for star-gazing...there are better brands for that...I recommend going to opticsplanet and looking under the tab of "law enforcement" and then narrowing your search to "surveillance binoculars" Hope this helps!
2257133
I've never used them for looking at stars , but I would imagine that they would work well. If you start at the low magnification to identify the stars/ constellation(s) and work slowly toward max magnification , you should have pretty satisfactory experiences. As always when looking at stars , stability is a key requirement , so hand held binoculars might cause some frustration at times.