Astronomy binocular tripods

Perhaps the single biggest decision you have to make when buying astronomical binoculars is “how much magnification”. This is much more than simply a matter of how much detail you can see with your astronomy binocular, though that is important; it is also a matter of whether or not you will be using a tripod for astronomy binoculars and that, perhaps, is even more important.

For the most part, it’s a matter of steadiness. Most of us really struggle when we get much above 8x or 10x on a binocular that we hold in our hands without some kind of support. In fact, even a 10x astronomy binocular will benefit from a an astronomy binocular tripod for some types of astronomy. For instance, I routinely mount my 10x70 Nikon Astroluxe on the tripod when trying to separate close double stars. That extra steadiness provided by the tripod makes all the difference between seeing two stars, instead of just one when we have a double star with the two stars very close, together.

It’s also a matter of weight. At nearly 70 ounces, my 10x70 is at the very limit of what I can handhold for any length of time and even that is a challenge for me on some nights. Keep in mind, too, that a 10x70, such as this Nikon, is a lightweight compared to a 25x100 astronomy binocular, like the Celestron Skymaster 25x100. This Skymaster tips the scales at a crunching 10 pounds. In other words, if you opt for a 25x100 leave enough in the budget for a tripod and a heavy-duty tripod (and a heavy duty tripod is a must, here). For sure, there is no such thing as too heavy a tripod for any 25x100 binocular.

However, I much, much prefer not to use a tripod for my binocular astronomy. Going handheld for your binocular astronomy makes life much easier and more convenient. For me, the freedom to just wander at will and raise a binocular whenever and wherever I want, without the hassle of a tripod, is like gold. It is such a different way to enjoy astronomy than using a telescope; going handheld, without a tripod, with an astronomy binocular, can only be appreciated and understood by doing.