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When people think about astronomy—even amateur, backyard astronomy—the first piece of equipment that probably comes to mind is a telescope. And that makes sense, given that they’re what we see the pros using in observatories, and have become pop culture shorthand for a person (usually a child or young adult) who is into science, or generally perceived as intelligent and curious.
But telescopes aren’t the only option when it comes to stargazing or generally enjoying the night sky: There are certain situations where binoculars aren’t just serviceable—they’re the better option. Essentially, it all comes down to what you’re looking at, and what, exactly, you’re trying to see. Here’s what to know.
Differences between telescopes and binoculars
This isn’t a contest, but it’s helpful to take a look at the differences between telescopes and binoculars in terms of what they can (and can’t) do to improve your view of the night sky. In an article for The Conversation, Dr. Silas Laycock, professor of astronomy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell breaks it down:
Telescopes:
Shows a highly magnified view of one small part of the sky—often flipped upside down and backwardsTakes practice getting used to only using one eyeImage must be perfectly still to see very small, highly magnified objects, which is why telescopes are on tripodsUsed for more precise, scientific astronomyBinoculars:
Basically “two telescopes bolted together”Provides brighter, more detailed, 3D view of the sky More user-friendly and compact than telescopesMore affordableWhen to use a telescope vs. binoculars
According to Laycock, it depends on what you’re trying to see. Telescopes are preferable when you’re trying to pick up as might light as possible from faraway bodies, like galaxies. They’re also best when attempting to observe something small, like Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s clouds, he says.
Binoculars, on the other hand, are best for large fields of view, Laycock says. This includes looking at things like the star fields of the Milky Way, or the glow surrounding baby stars in the Orion Nebula.
