What binoculars are recommended for astronomy (planet-watching)?
For astronomy, you want to get the largest objective lenses you can comfortably handle. Larger objectives let in more light and so will show you fainter stars and other things. For hand-held use, something in the 40 to 50mm range usually works best. Avoid binoculars with “ruby” or other heavy coatings; they dim the light. You will see more with any binocular if you mount it on a tripod or stand, but beyond about 10x some kind of mount or stabilization is essential for a clear view. In a reclining position, you may be able to use binoculars as big as 16×70 by stabilizing them against your eye sockets. You should be able to see the four moons of Jupiter even at 7x. It takes around 30x or so to make out the rings of Saturn, though you may note an oval shape at lower powers.
