27 replies to this topic

[FiddleHead Galaxy]

I recently got my hands on the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars, and man, what a difference from telescopic observations! For my first two years of visual astronomy, until now, I have exclusively used my 8 inch dob for 90% of total observing, with a good use of naked eye observing as well. With naked eye, I of course observed at 1x magnification, and with the telescope, anything ranging from 40x to above. With the 15x70 binos, I was able to fill in that sweet spot of 15x and it really makes a difference. Last night I used the binos for the first time, and after some confusion with figuring out how to adjust the IDP and focus, I finally aimed it at my first target: the moon. I was surprised by how much craters, although very small, were visible, and the view was very sharp. Then, it was time for DSO's. Considering that I had 2 years of overall knowledge of the night sky and experience with star hopping, those skills translated perfectly to the binos. Finding the location of Messier objects was a breeze, and it really felt like I was doing a mini Messier marathon. Here is a list of all the DSO I saw, as well as a brief description of the views: 

 

Globular Clusters (No stars were resolved within the clusters, all appeared as a noticeable larger fuzzy star, very easy to find): M13, M92, M3, M15, M11, M22, M28, M4

 

Open Clusters (similar to the appearance of globulars): NGC 6604 (this was the only open cluster that I really noticed and remembered observing, I likely missed a lot)

 

Nebulae (Surprisingly easy? The views seemed...better than that of my telescope which could detect little to no nebulosity within these, except for the Swan nebula, perhaps the lower power caused the stars to blur together? All appeared as small fuzzy patches of light with slight variations in shape): M8, M20 (this one was barely noticeable), M17, M16

 

Galaxies (Very difficult to observe, probably the biggest disadvantage for the binos): M81 & M82, M51 (not including NGC 5195), M31 (located a little above the horizon, drowned out in light pollution, I'll have to wait for the next few months to give it a true proper view)

 

Large Field Objects (consisting of the Milky Way, countless stars, breathtaking views): North American Nebula (excluding the nebula which could not be seen of course), the region surrounding Sadr, the entire Cygnus region in general, M24 (was rather small and I couldn't detect as many stars as I did with the telescope)

 

Overall, I have to say that although it doesn't gather as much light and resolve objects as well as my telescope, trying to make comparison's between the two is not necessary. With the generous 4.4 degree FOV, it felt as if I was looking through Stellarium in real time; objects were framed perfectly against the background of stars. It truly is a completely different experience to that of a telescope. I finally understand what makes low power observing so good!

[Erik Bakker]

Beautiful report Vince, glad you enjoy your 15x70 so much  

[xmarkanthonyx]

WELCOME - WELCOME and WELCOME AGAIN !! I'm in Sanger too ! - if you'll make it Sanger Texas !! I want to very much encourage you to get ahold of a nice tripod made for medium-sized binoculars such as you have -- if you were hand-holding these 15x70s.. Oberwek-5000 or similar. You WILL NOT BELIEVE how much BETTER (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) your observations will be with Tripod-mounted Binoculars. I'll toss-in the idea of the Oberwerk Deluxe-III 20x80mm as well. I think a 15x70 is really nice, but add 5-more magnification, and an additional 10mm of light-gathering power and you'll enjoy a rich-field 3.1 " inch "telescope". 80mm just begins to break into a realm of some real light-gathering ability, and 20x magnification... I find it makes th3 4 moons of Jupiter stand-out well. If you want some silly but great fun..Goggle a set of 2x56mm...you will fall-in-love with that type of visual experience. CLEAR and DARK skies

 

PS - ask ANY questions here...the folks here are a STOREHOUSE of knowledge on any binocular past or present, any size you might be thinking about, ANY aspect. 

[Scott99]

No binoculars?  even in childhood?  I'm sorry for you brother!  Wow, that is a tough upgringing....borderline parental neglect! 

 

Not only do 15x70's work great, you might be surprised how well the smaller ones work.  Lower power is easier to hold steady.  Even 7x35's are a lot of fun.  An 8x or 10x will have an enormous field of view compared to the 15's. 

[JoeFaz]

Glad you enjoyed your first experience with binocular astronomy! As you say, telescopes and binoculars really aren't an either/or type of thing, they ought to compliment each other and fill their separate roles. 

[balcon3]

Were you using the binoculars handheld or mounted? You can see alot more mounted with 15x70's, although you lose some of the freedom of movement of handheld.

[Knighton]

Welcome to our Space Cult, where no place in space is left undiscovered. Your 15x70 ensures this. It appears your "eyes are not bigger than your tummy". You certainly didn't go small. Next purchase... 40X110? Isn't the meek supposed to inherit the Earth? Didn't get the memo?

 

All is forgiven. Enthusiasm saves every day. 

 

What model of SkyMaster 15x70? Did you perchance, score the exquisite, top of the line, SkyMaster Pro ED?

You do realize you could have gone bigger?  SkyMaster does offer a 20x80. 

Chop busting aside, glad to have you on board. Your obsession journey has just begun.  

[Littlegreenman]

Now you, original poster, have me reminiscing when I first looked at the sky through binoculars. The first I think were some 7x50's. Over the years I got 6x20 to 25x100. A range of different views.

[FiddleHead Galaxy]

Were you using the binoculars handheld or mounted? You can see alot more mounted with 15x70's, although you lose some of the freedom of movement of handheld.

I did not use them mounted as I do not have a tripod. After 30 mins of observing, I quickly realized it can get tiring to hold the binos up constantly. For the next few hours I would observe an object, then let my arms rest for some minutes and start observing again. It was nice seeing the Hercules cluster right above my head, but man was that position a pain. I will definitely be looking to obtain a nice tripod in the near future.

[Knighton]

I just made this: Bino Body Mount

 

It works extremely well, much better than I expected. Sitting, there is practically zero shake for 10x and even a heavy 6 lbs, 15x. I was so surprised. I am able to view with little, if any fatigue, for at least 15 minutes before I reset to view another piece of sky. This doesn't mean I am fatigued after 15 minutes. I've spent hours now using it to hold and stabilize, allowing me to TRULY enjoy the night sky for the first time.  

ZERO need to let your arms rest between "holding sessions". And the best part, you built it yourself. I will build one for my stargazing buddy, his wife, and have his youngest son (11 years old), build one for himself.  

 

[sevenofnine]

Welcome back! 

 

Very nice report on your first big bino experience. My most used optic now is an Oberwerk 20x70EDU on their 4000 tripod. Mounted will show you much more and having a steady view is much more relaxing. This is my setup that works very well for me. Best of luck to you! 

 

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[RMay]

No binoculars? even in childhood?

I can still vividly remember the night my dad handed me a pair of his binoculars and simply said, “go look at the moon.”

That was over 60 years ago; you may have some catching up to do, but you’re in good company. Enjoy those binocs and your nighttime exploring under clear skies and in good health, always…

Ron

[Cestus]

I took my Obie 15x70's to a star party and they were a hit. 

[FiddleHead Galaxy]

Last night I took the 15x70's out again and was able to see the Dumbell Nebula, a small faint fuzzy grey circle in appearance, and some more globular clusters: M12 and M10. Are there any objects or groups of stars you would recommend that really shine with binos?

[Scott99]

I can still vividly remember the night my dad handed me a pair of his binoculars and simply said, “go look at the moon.”

That was over 60 years ago; you may have some catching up to do, but you’re in good company. Enjoy those binocs and your nighttime exploring under clear skies and in good health, always…

Ron

It's hard to remember but I think I was picking out Sky & Tel or Astronomy mags at the grocery store and they recommended using binoculars, then I probably went into my parents' closet and found the 7x35's my dad bought for MLB baseball games    My parents dumped me to the library a lot and I found astronomy books & Sky & Tel there as well.

[Erik Bakker]

A good 15-20x70 is a great stairway to the stars and deep sky wonders.

 

Any astronomer should have one!

 

Even next Tony formidable Takahashi FS-102 or 16" f/5 custom scopes with 31 or 20mm Naglers, my 18x70 is my preferred instrument for many objects. And in comparison, it is so convenient. Adding a ZGC was the ultimate game changer for me, more so than a steady mount.

 

Here is my 18x70 waiting for the sun to set next to my ZGC.

 

 

 

[Takuan]

Last night I took the 15x70's out again and was able to see the Dumbell Nebula, a small faint fuzzy grey circle in appearance, and some more globular clusters: M12 and M10. Are there any objects or groups of stars you would recommend that really shine with binos?

You can follow the threads in this forum about asterisms, double stars, "what did you see last night...", etc.
As you already know, the difference will be made by the sky much more than the instrument. And of course, I assume you already know, binoculars give a view of the context, not detailed images of individual objects, obviously. You just have to adjust your expectations to reality and enjoy.
Personally, I don't use handheld binoculars for astronomy, although this is a personal matter and everyone must find their own way.

[Albie]

Hello Vince ,

Another choice for mounting your 15x70  Skymaster could be a monopod . Your Skymaster's are pretty light at 3 Ibs so a monopod should be able to handle them easy and be more grab and go than a tripod .

My AP 15x70's weigh 5.5 Ibs and are handled easily with my monopod and is more than tall enough to view the night sky . You can easily find one that works for you and fits the budget .

Here's a well used picture of my 15x70 on the monopod . 

 

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[Knighton]

What model of SkyMaster 15x70? Did you perchance, score the exquisite, top of the line, SkyMaster Pro ED?

[Tony Cifani]

  Overall, I have to say that although it doesn't gather as much light and resolve objects as well as my telescope, trying to make comparison's between the two is not necessary. With the generous 4.4 degree FOV, it felt as if I was looking through Stellarium in real time; objects were framed perfectly against the background of stars. It truly is a completely different experience to that of a telescope. I finally understand what makes low power observing so good!

"...trying to make comparison's between the two is not necessary."

 

Vince,

You hit the nail on the head! Great report. Enjoy and welcome to a brave and wonderful new world!

[FiddleHead Galaxy]

What model of SkyMaster 15x70? Did you perchance, score the exquisite, top of the line, SkyMaster Pro ED?

Haha, no. I only have the base model, but it appears the pro model is pretty decked out with some nice additional eyecups that would likely block stray light, as well as the ability to install a red dot finder. Is there an improvement optically though? It seems the upgrades are more related to cosmetic adjustments?

[Littlegreenman]

Haha, no. I only have the base model, but it appears the pro model is pretty decked out with some nice additional eyecups that would likely block stray light, as well as the ability to install a red dot finder. Is there an improvement optically though? It seems the upgrades are more related to cosmetic adjustments?

The Skymaster ED are made with ED optical glass.

 

I will let Celestron explain it. They have illustrations:

 

https://www.celestro.../pages/ed-glass

 

So, with ED you get better optics, with less color fringing. If you are old enough and/or watched a fair amount of 1950's and 60's science fiction movies, sometimes you will see something with a blue tint and at the edge an object. Usually something like a 50 giant creature. Or, the moon with non-ED glass may have a colored edge. ED glass has less of that, because different colors are focused more in the same place. This also means that more of the light of stars are focused into a point. That makes the point brighter. Non-ED glass has more light not focused to a point, adding to more (brighter) background unfocused light, decreasing contrast.

Now, 15x70 ED Celestron binoculars cost $349, compared to $89-$120 for non-ED of the same sizes.

You do not have to rush out and get the ED binoculars to enjoy binocular astronomy. You are already enjoying it!

Maybe in the future. If money is not an issue, instead of a pair of 15x70 ED something like a 10x70.  Something with a wider view. There are a lot of options of size, magnification, hand held vs mounted.

In the meantime, enjoy what you have.

Edited by Littlegreenman, 03 June 2025 - 11:17 PM.

[Dale Smith]

Great report, Vince! Welcome to binocular astronomy. 15x70s are wonderful for astro. I’m a fan of 70mm binoculars in general, and I own several, including 10x70s. Lots of mounting options for 70mm binoculars—I’ve gone with light tripods or a monopod like Albie suggested, and I’ve gone with heavier tripods like the Oberwerk 5000. My Manfrotto 475b is overkill, however 

[HenkSB]

A good 15-20x70 is a great stairway to the stars and deep sky wonders.

 

Any astronomer should have one!

 

Even next Tony formidable Takahashi FS-102 or 16" f/5 custom scopes with 31 or 20mm Naglers, my 18x70 is my preferred instrument for many objects. And in comparison, it is so convenient. Adding a ZGC was the ultimate game changer for me, more so than a steady mount.

 

Here is my 18x70 waiting for the sun to set next to my ZGC.

 

_DF16146_Lafuma en Nikon 18x70 op dakterras.JPG

That made me realize that I have inadvertently bought a ZGC several years ago (a stretcher from Costco, very much like yours plus a little table pull-out).  I just tried it, and the balance works out like a ZGC indeed.  I have trouble holding my Celestron Skymaster 20x80 steady though, and my arms get tired.  Maybe if I combine it with something like Knighton built, it could work.  At least my arm muscles will be much more relaxed.  I'll get on it.

[Erik Bakker]

That made me realize that I have inadvertently bought a ZGC several years ago (a stretcher from Costco, very much like yours plus a little table pull-out).  I just tried it, and the balance works out like a ZGC indeed.  I have trouble holding my Celestron Skymaster 20x80 steady though, and my arms get tired.  Maybe if I combine it with something like Knighton built, it could work.  At least my arm muscles will be much more relaxed.  I'll get on it.

If a binocular is placed with the eye guards on the eyebrows, the arms do not need to lift all the weight of the instrument, only a small part. The arms mainly aid in pointing the instruments. Of course that does not make the binocular tripod-stable. But it brings a lot of freedom to view the heavens across the skies. It is a compromise between freedom of movement and stability of the instrument.

 

On a good tripod, the added detail is enormous. The higher the magnification, the more so. Buit for extended objects, detail is not always the thing that matters most in the views.

 

Like Dale, I love 70mm binoculars and have a 10x70 and 18x70 that work well as a team under the stars.