Should I start by buying a pair of binoculars or a telescope for beginner star gazing?

Question

I want to spend $100 or less.

Answer 1

You can get a decent pair of binoculars for a lot less money than a decent telescope. Even though I own nine telescopes, I still use my 10x50 binoculars every clear night, no matter what telescope I'm using. I use them to help find objects, and also in their own right, for wide field views of the sky. Buy a decent pair of binoculars once, and you'll never need to replace or upgrade them. The best ones under $100 are probably the Orion Scenix 10x50:
http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=307&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=09333

The one thing binoculars won't do is give you magnified views of the Moon and planets, though you will still be able to see the maria, craters, and highlands on the Moon, Jupiter's moons, and Venus' phases.

Answer 2

For $100 or less binoculars are your best bet. Telescopes in that price range will be severely limited in performance, usability, and quality.

In any case, starting with binoculars is a good way to learn the sky. The high magnification of a telescope makes it hard to find things if you don't know your way around the constellations. Binoculars are easier to use because of their larger field of view, and you can locate the planets, comets, and many star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, which you can examine in more detail when you get a telescope.

Binoculars between 7 and 10 power, with 40 to 50 mm objectives are good to start with. Binocular specs give the magnification and aperture, like 10x50 for 10 power, 50 mm. Larger or more powerful binoculars will require a tripod mount. Avoid ruby or other highly reflective coatings - those are for daytime use only.

You should also pick up a planisphere and maybe a good book on binocular astronomy.

Answer 3

Yes,

Get a pair of 7x50 binoculars or something similar. You want binoculars with a lot of aperture as oppossed to magnification. Aperture is represented by the last number, for example, 50 means 50mm of aperture.

You will find the binoculars very useful in helping you find objects when you do get a telescope. They're also great for looking at the many star clusters in the portion of the milky way that passes near Sagittarius this time of year.

Answer 4

I would purchase a good pair of binoculars and a good star chart. If you are just starting out this will help you learn where the different objects are. You also need to learn where the constellations are and how to use them as guides to other objects in the sky.
Numerous Messier objects are visible with binoculars and you will then be able to turn a telescope to them. These objects include galaxies, nebulae, and clusters. They may seem small but you will be able find them when you buy a high quality telescope.
You may also want to invest in planesphere to learn the night sky.

Answer 5

Neither. Get a star chart and learn the unaided visual heavens first. The constellations, stars in them, and the planets. Then look into a telescope. Warning. Because the earth rotates, the subject in a telescope will crawl off the field of view unless you have a powered equatorial mount. You won't get one of these with a $100 telescope. I suggest you save your money while you are learning the above so you can get a better telescope.

Answer 6

Galleleo's telescope was no more powerful than an average pair of binoculars today.
The big advantage for a telescope is the tripod. You would ave a steady view with a tripod.

Answer 7

A pair of binoculars and a star chart is an excellent way to begin star gazing.

Answer 8

try a beginner telescope with an astrnomy book. Read the book first and if you really like it read all off the book and memorise the galaxys comets, constallations, etc... Since you seem so interested in astromnomy *wrong spelling* go 2 Catilina Island. Once I went to that place 4 a field trip and we saw mars! Best of luck. May ur stars always be with you.

Answer 9

Binoculars will have no effect in enlarging the pinpoints of light of stars but they will reveal thousands of stars that you can't see with the naked eye.