How to chose a Telescope or Binoculars

If you are considering buying a telescope - wait!

I have written before with some advice about buying telescopes.
But, apparently I did stress enough my best advice for telescope seekers. Don't do it till you buy a good pair of binoculars first!

This is really good advice. I know because I followed it myself.
Some of the advantages of binoculars:

• A good pair of binos are cheaper than a telescope
• You can easily carry it in your bag or around your neck.
• You get to use both of your eyes together. Binos are a mini telescope for each eye.
• Binos have a larger field of view than a telescope making it easier to find stuff in the sky.
• The view is right side up as opposed to upside down or backwards s in many telescopes.
• And did I mention they are cheaper?

A standard size for astronomy binoculars is 10x50. To learn what that means and more specs see Binoculars for Astronomy  from Sky & Telescope.
When you are ready to upgrade to a telescope see my previous New Telescope Review