The best astronomy binoculars are fully capable of helping you appreciate the cosmos above from anywhere in the world! Whether you’re camping on a dark mountaintop or viewing the stars from a rooftop terrace, binoculars can feed your curiosity! Several brands produce high-quality binoculars for you to enjoy. We put some of the most well-known brands under the spotlight in our SkyGenius vs Celestron vs Gosky vs Orion astronomy binoculars guide. These four brands are big in the astronomy world. They offer products that vary dramatically in terms of price, features, and optical technology.
If this is your first time investing in a pair of binoculars, you’ll quickly find that there’s no shortage of devices at your disposal. So that begs the question: Which brand has the right astronomy binoculars for you? In this guide, we aim to help you find out! Here are some of the best astronomy binoculars from SkyGenius, Celestron, Gosky, and Orion
SkyGenius vs Celestron vs Gosky vs Orion Astronomy Binoculars Reviews
SkyGenius
The brand SkyGenius, offer affordable products aimed at both kids and adults. The binoculars aren’t the most high-powered optical devices around. But, they feature great optics for the price. The following binoculars feature multi-coated optics, solid construction, and an all-purpose design for novice stargazers.
SkyGenius 10×25 Compact Binoculars
This compact pair of binoculars is affordable and versatile. The 25mm aperture allows plenty of light in. It even works well in low-light conditions. Meanwhile, the moderate magnification level makes the binoculars well-suited for birding, event watching, and stargazing.
Despite the affordable price tag, these binoculars have great optical quality. The lenses are coated to improve light transmission. A secondary coating also addresses chromatic aberration. This results in a clear, true-to-life image.
Key Features:
- BAK4 roof prism
- 25mm aperture
- Up to 10X magnification at 1,000 yards
- Multi-coated optics
- Foldable design
- Rubber armor
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
SkyGenius 8×21 Small Compact Lightweight Binoculars
This SkyGenius Binoculars is an excellent product that I highly recommend. This pocket minisize binoculars is ideal for carrying with you wherever you go. It has HD vision and high quality optics, and it is very easy to focus thanks to the center focus knob. This binocular has an 8x magnification to provide a wide and clear view from over 1000 yards away.
Key Feature:
- Professional Roof Prism Binoculars
- Pocket Binoculars Mini Size
- HD Vision with Quality Optics
- Easy to Focus
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
SkyGenius 10×50 Powerful Binoculars
Here’s a more capable pair of binoculars for those who want a bit more power. It provides up to 10X magnification like other SkyGenius binoculars. But, the objective lens is considerably wider at 50mm. This improves the device’s light-gathering capabilities to produce an impressive image.
These binoculars do have a slip-proof coating for handheld use. But, it also has a tripod interface for more stable star-watching. The binoculars are also sporting a diopter system for easy focusing.
Key Features:
- Porro prism
- Large 50mm aperture
- Up to 10X magnification
- Slip-proof coating
- Tripod interface
- Multilayer lens filter
- Wide field of view
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Gosky
Gosky is a brand that caters to wildlife enthusiasts and stargazers. The binoculars are multi-purpose, allowing you to use them anytime and anywhere! The optics feature high-quality coatings for enhanced performance and better clarity. Meanwhile, the housings are rugged and ready for whatever your stargazing adventures throw at it.
Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars
Check out these multi-purpose binoculars from Gosky. The optical device is compact and ready for action! It comes with a slew of accessories. This includes a carrying case, neckstrap, lens caps, and smartphone adapter. These accessories can improve the user experience regardless of what you’re looking at.
When it comes to performance, the binoculars don’t disappoint. The lenses are coated for enhanced light transmission and color accuracy. The objective lens is green for better wildlife viewing. Meanwhile, the eyepiece has a blue film for better contrast.
Key Features:
- Roof prism
- 42mm aperture
- Up to 10X magnification
- Coated optics
- Rubber armor
- Comes with several accessories
- Central focus wheel
- Right eye focus ring
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Gosky EagleView 10×42 ED Binoculars
Rain or shine, these binoculars have you covered. The housing is very robust. It’s made of durable plastic covered in rubber armor. Overall, the binoculars are waterproof and shock-resistant. Inside, the device is argon-purged as well to eliminate fog issues.
The optics are impressive, too. The glass lenses are extra-low dispersion. The glass reduces chromatic aberration. Pair that with the multiple layers of treatment and you have some very clear lenses. Even the BAK4 prism has dielectric coatings for better light transmission.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 42mm aperture
- Up to 10X magnification
- Multi-coated optics
- Waterproof
- Fog-proof
- Includes smartphone mount
- Rugged build
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron
The Celestron brand is no stranger to producing high-quality optical devices. The company has a line of solid binoculars aimed at both entry-level and experienced stargazers. The binoculars feature Celestron’s multi-coated optics, wider apertures, and advanced prism technology. Most are also compatible with tripods for greater stability as you watch the stars above.
Celestron SkyMaster 25×70 Binocular
Thanks to its ultra-wide aperture, these binoculars are perfect for stargazing. The conical optical tubes efficiently funnel light through the Porro prism and into the eyepiece. When mounted to a tripod, you can use the binoculars to view fainter celestial objects than you could with standard binoculars.
These binoculars are a bit larger than the compact models from SkyGenius or Gosky. But, the larger design makes the device more capable for night-time viewing.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 50mm aperture
- 25X magnification
- Rubber coating
- Mountable
- Water-resistant
- Multi-coated optics
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars
Check out these giant binoculars. The binoculars have a massive aperture of 70mm! The wider objective lens lets tons of light in. As a result, you can see faint targets and get a much brighter image through the exit pupil.
Speaking of the exit pupil, these binoculars have a relatively long eye relief of about 0.51 inches. If you’re an eyeglass wearer, this design element ensures that you’re able to get a clear view even with eyewear on.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 70mm aperture
- 15X magnification
- Long eye relief
- Tripod interface
- Coated optics
- Comes with several accessories
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron 20×80 SkyMaster Pro
Here’s a pair of binoculars for serious stargazers! Each optical tube is sporting an aperture of 80mm. Not only that, but you’re getting Celestron’s proprietary XLT coating. The XLT coating features multiple layers that work in tandem to improve clarity and reduce reflections.
While they work great on their own, these binoculars are compatible with accessories. They feature an accessory rail, which you can use to mount a red dot finder. The device also has a mounting rail for a tripod.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 80mm aperture
- 20X magnification
- Detachable accessory rail
- Tripod mount
- XLT coating
- Interchangeable eyecups
- Rubber armor
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron Cometron 7×50 Binoculars
Great for beginners and seasoned stargazers alike, the Cometron binoculars have some great performance features built right in. The wide 50mm aperture and multi-coated optics do a lot to improve light transmission. However, these binoculars also feature a large exit pupil. The pupil increases the amount of light going into your eye for a brighter image.
The binoculars also have a wide-angle field of view. You can see more of your target and have an easier time lining the device up if you’re using a tripod.
Key Features:
- Porro prism
- 50mm aperture
- 7X magnification
- Large exit pupil
- Aluminum housing
- Multi-coated optics
- Wide field of view
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Orion
The Orion binoculars are specifically engineered for astronomy. They feature premium optics, such as BAK4 Porro prisms, multi-coated optics, and powerful focusing systems. Additionally, Orion utilizes wide apertures and longer focal lengths to provide you with as much viewing power as possible.
Orion 51464 20×80 Astronomy Binoculars
Here’s a heavy-duty pair of binoculars that can help you get up close and personal with the stars! It’s sporting a very wide aperture that measures 80mm wide. The objective lens can collect up to 30 percent more light than a smaller 70mm telescope. With the 20X magnification, you can view distant planets without any issues.
The binoculars are quite large. But, Orion has integrated a tripod adapter into the design of the binoculars. They also fold up for easier storage and transport.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 80mm aperture
- 20X magnification
- 17mm eye relief
- Multi-coated optics
- Tripod adapter
- Folding design
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Orion 9326 Giant View 25×100 Astronomy Binoculars
Want binoculars that are fine-tuned for astronomy? While all of the binoculars on our list can serve you well while stargazing, this pair has some great features to produce a super-bright and sharp image. The first is the large aperture. The device has objective lenses that measure 100mm wide! They allow ample light to flood in, which is then treated with the multi-coated optics.
The device can also achieve high magnification levels of up to 25X! The binoculars do best when paired with a tripod. Luckily, there’s a tripod adapter mount built right in.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 100mm aperture
- 25X magnification
- 18mm eye relief
- Multi-coated optics
- Integrated tripod mount
- Comes with a hard-shell case
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Orion 15×70 Astronomy Binoculars
This pair of binoculars is sporting a 70mm aperture. Thanks to the precision-engineered Porro lenses and coated optics, you’re able to gather tons of light. Furthermore, the optics help to improve clarity and reduce image distortion.
One great feature about these binoculars is the long eye relief. At about 18mm, there’s ample room to accommodate eyeglasses. So, you can enjoy the view while wearing corrective or protective eyeglasses.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 70mm aperture
- 15X magnification
- 18mm eye relief
- Comes with detachable tripod mount
- Integrated tripod mount
- Foldable
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Orion 9546 Resolux 15×70 Waterproof Astronomy Binoculars
Made for outdoor adventures, the Resolux binoculars have all the hallmarks of a good optical device for astronomy. You’re getting a wide 70mm aperture, 15X magnification, and a wide field of view. This model is sporting a 4.4-degree field of view, which lets you see more of the night sky and star clusters as you gaze.
The housing of these binoculars is treated for weather protection. It has a rubberized grip and is waterproof sealed for added protection against the elements.
Key Features:
- BAK4 Porro prism
- 70mm aperture
- 15X magnification
- Wide field of view
- Waterproof housing
- Rubberized grip
- Comes with hard case and tripod mount
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Brand Overviews
Before we dive into the binoculars, let’s take a quick look at these four competitive brands. SkyGenius, Celestron, Gosky, and Orion are all heavy-hitters in the astronomy binocular arena. Each one is vying for your business and continually innovating to push the hobby further.
Ultimately, the features and capabilities of the binoculars are most important when making a decision. But, understanding what each brand has to offer can make a huge difference. You can use your knowledge of a brand to get some insight into a product’s quality and potential price range, which will help you make a decision that’s right for you.
About SkyGenius
SkyGenius is a relative newcomer in the astronomy world. Founded in 2013, the brand has only recently started to gain popularity in the industry. The company was originally founded in the United States. But since its creation, the brand has gone on to serve an international market.
Currently, SkyGenius is located in China. However, the brand has several warehouses in North America.
SkyGenius is a bit unique compared to its more established competitors. Rather than focusing solely on optical devices, SkyGenius has a myriad of different products. The brand covers digital electronics, home supplies, lighting, and more.
About Celestron
Amateur astronomers and seasoned stargazers alike have come across the Celestron brand at some point. This brand is one of the most respected in the industry. With its rich history and game-changing innovations, it’s not hard to see why.
Officially founded in 1964, Celestron is the brainchild of Tom Johnson. Years before the brand became established, it was a small division of a military and electronics firm. Johnson created the brand when he built a reflecting telescope with his sons. Eventually, Celestron became its own company and started to produce optical devices en masse.
While most known for its line of heavy-duty Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes and tracking devices, Celestron has an impressive line of astronomy binoculars, too.
In the 50-plus years its been in operation, Celestron has continued to develop new products that cater to those who are curious about the solar system. The brand has received several awards, including top honors from the Consumer Electronics Association in 2010!
About Gosky
Like SkyGenius, Gosky is a newer brand that’s recently started making waves in the optics industry. Not much is known about how the brand came to be. However, we do know that the brand serves an international market. The “Gosky” moniker is the US registered brand name for the manufacturer.
Gosky only provides optical devices. The brand’s lineup includes telescopes, astro binoculars, and accessories.
About Orion
Orion is a brand that has been around for a long time. It was founded in 1975. Like Celestron, Orion is widely respected in the astronomy community.
Based in California, Orion has a slew of products covering a wide range of budgets and needs. You can find heavy-duty telescopes and affordable binoculars all the same.
The interesting thing about Orion is that its entirely employee-owned. Despite the impressive product line, this isn’t a huge brand. The team is small but experienced.
Orion got its start selling optical devices through a mail-order catalog. As the industry changed, the brand has continued to evolve into the heavy-hitter it is today!
SkyGenius vs Celestron vs Gosky vs Orion Astronomy Binoculars Buying Guide
Choosing the right pair of binoculars is about much more than just a brand name! At the end of the day, you want your binoculars to perform well so that they can give you a crystal-clear view of the stars above.
These four brands all have a lot to offer. But, they can vary widely in terms of features and quality. To help you make this important decision, here are some important factors to consider and some information about what each brand brings to the table.
Target Demographic
Who the brand caters to is an important factor that’s often overlooked. All brands have a target demographic that can reflect the type of products that are offered. For example, brands that focus on professional astronomers are going to have binoculars that are more advanced. They’ll also have a price tag to boot!
SkyGenius, Celestron, Gosky, and Orion all cater to amateur astronomers. SkyGenius and Gosky focus more on novice stargazers. The binoculars are more affordable and easier to use. The two brands also market to bird-watching enthusiasts. So, many of the optical devices the brands carry can work just as well at night. They also produce some quality astronomy binoculars for kids.
Celestron and Orion are better for serious astronomy enthusiasts. While the brands do have affordable options that are great for beginners, you’ll find some high-quality gear, too. These brands offer binoculars for any skill level. As a result, they’re good brands to stick with as you gain more experience with stargazing.
Price Points
These brands run the gamut in terms of price! SkyGenius and Gosky are on the more affordable side of things. You can find some very affordable binoculars to kick-start your hobby!
SkyGenius, in particular, is a great brand if you want to invest in low-cost binoculars with decent performance. The product line even includes some models geared towards young kids!
Gosky has some great low-cost options, too. But, the brand does carrier more expensive models with enhanced performance and features.
Celestron is a bit pricier than SkyGenius and Gosky. But, that doesn’t mean that the products are not accessible to the masses. The brand has several cost-effective models to choose from. They also have a nice collection of advanced models when you’re ready to make an upgrade.
Finally, there’s Orion. Like Celestron, Orion has some great binoculars that don’t break the bank. They can provide a better view than the naked eye alone and have some advanced features to help you take your hobby to the next level. Once you’re ready to spend some money on your astronomy endeavors, Orion does have a selection of high-priced optics!
Performance and Capabilities
There are many specifications to look into when purchasing a pair of binoculars. Some of the most important are aperture and focal length. The aperture and focal length work in tandem to provide a clear view of the stars. The exact parameters, however, are going to determine what types of objects you can view.
The aperture is the diameter of the outermost lens, called the objective lens. This is the very first surface that light hits when it travels through the binoculars. A large aperture is going to allow light to pour into the device, which results in a brighter image. With a wider aperture, you can view more faint sky objects, such as distant stars and the Milky Way galaxy.
Focal Length
The focal length refers to the distance between the objective lens and the focal plane. The focal plane is where the light collects to create your image. This specification is important because it reflects the magnification level!
A higher magnification level is going to let you view distant targets like Jupiter or Saturn. But, there’s a tradeoff! A higher focal length will shrink the field of view. A wide field of view is always better when it comes to viewing the stars. So, it’s a balancing act to find binoculars with ample magnification and a decent field of view.
SkyGenius and Gosky don’t have a huge lineup like Celestron and Orion. As a result, performance capabilities are going to be limited. Most of the products have a standard 10X magnification and a moderately sized aperture. While not extreme, you’ll have no problem birding or getting an up-close-and-personal view of the stars.
But if you want even more power and capability, Celestron and Orion are the way to go. These brands have high-powered devices with larger apertures and some impressive magnification.
Optical Technology
The optics inside the binoculars are just as important as the core design.
All four of these brands have some great optical technology. Many of the binoculars feature BAK4 prisms. BAK4 is a unique type of Barium Crown Glass. It has better light transmission than lower-quality alternatives.
Celestron and Orion almost exclusively use BAK4 prisms. SkyGenius and Gosky use the material, too. Though, more affordable models may use something a bit more affordable to keep costs low.
Another thing to keep in mind is the shape of the prism. Binoculars typically use one of two different prism designs. These include Porro prisms and roof prisms. Porro prisms utilize two different components to bounce light before it makes its way to the exit pupil. This results in less light loss and an overall better image quality
Roof prisms use a single component. Light bounces through the prism several times to alter the orientation of the image. Roof prisms don’t have the same level of clarity as Porro prisms. But, they’re more compact.
SkyGenius, Celestron, Gosky, and Orion all utilize roof and Porro prisms. It all comes down to the core design of the binoculars.
Image Quality
Generally, you can expect better image quality from Celestron and Orion. That’s not to say that SkyGenius and Gosky binoculars have low-quality products. But, the lower price points of these brands don’t provide enough wiggle room to include more advanced features.
Celestron and Orion typically use high-quality optical coatings to improve light transmission. You may see multi-coated optics on SkyGenius and Gosky binoculars, too. But Celestron and Orion use higher-quality coatings that can reduce reflections and other forms of distortion.
Durability
Astronomy binoculars are made to be used in rough and tumble environments! Thus, having some durability features built in makes all the difference.
Because SkyGenius and Gosky often advertise their binoculars as all-purpose devices, you’re going to see some great protective features. Many of the binoculars from these brands have rubberized coatings for better grip or a shock-resistant housing. You might even see full waterproof seals or fog-proof glass treatments. Portability features like a foldable design and neck strap attachments are popular, too.
Celestron and Orion often implement durability features, too. The binoculars are typically made of metal and have some elements to improve grip. Celestron and Orion build their astronomy binoculars to view the night sky. So, waterproof binoculars aren’t as prevalent as the all-purpose models from SkyGenius and Gosky.
Versatility
Finally, let’s take a look at versatility. Flexible performance is a big plus when it comes to binoculars. No one’s vision is exactly the same. Having the ability to make fine adjustments to the optics inside ensures that you’re able to get clear images no matter what.
Simple center focus features are to be expected from all brands. SkyGenius, Celestron, Gosky, and Orion all have basic focus wheels and adjustable eyepieces.
However, Celestron and Orion tend to have more advanced versatility features. You might see larger eyecups, long eye reliefs, and wide exit pupils.
The eye relief and exit pupil can have a big impact on the final image. Eye relief refers to the distance between the surface of the eyepiece lens to the eye point. The exit pupil is the tiny hole where collected light exits the binocular and flows into your eye.
A long eye relief is a must-have for eyeglass wearers. Eyeglasses create additional space you have to account for when focusing on the image. A longer eye relief ensures that you’re able to focus the image while still wearing your glasses. A wider exit pupil provides a brighter image.
Celestron and Orion tend to provide better optical quality and more versatility than SkyGenius or Gosky. But, that increased versatility does come at a premium!
Conclusion
Optical technology has come a long way. In the past, your only way to enjoy the stars was to use a large telescope. But now, you can get all the power you need in an astronomy telescope! SkyGenius, Celestron, Gosky, and Orion produce some fine equipment worth trying out. The brands cover all your bases and have products to suit anyone’s budget and needs.