Best Monocular for Stargazing 2023 (Most Powerful + Night Vision)

Monoculars can also be great for astronomy (and even astrophotography).

They are ultra-compact, light, and easy to use, so have many advantages over telescopes and binoculars, particularly when traveling.

Here we recommend the best monocular for stargazing for different budgets and explain what to look for when buying. We also cover the pros and cons of monoculars vs binoculars, telescopes, and spotting scopes.

We recommend:

— Best Overall and Most Powerful: Celestron Outland X 20×50 Monocular
— Best Wide Field of View: Celestron Outland X 10×50 Monocular
— Best Budget: Barska Blackhawk 10×25 Waterproof Monocular
— Best Night Vision: Sionyx Aurora Black

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Best Monocular for Stargazing

Celestron Outland X 20×50 Monocular

Best Overall and Most Powerful Monocular for Stargazing

The Celestron Outland 20×50 Monocular gives you high magnification and includes a tripod to give you all you need for viewing and photographing the moon.

Whereas the 10×50 model below will give you a wider view of the sky and may be better for scanning for shooting stars or meteor showers, this model enables you to get closer in on astronomical objects like the moon.

The tripod bypasses the issue of unsteadiness of high magnification when using by hand and means that these are perfect for smartphone photography.

Pros

• Celestron is one of the most reliable brands of astronomy gear
• 20 times magnification for close-up views of the moon
• 50mm lenses can provide bright clear views
• Tripod and smartphone photography adapters enable it for astrophotography and capturing images of the moon
• Quality Bak-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for clear contrast and views
• Includes bag for easy travel and storage

Cons

• Eye relief is lower than with the 10×50 model and so less suitable for glasses wearers
• More expensive than budget options
• Higher magnification is less suitable for scanning wider expanses of the sky for meteor showers etc

These are high-quality monoculars that will work brilliantly for observing and photographing the moon. If planets like Mars are visible you may also be able to capture them in images (although don’t expect too much).

Key specifications

• Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Magnification: 20x
• Weight: 1.15lb
• Eye relief: 11mm
• Accessories: Tripod, carry case, smartphone photography adapter.

Celestron Outland X10x50mm Monocular

Best Wide Field of View Monocular for Stargazing

The Celestron Outland 10×50 Monocular is a light, compact, but powerful bit of gear that you can use to observe the night sky.

The 10×50 in the name refers to:

• 10 times magnification – this is good for being able to scan the sky with a suitably wide field of view. Higher magnification means you zoom in more but also it narrows the expanse of the sky you can see, so you don’t want this too high with stargazing (unless you only want to observe the moon – see more on this below).
• 50mm lens diameter – this is a good width of lens to enable clear views. To put it in context, you can get good budget telescopes and binoculars with 60-70mm lenses.

If you want to understand these specifications some more, see the monocular buying guide below.

This model comes with a carry bag for easy packing and storage, as well as a smartphone adapter so that you can use it to take pictures or videos.

Pros

• Celestron is one of the most reliable brands for astronomy gear
• Good 10 times magnification for a wide of field of view
• 50mm lenses can provide bright clear views
• Quality Bak-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for clear contrast and views
• Eye relief (the distance you need to have your eye from the eyepiece) is good to be suitable for people wearing glasses
• Includes bag for easy travel and storage
• Can be used for photography with a smartphone and includes an adapter

Cons

• Not the cheapest and there are lower-budget options available
• You may prefer higher magnification for closer views of the moon

You can also get the Celestron Outland in 15x or 20x magnification – we cover the 20x version above.

These will give you closer views of the moon and the planets, but will actually make general stargazing harder. This is because the higher magnification gives you a narrower view of the sky and exaggerates the unsteadiness that comes with using them by hand when looking closely at specific objects.

These higher magnification versions are great specifically for viewing and photographing the moon though.

Overall, this is potentially the best monocular for stargazing.

Key specifications

• Lens diameter: 50mm
• Magnification: 10x
• Weight: 1.15lb
• Eye relief: 16.8mm
• Accessories: Carry case, smartphone adapter

Barska Blackhawk 10×25 Waterproof Monocular

Best Budget Monocular for Stargazing

The Barksa 10×25 is a small, lightweight monocular for stargazing. The 10x magnification means you get a wide field of view for scanning the night sky.

Like Celestron, Barksa is a reliable brand for optical equipment.

Weighing just 0.15 pounds and measuring 4.25 inches long, this monocular is your perfect travel companion. Whether you’re hiking, camping, or simply enjoying a night on your porch, its compact size ensures that it fits effortlessly into your backpack or pocket.

The waterproof rubber-armored construction of the monocular ensures that you can take it on trips without worry. While it’s not designed for submersion or scuba diving, it can handle rain and damp conditions.

The close focus of 20 inches lets you view even up-close objects with clarity. This versatility adds to the overall appeal of the monocular, making it suitable for various outdoor activities.

For extended stargazing sessions, the monocular features a small tripod adapter socket, allowing attachment to any field or photographic tripod. This adds stability and comfort to your observations, enhancing the overall experience.

Pros

• Ultra small and lightweight – perfect for camping and travel
• Barksa are a reliable manufacturer of quality gear
• 10x magnification gives you a wide field of view of the night sky
• Waterproofing means you don’t have to worry about the conditions
• Can attach to a regular tripod for photography without the need for an adapter

Cons

• 25mm lens diameter is smaller than other options and will not have as good views
• No tripod or smartphone adapter included

This is a great stargazing monocular option if you want something super small that you can slip in your pocket and take out with you on trips.

Key specifications

• Lens Diameter: 25 mm
• Magnification: 10x
• Weight: 0.15 lbs
• Eye relief: 17mm
• Accessories: Carry case

Sionyx Aurora Black

Best Night Vision Monocular for Stargazing

The Sionyx Aurora Black is a more advanced option than the models above as it is a night vision camera that can be used as a monocular.

The in-built infrared camera inside lights up the night sky when you look at it through the device, enabling you to have a different level of dark sky viewing than you would through a regular monocular.

The primary purpose for these has mostly been hunting, but astronomers have been taking advantage of them for stargazing in recent years and make a great option for dark sky viewing.

It can also be attached to a telescope for advanced astronomy and astrophotography and you can live stream the images to your tablet or smartphone by using the app that comes with it.

In fact, night vision astronomy is a fast-growing hobby. Here’s a very short video clip that you can see here of the Sionyx Aurora being used for stargazing to give you a feel of what you might be able to expect:

Here also are some images displaying starry night sky pictures captures with a Sionyx Aurora:

See also this album here of images taken with the Aurora.

Pros

• Night vision monocular to light up the sky as you view it
• In-built camera can be used for astrophotography and can be connected to telescopes
• Live stream the image feed on to your smartphone with the app
• It is compact, light and portable

Cons

• Quite a bit more expensive than a regular monocular
• Requires batteries as a power source

These are great night vision monoculars for stargazing and a good alternative to regular monoculars if you have the budget.

Key specifications

• Weight: 0.6lb
• Accessories: Hardshell case, batteries

Sionyx Aurora vs Pro vs Black

There are three different monoculars in the Sionyx Aurora range: the Black which we have covered above, plus the Original Aurora, and the Pro. The key differences are:

• SiOnyx Aurora: The same as the Aurora Black above but with a built-in compass and GPS.
• SiOnyx Aurora Pro: The Pro is the premium model and has the most sensitive camera, however it is the most expensive.

You can compare the different models on Sionyx’s website.

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Best Handheld Telescope for Stargazing: Buying Guide

A monocular is essentially a small refractor telescope or half a set of binoculars, however you want to think about it.

The purpose is to give you a similar degree of optical power but in a small device that can be held in one hand.

The key specifications are the ‘number x number’ that is usually in the name. For example, 10×50 or 8×42. This refers to the magnification and the lens diameter:

• The first number is the magnification, i.e. 10x will bring what you are seeing 10 times closer. As explained below, higher is not always better for stargazing.
• The second number is the objective lens diameter in millimeters, i.e. 50mm. The higher this number, the brighter and clearer views you can expect to see.

Magnification

The first point to consider with buying monoculars for stargazing is that higher magnification is not necessarily better.

Higher magnification means you zoom in more but this means two potential negatives:

1. Firstly, it narrows the field of view so that you are seeing a smaller expanse of the sky through the eyepiece/viewfinder. If you are planning on scanning the skies to spot meteor showers or satellites etc, then this won’t be what you want.
2. Secondly, it also means that your view will be more unsteady when using by hand as this becomes more exaggerated the higher the magnification is.

Higher magnification with monoculars for astronomy can be better though if you really want to zoom in on the moon, or maybe some of the visible planets of the solar system.

Since the moon is a relatively close night sky object, high magnification means you will be better able to view (and photograph) its features.

Objective Lens Diameter

What you do want that is higher is the lens diameter as that is the best indicator of how bright and clear the viewing through it will be.

The monoculars recommended in this article range from 42mm to 50mm. This is good for relatively inexpensive gear for stargazing and to compare you can get good telescopes or astronomy binoculars with 60-70mm lenses (aperture).

Other Factors to Consider

You will see other specifications listed on sale pages of monoculars that it is worth knowing about:

• Lens Coating: Multi-coated lenses and BaK-4 prisms maximize the light transmission for brighter and more detailed images.
• Durability: Better manufacturers (like those listed on this page) will be more likely to provide durable gear. There are some very cheap monoculars on Amazon that might be fun for a short while, but will provide poor optics and be short-lived if used regularly.
• Eye Relief: This is how far away your eye needs to be from the eyepiece when looking through it. This is particularly important for glasses wearers as if you wear glasses you will want higher eye relief or else your glasses will get in the way.
• Accessories: The most common is a bag or carry case. Smartphone adapter and tripod is a great bonus for using for photography or astrophotography.

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FAQs: Best Monoculars for Stargazing

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Verdict – Best Monoculars for Stargazing

In summary, we recommend:

1. Best Overall – Celestron Outland X 20×50 Monocular – The most powerful monocular for stargazing and comes with tripod and smartphone adapter for photography
2. Best Widefield – Celestron Outland X 10×50 Monocular – A cheaper alternative to the above with lower magnification which can actually be better for scanning the night sky
3. Best Budget – Barska Blackhawk 10×25 Waterproof Monocular – Cheap and great for travel with the smaller size and low weight
4. Best Night Vision – Sionyx Aurora Black – A great option if you want to explore night vision stargazing

We hope you found this guide useful to you in researching the best monoculars for stargazing and handheld telescopes for astronomy.

If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below.

Sources:

• https://www.celestron.com/collections/monoculars
• https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/856098-best-astronomy-monocular/
• https://www.sionyx.com/
• https://www.cloudynights.com/gallery/album/10410-sionyx-aurora/?st=48
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Astronomy/comments/2rdu8t/binocular_or_monocular/

Related articles:

• Spotting Scopes vs Monoculars for Astronomy
• Monoculars vs Binoculars for Astronomy
• Monoculars vs Telescopes
• Best Spotting Scopes for Astronomy
• Best Astronomy Binoculars