While you don’t always need special devices to view celestial events that light up the sky, telescopes and binoculars allow you to better see space-related phenomena. Summer is filled with meteor showers between July and August, and the warm weather provides an opportunity to lay down a picnic blanket and gaze at the stars. Retailers like Walmart, REI, and Home Depot sell a selection of telescopes and binoculars, some of which can also help you capture photos of planets and constellations.
According to the American Meteor Society (AMS), there are currently three active meteor showers. Two of the three, Aquariides of the Southern Delta and Capricorn Alpha, peak between July 28-29, which is when you will have the best chance of seeing them. The Perseid, another meteor shower, is active between July 14 and August 24, and the AMS predicts it will peak around August 12. The AMS says that meteor showers are most visible after midnight, but visibility also depends on their location and the conditions of moonlight.
Whether you see heavenly events in your backyard or in a park (don’t forget your face mask), bringing a telescope or a pair of binoculars will only enhance the experience. Here are 12 products to help you see outer space.
IN THIS ARTICLE Best telescopes The | Best binoculars
The best telescopes of 2020
1. Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope Kit
This telescope kit has everything you need for successful stargazing. It has a telescope with two eyepieces at different magnification levels, a planisphere, a guide, and a map to help you identify celestial objects. Everything fits in the included backpack, making traveling with this lightweight kit convenient. There is an adjustable tripod so people of all heights can see detailed images of the skies.
2. ToyerBee Astronomical Refractor Telescope Telescope
Useful for looking at the expansive sky, this telescope has a large aperture, which means it has a large field of view. It comes with a moon mirror that makes it easier to see the moon and shows better details. The telescope has a top-mounted telescope, which helps focus specific subjects, and can be used with the two included eyepieces that have different magnification levels. This telescope comes with a phone adapter and a wireless remote control, so you can take photos of what you see.
3. Barska Starwatcher 675 Electric Refractor Telescope
The telescope was created with beginners and young astronomers in mind, making it easy to set up and easy to use. It comes with a finder, two eyepieces, a mount, and an adjustable tripod, giving you everything you need to start looking at the constellations. Deepsky astronomy software is included with this telescope, which you can upload to your computer. The software has a database that allows you to search for information about celestial objects, record your observations, and create star maps.
4. Celestron 80AZS Powerseeker Telescope
Easy to travel, this telescope weighs 10 pounds and has a folding tripod. The lens is constructed of glass-coated optical components, making images appear sharper and more refined. You can quickly tilt the telescope up or down, move it left and right, and catch moving phenomena like shooting stars. The tripod also has an accessory tray that can hold your water bottle, keys, and phone.
5. Galileo Refractor Telescope
Mounting this telescope allows you to change your view of the sky from vertical to horizontal in seconds. It has a power increase of up to 100x that allows you to see the stars, and it comes with two interchangeable eyepieces. The telescope has a built-in 90 degree diagonal mirror that produces clear, fully vertical images and sits on a stable tripod base.
6. Landove prism detection range
With 20x to 60x magnification power, this telescope allows you to zoom in on objects far away and still see them clearly. It has a lens focus system that helps show targets, and its high-definition lens makes images appear bright even in the shade. This telescope comes with a phone adapter, tripod, cleaning cloth, and two lens covers, which can fit in the included pouch.
7. Coleman AstroWatch 400 x 80 Refractor Telescope
The telescope comes with Starry Night CD software that teaches beginners about planets, constellations, and space. The telescope comes with two eyepieces and has an adjustable tripod. It also has two tubes that you can use to adjust the tilt and direction of the lens.
8. Moutec Kids Toy Telescope with Tripod
This easy-to-mount telescope comes with step-by-step imaging instructions for kids, so they can put it together themselves. It’s lightweight and portable, allowing kids to take it with them on play dates or on the go. The telescope comes with a tripod, two eyepieces, a lens, a viewfinder, a moon map, and a star map. Children can point their telescope at the sky at night and enjoy watching high definition images.
The best binoculars of 2020
1. Sharper Image Digital Camera Binoculars
After zooming in on your subject with these binoculars, you can capture photos and videos at the push of a button. The binoculars have a micro SD memory card installed that stores your photos and videos, which you can remove to upload images to your computer or phone. You can also replace the included memory card with one that has a larger storage capacity. The binoculars have a tripod socket that allows you to connect them to a standard camera tripod; They include a neck strap if you want to carry them. These binoculars have a built-in rechargeable battery and are charged via a USB cable.
2. Nikon Prostaff Binoculars
Don’t worry if you get caught in the rain while watching a meteor shower – these binoculars are waterproof. They’re also fog-proof, helping to ensure that lenses don’t fog up in moisture. The binoculars are lightweight and durable, so you can throw them in your backpack without worrying about it breaking or weighing you down.
3. ESSLNB 10X50 BAK4 Binoculars
These binoculars have hidden lenses that make them comfortable to wear, even with glasses. They have a central focus wheel so you can easily focus on subjects and see sharp images. The binoculars come with a phone adapter that allows you to take photos and videos of celestial objects, and they are waterproof.
4. Vanguard Spirit XF Binoculars
See up to 1000 yards of a landscape at once thanks to the wide field of view of these binoculars. The waterproof and fogproof binoculars have rotating grommets that will stay in place while you use them and a textured rubber grip to keep users’ hands comfortable.
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