Observing equipment
Binoculars
The most-recommended first instrument in astronomy — wide-field, portable, and forgiving. A modest pair shows the craters of the Moon, the moons of Jupiter, star clusters, and the brighter galaxies and nebulae, and teaches the sky better than any telescope rushed into too soon.
Highlights
- ›The best first instrument in astronomy
Methods, objects & tools
Across public astronomy
Knowledge connections
- Associated withBackyard Observing
- Associated withBackyard Observing
- Associated withEquipment Planner
- Associated withVisual Astronomy
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.