Seestar recently announced the release of a new product: Seestar 8×24 binoculars.
Are these a new entry into the realm of smart astronomy binoculars, or something else entirely?
The short answer is: they are not smart binoculars, nor are they designed for astronomy!
This article will explain what this new product from Seestar is and discuss the best options available if you are looking for great binoculars for stargazing.
You can also watch the video here:
The Seestar 8×24 Binoculars Explained
When the alert for the new product from Seestar—a brand known for its smart telescopes—came out, the expectation was for a new smart device.
Knowing that Unistellar has already pre-released the first pair of smart astronomy binoculars (Unistellar Envision) which scan the sky and identify objects.
The possibility of Seestar releasing a more budget-friendly, “smart” equivalent to their Seestar S30 or Seestar S50 telescopes was exciting.
However, the Seestar Binoculars are classic binoculars, not a smart device.
They have:
- 8x Magnification: This level of magnification is suitable for handheld use. Magnification much higher than 8x or 10x typically requires a tripod to counteract shakiness.
- 24mm Aperture: The aperture, or the size of the objective lenses, dictates how much light the binoculars can gather. For astronomy, where you are trying to view faint, distant objects, a large aperture is crucial. 24mm is far too small for effective astronomy.
The Seestar Binoculars are really for terrestrial, daytime binoculars, suitable for birding, wildlife observation, and general nature viewing.
Seestar offers two well-regarded, budget-friendly smart telescopes, the S30 and the S50.
The decision to release a standard, non-astronomy product under the Seestar brand is an interesting one.
Recommended Astronomy Binoculars
If you are looking for dedicated astronomy binoculars, here are a few options, ranging from smart technology to reliable, high-performance models:
If you are looking for dedicated astronomy binoculars, here are a few options, ranging from smart technology to reliable, high-performance models:
- Unistellar Envision: These are true smart binoculars. They scan the sky and automatically identify celestial objects you are looking at.
- Swarovski Optik AX Visio 10×32 Smart Binoculars: These are more tailored for terrestrial use, such as birding and wildlife observation.
- Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Astronomy Binoculars: This series offers an excellent balance of cost and performance, making it the ideal choice for beginners.
For more information on astronomy binoculars, check out this article or watch this video.