A monocular is versatile tool suitable for many applications among them stargazing. Whether you are watching the sky at the comfort of your balcony or when you are out in the wild camping, a monocular will help you enjoy the sky views at night. Unlike telescopes that are bulky and less portable, the best monocular for stargazing are compact in size, feather light and very simple to use.
Monocular for stargazing are so widespread that finding a quality product worth putting your hard-earned money into becomes pretty challenging. So, if you are having a hard time finding the best monocular for stargazing, we are here to help. We have searched the market and put up this detailed post on the best monocular for stargazing. We will provide insights on the features that make these optics stand out and also take you a guide on the key things you should take into account when making your purchase.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Best Monocular for Stargazing
1) Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular
Bushnell is a leading brand in the optics industry. It makes high-quality optical devices and the Legend Ultra HD Monocular is no different. This heavy-duty monocular is compact, lightweight and easy to carry and hold during lengthy viewing sessions.
It features exceptional optics to make your stargazing more enjoyable. It utilizes high-quality BaK-4 prisms which provide tack-sharp images and fully multi-coated optics that maximize light transmission for brighter and clearer sight pictures. It also boasts a PC-3 prism coating that enhances resolution and contrast.
This monocular is built for use in all environments. It is sealed with O-rings for total moisture protection and nitrogen purged to prevent internal fogging. Even better, it features a RainGuard HD water-repellent coating that removes dirt, rain and snow to provide clear views of the stars even in the wettest weather conditions.
Features
- 10x magnification
- High-quality BaK-4 prisms with PC-3 chemical coating
- Waterproof and fog proof
- RainGuard HD water-repellent coating
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Compact, lightweight and portable
- Picatinny rail
- Twist-up eyecups
- 42mm objective lens
2) Roxant Monocular Telescope
The Roxant Monocular Telescope is the best monocular for stargazing for the money. It features a compact and feather light design that makes it highly portable. It is small enough to fit easily inside your pocket without compromising its quality and functionality.
This monocular telescope is ideal for multiple outdoor applications. You can use during the day or at night as well. When you are out in the wild hiking and camping, it makes a perfect companion for viewing birds and the great outdoors during the day and the beauty of the sky when the sun sets. And since it is compact, it won’t take much of your space during storage.
Featuring a 7x magnification, the monocular provides a versatile optical power while being easy to hold steady. It also brings to the table high-quality multi-coated optics which provide bright and excellent-quality views of the stars and other celestial objects. Overall, it is a quality, budget-friendly monocular ideal for beginners are professionals alike.
Features
- Fully coated glass lens
- 7x magnification
- Non-slip molded grip
- Compact and ultra-lightweight
- Durable yet budget-friendly
- Pouch strap and cleaning cloth included
3) Eyeskey HD 10-30×50 High Powered Zoom Monocular Telescope
The Eyeskey HD High Powered Zoom Monocular Telescope features a variable 10-30x zoom power suitable for stargazing. With the high 30x magnification, you will be able to see the stars in more detail and make your expedition more enjoyable.
The monocular features HD optical glass that maximizes resolution and color contrast and fully multi-coated lens which minimizes light loss and glare. This gives you brighter, clear and razor-sharp views of the stars. It also boasts premium-quality BaK-4 prisms that provide high-quality and more natural views. Moreover, you can mount it on the tripod to get the most comfortable star gazing experience.
Another good thing about the monocular is that it’s built to stand to anything thrown at it. It is made with high-quality materials that enhance its durability. Moreover, it has a shock-absorbing rugged rubber armor that provides an anti-slip grip and shields the optic from weather elements. It is also purged with nitrogen gas and O-ring sealed to provide reliable performance in all environments. Other notable features about this product has are twist-up eyecups, a large and smooth central focusing knob and a lightweight design.
Features
- Variable 10-30x magnification
- BaK-4 prism
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Twist-up eyecup
- 50mm objective lens
- Tripod mountable
- Anti-slip rubber armor
- Waterproof, dust proof and fog free
- HD optical glass
- Large and smooth central focusing knob
4) VIVREAL Monocular Telescope
Next on our list is the VIVREAL Monocular Telescope. This is a high-power monocular telescope with 12x magnification power and a wide 55 objective lens. It offers a wide field of view of 360ft at 1,000 yards so you can enjoy the magnified views of the stars and other celestial objects.
This monocular is built tough to stand rough handling. It has a durable rubber that not only provides a durable external protection, but also increases friction to give you a comfortable, anti-slip grip. Furthermore, it is filled with nitrogen to prevent internal fog build up and O-ring sealed to stand tough weather conditions. Even better, it comes with a built-in lens cover that protects the lens from dust, debris and more.
The optical components inside it are high-end. It has BaK-4 prism and a multi-layer green film lens coating that enhances light transmission to guarantee bright and clear images. For added convenience, it has a lightweight design for easy portability and an easy to access focus knob that comes in handy whenever you need to fine-tune your images.
Features
- Comfortable and ergonomic design
- Durable rubber armor
- IPX7 waterproof, dust proof and fog resistant
- BaK-4 prism and multi-layer green film
- 12x magnification
- Wide field of view
- Smooth and easy to access center focus
- Compact and lightweight
- One-handed grip
5) Gosky 12×50 High Power Prism Monocular
The Gosky 12×50 High Power Prism Monocular is a high-quality monocular that will revolutionize your stargazing experience either at home or while on the go. It’s compact, lightweight and portable. This makes it a better alternative to telescopes that are often large and bulky.
Featuring 12x magnification, this monocular will give you a better view of the sky at night than when you look with naked eyes. It brings to the table a large and high-quality BaK-4 prism which provides high-quality and more natural views. It also features fully multi-coated lens that enhance light transmission for brighter, clearer and sharp sight pictures.
Its waterproof, fog proof and dust proof for use in all weather conditions. It also comes with a solid framework that stands to the harshest field conditions. Moreover, it has a tight-fitting rubber armor that stands shock and impacts for added durability. It also has deep grooved stripes that guarantee comfortable and anti-slip handling. To top it all, this monocular comes with 1/4″-20 tripod threads hole that you can use to mount it on a tripod with a binocular adapter.
Features
- Solid framework
- Waterproof, fog proof and dust proof
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Rubber armor
- 12x high power
- Smart phase correction BaK-4 prism
- Adjustable eyecup
- 1/4″-20 tripod threads holes
- Lightweight and portable
6) Leica Monovid 8×20 Monocular
If you are in the hunt for a high-quality monocular that is elegantly designed, the Leica Monovid 8×20 Monocular is an excellent choice for you. You can use it as a monocular or mini-telescope to observe celestial objects at night. It is compact for easy packability and weighs just 4oz so it is very light and easy to hold during long viewing sessions.
It features a premium-quality lens with outstanding resolution. Wherever you are viewing the sky at, it will provide clear and optimal images all through. Moreover, it has an eye relief of 15mm so it should be very comfortable to use with or without eyeglasses.
The 8x magnification provides stable and up-close images for comfortable glassing experience. Also, the monocular boasts a wide field of view which provides a broad spectrum of the sky at night. In terms of construction, it is built with aluminum which is both durable and lightweight. It has a rubber armor that provides a secure grip and cushions the optic from impact and shocks. Above all, the monocular is waterproof, fog proof and dust proof to give you a lifetime of field use.
Features
- Elegant designs
- 8x magnification
- Large field of view
- Ultralight, compact and portable
- Waterproof, dust proof and fog-resistant
- Durable aluminum construction
- Rugged rubber armor
- Long 15mm eye relief
- Premium-quality lens
7) Wingspan Optics Titan 12X50 High Powered Monocular
Another best monocular for stargazing in our list is the Wingspan Optics Titan 12X50 High Powered Monocular. This high-quality monocular will help you get the most out of your stargazing expedition. It provides optimal brightness and clarity in all environments.
It features a high 12x magnification and a 50mm objective lens that provides the much-needed large viewing angle. It is compact in size for comfortable handling and ultra-light for easy carrying in the field. Moreover, it comes with a wrist wrap loop that keeps it secure in your hands all through.
Another good thing about this monocular is that it’s durably built so it won’t get damaged easily. It is waterproof to prevent water from getting in the optics and fog proof as well. Besides that, it brings to the table a generous eye relief for a more comfortable glassing experience. During long stargazing sessions, you can mount it on the tripod and take its weight off your hands. To top it all, it’s reasonably affordable and ideal for multiple outdoor applications, not just stargazing.
Features
- Durable framework
- Waterproof, fog proof and shock proof
- Ergonomically designed one hand focus
- High 12x magnification
- Wide field of view
- Generous eye relief
- Lightweight and portable
- Bright and clear views
- Attached lens cover
- Wrist wrap loop
- Tripod mountable
See Also
Factors to Consider when Choosing Best Monocular for Stargazing
When shopping for the best monocular for stargazing, it’s important that you buy the best model possible the first time. Below are some of the important factors you should consider so you are able to choose the perfect device for your needs.
Prism Type
There are two types of prism designs found in monocular. While both prims work together with the objective lens and eyepiece to magnify the image, each type offers different results.
Roof Prism
Monocular with roof prism design is shaped to bounce light strategically. When light enters the monocular, it is reflected off on several sides of the prism before it hits the eyepiece. The result is a more direct light path and a compact optic. This prism type is more expensive. But it has the advantage of being compact in size.
Porro Prism
With a Porro prims monocular, light collected in the monocular bounces in uniform zigzag pattern. This prism type is precision cut to provide a more controlled light path which results to greater optics. The images produced are clearer and the final image has a better field of view which provides better depth perception.
Both are ideal for stargazing and the prism you choose will largely depend on your individual preference.
Lens Size
The objective lens is responsible for gathering light into the monocular. For stargazing, the larger the objective lens size, the better. It will collect more light which guarantees bright and clear sight pictures.
Monocular lens sizes often range from 20 to 50mm. A model with 50mm might be bulkier to carry because of the large objective size, but it will provide the best views for stargazing. A big lens also provides a wider field of view which is what you need to have a comfortable stargazing expedition.
Field of View
Field of view represents the area that you can see through the monocular without moving it around. The wider the view, the better for most outdoor applications. It will give you a wide viewing area where you can spot different celestial objects.
However, when it comes to stargazing, field of view is largely a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer strong magnification to zoom in on a particular star or planet. Others prefer a larger aperture that provides a wide view that captures different objects of the deep sky at night.
Image Quality
Whether you are a beginner or professional, you will want your monocular to provide the best image brightness and clarity. The quality of the optics that the monocular is made with can either make or break your stargazing experience. Monoculars worth buying have ED or HD glass, high-quality prism coatings and fully-coated optics. They provide bright, clear and color accurate views in all light settings.
Eye Relief
Eye relief refers to the distance between your eyes and the monoculars’ eye piece. The amount of eye relief that the monocular presents will have a direct impact on how comfortable your glassing experience will be. This is particularly the case if you wear eyeglass. To get the most out of your stargazing adventure, go for a monocular that has a long eye relief of at least 15mm.
Durability
The durability of any monocular determines how reliable it will be. A good monocular for stargazing will be durably made to handle the rough outdoor conditions. It should have a rubber armor that shield it from weather elements, shock and harsh impacts. For all-weather reliability, make sure that you purchase a monocular that is both waterproof and fog-resistant.
Benefits of Monoculars for Stargazing
- Monoculars are lightweight, compact and portable. You can use them for stargazing both at home and while on the move.
- Ease of Use. Unlike telescopes whose assembly takes time, monocular require no assembly at all. Plus, you can use them with one hand only.
- While out in the wild camping or hiking, you can use a monocular for stargazing at night and any other activities during the day.
FAQs
- What is the best magnification for a monocular?
It depends. If you are looking to observe the stars in detail, it’s best to get a monocular with high magnification. This will help you zoom in on specific stars or other celestial objects. On the other hand, if you prefer a wider field of view that helps you view other celestial bodies simultaneously, look for a monocular with a less powerful magnification.
- What is the most powerful monocular?
The power of a monocular is determined by its optical power. It determines how much the monocular can enlarge the image that you are viewing. Generally, monocular have a smaller magnification power because of their compact size. If you are looking for more optical power, you should consider getting a telescope instead.
Conclusion
We do hope that you have found the information in this article enlightening. With any of the monocular listed above, you are guaranteed of quality time under the stars. Take your time and weigh in the features that each device has, then go for the model that works best for you. Furthermore, these monocular are all-purpose and ideal for other outdoor applications, not just stargazing.