Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 Binoculars – High-Power Binoculars for Astronomy and Long-Range Terrestrial Viewing – Large Aperture with BaK-4 Prisms – Includes Tripod Adapter & Carrying Case

Upgraded my SkyMaster 15x70 binos to the 20x80 model. This review concerns astronomical use, especially as it relates to casual observation. I just returned from two evenings with it under the dark skies of WV's Monongahela National Forest1) Field of view offers wide angle eye candy. 3.7 degrees with the feeling of expansiveness--even at 20x. I could place Orion's belt in one view; Orion's sword in another; The entire Pleiades (M45) in one glimpse; much of Kemble's Cascade; nearly all sections of the Veil Nebula complex; The Lagoon (M8) and Trifid Nebulae in one field; Can almost place M7 with M6 in Scorpius in the same field, also the Coathanger asterism fits nicely into the field of view.2) Spectacular views offered of M7 near the Scorpion's tail, The Swan nebula (M17), Dumbbell Nebula (M27), a billowing Orion Nebula (M42), Pleiades (M45), Andromeda Galaxy (M31) with companion galaxies...can seem to infer some stars on the outskirts of globular clusters M13 (Hercules) and M22 (Sagittarius). Veil Nebula is breathtaking under dark sky (t5he western side resembles a fuzzy fish hook). Can see North American Nebula near Deneb at top of Cygnus. I returned to several of these again and again--so rewarding were the views. I set it up a week ago for a backyard star party and the Pleiades was really impressive for viewers as was the Perseus Double Cluster and Albireo double star. The Orion nebula is also magnificent.3) Generous Eye Relief is best utilized by folding the eyecups back4) Used a 30 year old aluminum camera tripod that is sturdy enough to hold the 20x80 with ease. How I found it effective was to sit in a wooden kitchen table chair with the tripod legs fully extended and tripod close in with bino eye cups folded back. My tripod has a shaft that can rise about 10 inches more so I used that incrementally as viewing angle was increased--not unlike a barber's chair raising or lowering. Ample eye relief coupled with the folded back eye cups and raised tripod slant the bino was attached to meant I could view objects 45 degrees up from the horizontal. Objects near vertical I could manage limited viewing by actually leaning back with binos and tripod legs laying across me. That's how I viewed the Veil Nebula. Be mindful of the weight before trying this!! It was OK for me but may not be for you. Test that carefully. The 20x80 mount is more robust than the attachment I used with the same tripod with the 15x70's.5) Clarity of image was NOT sharp all the way to the edge. However, for the comparatively low price of the 20x80 I really can't complain about this as I'd pay much more for that level of optics.6) I have an 11" SCT telescope. The 20x80 is a nice, satisfying casual alternative to setting up my larger scope and I had so much fun with it one evening I never bothered to set up my SCT.7) These binos are HEAVY so a sturdy tripod is recommended. The 20x80 is significantly heavier than my 15x70 set. I can use each hand held on their own for limited viewing by gripping the large ends with each hand.8) The moon is not excessively bright as it tends to be telescopically so you need not be overly concerned about temporary "blindness" from viewing the moon then switching to other stellar objects. Eye recovery is but momentary.9) Did finally view Jupiter. The line up of the moons is more as one sees telescopically rather than with traditional binocular views. Be advised that surface brightness is so great one will likely NOT be able to the bands on Jupiter. Mars and Jupiter are definitely bright discs. haven't yet had a good look at Saturn as its currently near the sun in the sky.

I had done my research and been able to play with a friend's SkyMaster 20x80 Celestron binoculars for a few nights to see how well they met my needs. I wanted these as an alternative to hauling my heavy classic Celestron C-8 up into the hills over dirt roads (with washboards, ruts, all that fun stuff). These give me a lightweight alternative and work great with my heavier camera tripod.The package arrived from the UK a couple days early, which was awesome. The box looked like a cross between being re-used and having had some heavy-handed handling during transit. That was concerning, but the box inside that was in pristine condition and the actual Celestron box inside that was pristine as well. The binoculars came encased in a soft foam housing and my greatest fear, them getting knocked out of collimation during shipping, didn't happen. There were no collimation errors at all.I tested them in my in-city driveway over a few nights when we finally had clear skies. As others say, you can hand hold these, but you're going to quickly be reaching for your tripod to hold them. The strain on your arms builds up fast.Looking through them, the moon is fantastic and M31 is an impressive size. Saturn was basically a slightly larger dot than a star, and I could not make out any rings. That was expected, and I might be able to see a distortion caused to the dot by the rings at a dark sky site. Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was a joy to view. All these views were nice and clear, once the binoculars were properly adjusted to my eyes and mounted on my tripod.The only downside I've encountered so far is that when they're on the tripod, anything near zenith is hard on the neck. My tripod gets the binoculars up to a comfortable height for an evening of viewing, but the steep angle for high overhead views gives one a crick in the neck. A set of 45 degree adapters for the eyepieces should take care of that, though.I'm really looking forward to seeing the Orion nebula, the Pleiades, and other DSOs as the year goes on. I realize these won't give me "as good a view" as my C8, obviously, but what I've seen so far tells me I made the right choice for what I wanted them for: a "lightweight" alternative to lugging my heavy C8 up in the hills. This way I can always have them there whenever I go out for astrophotography.Oh, and they're pretty decent for terrestrial observations, too.

Heavy but great viewing. Would suggest having tripod or something else to help hold them for any long amount of time