The 4 Best Binoculars Under $1000 for Stargazing (2023)
Most people who use equipment for stargazing choose a telescope. But this is not your only option: binoculars can be a great alternative to telescopes, when it comes to stargazing. Best of all, when it comes to stargazing, there are some of the best binoculars under $1000 to choose from.
(While $1000 sounds like a lot, it’s important to remember that binoculars will generally cost more since they require twice the lenses of a tripod.)
I had the chance to go stargazing with high-powered binoculars at an eco-resort in Baja California, Mexico. It was my first time, and I loved how easy and comfortable they were to use. That’s probably what has you thinking about buping a pair too
If you’re not familiar with how binoculars work, there are two numbers provided for each product. The first is the magnification offered by the binoculars; the second refers to the size of the objective lens in millimeters. So for 10×42 binoculars – for example – they offer 10x magnification, and the objective lens is 42mm in diameter. The larger the objective lens, the more light is let into the lens – creating brighter and potentially clearer views. However, larger lenses weigh more – that’s something to keep in mind as you choose a pair of astronomy binoculars under $1000 from this list.
Short on time?
The best binoculars under $1000 are Upland Optics Venator 10×42 Binoculars
Ready to see the list? Let’s dive in: here are my picks for the best binoculars under $1000 for stargazing and astronomy.
Note: Lens and binocular prices have been very volatile in the past two years due to supply chain issues. Note that prices might vary widely from the prices I reported when this post was last updated.
This post was originally published in July 2021, and was re-ranked and updated in February 2023.
The Best Binoculars Under $1000 (Ranked)
When it comes to choosing astronomy binoculars, you want to keep a number of factors in mind, including price, (magnification) power, binocular style, and quality. This can be hard to compare on your own, so I put together a ranked list. To come up with this ranking, I considered price, popularity, and review scores from Amazon.com. Here’s the list of the best astronomy binoculars under $1000, using updated data for 2023.
| Rank (2023) | Product | Change (from 2022) | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meopta MeoPro European 10×42 Binoculars | ↑1 | ~$675 | Link |
| 2 | Upland Optics Venator 10×42 Binoculars | ↓1 | ~$750 | Link |
| 3 | Celestron Echelon 20×70 Binocular | – | ~$800 | Link |
| 4 | ATN BinoX 4K 4-16x Smart Day/Night Binoculars | ↑1 | ~$875 | Link |
If these all sound interesting, you can read on to discover more of the details about each one and choose the pair of binoculars under $1000 that’s best for you.
1. Meopta MeoPro European 10×42 Binoculars
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$675
The Meopta MeoPro European 10×42 binocular is one of the best binoculars under $1000.
Although the Meopta MEOPRO has a bulky look, nobody will see it in the dark and its ergonomic rubber armor and rugged, lightweight magnesium chassis make it super comfortable to hold.
The lenses are completely multi-coated with Meopta’s lens coatings that deliver an outstanding 99.7% light transmission per lens surface. It also comes with objective lenses that eliminate color aberrations and provide vivid images with exceptional brightness.
2. Upland Optics Venator 10×42 Binoculars
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$750
One of the best binoculars under $1000 you can find in the market is the Upland Optics Venator 10×42 Binocular. This high-end pair of binoculars feature top-of-the-line Extra-Low Dispersion Glass and multi-coated lenses that ensure high optical clarity and minimize chromatic aberration, even at long ranges.
Since it has a higher light transmission percentage, the Venator 10×42 works (and reveals) wonders in low-light conditions, offering amazing views of the star-studded sky. Its lightweight and compact design make it perfect to carry around.
3. Celestron Echelon 20×70 Binocular
- Type: Porro Prisms
- Price ~$800
Within the list of best binoculars under $1000 is the Celestron Echelon 20×70. As part of Celestron’s large-aperture Echelon series, this binocular is specially designed to perform well in low light conditions.
Its desigh delivers a great amount of light, so stargazers can observe distant stars in extreme detail. Also, its large aperture and prism lenses offer great quality image with maximum contrast and sharpness. Given their massive 20x magnification, this binocular will perform best when mounted on a tripod.
4. ATN BinoX 4K 4-16x Smart Binoculars
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$875
Featuring a classic design, ATN BinoX 4K 4-16x Smart Day/Night Binocular is one of the best binoculars for stargazing. You’ll love this if you want to document the night sky and enjoy the recordings later with others. This binocular has live streaming and HD video recording 24/7 functions that capture crisp night images.
It also has smooth zoom levels that imitate natural eyesight. Its eye adjustment and eye relief make the BinoX 4K comfortable for everyone to enjoy using.
While each of these astronomy binoculars is a splurge, they’re a great investment piece that will help you unlock more wonders of the night sky. Do you have questions about any of these products, or others I should include on this list? Let me know in the comments!
Valerie Stimac
Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth.
