Stephen Tonkin

Binocular astronomer

Stephen Tonkin is an experienced binocular astronomer and astronomy communicator.

Recent articles by Stephen Tonkin

A pair of binoculars may be all you need to get started in astronomy. Credit: VW Pics / Contributor / Getty Images

6 things to see in the night sky with binoculars, June 2023

Explore Scientific G400 15x56 roof prism binoculars scale

Binoculars for astronomy

Explore Scientific G400 15×56 roof prism binoculars review

£329 Price correct at time of review

Opticron Oregon Observation 11x70 binoculars

Binoculars for astronomy

Opticron Oregon Observation 11×70 binoculars review

£99 Price correct at time of review

The best night-sky shape to use as a guide is the Plough: it’s large, bright and visible year-round in the northern hemisphere. It has two stars called the 'pointers' that point to Polaris, the North Star. Polaris is almost exactly above Earth’s axis at the North Pole, so doesn’t move and shows which way is north.

How to star-hop the night sky

Bresser 10x50 Corvette bino

Binoculars for astronomy

Bresser 10×50 Corvette binoculars

£115 Price correct at time of review

Opticron Oregon WA 10x50 binoculars

Binoculars for astronomy

Opticron Oregon WA 10×50 binoculars review

£69 Price correct at time of review

Vixen Atera H12x30 binoculars review

Binoculars for astronomy

Vixen Atera H12x30 stabilised binoculars review

£593 Price correct at time of review

Bresser Spezial Astro SF 15x70 binoculars

Binoculars for astronomy

Bresser Spezial Astro SF 15×70 binoculars review

£269 Price correct at time of review

Binoculars are a great way for newcomers to get into astronomy. Credit: lucentius / Getty Images

Observing guide 10 autumn binocular astronomy targets

A pair of binoculars may be all you need to get started in astronomy. Credit: VW Pics / Contributor / Getty Images

5 top tips for binocular astronomy

Make your own LED torch-pointer. Credit: Steve Tonkin

Make your own LED torch-pointer

Orion Monster Parallelogram mount, GiantView 25x100 binoculars

Binoculars for astronomy

Orion Monster Parallelogram mount, GiantView 25×100 binoculars

£805.99 Price correct at time of review

Opticron Imagic IS 12x30 binoculars review

Binoculars for astronomy

Opticron Imagic IS 12×30 binoculars review

£519

Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20x80 binocular

Binoculars for astronomy

Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20×80 binoculars and 10Micron BM100 Leonardo mount review

£2225 Binos £230; mount £1,995 mount (tripod not inc.)

Celestron Upclose G2 10x50 binoculars. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Binoculars for astronomy

Celestron Upclose G2 10×50 binoculars review

£50 Price correct at time of review