I wish I had a nickel for every time somebody said to me they've just gotten interested in astronomy right and off the bat wanted to purchase a telescope. My usual response to this is: "First, spend some quality time under the stars and then, when you think you're ready, go out and purchase a pair of good binoculars."

Some might think that binoculars are a bit of a come-down from a telescope, but the fact is that for certain aspects of skywatching they are the best instrument to use. A pair of 7-power binoculars is lightweight and portable. And a quality pair of binoculars can far outrank a poor quality small telescope.

Binoculars come in a variety of sizes. Most observers prefer the so-called 7 x 50 "night glasses."

The 7 refer to the magnification, while the 50 refer to the diameter of the two objective lenses measured in millimeters. My own personal preference, incidentally, are 7 x 35 "wide-angle" binoculars that provide a much larger field of view (11º) as opposed to most other units.

Any good pair of 7-power binoculars, when held steadily, will give you a glimpse of the craters of the Moon, the crescent of Venus and the moons of Jupiter. Should a bright comet come along, there is no better instrument to give you a great overall view of both the head and tail. And by just sweeping along the Milky Way, you'll be treated to a myriad of stars you can't see with your eyes alone.