These power astronomy binoculars are the cheapest they've been all year

Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 on a green background — (Image credit: Celestron)

The nights are drawing in, and fairweather astronomers are rejoicing. Over the coming months, the planets will make their return to the night sky, and the early nights bring more stargazing opportunities.

If you're looking to make the most of the long nights with some brand new astronomy binoculars, these Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 are now the cheapest they've been all year. Now selling for $82 (when you add the coupon) at Amazon, this deal is incredibly worthwhile if you've always wanted to get a closer look at the stars but don't want to shell out too much on your first pair.

The 25x magnification is fantastic for views of Jupiter and its moons, detailed observations of the moon and getting a better view of star clusters, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion nebula without having to invest in a telescope. Binoculars on the whole are a great option for beginners who want to dip their toes into the world of astronomy, as they are usually less expensive, have an easier setup and much less technical knowledge involved than telescopes, and these 25x70s are an ideal starting point. We wouldn't recommend them as much for wildlife observation due to their size and the lack of ED glass, but a pair of 12x56 or 10x42 binoculars would give the best of both worlds while keeping things lightweight.

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Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 on a white background — These powerful astronomy binoculars have excellent magnification.(Image credit: Celestron)

In this deal, you'll get a tripod adapter, lens caps, rain guard, carrying case, neck strap, lens cloth and instructions included, giving you everything you need to get started — apart from a tripod. Due to the strong magnification and their large size and weight, they'll need to be mounted on a tripod to prevent shaky views. The soft rubber eyecups are comfortable to use, although the 13mm eye relief might be a little short if you wear glasses all the time. They are water-resistant, although they aren't nitrogen-purged, so they may be prone to fogging up when moving between warm and cold environments — this is one of the sacrifices of budget binoculars.

Kimberley Lane, E-commerce writer for Live Science, has tested a wide range of optical equipment, reviewing camera gear from Sony, Canon, OM System and more. With over 6 years of photography experience, her skills span across landscape and seascape photography, wildlife, astrophotography and portrait work. Her photos have been featured in a number of national magazines, including Digital Camera World and Cosmopolitan. She has also contributed to our sister site Space.com and Tech Radar, and she regularly uses binoculars and telescopes to stargaze in the dark skies of South Wales.