Binoculars
Also called: 10×50, 7×50, binocular astronomy.
Two small telescopes side by side; “10×50” means 10× magnification and 50 mm lenses.
Binoculars are the best first instrument: wide fields, both eyes, upright views and instant use. 10×50s show the Moon's craters, Jupiter's moons, dozens of clusters, the brightest galaxies and nebulae. Their exit pupil is the lens size divided by the power — 5 mm for 10×50s.
At the eyepiece
Brace your elbows or use a tripod adapter: steady binoculars show noticeably fainter stars.
In AstroPilot
Choose binoculars as your instrument to see what they show tonight.