TDmonthly Product Review
 Name: Starry Night Explorer Binocular Stargazing Kit
Company: ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS
Age: 8 and up
Price: $79.95
Category: Science & Nature
What Is It?
These rugged 7x35 binoculars are a great introduction to the heavens and binocular astronomy. With a Star Target year-round star map showing what’s up there, a RedBeam Mini LED astronomy flashlight to read the map by, and the Starry Night DVD software to have on the computer back in the house, as well as a case and strap, this kit leaves nothing to chance.
What We Thought
We tested these babies out on a camping trip up at Sequoia National Monument (with a group led by a well-known nature photographer), 7000 feet up with clear skies, July 4th weekend, and the summer Milky Way above us. I had my seven year old and his nine-year-old brother along, and as soon as it got dark, we let ‘er rip. One thing about binocular astronomy: with a telescope, you spot the object, get it into range, focus and then view a stationary object. Binoc viewing, is totally different: it’s free. It’s like, the wind and the lion. The lion is noble, but earthbound, the wind is free to go anywhere. These binocs let the kids truly see the wonders of the sky. Wherever they turned in the tapestry of night, there were star clusters and nebula, the moon and planets. And stereo-optically viewed, the brain makes it seem 3D. It was amazing, and the kids were immediately fighting over who got to view next.
Why They’ll Want It
Astronomy, at its core, is about a sense of wonder. Ancient man looked up at the stars and wondered what was up there. The freedom of using these binoculars maintains that sense of wonder. There’s no mount to calibrate, eyepieces to drop on the ground, cords to get tangled in. One simply points and looks, and the heavens open up. This kit is a perfect starter for any fledgling astronomer: not too heavy, but rugged enough to take some wallops. Get a dark sky and let your wonder take over.
-- Mark Zaslove, 7/25/06
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