Moon gazing has been a human pastime for as long as there were humans. It is easy to see why. Looking at the night sky, the Moon is the brightest, most powerful object up there. It is easy to see why the ancients felt that the Moon had power over men.

We now live in a world where man has set foot on the Moon, but every person still feels a sense of awe when gazing at that bright shining rock in the sky.

Moon Gazing Equipment

Unlike most other objects in the night sky, it is possible to study the Moon in some detail without the assistance of any specialized equipment. However, using either binoculars or a telescope can greatly enhance your experience.

Binoculars

Binoculars can be useful in all space-viewing, however they can often be a burden as well. Because you hold binoculars with your hand, it can often be difficult to keep your focus when viewing small objects. However, due to the size of the Moon it is much easier to view with binoculars than other celestial bodies.

Binoculars are essentially two small telescopes placed next to each other, one for each eye. This allows you to view the Moon with both eyes, unlike is possible with a telescope. However, because they are smaller binoculars will not be able to give you the same amount of aperture you could get with a telescope, and thus offer less clear views of the Moon. The plus side is they are much easier to handle than a telescope, and also much cheaper, in the $50 to $100 for a good pair.

Telescopes

A telescope will offer the best view of the Moon. By amplifying light and magnifying the image of the Moon, views through a telescope are nothing short of spectacular.

A good telescope will cost significantly more than a good pair of binoculars, starting in about the $300 range. If you are serious about moon gazing, or in amateur in astronomy in general, then a telescope would be a good purchase to make.