Binoculars are probably the first astronomy tool that comes to mind when you think about back garden astronomy. You can still get a great view of the stars with a telescope, but it's cheaper and portable.

An alternative is available. The monocular is what you're going to meet. Essentially a pair of binoculars that have been cut in half, making them lighter and easier to use than binoculars as they are only a single barrel with one objective lens.

The magnification of monoculars is not as high as a small telescope, but they are portable and travel-friendly. A good monocular can boost your astronomy experience. If you're serious about seeing the stars, you'll need to use the best telescopes or binoculars, but if you want to save space and weight, there are good monocular options.

If you want to use a monocular for astronomy, you'll want to look at 40-50mm objective lens with 7-15x magnification. Some monoculars have built-in image capture and other have built-in tripod mounts. It is wise to choose a monocular that is waterproof and fog-proof since you will be pulling it out of a warm bag or pocket to use in cold weather. We scoured the market for the best monoculars and rounded up our favorites for astronomy.

Best monocular overall

Opticron BGA WP 8x42

(Image credit: Opticron)

It is a great choice for a monocular. While keeping the unit small for backpacking, it has a 42mm objective lens. The 8x magnification gives a great view of the night sky, similar to what you would find on binoculars.

The Opticron BGA WP 8x42 is fog-proof. It has a leather carry case and a rubber eyecup that make it easy to use. It shows a lot of contrast, clarity and a premium feel thanks to the multi- coating on the optical system. Unfortunately, a wraparound mount is required in order to be compatible with tripods.

Best for weight saving

Hawke Endurance ED 10x42 monocular

(Image credit: Hawke)

It's ideal for travelers who want to enjoy the night sky while out and about.

The glass hasn't been skimped on despite its portable nature. Extra-low dispersion glass is used to reduce color fringing and multi-coated lens.

It comes with a waterproof case, lanyard, lens covers, and a tripod thread. The no-fault lifetime warranty is pretty impressive.

Best for glasses wearers

Opticron Oregon 4 PC 8x42 monocular

(Image credit: Opticron)

The Opticron Oregon 4 PC 8x42 is waterproof and nitrogen-filled to eliminate fog, making it the perfect option for those who need a monocular. A 42mm objective lens allows just enough light to be used in astronomy. The 8x magnification will give you a good view of the night sky.

The design of the roof prism is all about wide field viewing. By day and in low light, it has a clear, crisp view. The monocular doesn't have a tripod, but it does have an external focuser. The eye relief is very generous.

Best for accessories

Bushnell Legend Ultra 10x42 monocular

(Image credit: Bushnel)

The build quality of the Bushnell is excellent. With a magnification of 10x and a 42mm objective lens, you'll get crisp, detailed images.

There is an easy to grip ridge on top of the external focuser where your thumb would naturally rest, and its twist up eyecups offer ample eye relief for those who wear glasses.

The Legend Ultra 10x42 has a padded case, a flip-style lens cap for the front, and a lanyard to keep it from being lost.

Best for magnification

Apexel 36x super zoom monocular/smartphone lens

(Image credit: Apexel)

The only real way to zoom in on the night sky with your phone is to use a digital zoom. Cropping the image and rebuilding it to its original size is what this means. It usually results in a poor image.

A better option is a clip-on lens like the one in the picture. The Apexel 36x super zoom is a small telescope with a fixed zoom and can be used hand-held. Attaching a clip to your existing lens is what you need to align them.

It isn't perfect, you have to remove your phone's case and there isn't a tripod thread built in. The Apexel 36x super zoom can be an adequate setup for taking basic images of the Moon if you supply your own tripod. Attaching a small rubber eyepiece restricts the field of view, but it is possible to use it as a monocular.

Best for using with a smartphone

Celestron Outland X 10x50 monocular

(Image credit: Celestron)

digiscoping is the act of attaching a cellphone to a telescope to see a magnified view. The camera can take great pictures of distant ducks during the day and at night.

The Celestron Outland X 10x50 is an ideal companion with its astronomy-centered optics. The 10x magnification and 50mm objective lens can be used to search for and study open star clusters.

The Outland X 10x50 is easy to use for anyone who wears glasses because of its multi-coated optics. It's waterproof and filled with nitrogen gas.

Best for travelling light

Olivon 8-24x40 zoom monocular

(Image credit: Olivon)

The Olivon 8-24x40 is a zoom monocular that can see from 8x to 42x. It's small and light enough to be carried around on a lanyard and pouch, and it's great for observing the Moon's craters and lava seas.

A monocular with a push-pull zoom arrangement comes with a built-in 1.4-inch tripod and an easy-grip coating. It can be used as a basic method of digging. The Olivon 8-24x40 has a close focus from 60” to 1.6m.

Best for Moon-viewing

Orion 10-25x42 monocular

(Image credit: Orion)

The Orion 10-25x42 is a variable zoom monocular that has 10x through 25x magnification and has a larger objective lens.

It is another option for viewing the moon with more magnification than its lighter rival. It can focus on subjects less than 50 cm away and offer 25x magnification. It can be used for daytime, low light or nighttime use. You should be able to see the moon craters.

The Orion 10-25x42 is waterproof and has multi-coated optics. It comes with a nylon case and a wrist strap.

Best for wildlife

Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 monocular

(Image credit: Vortex)

When looking at a new optical instrument, it is tempting to go for the biggest magnification possible, but this is not always the best choice. To maintain a bright view and the ability to use at night, larger objectivelens are needed. The magnification makes it difficult to get a steady image. A magnification factor of 8x is preferred.

The 15x magnification of the Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 will give you a much closer look at objects than your average pair of astronomy-focused binoculars. Despite the large 50mm objective lens, the extra magnification makes the image less bright at night.

The Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 is used to view the night sky. There is a moon. You can expect high-resolution images with the multi-coated extra-low dispersion glass. You can attach the monocular to a belt or bag with the carry clip.