You know you're ready for touring the heavens with binoculars when you want to get an up-close look at the beauties of the universe but are not ready to shell out for a telescope. A good pair of binoculars can show you great highlights: the moon, planets, double stars, cluster, nebulae, and galaxies. But which of these are best through binoculars?
Before you even pick your object, you need to make sure you can hold your binoculars steady or nothing will look good. Buy a sturdy tripod for best results. A cheaper way to go is to recline in a deck chair while resting your arms on the armrest. You won't see much of anything if your binoculars are bouncing around.
Once you have that simple matter resolved, get ready to see some of the best sights in the northern sky.
Images courtesy of Calvin College Observatory.