Colorado has some of the darkest skies in the country — perfect for spotting constellations, catching the Milky Way, or even shooting the northern lights. Here’s the gear, from grab-and-go to serious. Head to a Dark Sky Park like Great Sand Dunes or Black Canyon for the best views.
At a glance: stargazing gear
Start here
- 【HIGH-POWERED LARGE EYEPIECE BINOCULARS】 This binoculars for adults has 12x magnification, 25mm objective lens and wide field of view, 273ft/1000yds, letting you look farther and see wider. Coating with FMC Broadband coating and premium BAK4 prism, it ensure imaging verisimilar.
- 【ADJUSTABLE EYE CUPS FIT EYEGLASS WEARERS OR NOT】The binocs can be pull down the rubber eyepieces and more fit the glasses wearer, getting close to lens and see easily. The long eye relief combined with large eyepiece give you a comfortable viewing while wearing sunglasses or eye glasses. For those who do not wear glasses, will gain more focused slight and feel more easeful through rising eye cups. The compact binoculars has 15mm large eyepieces, can see more clear image than other travel binoculars.
- 【FMC BROADBAND COATING TECHNOLOGY】The lightweight cruise binoculars is cover with BAK4 prism texture. The objective lens use optical FMC multilayer broadband green film, and the eyepiece-optical is made of blue FMC coating. All design ensure to provide a good image and make you have a amazing experience.
- 【PORTABLE, COMPACT AND SMALL BINOCULARS DESIGN】 One hand can be mastered when you use the birding watching binoculars for opera,bird watching camping, traveling,wildlife watching,football games,cruise or other outside activity, the low light night vision goggles(Not for completely dark night) is more convenient for using and carrying.
- 【LIFE WATERPROOF, COMFORTABLE TOUCH】 The kids binoculars are made of ABS plastic and it also come with a cruise binocular strap, you can use this item in different situations. And rubber armor is made for secure grip.The pocket size binoculars is not only suitable for men and women,but also suitable for kids.It is wonderful to give your Father or Children.
Binoculars — the easiest start. A good pair reveals the moon’s craters, star clusters, and the Milky Way with no setup, and they double for wildlife. The best first “telescope” for most people.
- Superior Optics: 400mm(f/5.7) focal length and 70mm aperture, fully coated optics glass lens with high transmission coatings creates stunning images and protect your eyes. Perfect full positive telescope for astronomers to explore stars and moon.
- Magnification: Come with two replaceable eyepieces and one 3x Barlow lens.3x Barlow lens trebles the magnifying power of each eyepiece. 5x24 finder scope with mounting bracket and cross-hair lines inside make locating objects easily.
- Wireless Remote: This refractor telescope includes one smart phone adapter and one Wireless camera remote to explore the nature of the world easily through the screen and take amazing celestial images.
- Adjustable Tripod: This telescope allows for many different viewing positions with a adjustable aluminum alloy tripod and a carry bag, the telescope and tripod can fit inside the bag for easy traveling and storage.
- Satisfaction: Buy with confidence from a leading manufacturer.
A beginner telescope. The Gskyer is a popular, easy-to-use starter scope that brings the moon, planets, and bright deep-sky objects into view without a steep learning curve.
Don’t forget
- White + Red(2) = 3 Modes: White light for everyday illumination, red light for night vision. Bright red light allows for better observation of animals without disturbing them. Weak red light is suitable for reading maps, aiding eyes in adapting to ambient light. Note: Features mode memory, eliminating the need to readjust the lighting mode every time.
- Zoomable & Adjustable: Tailor the light to your needs by adjusting intensity and coverage range through beam divergence or focus. Note: Half-press the switch to quick toggle between lighting modes.
- Battery Type: Powered by three 1.5V AAA batteries (not included).
- Additional Features: Includes a handy pocket clip and lanyard. The ergonomic design, advanced etching, and manufacturing processes result in a compact yet powerful tool with excellent water-resistant performance, suitable for use even in rainy conditions.
- After-sales Support: Enjoy peace of mind with our 12-month warranty, providing a comprehensive guarantee for your shopping experience. < Protected Design: US D930,208; CA 218,355 >
A red flashlight. White light wrecks your night vision for 20+ minutes; a red light lets you read a star chart and set up gear while your eyes stay dark-adapted.
A planisphere. This rotating star chart, set for Colorado’s latitude, shows exactly what’s overhead on any night — no batteries, no app, no signal required.
For astrophotography
- SUPERIOR STABILITY - All-metal body construction and precise machining ensures minimal vibration, providing a stable platform for astrophotography, resulting in sharper images with reduced blur.
- INCREASED PORTABILITY - Compact and lightweight design at just 2.2 lbs (1.00kg) makes it easy to transport for astrophotography on the go, fitting easily into a camera bag or backpack.
- HIGH WEIGHT CAPACITY - Supports up to 11 lbs (4.99kg) when balanced, allowing you to mount a variety of camera and lens combinations for versatile astrophotography setups.
- ULTIMATE ADJUSTABILITY - Features an Alt-Azi adjustable base with a latitude adjustment range of -30° to 65° and azimuth adjustment of +/-5°, making polar alignment quick and precise.
- ENHANCED EASE OF USE - Integrated AccuAlign dark field illuminated polar scope simplifies polar alignment, even in low-light conditions, ensuring accurate tracking for long exposures.
A star tracker. Serious about shooting the Milky Way or the aurora? A tracker follows the sky’s rotation so you can take long exposures without star trails. An investment, but a game-changer for night photography.
Stargazing gear FAQ
What gear do beginners need for stargazing?
Start simple: a pair of binoculars, a red flashlight to protect your night vision, and a planisphere or star app to find your way around. A beginner telescope is a great next step, but binoculars alone reveal a surprising amount in Colorado's dark skies.
Do you need a telescope to stargaze?
No. Binoculars are the best starting point and show the moon, star clusters, and the Milky Way with zero setup. A telescope adds detail on the planets and deep-sky objects, but it is optional, especially under Colorado's naturally dark skies.
What is a star tracker used for?
A star tracker slowly rotates your camera to match the sky's motion, letting you take long-exposure photos of the Milky Way or the aurora without the stars blurring into trails. It is a tool for astrophotography rather than visual stargazing.
Written by
Melissa
Melissa splits her year between Texas and Summit County, Colorado, where she has spent countless summers and winters hiking, skiing, fishing, and exploring the high country. She started Breckenmendations to help visitors make the most of Colorado's mountains with the gear, tips, and local know-how she wishes she'd had on her first trip up I-70.
Breckenmendations is written by locals who actually hike, ski, and explore Colorado — see how we pick what we recommend.