These top-rated binoculars deliver 'a sky-watching experience that will move your soul' — they've just hit the best price we've ever seen in this early Black Friday deal

4 hours ago 2
The Celestron SkyMaster 25x100mm binoculars on a Space.com backdrop with deals logo
(Image credit: Celestron)

The Celestron SkyMaster 25x100mm binoculars are our optical experts' choice as the best binoculars for magnification in our binoculars buying guide. For anyone looking for binoculars to deliver incredible details of the night sky, then these top-rated optics have just hit the cheapest price since 2024.

In the lead up to Black Friday, Amazon has dropped the Celestron SkyMaster 25x100mm binoculars by a massive 22% off, taking them down to $403.69, and a saving of $116.23 on the usual Amazon MSRP of $519.95.

Save $156.26 on the Celestron SkyMaster 25x100mm binoculars — were $519.95, now $363.69 (with coupon) at Amazon.


The SkyMaster 25x100s use two 100mm (4-inch) refractor telescopes set up side-by-side, with image-erecting prisms and eyepieces that focus independently for pin-point clarity — unlike the combined central adjustment on standard binoculars. Glasses wearers will also appreciate the 15mm of eye relief, which means you can comfortably use these binos while wearing specs.

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One of the best things about the Celestron SkyMaster 25x100s is its superb magnification (which, of course, allows you to see objects 25 times closer). In testing, we were able to marvel at galaxy clusters such as the Leo Triplets, the atmospheric belts of Jupiter, and Sagittarius' star cloud.

However, with hefty magnification, it means they are very large and heavy binoculars (the SkyMaster 25x100s weigh 8.75lbs / 3.97kg), so even those with arms of steel will need a tripod to hold them steady. Our best tripods guide has plenty of buying advice there, and our choice as the most affordable tripod — the Manfrotto Element MII is worth a look.

Celestron Skymaster 25x100 binoculars being handled on a tripod
You will need a tripod for the SkyMaster 25x100 binoculars to get the best shake-free viewing.(Image credit: Jeremy Lips & Dave Brody)

Key features: 25x magnification, 100mm objective diameter, 3-degree field of view, BaK-4 prisms, water resistant.

Product launched: June 2006.

Price history: Before this current deal, the typical Amazon price was $474.95. They have been as low as $389, back in December, but this current deal with the additional $40 coupon sees them hit the lowest price we've ever seen.

Price comparison: Amazon: $363.69 | B&H Photo Video: $403.69 | Walmart: $474.99

Reviews consensus: There is no doubt that the Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 are a fantastic pair of binoculars, and are our favorite large astronomy binoculars. They deliver astonishing detail of the night sky, and we scored them a 4 out of 5-star review. We marked them down for their waterproofing and weight. So you will need a tripod to get the best shake-free viewing, but with the money saved, you can easily pick one up.

Space: ★★★★ | Live Science: ★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You want highly adjustable, powerful 25x binoculars for viewing the night sky or long-distance use.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a handheld set of binoculars. The Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 is too heavy for that. Consider the Nikon 10x50 Acuon A211 binoculars, which are much more portable and can be handheld.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

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Paul is a deals writer for Space.com and writes across the stable of Sports and Knowledge brands at Future. He has previously worked in cycling media and authored numerous articles on Bike Perfect, Cycling News and Cycling Weekly. Paul is an award-winning photographer having won Mountain Photographer of the Year with Trail Magazine and has a passionate interest in all things photography. Paul will be found most weekends with his camera in hand either at cycling events, on a mountain summit or chasing the aurora borealis forecasts.

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