I read Astronomy Magazine and in one of their article comparing binoculars, the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 were rated one of the best buys for your money. I wanted them for casual astronomy observing, college sporting events, and field use. If you are a novice to binoculars, beware that these have such a high magnification that they are best stabilized with a tripod or elbows on your knees. This is about my third pair of binoculars I have owned and I really like them. They are the envy at every college football game I go to. Everyone wants to look through them. If you want to look at the moon or better yet the Milky Way, you will be amaized, especially kids looking through them for the first time.