I am constantly amazed how shocked some customers are when I tell them they can use a spotting scope for astronomy. Sure, a spotting scope is limited by its mount, its size, and usually it's lack of magnification, but if you want views of some of the larger celestial objects such as star clusters and nebulae, a spotting scope can keep you busy for a long time. Premium grade spotting scopes, especially those with special high-performance glass, are capable of excellent image quality as well. Spotting scopes can do a good job of briding the gap between astronomy with binoculars and astronomy with large telescopes.
