Portable Monocular Telescope

The Portable Monocular Telescope from Cozy Crest is a hand-held monocular rather than a mounted astronomical telescope. It is a single tube you hold to one eye, small enough to go in a jacket pocket, and it is meant for the kind of looking you do on the spur of the moment rather than the kind you plan an evening around.

Portability is what decides how often an optic gets used. One that lives in a case in the loft sees the sky twice a year. Something that fits in a pocket comes on a walk, to a match, up a hill, and out into the garden on a clear night - and the Moon, at modest magnification, is what a monocular shows best.

Two versions are available. Expect crisp views of the Moon's larger craters, landscapes, wildlife and distant detail. A hand-held monocular will not resolve planets or deep sky objects the way a mounted telescope does, and steadying it against a fence or a rail makes a noticeable difference. Never point it at the Sun or view the Sun through it - doing so causes permanent eye damage.

• Product type: Hand-held monocular
• Brand: Cozy Crest
• Design: Single tube, pocket sized, no tripod or setup needed
• Best views: The Moon, landscapes, wildlife and distant detail
• Not suitable for: Resolving planets or deep sky objects
• Versions: Two options available
• Warning: Never view the Sun through it - permanent eye damage results