Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars

The Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars are impressive mainly because of their sheer size. An 80mm objective lens is enormous for binoculars and collects a surprising amount of light for wide-field astronomical observing.

In the photos below, the Zhumell 20x80mm binoculars are shown in two different setups. In some images, they are placed side-by-side with a Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope for direct size comparison. In others, the binoculars are mounted on a tripod, which is the typical configuration for stable wide-field observing. Together, these setups give a clear sense of both scale and practical use.

Zhumell 20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars and Celestron 4SE

Zhumell 20x80mm and Celestron 4SE

Unlike telescopes, large astronomy binoculars offer a wide field of view and natural, two-eye observing. With 20× magnification and large 80mm objectives, the Zhumell SuperGiants are especially effective for:

• Star fields and Milky Way scanning
• Large open clusters
• Bright nebulae under dark skies
• Casual lunar observing

SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars

20x80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binocular

ET Astrophotography - Astronomical Binocular and Super Moon

In the first photo, the binoculars are mounted piggyback on the Celestron NexStar 4SE, a setup I jokingly called the “Mickey Mouse setup.”

The NexStar 4SE’s automated tracking allows the binoculars to follow the sky smoothly, making it possible to observe wide fields without manually moving a heavy binocular mount. It’s simple, unconventional, and surprisingly effective.

Related Celestron NexStar 4SE Astrophotography

• Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope with T-Adapter
• Saturn with NexStar 4SE and NexImage
• Celestron NexStar 4SE and Constellations

Brooklyn in the night lights

Brooklyn, New York City — a place where artificial light dominates the night, yet the sky never completely disappears. These winter images were captured in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, during the famous Christmas light season.

Photographed with a Canon EOS 40D and Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, this session blends urban nightscape photography with a touch of astronomy — demonstrating that even under Bortle Class 9 skies, the stars still fight through the glow.

New York City is one of the brightest metropolitan areas in the world. Light pollution washes out most deep-sky objects, yet bright constellations like Orion remain visible during clear winter nights.

Brooklyn in the night lights, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Brooklyn at night, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Orion Constellation over Brooklyn — urban astronomy under Bortle Class 9 skies

Brooklyn at Night, NYC night sky

Brooklyn Moonrise

NYC Astronomy - Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Night Sky

These photographs were not planned as an astrophotography session. They were taken during a winter evening walk through Dyker Heights while photographing the famous Brooklyn Christmas lights.

The same camera and ultra-wide lens I often use for night sky work — the Canon EOS 40D with the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM — simply happened to be in my hands. And as often happens with wide, fast lenses pointed upward, a few stars quietly entered the frame.

Even in one of the brightest areas of New York City, the winter sky still makes an appearance. Orion rises above the rooftops, the Moon climbs over Brooklyn, and city lights blend with faint celestial light.

The final image of the Brooklyn Bridge follows the same idea — a night scene first, with the sky included naturally. Not a dedicated astronomy setup, just observing what the night offers.

Sometimes urban night photography and astronomy meet by accident — and that quiet intersection is part of the charm.

Brooklyn Sunset NYC

In March 2013, I went out to Brooklyn hoping to photograph Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4). Urban skies and timing were not on my side, and the comet never became visible from my location. Instead, the evening delivered something else — a dramatic sunset over New York City.

These images capture the transition from daylight to night as seen from Brooklyn, New York City, with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge silhouetted against vivid clouds and fading twilight. Even when astrophotography plans fail, the sky often offers a different reward.

Brooklyn Sunset, Astronomy and Astrophotography,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

NYC Sunset (as seen in Brooklyn), Verrazano Bridge, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, Astronomy and Astrophotography

Sunset as seen in Brooklyn (NYC), Verrazano Bridge, Astronomy and Astrophotography,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Gear: Canon EOS DSLR + Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Location: Brooklyn, New York City
Date: March 2013

Related NYC & Urban Astrophotography

• Solar Eclipse New York - 11/3/2013
• Canon 60Da Star Trail Astrophotography — Night Sky Rotation
• M42 Orion Nebula using iOptron SkyTracker in NYC
• iOptron Skytracker and Deep Sky Astrophotography

Note: A few years later, from the same Brooklyn location, conditions were much better and I was finally able to photograph a comet. See Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC .