The opportunity to view the stars in an appreciable way requires a telescope. Before you go looking for a pair of binoculars you need to sit down and decide what you will be using your new binoculars for.
Exactly how you can see the Sun rise in the east, and set in the west; and how you can see the moon whizzing from one part of the sky to the other, when you take a look at the moon in a telescope it moves fast. The same problem is faced while using telescopes hence many people prefer binoculars instead of monoculars or telescopes. Boaters and those that enjoy the water will want the waterproof or fog proof models.
The objective lenses are located on the end of the binoculars furthest away from your eye when viewing. When night-vision binoculars first came on the market they were very expensive status symbols. Monoculars meant as a toy for children have magnifications of only three or four times and they are very cheap.
Compact binoculars are an ideal first pair for children, they are easy to use and lightweight which means the kids get more enjoyment out of their outdoor activities, and spend less time moaning about having to hold those heavy old things your dad gave you. If performance is your main consideration, full sized binoculars are preferred. Magnification is not the best way of choosing a telescope, as a clear image is more important then simply magnification.
The greater the magnification, the narrower the field-of-view. The question how to buy a telescope is not a big one, more what you want out of the telescope.