Skynocular is reader-funded. We don't charge for our guides, our data, or the simulator, and we don't take money from manufacturers to feature their gear. Instead, some of the links to retailers on this site are affiliate links — if you buy something after clicking one, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
That commission is how the site pays for itself. This page explains exactly how it works, and — more importantly — the line we draw so it never affects what we tell you.
How affiliate links work
When we link to a place you can buy a telescope or accessory, that link sometimes carries a code that tells the retailer the visit came from Skynocular. If you then buy, the retailer pays us a small percentage. The price you pay is exactly the same as if you'd gone there directly.
Not every link is an affiliate link, and we don't hide the ones that are — we'd rather just be straight with you about how the lights stay on.
Programs we participate in
Skynocular currently participates in the affiliate programs of:
- Unistellar — maker of smart telescopes, via their affiliate program.
- Agena Astro — a specialist astronomy retailer, via their affiliate program.
We also link to retailers we're not affiliated with when they're simply the best place to buy — because the point is to send you to the right store, not the most profitable one.
Our independence pledge
Here is the part that matters most:
- Affiliate revenue never changes our rankings, our Polaris Scores, our editorial opinions, or what we recommend.
- We don't accept paid placement, and we don't publish sponsored reviews.
- We don't reorder results, inflate a score, or bury a better option because of commission rates.
- If a product isn't worth your money, we'll say so — affiliate link or not.
Our recommendations are editorially curated and evaluated on the merits. For the full picture of how we research and score gear, see our Editorial Policy.
Prices and availability
Prices and stock change constantly, and we can't guarantee that a figure on Skynocular matches what you'll see at checkout. Always confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's own site before you buy.
Contact
Questions about how we make money? We're happy to answer — email hello@skynocular.com.