How are these for beginner star gazing with a tripod?

You will need a tripod adapter, which is sold separately. The usual recommendation for beginners is to get 10x50 because they are versatile - you can hold them steady, they have a wide field of view, and you get a bright image in dark skies. With 12x they will be a bit harder to focus correctly and hold steady, and the image will be slightly darker - but if you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, or your pupils just don't dilate enough to take in the extra light, you won't see a difference. The benefit of 12x is more detail on the Moon and enhanced ability to distinguish objects that aren't stars.On a tripod, stability is less of an issue, and you can go to higher zoom and heavier binoculars - you might even consider a 15x70 or 25x70 pair. The downside to a tripod is it can get uncomfortable trying to position yourself to look at certain parts of the sky. If you decide to graduate to big binoculars or a telescope later, a handheld 10x or 12x50 pair of binoculars will still be useful for spotting, and for when you just don't want to haul tripods and other kit around.

ASIN	B00B7LQC4O
Best Sellers Rank	#1,644 in Camera & Photo Products ( See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products ) #800 in Binoculars
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (275)
Date First Available	January 29, 2013
Department	unisex-adult
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Item Weight	2.86 pounds
Item model number	8249
Manufacturer	Nikon Sport Optics
Product Dimensions	8.58 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches

8249 ACULON A211 12x50 Binocular (Black)

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