9 Best Telescopes For Kids, Teens, Family & Home Use
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A telescope for your kids or teenagers is one of the best ways to introduce them to the wonders of the cosmos. Moreover, a kid-friendly telescope presents a great way to spend quality family time at home or on a family outing in nature.
Whether you have a toddler, a 5, 6, 7, 8, 12-year old child, or if you have a teenager at home, this article can help you find the best telescope for your kid that your entire family can also enjoy.
I have divided this article into two sections to make your buying process easier.
- Best Telescopes For Families With 8 to 12-Year-Old Kids
- Best Telescopes For Families With Teenagers & Older Kids
That said, I would still recommend that you check out all the telescopes in this article irrespective of your child’s age. Children tend to learn quickly and outgrow things.
So, If you’re looking for a telescope for a 8-year-old child in your family, don’t limit your research only to the first section, have a look at the other sections of this article too. You may find a telescope better suited for your entire family.
1. Best Telescopes For 8 to 12-Year-Old Kids
2. Best Telescopes For Teenagers
Telescope Reviews
1. Celestron - 70mm Travel Scope
- BRIGHT, SHARP VIEWS ANYWHERE: Unlike many beginner telescopes, this quality refractor features fully coated glass lenses and a 70mm aperture for crisp, clear views of the Moon, planets, and daytime scenery—all in a lightweight, travel-ready design.
- PERFECT FIRST TELESCOPE FOR BEGINNERS: Designed for adults and kids to enjoy together, this beginner-friendly telescope sets up in minutes and delivers rewarding views with no prior experience required.
- EASY NO-TOOL SETUP: No complicated assembly or tools needed. The full-height tripod and telescope tube set up in seconds and pack neatly into the included backpack—so you’re always ready to observe on the go.
- DUAL EYEPIECES FOR VERSATILE VIEWS: Includes 20mm and 10mm eyepieces for wide and close-up views of celestial and terrestrial targets. Spot craters on the Moon at night or wildlife during the day.
- BONUS BACKPACK AND SOFTWARE: Includes a padded backpack with room for accessories, a finderscope, star diagonal, eyepieces, and a free download of Starry Night software to help you identify celestial objects and plan your next stargazing session.
Specifications
- Type: Reflector
- Aperture: 70mm (2.8″)
- Focal length: 400mm
- Focal Ratio: f/5.7
- Mount: Alt-az
- Eyepiece: 20mm, 10mm
- Magnification: 20x, 40x
- Weight: 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg)
The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope is an excellent choice of telescope for those seeking an easy-to-use, portable scope that can be used by everyone in their family.
The Celestron Travel Scope also comes pre-assembled and ready-to-use, so a kid can just grab it and go.
The 70mm aperture is well-suited for the purpose of this portable telescope and provides bright and crisp views given its size.
The Travel Scope 70 is an excellent daytime scope when you need it for terrestrial viewing for fun family activities like watching the birds, landscapes, or ships in the ocean.
The telescope even comes with a backpack that is large and padded so as to ensure that the telescope stays safe and free of damage.
The altazimuth mount of the telescope is very effective in tracking stars and comets smoothly and is a great addition.
It comes with 20mm and 10mm eyepieces that provide 20x and 40x magnifications.
The Travel Scope is easy enough for any family member to use at home. Children can easily see the moon and planets like Saturn and Jupiter and open star clusters.
This specific scope can be used by children from ages 7 and up. Young users will need supervision and guidance on how to use and care for the telescope.
It’s an easy-to-use and easy-to-setup telescope, and you don’t have to exert a lot of effort on the installation of this travel scope.
Moreover, you don’t even need any tools or equipment to assemble the scope before using it.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Perfect for home use
- Lightweight and highly portable
- Affordable Price
- Excellent optics
- Dual powered eyepieces
Cons
- Tripod is shaky when fully extended
2. Sarblue Mak60
- 【Sharp Crystal-clear Views】This beginner telescope is much more powerful than it looks! Thanks to its Maksutov-Cassegrain design, high-precision fully multi-coated optical glass lens, both spherical and chromatic abberrations are minimized. It not only delivers vivid high-contrast images for daytime viewing such as birds and wildlife, but also enables astronomical exploration including Saturn, Jupiter, craters on the Moon, etc.
- 【See How It Works Inside】The ingenious design of the detachable lid reveals the internal construction of the telescope and helps you understand how it works. Make it an appealing educational kit for the young minds. But keep in mind not to touch the mirrors with your fingers and avoid making it dusty.
- 【Compact and Portable】Maksutov-Cassegrain mechanism makes this telescope much more compact than a equivalent refractor or Newtonian. With a long focal length of 750mm, the tube length is only 200mm. Easy to pack and go on a adventure anytime.
- 【Superior Eyepiece】The included high-quality 20mm eyepiece brings 37.5X magnification, providing high-power sharp views on distant objects. You can see any targets more than 8 meters away. Accessories also include a phone adapter, a tabletop tripod and an erect-image diagonal.
- 【Satisfaction】This Mak telescope that combines power and simplicity requires no-tool super easy setup. It's a perfect gift for kids or adults astronomy beginners. You will also receive one-year hassel-free warranty and 24-hour friendly customer service.
Specifications
- Type: Maksutov-Cassegrain
- Aperture: 60mm(2.36″)
- Focal length: 750mm
- Eyepieces: 20mm
- Magnification: 37.5x
- Weight: 2.62 lbs. (1.18 kg)
The Sarblue 60mm is a compact budget telescope for kids and novices with a long focal length. It’s primarily optimized for the Moon, planets, and double stars, but will show you a few deep-sky objects too.
This Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is designed in such a way that the detachable lid on top reveals the internal construction of the telescope and helps children and beginners understand the intrinsic working details of the telescopes, making it perfect for a family with kids who are above 7 years.
Moreover, with a long focal length of 750mm, the tube length is only 200mm, which makes it easy to store or carry it along with you for your next family outing for great views of the night sky.
It also comes with a phone adapter, a tabletop tripod, and an erect-image diagonal.
The included phone adapter and erect-image diagonal make it very useful if your family and kids want to use the telescope for daytime activities such as birdwatching, or ocean viewing.
The telescope comes with a high-quality 20mm wide eyepiece which gives 37.5X magnification, providing high-power sharp views on distant objects.
The Maksutov-Cassegrain design of the telescope with a long focal length means you can achieve high enough magnifications for planetary viewing.
You can see the moon, Jupiter, Galilean moons, and the Great Red Spot on Jupiter’s surface.
Your whole family can also enjoy great views of Saturn, its rings, and the Cassini Division too.
This telescope is undoubtedly an easy-to-use powerful piece of instrument that kids and your whole family can enjoy at home or on a family vacation.
Pros
- Lightweight, easy to carry
- Great for iPhone/android astrophotography
- Good optics for the price
- Can be used as a spotting scope
- Can also be used for educational purposes
Cons
- Small aperture
- Not a very powerful telescope
3. NASA Lunar Telescope
- INSPIRE CURIOSITY – The NASA Lunar Telescope allows your child to see the moon in incredible detail; the perfect gift for girls and boys interested in space, the moon, and astronomy
- HIGH-QUALITY OPTICAL GLASS AND FINDER SCOPE – This easy-to-use telescope comes with a finder scope, low power, and high-power eyepieces; when used correctly, this combination will allow your child to easily locate the moon and then zoom in for a close-up view
- TABLETOP TRIPOD & SMOOTH MOUNT SYSTEM – Use the included tripod to steady your Lunar Telescope for optimal viewing, with a smooth mounting system that allows easy scanning of the entire lunar surface
- PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS – This telescope is easy to assemble and use, making it ideal for young scientists and parents to enjoy together
- AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS – Blue Marble, winner of the Toy Association's prestigious Toy of the Year Award, proudly develops products that foster education, imagination, and creativity, with a U.S. support team to ensure a stellar experience!
The NASA Lunar Telescope for Kids is an entry-level tabletop telescope aimed at children and beginners who are curious about space and want a simple, educational way to explore the night sky.
This telescope offers up to ~90× magnification, which is enough to see prominent lunar features like craters and maria, and it includes basic accessories to help young users get started.
The design is compact and lightweight, making it easy to set up on the included tabletop tripod, and the simple manual focus system makes it accessible even for younger observers. With both low-power and high-power eyepieces, kids can switch between wider views for locating objects and closer, more detailed views once the target is found.
Why We Recommend It
Great entry point for young stargazers: Designed specifically to be easy to assemble and use — ideal for children or beginners who have never used a telescope before.
Includes useful accessories: Comes with two eyepieces, a finder scope, and a tabletop tripod, giving kids variety in magnification and a stable viewing platform without extra purchases.
Perfect STEM gift: The NASA branding and educational guide help inspire curiosity about astronomy and science.
** Comfortable tabletop setup:** The included tripod and smooth mount let users easily scan the surface of the Moon and track objects across the sky
4. ESAKO 100× Magnification Kids Telescope
- Spark Interest: With a 400mm focal length and 40mm objective lens providing a crystal clear view of the moon, this telescope ignites children's interest in astronomy, making it the perfect gift for girls and boys fascinated by space and the moon.
- Dual Eyepiece: Comes with 20mm and 4mm eyepieces to meet various observation needs, offering a maximum magnification of 100x.
- Perfect for beginners: This telescope is equipped with a finder scope and built-in compass, making it easy to locate the Moon. With an easy setup requiring no tools and simple steps for installation, even kids can operate it by themselves.
- Portable and Lightweight: Designed to be lightweight and easy to carry, allowing kids to explore the night sky anytime, anywhere.
- 100% Satisfaction: We take pride in our after-sales support. If you have any questions or concerns about the product, please don't hesitate to contact us.
The ESAKO Telescope for Kids is a beginner-friendly refractor telescope designed to introduce children and novice stargazers to astronomy with an easy-to-use setup.
It features a 40 mm objective lens and 400 mm focal length, offering magnification up to about 100× with the included eyepieces — enough to bring features on the Moon and planets into view from a backyard setting.
This model comes with two eyepieces (20 mm and 4 mm) to achieve different magnification options, a finder scope to help aim the telescope, and a tabletop tripod that keeps the setup manageable for kids. It’s lightweight, portable, and requires no tools for assembly, which makes it an accessible first telescope or educational gift.
Why We Recommend It
Designed for beginners: Simple setup and manual focus let kids start observing quickly without confusion.
Dual eyepieces: Two eyepieces offer both lower and higher magnification options for lunar and bright object viewing.
Portable and lightweight: Easy to carry and position — great for backyard observing or travel.
Includes finder scope: Helps kids learn how to locate targets in the sky more easily.
5. Beginners & Kids 50 mm Refractor Telescope
- ➤【Clear Images Quality】--- 360mm focal length and 50mm aperture, fully coated optics glass enhance brightness and clarity, creates stunning images for visual feast even in low lighting, it can also protect your eyes.
- ➤【Easy to Assemble】--- This kid telescope is lightweight and portable, you can install all the accessories in ten minutes, no extra tools are needed. The adjustable aluminum tripod ensures a steady base for different view angles.
- ➤【Variable Magnification】--- Come with 2 interchangeable eyepieces(60X,18X) and 1.5X erecting eyepiece, you can set the magnification as 60X,18X,90X,27X, increase viewing power, make locating objects easily.
- ➤【Best Gift for Kids】--- Our starter telescope is the perfect educational present for kids to develop their curiosity in exploring the world, allow the kids to observe the craters of the moon, view wildlife in nature and more! It can also be used as a display in room.
- ➤【100% Satisfaction Guarantee】--- We provide 12-month quality guarantee, If you have any question about our beginner telescope, please feel free to contact us anytime, we guarantee a satisfactory solution for you in 24 hours.
The Beginners & Kids Astronomical Refractor Telescope is a compact and portable entry-level telescope designed to spark interest in astronomy and skywatching.
With a 50 mm aperture and 360 mm focal length, it delivers enough light to view the Moon’s craters, bright planets, and some terrestrial subjects with reasonable clarity. The fully coated optics help enhance brightness and reduce glare for clearer visuals given its modest specifications.
This telescope comes with two interchangeable eyepieces plus a 1.5× Barlow lens, giving users multiple magnification options to experiment with. An adjustable aluminum tripod and a simple alt-azimuth mount make setup quick and easy — great for children and beginners who are using a telescope for the first time.
Why We Recommend It
Easy to set up and use: The lightweight design and tool-free assembly make it ideal for kids and first-time stargazers.
Multiple magnification options: With two eyepieces and a Barlow lens, you get flexibility for lunar close-ups or wider views.
Portable and compact: Easy to take outdoors for night sky observing or daytime terrestrial viewing.
Good for hands-on learning: Helps introduce basic telescope use and sky navigation without overwhelming complexity.
6. Celestron - NexStar 4SE Telescope
- ADVANCED TECH MEETS ICONIC DESIGN: The NexStar 4SE pairs Celestron’s legendary orange tube with a fully computerized GoTo system—ideal for those ready to step up from manual scopes and explore more of the night sky with precision and ease.
- 4-INCH MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN OPTICS: The 4" aperture, combined with high-contrast, long focal length optics, delivers sharp views of the Moon and planets, while remaining compact and easy to transport.
- FULLY AUTOMATED GoTo MOUNT WITH NEXSTAR+ HAND CONTROL: Use the NexStar+ hand control to select from a 40,000+ object database. The computerized mount then automatically slews to your target and tracks it—no star charts or manual alignment needed.
- FAST & EASY ALIGNMENT WITH SKYALIGN TECHNOLOGY: SkyAlign gets you observing fast—just center any three bright stars or planets, even if you don’t know their names. The system then calculates your position and aligns the mount in minutes.
- BUILT-IN WEDGE FOR ASTROIMAGING: Capture long-exposure images of the night sky—perfect for entry-level astrophotography. The integrated wedge lets you polar align the mount, reducing field rotation for improved tracking during imaging.
Specifications
- Type: Maksutov Cassegrain
- Aperture: 102 mm / 4.1″
- Focal length: 1325 mm
- Focal Ratio: f/13
- Mount: Motorized; Alt-Azimuth Single Fork
- Eyepiece: 25mm
- Weight: 21.0 lb (9.5 kg)
Among smaller and more portable scopes, the Celestron NexStar 4SE is regarded as one of the best-computerized telescopes for teenagers.
Celestron’s NexStar 4SE is a great choice telescope for an older kid who simply wants to enjoy views of the moon, stars and planets without the hassle and fuss of complicated setup, collimation, or locating and tracking objects manually.
Celestron has equipped the 4SE with its SkyAlign system for pointing and tracking the 40,000 objects in its database.
You can select any sky object from its exhaustive database and the motorized mount will slew the telescope around to point at the object you’ve chosen.
Once in your eyepiece, the motor will track it as it moves across the sky so you don’t lose sight of it.
You can read the Celestron NexStar 4SE full-length review here.
By using a simple controller and entering in the right coordinates, you can track pretty much any object in the night sky – this is why it’s so commonly recommended for kids and beginners to start with a telescope like this. It eliminates the need to spend ages working out how to find a specific star.
Sadly, the 4” aperture of this telescope is too small to show you all the 40,000 objects in the database. But it can show you crisp views of the moon and planets.
You can easily see lunar details as well as the phases of Venus and Mercury. Jupiter’s cloud belts, polar and equatorial zones, and Great Red Spot are visible, and its four largest moons, the Galilean Moons too can be seen.
Saturn’s rings and the Cassini division too are clearly visible with the Celestron NexStar 4SE.
If you want to get your feet wet with astrophotography, the 4SE has a camera control option. It helps you take a series of long-duration exposures with your CCD or DSLR camera.
The 4SE is small and light, and the tripod folds so easily, so an older kid or a teenager can easily carry it to their favorite viewing spot.
Pros
- Very sharp optics
- Quality stable mount
- Decent size aperture
- Good quality eyepiece
- No collimation required
Cons
Drains batteries quickly
7. Celestron - AstroMaster 130EQ
- POWERFUL TELESCOPE FOR ASTRONOMY BEGINNERS: The AstroMaster 130EQ delivers sharp optics, a stable equatorial mount, and smooth manual controls, making it the top choice for beginners ready to explore the night sky.
- HIGH-QUALITY 130MM OPTICS: Enjoy views through the 130mm (5”) Newtonian reflector, which features high-quality aluminum and SiO₂ coatings and enough light-gathering ability to view all the best celestial objects.
- SMOOTH, ACCURATE POINTING: Effortlessly aim and center your target using the two slow-motion control knobs for right ascension and declination whether you’re observing planets or deep-sky objects.
- QUICK SETUP: With just a few key parts to assemble, you can go from box to backyard in minutes—no tools required. The sturdy, adjustable tripod provides stable, comfortable viewing tailored to your height, perfect for adults or kids, standing or seated.
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: 20mm eyepiece with built-in erect image corrector, 10mm eyepiece, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope. You'll also receive a FREE download of one of the top-rated astronomy software programs.
Specifications
- Type: Reflector
- Aperture: 130 mm(5.1″)
- Focal length: 650mm
- Focal Ratio: f/5
- Mount: Equatorial
- Eyepiece: 20mm, 10mm
- Magnification: 32.5x, 65x
- Weight: 28.0 lbs.(12.7 kg)
Celestron’s AstroMaster 130EQ 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope features a 650mm focal length and an oversized parabolic mirror that produce detailed images of the Moon, clear views of the planets, and the ability to resolve distant objects such as nebulae and galaxies.
The kids and teenagers are going to love its 5-inch large aperture.
The kinds of objects this telescope is going to be best at spotting are going to be distant stars, star clusters, nebula, other galaxies, and intergalactic dust clouds.
You can see the moon, Jupiter, it’s red spot, and even its cloud bands. Saturn’s rings and the color of the planet are also visible at the max magnification.
You’ll be able to make out a good amount of detail on mars, brighter Nebulae, star clusters, Andromeda, and a few other galaxies.
The AstroMaster 130EQ comes with a CG-3 equatorial mount, two eyepieces – a 20mm and 10mm – which work with the optical system to provide magnifications and 33x and 65x, red-dot finderscope, and a sturdy stainless steel tripod.
A manual is also supplied, ensuring that the skywatcher can set up and collimate the instrument with ease and assembly takes no more than about 20 minutes.
Using the included Starry Night software, teenagers and children can learn more about different sky objects, our solar system, and the night sky, as well as what you have to do on your next star-gazing session.
his scope weighs about 20lbs when assembled, which makes it quite portable and easy to carry for an older kid on a family outing.
The main advantage of it is, of course, the price, so it’s affordable for a beginner or something that your entire family can use at home. And for this price, you get a grown-up telescope that will serve you for many years.
Pros
- Very good optics
- Decently priced telescope
- Suitable for beginners as well as advanced users
- Great light gathering ability
- Lightweight and simple to use
Cons
- Doesn’t come with an instruction manual
- Not many included accessories
8. Celestron – StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ
- SMARTPHONE-POWERED SKY TOUR: No experience needed! Just dock your phone, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and follow the on-screen arrows to locate stars, planets, nebulae, and more.
- PATENTED STARSENSE TECHNOLOGY: Unlike other astronomy apps, StarSense Explorer uses sky recognition technology to turn your phone into a celestial navigation system, analyzing star patterns overhead to pinpoint your telescope’s position.
- TONIGHT’S BEST TARGETS, INSTANTLY: The app generates a curated list of the top objects to see based on your time and location. See planets, bright nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters from the city—and even more from dark skies.
- SIMPLE SETUP, SMOOTH TRACKING: Features a manual altazimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls. Follow the on-screen arrows to your target; when the bullseye turns green, you can view it clearly through the eyepiece.
- 102MM REFRACTOR WITH IMPRESSIVE VIEWS: The 4" Refractor with high-reflectivity coatings delivers sharp, vivid views of the Moon, planets like Jupiter and Saturn, and deep-sky favorites like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy.
Specifications
- Type: Achromatic refractor
- Aperture: 4” (102 mm)
- Focal length: 25” (660 mm)
- Focal ratio: f/6.5
- Mount type: Alt-azimuth
- Highest useful magnification: 240x
- Lowest useful magnification: 16x
- Weight: 14.2 lbs. (6.44 kg)
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smart Refractor Telescope is a 102mm refractor telescope with a classic altazimuth mount that is equipped with their newest StarSense technology package.
This telescope is perfect for all beginners, including kids ages 10 and up, and also experienced amateur astronomers looking for a grab-and-go telescope.
StarSense technology works off your smartphone rather than an internal database.
Once you hook your phone up to the StarSense dock, you launch the app and sync your phone up to the telescope.
Once everything is synced up, the app will automatically queue up a list of readily visible objects based on a bunch of information.
That includes your location, the season, and the current position of all celestial objects.
After you pick an object, on your phone, from the list of best visible objects, the app will guide you to the object using a system of arrows.
Once the telescope is manually aligned, your screen will let you know and you can begin viewing.
Older kids and teenagers will find this technology extremely fascinating and useful at the same time.
This refractor scope can also double as a terrestrial scope with the help of the included erect image diagonal.
As a very lightweight setup, the DX 102 will be a joy to take to a different location. It’s rather compact and lightweight, and it can be used by older children that have an interest in astronomy.
The mount is a simple manual alt-azimuth mount. It’s easy to use for beginners, has slow-motion controls on both axes, and comes with the bracket needed to dock the smartphone.
With this telescope, you get Kellner 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces providing 26x and 66x magnification.
Pros
- Easy to use
- StarSense Explorer technology is helpful in locating targets
- Decent size aperture
- Versatile and durable design
Cons
- New technology may sometimes have some bugs
- Chromatic aberration
9. Celestron Inspire 100AZ
- Easiest setup of any entry level scope. With the folding accessory tray you just pop the tripod legs open, turn the lock knob and you’re ready to go.
- Bold new design - The main telescope lens cap comes with a fully integrated smartphone adapter built-in, perfect for the budding astrophotography.
- Red LED flashlight - Stowed in the center of the mount head, the flashlight can be used to gently illuminate the accessory tray or can be removed for use as a spotlight when needed.
- Focus micrometer - Allows quick return to a specific focus point for specific targets (bird nests, infinity focus, etc.)
- The asymmetrical mount design offers light weight and incredible stability. Erect image optics enables a fully correct image for easy viewing day or night, terrestrial or astronomical.
Specifications
- Type: Refractor
- Aperture: 100mm(3.9″)
- Focal length: 660mm
- Focal Ratio: f/6.6
- Mount: Manual; Alt-Azimuth
- Eyepiece: 20mm, 10mm
- Magnification: 33x, 66x
- Weight: 20 lbs.
The Celestron Inspire 100AZ offers a complete observing package with a 100mm aperture, a focal length of 660mm, and plenty of features at a reasonable cost.
This telescope would appeal to teenagers and younger astronomers, in particular, as it’s not only affordable but also attractively designed.
It also comes with an Amici prism for correct-image orientation viewing for instant suitability for terrestrial use.
It provides great visuals of the moon and can also be captured with a smartphone thanks to its built-in smartphone adapter.
The 4” aperture is large enough to show you great views of the planets and some of their features like the Giant Red Spot on Jupiter and some of its cloud bands and moons.
You can also see Saturn, some moons, and the Cassini Division.
The phases of Venus and Mars can be observed, but Uranus and Neptune will only be visible as dots.
The moon is fascinating to look at through the Inspire telescope with clear resolution and good contrast.
The telescope has an altazimuth mount that moves very smoothly and has functional settings that allow for you to cruise around the night sky with fluid ease or hone in a specific spot with the same amount of precision.
The mount sits on a tripod that can be adjusted for various heights.
This telescope comes with two eyepieces; 10mm and 20mm, providing magnifications of 66x and 33x respectively.
Completing the package is a useful red light LED torch, accessory tray/leg spreader, and a dual-purpose dust cap.
The older kids and teenagers in your family will love the telescope’s built-in smartphone adapter which they can use to take pictures of the moon and planets, as well as the terrestrial objects.
The included StarPointer Pro red dot finder projects a reticule onto the view, making it easy to align with Solar System objects or bright stars.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Minimal maintenance required
- Built-in smartphone adapter
- Decent accessories
- Simple to set up and disassemble
- Good looking telescope
Cons
- Shaky tripod
- May suffer from chromatic aberration
Important Features of a Telescope
There are various features and functionalities of a telescope, but the four main elements of a telescope matter the most.
- Aperture
- Focal Length
- Focal Ratio
- Magnification
1. Aperture
Aperture is the diameter, usually measured in millimeters, of the objective (primary) lens or mirror of the telescope. Essentially, the larger the aperture, the brighter images will appear, and the deeper into space you will be able to see.
2. Focal Length
Focal length is the measurement in millimeters from the objective to the eyepiece and it determines the magnification of an object when you pair your telescope with an eyepiece. This is why eyepieces are listed with millimeter measurements the same way focal lengths are listed with millimeter measurements.
3. Focal Ratio
The focal ratio is the focal length divided by the aperture size of the telescope. A long focal ratio implies higher magnification and a narrower field of view with a given eyepiece, which is great for observing the moon and planets and double stars.
For such objects, a focal ratio of f/10 or more is ideal. But if you want to see wide views of star clusters, galaxies, and the Milky Way through your best telescope for home use then a lower focal ratio is better.
You get less magnification, but you see more of the sky. The wide field telescopes have a focal ratio of f/7 or less.
4. Magnification
To get an image suitable for observing with our eyes, a telescope uses a second lens, or a collection of lenses, called an eyepiece at the focal plane. The eyepiece magnifies the image from the objective. The eyepiece also has a focal length.
The magnification of a telescope and eyepiece is very simple to calculate. If the focal length of the objective is “F” and the focal length of the eyepiece is “f”, then the magnification of the telescope/eyepiece combination is F/f.
For example, if a telescope has an objective lens with a focal length of 1200 mm (about 48”) and it has an eyepiece of the focal length of 25 mm (about 1”), then it will have a magnification of 1200/25=48x. Nearly all telescopes allow you to change eyepieces to get different magnifications.
Types of Telescopes
While telescopes come in many different forms, there are three general types to choose from – Reflector, Refractor, & Catadioptric or compound telescopes.
The reflector makes use of mirrors while the refractor utilizes lenses as their optical material, and catadioptric uses both mirrors and lenses.
Reflector Telescopes
The reflector uses glossy surfaced mirrors to gather light, after which it then cast a reflection of the image. The light collected at the rear mirror is transmitted into the eyepiece.
Refractor Telescopes
The refractors utilize various lenses to gather the light which it then reflects to the eyepiece. Refractors are able to transmit 90% of the light rallied in them. They are long-lasting and easy to maintain.
Since refractors require almost no maintenance and are easy to maintain, they are the best kind of telescopes for a kid or the whole family.
Catadioptric Telescopes
Compound telescopes use both lenses and mirrors to gather light, and they’re quite portable because their tubes are more compact and lighter. The most popular designs are Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Cassegrains.
Catadipotrics have a slight learning curve so these are the best telescopes for teens and older children.
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How To Choose a Telescope For Kids
Looking at the night sky can be an inspiring moment for not just for youngsters but for the entire family, and the right telescope can drive an interest in skywatching for a lifetime.
Children can be especially awed by the power of a telescope. Instead of reading dry facts about space in their school textbooks, they can turn astronomy into a living subject right before their eyes.
Moreover, with a good telescope for the family, stargazing from your home’s backyard or balcony can be one of the most enjoyable things you can do with your entire family.
Here are a few things that you should consider before picking out a telescope that is perfectly suitable for your child and the entire family.
Factors to consider when buying the Best Telescope for Kids
1. Your kid’s & family’s expectations
When you’re trying to pick the best telescope for your kid and the family, the first thing to consider is what exactly do you expect from the telescope. How you, your child, and your family are going to use it.
You also need to ask yourself how long do you or your child intend to use the telescope.
Toy telescopes might be better for entertainment purposes but it will only have a useful life of two or three years before kids outgrow them. A real telescope, on the other hand, will be more useful and it will last longer.
Remember that what a 12-year-old kid needs from a telescope is different from that of a 6-year-old.
2. Quality of the telescope
The quality of the telescope directly depends on its price. The more you spend on a telescope, the better quality scope you can expect to buy.
But, since you are going to buy a telescope for your child, you don’t need a professional telescope that might burn a hole in your pocket. You only require one that will fulfill the needs of your family.
That said, I highly recommend avoiding toy telescopes, department store telescopes, and really anything you might find at a general retail store.
3. Included Accessories
Since you are buying a telescope for your kid, you are not going to need a lot of accessories. So, don’t waste your money on buying a telescope that comes with a lot of additional things.
When it comes to essential accessories, all you need in a good family-friendly telescope are – 1-2 eyepieces, tripod, and tools for telescope assembly.
Most models that I have picked for this list of the best telescopes for kids & families come with at least 2 eyepieces, a carry bag, tripod, assembly tools, smartphone adapter, and a Barlow lens.
4. Weight & Portability
Since stargazing and celestial adventures take place outdoors, you will need a telescope that your kid or teenager can easily carry and move outside and store away afterwards.
Most of the telescopes are light and compact. It is the mounts, steel tripods, counter weights, and additional accessories that make the entire set bulky.
If you plan to take the telescope out into the yard, you’ll want one which can be mounted on a tripod.
If your child might want to take their telescope to camp, on a camping trip, or any other place away from home, you’ll need to ensure the telescope is easily portable.
Safety Tips for Kids When Using a Telescope
When buying a telescope for kids, you must brief them on the following safety aspects before allowing them to use it without any supervision.
Instruct the children to never look directly at the sun through the telescope without using a solar filter. This can result in very serious damage to their eyes.
Ask the children to use a torch with a red light at night (this prevents you from losing your night vision). Some shielded lighting (or Moon) helps you move around more safely.
Make sure that children never use the telescope near a pool, steps, or edge of a building without supervision.
Tips For Maintaining a Kid’s Telescope
If you’re purchasing one of the refractor telescopes in this review, you don’t have to worry about maintaining your telescope.
There’s no need for calibrating mirrors or lenses, and the lens chamber comes sealed against penetration by dust and water.
The most you’ll need to do to maintain your telescope is to wipe the lenses with a microfiber cloth before and after every viewing session.
Wipe down the body of the telescope using a damp cloth. Make sure you only clean the lenses with a microfiber cloth.
Using a cloth with stiff materials may scratch the lens, ruining your telescope.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
At what age can a child use a telescope?
Children from the age of four can start using a telescope under parental guidance and supervision. Four-year-old children can use what are known as toy telescopes while kids who are seven years old and up can use the “real” telescopes as they will have the ability to set them up and they can understand how to use them.
Should you buy a kid’s telescope instead of a regular telescope?
If you have a toddler, only then does it make sense to buy a kid’s toy telescope, as you don’t have to invest much in it. Toy telescopes don’t last too long, and a child outgrows it quickly.
A regular small telescope is a better option if your child and the entire family are interested in astronomy. Once you buy a regular telescope for the whole family, you’re set for a few years, and you don’t need to upgrade your telescope by buying a new one.
What is a good starter telescope for a child?
The Celestron – 70mm Travel Scope is a good starter telescope for a child. It is easy-to-setup and use and has pretty decent optics considering its low price. Moreover, it comes from a reputed brand which has been in the telescope market for decades.
What is the difference between a terrestrial and celestial telescope?
A celestial telescope can only be used at night to observe celestial objects’ night sky. A celestial telescope typically produces images that are inverted, which is not an issue when observing the moon or the planets.
A terrestrial telescope, on the other hand, produces images that are not inverted, which is essential for viewing terrestrial land-based objects.
A terrestrial telescope has an erect image diagonal which helps it in producing right-side-up images when viewing distant land-based objects.
Can adults use telescopes for kids?
Yes, telescopes for kids can be used by adults. Kids’ telescopes are also fully-functioning real telescopes that can be used by everyone in the family including adults. They are typically less powerful than telescopes designed for advanced users, so don’t expect to see crisp views of deep-sky objects.
How do I choose a telescope for kids?
When choosing a telescope for kids, make sure that the telescope is easy-to-setup and can be used with minimum supervision. A kid’s telescope should be lightweight and should be able to withstand a little bit of knocking around. This is the reason why refractor telescopes are the best telescopes for children.
Can a 5-year-old use a telescope?
Yes, a 5-year-old child can start using a telescope under parental supervision. Make sure that the telescope isn’t too heavy or complicated to use.
What is a good magnification for a kid’s telescope?
A 70mm telescope with a highest useful magnification of 160x is good enough for a kid’s telescope.
Which telescope is best for home use?
The Celestron – StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is a great telescope for home use. You can link your smartphone to the telescope which makes it extremely easy to locate objects in the sky. This is a perfect smartphone-enabled telescope for beginners or teenagers to use at home.
What is the most powerful telescope for home use?
The Celestron – AstroMaster 130EQ on our list is quite a powerful telescope for home use. It’s a powerful reflector telescope for astronomy beginners. It features fully-coated glass optics, a large 130mm aperture, a sturdy and lightweight frame, 2 eyepieces, a StarPointer red dot finderscope, and an adjustable tripod.
How do I choose a telescope for my home?
The best telescope for home is one that guides you and your family through the process of learning the night sky in a straightforward and gratifying way. Make sure the telescope for home use has a decent aperture size, focal length, focal ratio, and a good amount of useful magnification.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you in finding your best telescope for kids that you can use along with your family and friends and organize stargazing parties right in your home’s backyard.
Remember that a good telescope for kids needs to be easy to use, effective (i.e. you can see exciting stuff through it), robust, and not too expensive.
So, to nurture your child’s inquisitive nature get them a telescope that your whole family can enjoy at home. You won’t regret it. You’ll be opening up a whole new world to them.
Written by:
Chandrashekhara Rao
I grew up in a rural community with a dark sky, and that is where I learned to appreciate planets and stars at an early age. I have been fascinated with all things astronomical since I was a kid and started with a cheap-and-cheerful 60mm refractor on a wobbly tripod.
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