10 Best Telescopes of 2026 For All Budgets: US Edition
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Trying to find the best telescope in the US can be pretty intimidating, especially if you’re new to the field of astronomy.
Where do you start? How much should you spend? Will it break easily? And what do any of the specifications mean?
If you visit any of the online or brick & mortar telescope retailers in the US without doing proper research, you’ll be bombarded with so many choices that finding water on Mars would seem like an easier task than choosing your best telescope.
There are so many options, jargon, and so many accessories and extras, that most beginners have no idea where to start.
So to make your lives easier, we’ve researched and reviewed the 12 best telescopes available in the market today.
We’ve divided this article into two sections:
1. Best Telescopes For Beginners & Intermediates
These are budget, entry-level telescopes that cost less than $500. While some of the telescopes in this section are suitable for novices, kids, and beginners, there are some models that are best for more experienced, intermediate users.
2. Best Telescopes For Professionals & Advanced Users
This section has telescopes for those who have a little more money to spend and are looking for a good quality telescope with a large aperture. Most telescopes in this section cater to either the beginners looking for a long-term telescope or advanced users who want a more powerful telescope for crisp image quality or they want to dabble in deep-sky astrophotography.
1. Best Telescopes For Beginners & Intermediates
2. Best Telescopes For Professionals & Advanced Users
Best Telescopes - Reviews
1. Celestron - PowerSeeker 127EQ
- PERFECT ENTRY-LEVEL TELESCOPE: The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is an easy-to-use and powerful telescope. This 127mm Newtonian Reflector offers enough light gathering ability to see planets, the Moon's craters, distant stars, the Orion Nebula, and more.
- MANUAL GERMAN EQUATORIAL MOUNT: With its slow-motion altitude rod, the German Equatorial mount allows you to navigate the sky with ease. Find celestial objects quickly and follow them smoothly & accurately as they appear to drift across the night sky.
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: The ideal telescope for adults and kids to use together, the PowerSeeker is compact, lightweight, and portable. Take it to your favorite campsite, a dark sky observing site, or simply the backyard.
- MULTIPLE ACCESSORIES: The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope comes with 2 quality eyepieces (20mm and 4mm) plus a 3x Barlow lens to triple the power of each. You'll also receive a FREE download of one of the top-rated astronomy software programs.
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in California since 1960. Your purchase includes a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.
Specifications
- Type: Reflector
- Aperture: 127 mm(5″)
- Focal length: 1000mm
- Focal Ratio: f/8
- Mount: German Equatorial
- Eyepiece: 20mm, 4mm
- Magnification: 50x, 250x
- Weight: 22.0 lbs.(10.0 kg)
The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ telescope is one of the most popular beginner’s telescopes in the United States, and with good reason.
The telescope packs a good aperture (5”), premium quality features, it’s built like a wall of bricks, and its price is in a range that makes it one of the best budget telescopes on our list.
So if you’re a beginner looking for a large aperture at a low price, then, 127EQ reflector is the telescope for you.
With its 5” primary mirror, you can easily use magnifications as high as 250x (without the images becoming blurry) and anything up to 200x is within easy reach of this telescope.
The telescope has a focal ratio is f/8 which is very moderate but it is perfect for beginners.
The telescope comes with two eyepieces (4mm and 20mm) and a 3x Barlow Lens.
The 4mm eyepiece is quite frankly a bit too strong for this scope, as it provides a whopping 250x magnification.
The 20mm piece, on the other hand, comes with a more practical and useful 50x magnification power.
The 3x Barlow lens threefold increases the magnification for each of your eyepieces.
Why We Recommend It
The Celestron 127EQ is great for a family or beginner backyard astronomer who wants to get a taste of both the solar system and some deep space sights.
The Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ will be able to effectively see all of the favorite sights such as the moon, Jupiter, and its moons as well as Saturn and the rings of Saturn.
In addition to all of that, with the 5” aperture, it will also be able to catch some unique glimpses of brighter deep space galaxies and star clusters.
This telescope is capable of giving you magnificent views of the moon’s mountain ranges and craters.
The 127EQ comes with a German equatorial mount. This mount is designed to be aligned with the equator which then allows for easy tracking of objects during the night.
The package includes two eyepieces, a 3x Barlow lens, access to the Starry Night software, and a two-year warranty.
Pros
- Budget telescope
- Large aperture
- The most bang for your buck
- Designed for beginners and novices
- Includes a solid mount and good accessories
Cons
- Needs to be collimated
- Wobbly mount
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 Mak60 is a great bargain. You get a small in size but big in performance telescope that is easy to travel with.
Keep in mind that this is a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope that is designed to offer superb optical performance.
The design corrects the known optical problems such as coma (found in reflector telescopes) while also correcting chromatic aberration (found in refractors). The result is high-contrast detailed views of both terrestrial and celestial targets.
This telescope has a 60mm aperture, f/12.5 focal ratio, and a focal length of 800mm.
This extremely portable telescope comes with a right-angle erecting prism, a solid metal tabletop tripod, an eyepiece, and a cellphone adapter/holder.
The 20mm Kellner eyepiece yields a magnification of 40x.
The eyepiece is good and fits the cell phone adapter snugly. The image, when you look through it directly, has a lot of crispness, color, and detail.
Also, because of the telescope’s Maksutov Cassegrain design, there is no image distortion or optical aberrations and the image produced is clear and crisp.
The tripod is sturdy and easy to use. You can also attach it to any tripod that uses standard photographic thread.
Quite frankly, the Sarblue Mak60 Mak-Cass telescope can give any 70 or 80mm a run for their money.
Why We Recommend It
The Sarblue 60mm is a compact budget telescope for children and beginners 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.
The Maksutov-Cassegrain design of the telescope with a long focal length means you can achieve high enough magnifications for planetary viewing.
Jupiter and Saturn appear as quite small discs through the 20mm eyepiece, though are still clearly identifiable.
Jupiter’s Galilean moons can be seen easily as dots and you can see the Great Red Spot. Saturn’s rings and Cassini Division can be seen.
Swapping in a 6mm Plossl eyepiece (125x magnification) provides much better views of Jupiter’s bands and of Saturn’s rings.
The right-angle erecting prism makes it a great terrestrial scope that you can use during the daytime to look at the landscapes, wildlife, birds, people or buildings, and architecture.
You can use the telescope’s smartphone adapter for taking photos of the Moon or terrestrial objects, and it fits most smaller 1.25” eyepieces, such as the included 20mm, if you take the eye guards off.
Pros
- Amazing optical quality
- Extremely portable
- Clear and detailed images
- Affordable
- Perfect for educational purposes
- Can be used for smartphone astrophotography
Cons
- Lightweight
- Mount could be better
- Small aperture
3. Celestron - NexStar 6SE Telescope
- ADVANCED TECH MEETS ICONIC DESIGN: The NexStar 6SE 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.
- 6-INCH SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN OPTICS: The large 6" aperture gathers enough light to reveal fine lunar details, cloud bands on Jupiter, and deep-sky objects like galaxies and globular clusters—all in a compact, portable form factor.
- 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.
- COMPATIBLE WITH CELESTRON ACCESSORIES: Easily upgrade your setup with all our latest accessories to enhance automation, wireless control, or location accuracy as your skills grow.
Specifications
- Optical design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Aperture: 150 mm (5.91)
- Focal length: 1499 mm (59)
- Focal ratio: f/10
- Eyepiece focal length: 25 mm (60x)
- Total kit weight: 21 lbs. (9.53 kg)
- Mount type: Single-arm fork, alt-azimuth , GoTo
The Celestron NexStar 6SE is an all-arounder, suitable for both newcomers to astronomy and seasoned observers with a thorough understanding of the night sky.
The 6” primary aperture on this Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is an excellent size for capturing the wonders of our Solar system and many deep-sky objects.
The telescope requires very little collimation which makes the Nexstar 6SE more user-friendly and less intimidating for first-time astronomers.
It comes with a 25mm Plössl eyepiece which provides a magnification of 60x.
The NexStar 6SE has amazing optical performance, especially for a telescope in this price range.
At 1500mm focal length, the 6SE has a wide field of view and is, therefore, more flexible and comfortable for viewing.
You can read a full detailed review of the Celestron NexStar 6SE here.
When using this telescope, there are no optical aberrations, coma, or color fringing to be found.
Image contrast is great for a compound scope (the secondary mirror in a compound and other reflectors decreases contrast), and the internal baffling to prevent reflections in the tube is also very effective. You end up with a bright, clear, and sharp image at the eyepiece.
The mount that comes with the NexStar 6SE is a unique single fork alt-az mount that’s a perfect complement to the optical tube.
The mount has 2″ stainless steel tripod legs, 9 rotational speeds, and a payload capacity of 12 lbs. It’s also remarkably light in terms of its aperture-to-weight ratio, so it’s naturally portable and easier to carry.
Why We Recommend It
One of the most significant barriers to astronomy is learning how to navigate the night sky.
Bundled in the 6SE Package is a Celestron NexStar go-to fork mount.
The NexStar 6SE’s alignment technology eliminates the hassle of calibrating the instrument and, once completed, the GoTo system is extremely accurate at locating targets at the touch of a button.
The go-to capability is a very handy feature once the initial learning curve of alignment is overcome.
The hand controller contains over 40,000 celestial objects in its database and even has storage for user-input objects.
The NexStar 6SE is a very capable observing instrument, providing bright and detailed views of both deep-sky and Solar System objects.
Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars (at opposition) can be seen in great detail, with gaps between Saturn’s rings, sharp cloud bands on Jupiter, and polar ice caps on Mars. The phases of both Mercury and Venus can also be seen.
Neptune and Uranus can be seen as small, colored points in the night sky.
Outside the Solar System, you can expect to see a lot of open star clusters like M35, M11, and M67.
You can also see small planetary nebulae, such as M57, Caldwell 39, or Caldwell 63.
Pros
- No color fringing or coma
- Excellent multi-coated optics
- Limited astrophotography
- Powerful telescope
- Excellent mix of power, technology, and affordability
Cons
- The mount drains away batteries quickly
- Come with only 1 eyepiece
4. Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ App-Enabled Telescope
- 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 altitude slow motion adjustment with a sliding rod. Follow the on-screen arrows to your target; when the bullseye turns green, you can view it clearly through the eyepiece.
- 114MM REFLECTOR WITH IMPRESSIVE VIEWS: The 4.5" Newtonian reflector 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.
The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is an app-assisted Newtonian reflector telescope designed to make star-hopping and finding celestial targets much easier using your smartphone.
It combines a 114 mm (4.5″) aperture reflector with Celestron’s StarSense Explorer technology, which uses your phone’s camera and a specialized app to analyze the night sky and guide you where to point the telescope.
Instead of a computerized mount, this model uses a manual alt-azimuth mount with a slow-motion control rod and an adjustable tripod.
After a quick alignment with the StarSense Explorer app, the app generates a list of celestial objects currently visible and shows on-screen arrows that help you “navigate” the telescope toward your selected target — like a GPS for the night sky.
Why We Recommend It
Innovative app-guided setup: StarSense technology makes finding celestial objects much more intuitive than manual star charts.
Great for beginners: Helps newcomers learn the sky while reducing frustration with traditional “star hopping.”
Generous aperture for the price: The 114 mm objective gathers decent light for pleasing views of the Moon, Jupiter’s moons, and Saturn’s rings.
Complete starter kit: Comes with eyepieces, Barlow lens, StarPointer red-dot finderscope, and tripod — everything needed to begin observing.
5. Gskyer 70mm Telescope
- Superior Optics: 400mm(f/5.7) focal length and 70mm aperture, fully coated optics glass lens with high transmission coatings creates stunning images and protect your eyes. Perfect full positive telescope for astronomers to explore stars and moon.
- Magnification: Come with two replaceable eyepieces and one 3x Barlow lens.3x Barlow lens trebles the magnifying power of each eyepiece. 5x24 finder scope with mounting bracket and cross-hair lines inside make locating objects easily.
- Wireless Remote: This refractor telescope includes one smart phone adapter and one Wireless camera remote to explore the nature of the world easily through the screen and take amazing celestial images.
- Adjustable Tripod: This telescope allows for many different viewing positions with a adjustable aluminum alloy tripod and a carry bag, the telescope and tripod can fit inside the bag for easy traveling and storage.
- Satisfaction: Buy with confidence from a leading manufacturer.
Specifications
- Type: Refractor
- Aperture: 70mm (2.75″)
- Focal length: 400mm
- Focal Ratio: f/5.7
- Mount: Alt-Azimuth
- Eyepiece: 25mm, 10mm
- Magnification: 16x, 40x
- Weight: 5.3 lbs.(2.4 kg)
Right of the bat, I should warn you that this is a super cheap highly portable small telescope that is targeted at beginners and first-time buyers, so don’t expect it to produce crystal clear images.
That said, this 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Refracting Telescope is an excellent, low stakes telescope that can be used for viewing near-space objects at night, and wildlife and landscapes during the day.
It is one of the best-selling telescopes in the US. It is functional, user-friendly, and makes backyard astronomy a hobby anyone can try for themselves.
The telescope has some decent optics and a slightly longer focal length than telescopes within the same budget.
As a refracting telescope, it incorporates lenses made from glass and are fully coated with anti-reflective coatings.
The telescope comes with 25mm and 10mm eyepieces along with a 3x Barlow lens that triples the magnification of any eyepiece.
The Gskyer Instruments Infinity 70mm has an Altazimuth mount, making the job of tracking celestial objects much easier. Also, it stands upon an adjustable aluminum alloy tripod.
Why We Recommend It
The Gskyer 70 mm is lightweight, convenient to transport, and an easy-to-set-up travel telescope that is perfect for kids or a beginner looking to dip his/her feet in the field of astronomy.
With its focal specs and included accessories, you’ll be able to see the moon and planets with some features including craters, cloud bands, Jupiter’s moons, and Saturn’s rings.
Don’t expect to see deep space nebula and galaxies, and many of the faintest DSOs as the 70mm aperture isn’t large enough or optically suited for deep sky observing.
The Gskyer comes with several useful accessories which include 2 Kellner eyepieces, a 3x Barlow lens, a carry bag, tripod, zenith mirror, accessory tray, a Bluetooth remote, and a smartphone adapter so that you can take pictures through the telescope.
The zenith mirror or the erect image diagonal is useful for terrestrial use or using the telescope as a spotting scope to view the beautiful landscapes, beaches, and oceans of the USA, or boats, birds, and animals during the day.
Pros
- Decent optics
- Budget telescope
- Lightweight and super portable
- Easy to use
- Comes with many decent accessories
- Perfect for the complete novice or young astronomer
- Can withstand a bit of knocking around
Cons
- Plastic eyepieces
- Shaky tripod
- Tripod too short for tall people
6. MEEZAA 150EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope
- 150mm Large Aperture: This astronomical reflector telescope for adults features a 650mm focal length and 150mm aperture, delivering excellent light-gathering power for bright, clear images. Ideal for deep space observation, planets, and the Moon in stunning detail
- High Magnification & Clear Optics: Equipped with two eyepieces (25mm & 10mm) and a 2X Barlow lens, this telescope for astronomy beginners offers magnification from 26X to 130X. The red dot finderscope ensures fast targeting, while the moon filter reduces glare for comfortable lunar viewing
- Stable German Equatorial Mount: Upgraded Equatorial mount with precision dials and slow-motion control knobs provides smooth pointing and accurate manual tracking. Follow the Moon, planets, and stars across the sky with ease, perfect for beginners learning astronomy and advanced stargazers
- Sturdy Tripod & Carry Bag: Heavy-duty stainless steel tripod with adjustable height ensures stable viewing. A built-in accessory tray keeps eyepieces organized. All parts, including the telescope tube, fit into the carry bag for convenient storage and travel
- Complete Accessories & Easy Setup: Includes telescope tube, Equatorial mount, tripod, 2 eyepieces, 2X Barlow lens, red dot finderscope, moon filter, phone adapter, carry bag, and instructions. No tools needed, quick to assemble. Perfect telescope for adults, astronomy beginners, and families to enjoy stargazing together
The MEEZAA 150EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope is a manual reflector telescope with a 150 mm (6″) primary mirror and approximately 650 mm focal length, designed to bring brighter, detailed views of the night sky to beginner and hobbyist astronomers.
Its large aperture for the price range gathers significantly more light than many entry-level scopes, making it well-suited to observing the Moon, planets (like Jupiter and Saturn), star clusters, and brighter nebulae.
This telescope comes as a complete package — including multiple eyepieces, a 2× Barlow lens, red-dot finderscope, phone adapter, moon filter, and a German equatorial mount with slow-motion control cables.
The equatorial mount helps you manually track objects as they move across the sky once aligned, giving a more traditional astronomy experience. A sturdy adjustable tripod helps keep the telescope stable during observing sessions.
Why We Recommend It
Excellent light-gathering power: The 150 mm aperture significantly enhances brightness and detail compared with smaller beginner scopes — great for lunar features and planetary detail.
Complete beginner kit: Eyepieces, Barlow lens, and accessories like a moon filter and phone adapter mean you don’t have to buy extras right away.
Equatorial mount for tracking: The German equatorial mount with slow-motion cables allows smoother tracking once aligned — an upgrade over basic tripod mounts.
Stable build: Adjustable stainless-steel tripod and solid optics make this a good ready-to-use telescope right out of the box.
7. Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 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.
The Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 102AZ lets you take a guided tour of the Universe without investing in a computerized telescope.
All you have to do is download the StarSense Explorer app on your smartphone and pair it with this awesome budget telescope and within no time and you’ll be gazing at galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and planets from the ‘Tonight’s Best’ list.
You don’t even need a cellphone signal for the app to work. So basically you can travel to the remotest part of the United States with this telescope and not worry if your phone, app, and telescope are going to work. Because they will definitely work!
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ is an f/6.5 refractor with a 4” aperture that provides above-average performance with both deep space and Solar System objects.
This is one of the best telescopes for under $300 on our list and it comes with everything you need for a night of stargazing – two eyepieces — a 25 mm and 10 mm, which offer magnifications of 26x and 66x, a StarPointer red-dot finderscope, star diagonal, tripod and a StarSense smartphone dock.
The telescope comes with a manual Alt-az mount with flexible rods to allow what are called slow motions, to provide finer control over the movement than simply pulling and pushing the instrument.
Why We Recommend It
With a large 102mm (4″) objective lens, this telescope has enough light-gathering ability to bring out impressive detail in celestial objects.
You can expect sharp, bright views of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, its cloud bands, and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the trapezium in the Orion Nebula, and beautiful Pleiades Open Star Cluster.
Celestron’s XLT optical coatings improve light transmission, enhancing the views even more.
The telescope also includes a 90-degree erect image diagonal, so you can use it during the day to view birds, wildlife, landscapes, and more.
The telescope has a very good build quality, and it’s lightweight (just 14.2 lbs.) so it’s easy to carry around.
The tripod is made of steel and for this price, this is a very good tripod,
Within minutes of setting up the telescope, you’ll be navigating the sky with confidence. Simply place your phone in the unique StarSense dock and launch the StarSense Explorer app.
After aligning your phone to the telescope’s optics, StarSense Explorer App (compatible with iPhone & Android) generates a list of celestial objects currently visible. Make your selection and arrows appear onscreen, guiding you to move the telescope and view the object that you requested.
Pros
- Affordable
- Crisp and clear views
- Excellent StarSense App
- Very user friendly
- Requires no maintenance
- Lightweight & highly portable
Cons
- Stiff mount
- Not for astrophotography
- Plastic made accessories
8. Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope
- ADVANCED TECH MEETS ICONIC DESIGN: The NexStar 8SE 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.
- 8-INCH SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN OPTICS: The large 8" aperture gathers enough light to reveal fine lunar details, cloud bands on Jupiter, and deep-sky objects like galaxies and globular clusters—all in a compact, portable form factor.
- 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.
- COMPATIBLE WITH CELESTRON ACCESSORIES: Easily upgrade your setup with all our latest accessories to enhance automation, wireless control, or location accuracy as your skills grow.
Specifications
- Design type: Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Aperture: 203.2 mm (8 inches)
- Focal Length (FL): 2032 mm (80 inches)
- Focal Ratio (FR): f/10
- Max useful magnification: 400x
- Mount type: Alt-azimuth outfitted with Goto-motorised tracking
- Weight: 48.9 pounds
The Celestron NexStar 8SE is aimed at beginners as well as advanced users that want a tool with great optical quality and a lot of light-gathering power.
It’s an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain with a focal length of 2,032mm, giving a focal ratio of f/10. All of this fits into a compact orange tube that weighs 11kg and is just 432mm long.
The optics in the NexStar 8SE are incredibly well made and provide brilliant image clarity and detail.
They have Celestron’s own Starbright XLT coating for better light transmission, as a result of which, there are almost no noticeable optical aberrations.
The Nexstar 8SE also sports a high-quality mirror with a superb focal ratio.
It also comes with Celestron’s patented E Lux 25 millimeter Plossl eyepiece to complement the astonishing quality of the optics.
This top-notch GoTo telescope is mounted on a Computerized Altitude-Azimuth Single Fork Arm Mount, which is perfect for those who are looking for simplicity.
Read the complete review of the Celestron NexStar 8SE GoTo telescope here.
The GoTo mount also has a massive database of 40,000 celestial bodies and 200 user-defined programmable objects which will automatically find and then track whatever you want to see. That’s a huge plus for beginner and professional astronomers alike.
While the telescope can run on 8 AA batteries, you really need an external power supply as the mount tends to drain batteries quickly.
Why We Recommend It
The massive database and computerized mount of the Celestron 8SE take away all the time-consuming effort of trying to locate an object by map reading and star-hopping.
Instead, with the handheld controller operating the GoTo mount, you can go straight to the object you want to see and use your precious time viewing your favorite sky objects rather than trying to find them.
The telescope can be used for limited astrophotography as it comes with a built-in wedge to polar align the telescope.
Adding an inexpensive camera adaptor will let you connect your mirrorless or DSLR camera and dabble in some short exposure astrophotography.
The whole telescope breaks down into separate lightweight pieces making it easy to travel with or take it to your favorite viewing spot.
This 8” GoTo telescope is powerful enough to show you all the 40,000 objects in its database, no matter how far or faint the nebulae, star clusters or any other DSOs are.
You can expect to see clear and crisp views of Jupiter’s cloud bands, its moons, and the Great Red Spot.
The Moon’s ridges, faults, valleys, mountains, flatlands, craters, and more.
You can clearly see Saturn’s rings and the division in them, its cloud belts, and its moons.
You can see Mercury and Venus’ phases and Mars’ ice caps.
Outside the Solar System, you can easily see thousands of galaxies and star clusters, as well as hundreds of nebulae.
Pros
- Excellent powerful optics
- Portable large aperture GoTo telescope
- Fairly low maintenance
- Can show you great views of the planets and most DSOs
Cons
- Comes with just one eyepiece
- Narrow field of view
- No external power supply
9. Sky-Watcher EvoStar 100 APO Doublet Refractor
- EXPERTLY MATCHED GLASS: The EvoStar series features a matched doublet objective including one synthetic fluorite element, providing excellent color correction for visual and photographic uses
- OUTSTANDING COLOR CORRECTION: Using the finest quality glass and proprietary Metallic High-Transmission Coatings (MHTC), EvoStar refractors produce tack sharp images with accurate color and minimal aberrations
- EVOLVES WITH SKILL: No need to replace this telescope as your skill set evolves. Whether you’re a seasoned astrophotographer or a budding novice, EvoStar refractors are versatile enough to use as your primary optical tube as your skill-set improves
- 10:1 DUAL-SPEED FOCUSER: No matter the eyepiece or camera, finding focus is a breeze with this 10:1 dual-speed Crayford-style focuser
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED: The EvoStar 100 comes complete with a foam-lined aluminum hard case, 8x50 Right Angle Correct Image (RACI) Finderscope, 2” Dielectric Diagonal, 5mm and 25mm LET Eyepiece, 1.25” Adapter, Mounting Rings and a V-Style Dovetail
Specifications
- Type: Apochromatic Refractor
- Aperture: 100 mm(3.9″)
- Focal length: 900mm
- Focal Ratio: f/9
- Mount: Vixen Style
- Eyepiece: 20mm, 5mm
- Magnification: 50x, 250x
- Weight: 8.4 lbs.(3.8 kg)
The EvoStar 100mm f/9 Doublet APO Refractor is truly one of the best telescopes for viewing and photographing planets as it features a doublet apochromatic lens system with Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass with metallic high-transmission coatings (MHC) on all air-to-glass optical surfaces.
This combination of glass, lenses, and coatings virtually eliminates chromatic aberrations for clear and bright high-contrast images with true color rendition.
This telescope is one of the best high-end telescopes with a 900mm focal length which offers a medium-to-wide field of view.
In addition to the telescope itself, you get 25 mm and 5 mm long eye relief eyepieces, a right-angle 8×50 finder and bracket, tube rings, a Vixen-compatible plate, a two-inch dielectric diagonal, and a fitted foam-lined aluminum case.
The telescope is lightweight and is perfect for any experienced astronomer as a grab-and-go astrophotography scope.
The Sky-Watcher PRO 100ED has enough premium high contrast/high-resolution optical performance to let you use it on an altazimuth or equatorial mount as the heart of your observing system.
Why We Recommend It
This is a medium-speed telescope, so it also delivers sharp contrasting lunar and planetary detail without any chromatic aberration on the edges while looking at the moon.
You can see Saturn’s Cassini division within its rings, Titan, and a handful of its other moons. The Pro 100ED will give you great views of Jupiter’s two cloud belts, the Great Red Spot, and its four bright moons.
You can see Mars’ tiny white polar ice caps provided the viewing conditions are favorable.
Among double stars, the author favors Iota Cassiopeia, a tight triple star system with a large magnitude difference between its components. With the 5 mm eyepiece (180X) under the right conditions, all three components could be seen.
Although its 4” aperture is too small to gather enough light to show you faint deep sky objects, you can, however, easily see the brighter DSOs.
You can get great views of the clusters M45, M37, M36, M38, NGC 457, the Andromeda and M33 galaxies, the Orion Nebula, and more.
One of the main reasons astronomers buy the EvoStar 100 ED is for its excellent quality astrophotography.
The 100ED delivers crisp, clear images free of distortion.
This telescope offers nearly the best image quality at a significantly lower price point than the best options currently on the market.
Pros
- Great for long exposure astrophotography
- Crisp and clear details of the moon & planets
- Lightweight
- Extremely portable
- No optical aberrations
- Excellent included accessories
- High-quality multi-coated optics
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a mount
- Some may find it pricey
10. Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT
- CPC 1100 COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE: Celestron’s iconic CPC telescope combines legendary 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with updated technology and the latest features for an amazing stargazing experience for beginners and experienced observers alike.
- 11-INCH APERTURE SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE: Massive, 11-inch diffraction limited optics pack enough light-gathering ability to deliver spectacular views of Solar System and deep sky objects alike.
- DUAL FORK ARM GOTO MOUNT: With a database of 40,000+ celestial objects, the CPC's beefy GoTo mount locates and tracks objects for you. It's also compatible with our best accessories like StarSense AutoAlign and the SkyPortal WiFi Module.
- EASY TO SET UP and USE: The CPC's ergonomic design allows one person to set up or move the telescope. SkyAlign technology helps you align the telescope fast. When you're done observing, the telescope breaks down for storage.
- 9x50 FINDERSCOPE INCLUDED: Center objects perfectly in the eyepiece with a high-quality finderscope with 9x magnification.
Specifications
- Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Aperture: 280 mm (11”)
- Focal length: 2800mm
- Focal Ratio: f/10
- Mount: GoTo: Alt-Azimuth
- Eyepiece: 40mm
- Magnification: 70x
- Weight: 65 lbs.
The Celestron CPC 1100 XLT GPS is a high-end telescope that comes with a hefty price tag but it has GoTo, the NexStar+ hand control, a huge 11” aperture, and excellent quality from top to bottom.
The telescope was awarded the “Telescope of the Year” title in the year 2013.
The CPC 110- GPS (XLT) computerized telescope is a work of art featuring Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with premium Celestron StarBright XLT coatings for crisp, clear and bright images of celestial objects and deep space formations.
The 280mm (11-inch) aperture, the 2800mm focal length, both lead to a focal ratio of f/10.
The telescope is equipped with Celestron’s proprietary SKyAlign technology. With this, users can quickly select three bright objects in the sky and let the telescope align itself.
It also has an internal GPS that helps the telescope in easily locating itself in the world and showing you everything that’s available to look at in the night sky at your particular location.
The telescope is perfectly suitable for deep space astrophotography and it can show you the faintest of the galaxies and star clusters with the help of its massive 11” aperture.
This telescope is particularly designed for advanced users, or for those who are still developing their skills but are looking for a telescope that they can grow with.
Its mount provides reliable AZ movement, but it can also polar align and be used with a wedge for precise tracking needed for astrophotography.
The NexStar+ hand control is the chosen controller for the CPC telescope. It has a 40,000+ object database, adjustable backlighting, a USB port, and 9 slew speeds.
Why We Recommend It
Finding, focusing on, and identifying any celestial object is simple with the computerized technology built into the telescope.
Its 11-inch aperture provides a stunning light gathering ability of 1600 times that of the unaided human eye.
You can see the moon and the planets such as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, and Uranus, but the CPC 1100 StarBright XLT’s strength lies in providing greater resolution at max power. It’s an excellent performer for deep sky and even faint DSO viewing.
This telescope even promises to show you decent views of the faraway planet Pluto.
You can expect to see the nebulas, clusters, double, triple, and quadruple stars with the help of this telescope.
The CPC 1100 is undoubtedly one of the best telescopes for deep sky astrophotography.
As a slow telescope with a very long focal length, you’ll be able to achieve very high magnification suitable for lunar, planetary, and faint DSO observation and astrophotography.
Although it’s a huge telescope that weighs almost 65lbs., its fully ergonomic design is a delight and you don’t have to work out and grow muscles to operate the system.
Its shorter optical tube and adjustable length tripod are somewhat easy to transport by car but not so much by air.
Pros
- Large aperture
- Great for DSOs
- Best for DSLR astrophotography
- Easy to use
- StarBright XLT coated optics
- Solid stable mount
- Suitable for all user levels
Cons
- Pricey
- Some may find it bulky
What To Look For In A Good Telescope
Whether you’re seriously considering buying your first telescope or just daydreaming about it, this guide will help you understand the most important features that you should look for in a telescope.
Types of Telescopes
Most telescopes fall into three broad categories: refractors, reflectors, and compound telescopes (also called catadioptric).
1. Refractor Telescopes
This is the oldest and most popular telescope design. At the front of the telescope, a lens known as an “aperture” directs light through the finder scope to a mirror and into the eyepiece.
Because this style of telescope doesn’t invert the image before it reaches the eye, users can view objects both in the sky and they can use a refractor during the day as a terrestrial telescope.
Generally speaking, refractors are great for views of the moon, planets, and bright deep-sky objects.
Most importantly, they require very little maintenance.
2. Reflector Telescopes
Reflectors, or reflecting telescopes, use an internal primary and smaller, secondary mirror to focus the light into the eyepiece in order to create an image.
Reflectors can be much shorter in length while also allowing for wider apertures, although because of the open OTA they require more setup and maintenance to keep everything in alignment.
The large aperture reflectors such as Dobsonians are great for faint deep sky objects.
3. Compound Telescopes (Catadioptrics)
Compound telescopes, are simply a combination of the refractor and reflector and employ both mirrors and lenses that allow for even smaller and more portable telescopes (albeit at a higher cost).
The greatest appeal of these instruments is that, in their commonly encountered forms (the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain), they are very compact.
Their tubes are just two to three times as long as wide, an arrangement allowed by the “optical folding” of the light.
The smaller tube can use a lighter and thus more manageable mounting. The upshot is that you can obtain a large-aperture, long-focus telescope that’s very transportable.
Which is the Best Telescope for me?
If you’re wondering: Which telescope type should I get? Here’s a small checklist that you can go through to decide which telescope will best suit your needs.
- If you want a beginner telescope: Refractor or Reflector
- If you want a rugged telescope that requires little or no maintenance: Refractor
- If you want to also observe objects on land (e.g. wildlife): Refractor or Compound
- If you want to view faint, deep sky objects: Reflector or Compound
- If you want the best image quality: Reflector or Compound
- If you want the biggest bang for my buck (high value): Reflector (Dobsonian)
- If you want to do astrophotography: Compound
Factors To Consider Before Buying a Telescope
1. Aperture
The most important aspect of any telescope is its aperture, the diameter of its main optical component, which can be either a lens or a mirror.
A scope’s aperture determines both its light-gathering ability (how bright the image appears) and its resolving power (how sharp the image appears).
2. Focal Length
Focal length is the distance from the “focal point” of your telescope to the lens or mirror. It’s not as important as aperture, but the longer the focal length the bigger objects will look. So keep an eye on this. The best telescope would the one that you can afford and has a large aperture and long focal length.
3. Magnification
Magnification is determined by your telescope’s focal length and your eyepiece. However, with very high magnification, objects may look dim and blurry. To solve this issue, magnification needs to increase along with the size of the aperture.
As the size of the telescope aperture gets bigger, the amount of light that can be collected and clearly viewed also increases, so dim and blurry objects become clear. Most users find a useful magnification is about 20x to 50x per inch of aperture.
4. Eyepieces
The eyepiece, an integral part of the optical system of a telescope, can completely change the view of the sky.
Eyepiece measurements, which normally appear in millimeters or inches, range greatly in size.
To ensure the eyepiece has an appropriate magnification for the telescope, compare the size of the eyepiece to the focal length of the telescope.
For instance, a 1200mm focal-length scope, used with a 25mm eyepiece, delivers 1200 / 25 = 48 power (or 48x magnification).
Switch to an eyepiece with a shorter focal length for higher magnifications: a 10-mm eyepiece used on the same scope delivers 1200 / 10 = 120x.
As you can see that it’s only the telescope’s focal length that matters here — the size of its main mirror or lens does not affect the magnification.
5. Ease of Use
Another important factor that you should consider when choosing the best telescope for yourself is how easy it is to use that particular telescope.
A telescope that’s too hard to set up is a telescope that won’t get used as much as a simpler no-tool-required-to-setup telescope.
You also have a choice between manual and computerized movement. A fully manual telescope might be less expensive, but it could prove to be frustrating for someone just starting out.
Computerized telescopes (or GoTo telescopes) can help you easily find objects in the night sky with minimal setup, and will continue to serve you well as you grow into the hobby. Computerized movements, like some telescope mounts, require a power supply.
6. Size and Portability
Before you buy a new telescope, consider where you want to use it and how you plan to transport it.
Having a telescope that’s too small to properly see anything probably is a waste of money, but a telescope that’s too big to move easily is even more wasteful unless you can leave it all set up permanently at one place in your home.
Many people find they set up a bulky telescope only once or twice, then leave it to gather dust because it’s too much effort to set up and haul around.
So always consider the weight and size of the telescope according to how you are planning to use it.
7. Price
You can spend as much as you want to on a telescope. In most cases, the more you spend, the better and bigger aperture telescope you can buy.
That said, I would strongly recommend not buying a telescope that costs less than $100, but I wouldn’t recommend spending too much on a telescope either unless you have explored the hobby a bit and know which direction you want to take your next step toward.
Best Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Telescope
- Always start with easy-to-locate objects such as the moon and bright planets and use the computer control.
- Use a low magnification eyepiece first to find objects quickly, then switch to more magnification if desired.
- Use vibration pads or a piece of old carpet if the tripod is shaky.
- Once aligned, don’t unnecessarily touch the telescope and use only your eyes.
- Don’t ever look directly at the Sun through your telescope. You may permanently damage your eyes.
- Use a moon filter to look at the moon. The result will be a much clearer image with a lot of contrast.
- Always practice setting up your new telescope a few times during the day before your first night of stargazing.
- Stay away from buildings, roads, and sidewalks as they release heat at night. Use your telescope in a clear area where there are no obstructions.
- Wait until your eyes are fully adjusted to the dark before trying to look at the night sky.
Best Tips to Maintain Your Telescope
- Telescopes should be kept dry to prevent moisture from affecting the quality of your viewing experience. So use a dew shield, shroud, or dew heaters.
- Never touch the surface of a lens or mirror. The acids in skin oil can attack optical coatings over time.
- Use a lens safer cleaner and soft wipe to do clean lenses and mirrors to avoid scratching them.
- If moving the telescope from a warm room to a cold backyard, it’s best to let the telescope sit for a while so it reaches a temperature equilibrium with the surroundings.
- Always store your telescope in a dry, dust-free, secure, and large enough place to get the telescope in and out easily.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which telescope is best to see planets?
You don’t need a very big aperture to see planets as they are among the brightest objects in the sky. You will rather need a telescope with a long focal length and a high focal ratio to view planets with clarity.
2. What is the most powerful telescope for home use?
This will typically depend on what you want to see with your telescope and who will be using it. A good telescope that the whole family can use is typically a small, more affordable telescope with an aperture of at least 70 millimeters. These units usually have a straightforward model with an easily adjustable mount. Moreover, these telescopes are lightweight, portable, and generally can be used for terrestrial viewing also.
3. How big of a telescope do I need to see Saturn?
Saturn is quite an easy target to view with the help of a telescope and most importantly you don’t need a very powerful telescope to view it.
Saturn can be seen clearly even with a small telescope with a 3” aperture at 50x magnification. This is enough to show you Rings of Saturn too, but if you want to see Saturn’s moons, you may need a slightly larger telescope with at least 5” aperture.
4. Which is the best telescope to view galaxies?
To view brighter galaxies and nebulae, you’ll need a telescope with at least a 6” aperture. The Celestron – NexStar 6SE Telescope on our list is an excellent computerized telescope that can show you great views of the galaxies and other deep sky objects.
5. How do you travel with a telescope?
Most telescopes are very fragile as they have delicate glass components such as lenses and mirrors. Moreover, the elements in the OTA have to be perfectly aligned to produce decent images. So, it’s highly imperative to take very good care of the telescopes while traveling with them.
Before taking the telescope along with you make sure that you store it in a bag or case with the lens cover and appropriate padding around it. When traveling in the car, make sure that the box/bag doesn’t move around a lot. If you are planning to travel with your telescope by air, make sure that you take it as carry-on baggage in the cabin with you. Don’t ever transport your telescope with checked baggage.
6. What can you see with a 100mm telescope?
A 100mm or 4” telescope is an appropriate choice for beginners and intermediates. With a 100mm telescope, you can see the moon, Jupiter, Great Red Spot, four of the largest Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, the Cassini Division, Mars’s polar ice caps. A 100mm telescope can also show you decent views of the brighter galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae.
7. How much does a good telescope cost?
With telescopes, the more you are ready to pay, the better quality telescope you can expect to buy. For a decent size, a good telescope for a beginner can cost between $200-$300. You can expect to get a 4”- 6” telescope in this price range that can produce crisp clear images of the moon, planets, and brighter DSOs.
8. What’s the best telescope to see the moon?
Moon is one of the brighter objects in the sky so you don’t need a very powerful telescope to view it. A telescope with a 70mm aperture is good enough to show you great views of the moon. The Gskyer 70mm Telescope is a good beginner’s telescope that can resolve good images of the moon.
9. What’s the best telescope for astrophotography?
For a good telescope for astrophotography, you’ll need decent optics, an Equatorial mount that is capable of tracking the objects in the sky for a long time, and which is stable and sturdy enough to withstand the extra weight of a DSLR or a CCD camera.
The Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT is an excellent telescope that can be used to take long exposure images of the moon, planets, and even the faint deep sky objects.
Conclusion
The best telescope is the one you feel comfortable with, both in function and price. It could be a computerized telescope, a simple refractor, or a reflector telescope. The best telescope for you should also be easy to operate and transport, and it shouldn’t require a ton of maintenance. What’s most important is that you enjoy using it.
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.
ABOUT US
We are a team of active amateur astronomers, here to help you with all your astronomy and science related needs – this is anything, from reviewing the latest telescopes to be released to talking about gravity and neurons. The Big Bang Optics was started because of our love for astronomy and to help others like us find the best telescope and accessories.
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