1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best for beginners
3. Best budget telescope
4. Best value for enthusiasts
5. Best premium
6. Best for planets
7. Best for portability
8. Best for astrophotographers
9. Best smart telescope
10. Best for deep space
11. Best for kids
12. Telescope FAQs
13. How we test
With one of the best telescopes in your arsenal, the viewable universe is your oyster. Whether you want to spot galaxies, stars, planets, moons, or nebulas, there are a wide range of models on offer, at a variety of price points.
The sheer number of telescopes available on the market can feel overwhelming, especially if you're looking for the best beginner telescopes, so our expert reviewers have put together this guide to narrow it down for you. These telescopes are the best generalists out there, but if you want a more specialist piece of kit, try our guides to the best telescopes for deep space and the best telescopes for seeing planets.
If you're not sure what you need, check out our Telescope FAQs below to help you decide what system and specs might work best for you. There are various different kinds of optical systems available, as well as different levels of aperture and focal length to consider depending on what you wish to view. Whether you're a beginner just starting out, a pro looking for top-quality optics or a tech-savvy person looking for the latest smart technology, there's something on our list for everyone.
If you're keen to involve your kids in your astronomy hobby, we have guides to the best telescopes for kids and best binoculars for kids to help spark their interest early.
Solar eclipse glasses deals April 2024
A contributing expert to Space.com, Live Science, All About Space and more, Gemma is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics and became fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Gemma is also the Communications and Outreach Office at the European Space Agency.
The quick list
Best for beginners
A great scope for beginners, the Celestron NexStar 4SE is easy to use and set up, produces clear and bright images and has a whole host of useful features.
Best budget telescope
A great beginner scope for anyone just getting started with astronomy, it comes with a variety of accessories.
Best value for enthusiasts
We were really impressed with this telescope when we reviewed it and overall, thought that it's good value for money.
Best premium
We think this is an exceptional telescope that is high quality, easy to set up and offers breathtaking views. It's suited well for experienced astronomers too.
Best for planets
A fantastic scope for any experience level, it's incredibly easy to use yet powerful enough for deep space exploration and even astrophotography.
Best for portability
If you live in an urban area with lots of light pollution and need a telescope you can comfortably carry to dark sky sites, this could be the one for you.
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Best for astrophotography
Our favorite pick for astrophotographers, this telescope is a great all-rounder, suitable for capturing everything from nebulas to galaxies. We thought it has outstanding optical quality with no sign of any distortion.
Best smart telescope
If you've got the budget for it, this is Unistellar's most advanced telescope to date. It has a very reliable app, and even features a Smart Light Reduction feature to eliminate light pollution in urban environments.
Best for deep space
Great for experienced, long-time astronomers, this scope is excellent for astrophotography thanks to the Edge HD technology. It is a little on the heavy side, but it can carry a load of up to 30 lbs.
Best for kids
This is a top tabletop telescope and if you're a beginner or looking to inspire a young astronomer, this is an ideal starting point. It's easy to set up and put away, but it's not the most powerful.
Best telescopes 2024 that we recommend
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Best for beginners
✅ It's your first telescope: This scope is easy to use and set up, making it perfect for beginner astronomers.
✅ You want GoTo technology: You can easily find and track specific celestial objects with little or no prior knowledge.
❌ You want to travel with it: This telescope isn't the most portable as the tripod doesn't quite fold down entirely.
🔎 Celestron NexStar 4SE If you want to view the planets and bright objects in the sky quickly and effortlessly, the Celestron NexStar 4SE will certainly do the job. ★★★★
The Celestron NexStar 4SE makes a fantastic choice for beginners owing to its fully computerized mount. Celestron's SkyAlign technology uses your date, time and location to auto-find various targets within the night sky at the push of a button, making it easy to get to grips with for newcomers to stargazing.
In terms of design, this scope has a very solid build and comes with a sturdy tripod and a handheld remote with tactile buttons, so there's no need to control it via an app. Weighing 23 lbs (10.4 kg) in total, it's not the most portable telescope, and the power-hungry mount eats through the required 8xAA batteries quickly, so we recommend hooking it up to an external power source. But for those who want to stargaze from their backyard, this would be a very easy and enjoyable scope to get started with.
It features a 4-inch (102mm) aperture and a focal length of 1325mm, which is enough to give sharp views of the planets and other bright sky objects. The downside is that this combination results in a fairly narrow field of view of only 1.2 degrees, which means it struggles to fit bigger deep sky objects into the view. You get a 25mm Plossl eyepiece included in the box, but we think you'll get better results if you purchase an additional 32mm eyepiece and Barlow lens to make the most of the 241x highest useful magnification.
- Read our full Celestron NexStar 4SE review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Solid and sturdy build, signature orange colors. |
| Performance | Great for observing the moon and planets. |
| Functionality | Alignment correction can be tricky. |
Best budget telescope
✅ You're a beginner: We found it easy to set up and take down, and with it being relatively lightweight, you can easily transport it around with you.
✅ You want to take astrophotos on your smartphone: The lens cap cleverly turns into a smartphone holder so you can capture images of the night sky.
❌ You aren't confident locating objects yourself: This telescope doesn't have GoTo technology, so you'll need to be fairly confident in being able to locate specific celestial objects yourself (or utilize the help of a stargazing app).
❌ You want detailed views of deep sky objects: While this telescope can give great views of planets and the moon, objects further away may be a little underwhelming.
🔎 Celestron Inspire 100az Aimed at beginners and those looking to upgrade, this 4-inch refractor is at its best with the moon and planets and comes with a lens cap that converts to a clever smartphone holder for easy astrophotography. ★★★★
For beginners and anyone on a budget, the Celestron Inspire 100AZ is a great choice. It comes with various accessories, and it's sturdily built and equipped with a ton of user-friendly features, making it a breeze to use and good value for money.
The telescope is sturdy and easy to use. Featuring a 100mm aperture, it gathers a significant amount of light, allowing clear observations of faint celestial objects like nebulas and galaxies. Moreover, its long focal length provides substantial magnification for detailed views of planets and other nearby objects.
During our Celestron Inspire 100AZ review, we found a small amount of false color (purple color fringing), and a slight blurring in the field of view was noticeable. The latter is easily resolved with a careful selection of eyepieces, so we recommend investing in one of the best eyepieces to make the most of the Inspire 100AZ's optical system. The slight amount of false color shouldn't dampen your experience unless you are particularly fussy about color accuracy being spot on.
If you're looking for an affordable telescope to get started with astronomy, the Inspire 100AZ is a great option.
The Inspire 100AZ telescope comes with various accessories, including two eyepieces, a red LED flashlight to maintain night vision, an accessory tray, a StarPointer Pro finderscope for locating celestial objects and a smartphone adapter for simple astrophotography.
- Read our full Celestron Inspire 100AZ review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Fairly lightweight. |
| Performance | Excels with lunar views. |
| Functionality | Easy to set up and take down. |
Best value for enthusiasts
✅ You want a beginner-friendly, grab & go and easy-to-use telescope: We thought this was a great entry-level telescope that can find targets at the touch of a button and is great for on-the-go observations.
❌ You want a 'traditional' telescope: We found that this telescope is completely useless without the app, so if you want a more traditional telescope without much of the newer technology, look elsewhere.
🔎 Celestron Astro Fi 130 A good telescope at an exceptionally good price, it has everything you'd need if you're just starting out, although we would recommend upgrading some of the included pieces. It can lose charge faster in cold conditions, though, so consider buying an additional power source. ★★★½
With the Astro Fi 130, Celestron have provided a very capable entry-level telescope at an affordable price. This well-constructed tube consists of a Newtonian reflector and comes with a sturdy aluminum tripod, 10mm and 25mm Kellner eyepieces offering 65x and 26x magnification and a red dot finder. We'd strongly recommend purchasing some mid-range Plossl eyepieces to get the very best out of this scope.
The optics on the Astro Fi 130 allow for good views of the Moon, offering enough magnification to see the craters and rilles littering the lunar surface. Venus and Mars are also easy to pick out, and you can even catch a glimpse of the Andromeda Galaxy.
The batteries can drain quickly in cold weather, so it's probably worth buying 12V rechargeable batteries for it, but overall, this is a well-priced telescope that has everything beginners will need to get started on their stargazing journey.
Newcomers to astronomy will find this telescope very easy to set up and use thanks to the SkyAlign technology, which requires no prior knowledge of the night sky to get your telescope ready for viewing. You then control the scope via the Celestron SkyPortal app on your smartphone or tablet. If you're not sure where to start, the app can even recommend objects for you and guide the computerized mount to them.
- Read our full Celestron Astro Fi 130 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Very sturdy build with well constructed tube and tripod. |
| Performance | Makes use of SkyAlign technology for easy alignment. |
| Functionality | Great for lunar and planetary observing, but some views are fuzzy. |
Best premium
✅ You're an experienced skywatcher: This telescope offers a complete tour of the universe, although its easy setup would be a dream for beginners, this scope is best suited for more advanced, passionate astronomers.
✅ You want to view a wide range of subjects: This scope has a large aperture which enables clear and detailed views of a wide range of celestial objects, including planets, deep-sky objects and nebulas.
❌ You want something portable: Portability isn't one of the Evolution 9.25's strengths, so it's best used for backyard gazing.
🔎 Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 A fantastic telescope suited to experienced and passionate skywatchers, with a price tag to match. It's not the easiest to transport, but we think it's one of the best GoTo telescopes you can buy ★★★★½
If you're looking for a GoTo telescope, we recommend the Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25. It's an outstanding GoTo scope that provides breathtaking views of the night sky. With a Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube boasting a generous aperture of 235mm and a sturdy single-fork arm mount for stability and precision, it delivers impressive performance. The motorized mount features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, offering an impressive 10 hours of uninterrupted stargazing.
You'll get a good selection of accessories alongside the telescope itself, including a red dot finderscope, star diagonal, accessory tray, international AC adapter, hand control as well as two eyepieces (13mm and 40mm).
While the NexStar Evolution 9.25 boasts an impressive design, it leans towards the heavier side and may not be the most portable option. It's better suited for backyard stargazing rather than frequent travel. Nevertheless, its robust construction and excellent features make up for this minor inconvenience.
The NexStar Evolution 9.25 is the perfect pick for seasoned skywatchers seeking a top-notch telescope that provides a comprehensive tour of the universe. It's also great for long-exposure astrophotography, thanks to the motorized mount that tracks the movement of celestial objects. With its built-in Wi-Fi network, the telescope allows easy control through the Celestron SkyPortal app (available for free on iOS and Android), eliminating the need for a bulky hand controller.
Overall, we think the Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 is an excellent option for experienced and dedicated stargazers who are willing to invest in a premium GoTo telescope.
- Grab a bargain over on our Celestron Binocular and Telescope deals page
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | A bit bulky and tricky to transport. |
| Performance | Crisp views with no defects. |
| Functionality | Motorized mount a good choice for astrophotography. |
Best for planets
✅ You're looking long term: There's no question that this telescope is pricey, but it's one that will last you for decades — it's not called 'The World's Most Beloved Telescope' for nothing.
✅ You want to use it for astrophotography: Thanks to the smooth and accurate tracking, this scope is a great option for taking stunning astro images of deep sky objects.
❌ You're on a budget: Although this is definitely worth the money, and we'd recommend it if you can stretch to it, it is a pricey piece of kit. If you're on a budget or you're new to the craft, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that will be more than good enough.
🔎 Celestron NexStar 8SE: An outstanding telescope with incredible optics that would suit a beginner, intermediate or advanced astronomer. It's great for astrophotography and gives beautifully bright and detailed views. Our only fault with it is that it can price out beginners. ★★★★½
Regardless of your experience level, the Celestron NexStar 8SE is an outstanding motorized telescope. Beginners will love how easy it is to use, yet it's powerful enough to satisfy more experienced skywatchers and allow for deep space exploration and astrophotography.
The Celestron NexStar 8SE holds an exceptional reputation, earning the esteemed title of 'The World's most beloved telescope' and ranking as the top bestseller on B&H Photo. With StarBright XLT optical coating, it delivers unmatched clarity and contrast for observing planets and the moon. Through its 203.2mm aperture lens, you can witness Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and other deep-sky objects with breathtaking detail and vividness. The image is free of chromatic aberration and color fringing, providing stunning views of the night sky.
In our Celestron NexStar 8SE review, we walked you through what it's like to get everything set up, which we thought was straightforward. You don't need any prior knowledge of the night sky or telescopes, as you can use Celestron's SkyPortal app or any other stargazing app to help you find two stars for the alignment process.
The telescope's motor operates smoothly and accurately. For astrophotographers, the automatic tracking feature is a dream, enabling them to capture long-exposure shots. These shots can be later stacked and edited to create stunning images of the cosmos.
Once you've set up and aligned the telescope, using the handheld controller is a breeze to point it toward various celestial objects in its extensive database, including planets, galaxies, double stars, star clusters and nebulas. For beginners or those uncertain about what to observe, there's a convenient 'sky tour' option that automatically guides the telescope to different captivating cosmic objects.
The Celestron NexStar 8SE is a high-end telescope, and it comes with a substantial price tag. Nevertheless, it proves to be a worthwhile investment for those serious about skywatching or astrophotography. While it might be beyond the budget of casual astronomy enthusiasts, it is an excellent choice for those planning to immerse themselves in these activities for the long run.
- Read our full Celestron NexStar 8SE review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Can be transported as a fully-assembled setup. |
| Performance | Outstanding optics, slightly tricky to align if you're not used to it. |
| Functionality | Easy to assemble and disassemble. |
Best for portability
✅ You'll be traveling with it: This scope is our top choice for portability, so it's ideal if you plan on taking it away on camping trips or visiting dark sky sites.
✅ You're a beginner: If you just want to look at the moon and some planets, this will be a great choice.
❌ You want good quality parts: This telescope has an element of 'you get what you pay for'. It's adequate for basic astronomy, but the tripod isn't the best quality, the optics could be better and it didn't have much of a premium feel to it.
🔎 Celestron Astro Fi 102 Best suited for viewing the moon and planets, this telescope is great for beginners and anyone with no prior experience. It can be a little tricky on the initial setup, and it's not the best quality scope we've reviewed, but it'll do the job. ★★★½
If portability is your main concern, the Celestron Astro Fi 102 would make a great option. It's also an excellent choice for beginners who are eager to delve into the celestial wonders of the night sky, and it'll serve you well even if you have no prior astronomy experience.
The Astro Fi 102 telescope uses a Maksutov-Cassegrain design, combining a large aperture and a long focal length. This design provides excellent magnification, making it perfect for observing planets. Additionally, the telescope offers a wide field of view, making it convenient for viewing star clusters and nebulas without the need for frequent repositioning when switching between different targets.
Designed to be portable and lightweight, this telescope allows for easy transportation and setup. It also comes with the SkyPortal app, which effortlessly locates and identifies over a massive 100,000 celestial objects for you to sink your teeth into.
As we discussed in our Celestron Astro Fi 102 telescope review, it's not without its flaws. We thought the finish was a bit plasticky, and the materials used weren't the best quality. However, these flaws are outweighed by the telescope's portability, ease of use and good optics.
Overall, we think the Celestron Astro Fi 102 offers excellent value for beginners who are eager to begin their journey into stargazing. It's lightweight, portable, user-friendly and delivers good optical performance that is sure to satisfy.
- Read our full Celestron Astro Fi 102 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Highly transportable, but tripod needs weighing down. |
| Performance | Initial setup can be tricky, but after that it's a breeze. |
| Functionality | Large database of celestial objects on SkyPortal. |
Best for astrophotography
✅ Your primary focus is astrophotography: We recommend this telescope as the best for astrophotography, and some models come with a high-quality equatorial mount.
✅ You want to travel with it: Most astrophotography involves traveling to dark sky sites, and this telescope is light enough to do just that.
❌ You're looking for something super sophisticated: For those looking for high-end, sophisticated instruments and have the money to spend on them, a smart telescope would likely be a better fit.
🔎 Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 PRO For astrophotography, you cannot go wrong with this telescope — it has great quality optics and an excellent build, although not all models come with a tripod. ★★★★
If you're into astrophotography, the Sky-Watcher's Skymax 150 is a great pick, offering excellent value. Some versions even include a high-quality equatorial mount, suitable for both short and long-exposure astrophotography. This well-built Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope comes with a 28mm focal length eyepiece, providing 64x magnification for detailed and captivating views of various celestial objects.
The Skymax 150, weighing 13.23 lbs (6kg), works well with many equatorial mounts and is portable for different dark sky locations. It can be supported by various mount brands and models, accommodating additional accessories like CCD or DSLR cameras, filter wheels and other add-ons. It also comes with a Vixen-style dovetail plate for easy attachment to different mounts.
The focuser is lovely and smooth to operate and the Skymax 150 keeps a good amount of fine focus once it's been found, which is vital for long nights of astrophotography sessions.
The Skymax 150's optics are impressive, delivering crisp, distortion-free views. It's a versatile telescope, perfect for capturing images of everything — from planets to distant galaxies and nebulas. It's also user-friendly and easy to accessorize, making it a great choice for astronomers and astrophotographers of all skill levels.
If this isn't the right telescope for your needs, but you're still after a Sky-Watcher scope, check out our Sky-Watcher deals hub to see if a different model is more suited to your requirements.
- Check out the Best cameras for astrophotography
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | High quality build, excellent optics. |
| Performance | outstanding optics, with no sign of distortion. |
| Functionality | Great for a wide selection of astrophotography. |
Best smart telescope
✅ You live in an urban area: There's a Smart Light Pollution Reduction feature that removes light pollution, making it a great scope to have if you don't live near a dark sky site.
✅ You want simplicity: This is an incredibly sleek, all-in-one telescope that has no need for additional accessories and can take you to your chosen celestial objects with ease.
❌ You're on a budget: Unsurprisingly, this is an expensive bit of kit, so it'll price out most beginners and anyone who doesn't have a big budget.
🔎 Unistellar eQuinox 2: An easy-to-use motorized smart telescope that can locate night sky objects with the press of a button, the eQuinox 2 can have you exploring the stars in minutes with no prior knowledge, although, its in-built camera isn't quite detailed enough. ★★★★½
For those wanting to explore the skies with ease using the very latest in smart technology, the Unistellar eQuinox 2 could be an ideal choice. It's a motorized reflector telescope with a sleek and modern look. It features just a single power button on the fork arm, with all other controls being operated via the Unistellar app. Unlike traditional telescopes, you won't get a finderscope, eyepieces or other accessories included in the package because the Unistellar eQuinox 2 doesn't need them.
Setup is quick and easy using the Autonomous Field Detection feature, after which you can use Unistellar's intuitive app to navigate automatically to different objects in the night sky. The menu screen displays a choice of objects that are currently available to view, as well as objects that will make an appearance within the next few hours. Alternatively, you can search for the specific object you're interested in from within their huge database of 37 million stars and over 5000 celestial objects.
The telescope contains a 6.2MP image sensor (an improvement over the 4.9MP sensor in the previous model) which captures several images one after another and stacks them to give the appearance of a long exposure, with objects becoming brighter as the image on your phone or tablet screen gets updated in real-time. Whilst this may not appeal to astronomers who enjoy the more traditional approach, it has particular benefits when stargazing from urban locations thanks to the Smart Light Pollution Reduction feature, which removes the effects of light pollution as you view. It also makes it super-easy to save and share photos of what you're seeing with friends.
All this technology doesn't come cheap, and the Unistellar eQuinox 2 will set you back around $2000. But if you have a healthy budget and want to be able to view the night sky through your phone with ease, then this may be the one for you.
- Read our full Unistellar eQuinox 2 telescope review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Slim, sleek, neat package. |
| Performance | Quick go to location of night sky objects. |
| Functionality | Doesn't orientate until well after twilight, easy once oriented. |
Best for deep space
✅ You want to see everything: While some telescopes are only good for seeing the moon & planets, or deep space, this telescope is good for seeing all types of celestial objects.
✅ You want to travel with it: This telescope is light and small enough to carry with you to dark sky sites.
❌ You're a beginner: This telescope is intended for those with experience and knowledge of the sky and telescopes, so if you're a beginner, we'd suggest a more beginner-friendly model.
❌ Astrophotography is your main interest: While it'll undoubtedly give stunning astrophotos, we found the mount to be a little unsteady for this purpose, so we'd suggest a different mount for serious astrophotographers.
🔎 Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD Intended for serious amateurs, this optically excellent telescope is suitable for all types of visual astronomy with its rugged, lightweight computerized mount. If you know the sky and plan to be doing astronomy for a long time, this is the telescope to get. ★★★★½
Celestron's EdgeHD technology greatly improves Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, especially for astrophotography. Normally, these telescopes produce a curved focal plane that doesn't match the flat surface of a CCD camera sensor. This mismatch causes field curvature, making stars at the image edges appear blurry. However, Celestron's EdgeHD technology solves this problem by providing a perfectly flat field. This enables astrophotographers to capture sharp and detailed photos across the entire frame without any blur.
During our Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD review, we were pleased to find that the optics in the EdgeHD negate the blurred edges, creating a perfectly flat field right to the edge of the frame for pinpoint sharpness across the whole image. The Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD's optical performance is impressive, with crisp and clear views with no optical distortion or false color.
The Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD can handle a weight of up to 30 lbs (13.6kg), ensuring stable and secure support for the tube and all your accessories. The package includes the standard NexStar+ hand controller, a 40mm eyepiece and access to Celestron's SkyPortal app and Starry Night Special Edition software.
As a bonus, the optical tube assembly includes Celestron's Advanced VX mount, specifically designed for photographers. It can capture images across the meridian (an imaginary north-south line) without requiring a meridian flip. The setup also corrects errors periodically while tracking objects and includes an auto guider port.
Check out our Celestron deals page to see if you can snap up a bargain.
- Read our full Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | EdgeHD optical design outperforms Schmidt-Cassegrain. |
| Performance | Finds and tracks celestial objects reliably. |
| Functionality | Great views of all types of celestial objects. |
Best for kids
✅ You want low investment: For casual viewing, this telescope is a great option with a low price point.
✅ You don't want to spend ages setting it up: It arrives assembled and ready to go, so no complicated setup process needed.
❌ You want to find objects easily: It doesn't come with a finderscope, so anyone wanting to locate certain celestial objects easily may get frustrated.
❌ You want all the extras: This package doesn't include a finderscope, so you'll need to either buy one separately or consider another telescope package that does.
🔎 Celestron FirstScope 76 Tabletop Telescope If you have children who have been bugging you for a telescope and you can't quite commit to a moderately-priced instrument, then the FirstScope may be for you — especially if the moon and casual glances at the night sky are of interest. ★★★★
The clue is in the name with the Celestron FirstScope 76 — it's designed to be a kid's first telescope. Because of that, it's super easy to use and to set up, which we absolutely love. This tabletop telescope is fully assembled in the box, and so it's ready to go as soon as you open it up: Perfect for impatient kids who simply can't wait to get started.
In our Celestron FirstScope 76 Tabletop telescope review, we noted that it's ideal for little hands since the tube can easily be pushed to the desired target. It's also fully equipped for decent night sky observations with two basic eyepieces included — 4mm and 20mm. It features a 76mm aperture (that's nearly three inches) and a fast focal ratio of f/3.95 which means you're able to spot celestial objects as well as some fainter deep-sky targets. You won't get hugely close-up views but it's plenty good enough for skywatching beginners. We got some great views of craters and even though it might not have been totally pin-sharp, it's a great starting point.
It's very portable, weighing only 4.5 lbs (2.04kg). However, being a tabletop telescope it might not be the most practical to use out in the wild as it'll always need somewhere to stand. Don't doubt the low price-point though, the Celestron FirstScope is built very sturdily. It's made with durable, non-glossy plastics, so it looks great quality too.
Perhaps the only real complaint we can throw at the FirstScope is that is doesn't come with a finderscope — a tool that aids in aligning the telescope. Having one would enhance the overall experience for young astronomers, and so we'd highly recommend purchasing a red dot finder. Thankfully, they're relatively inexpensive.
- Read our full Celestron FirstScope 76 Tabletop telescope review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Good quality build for the price. |
| Performance | Provides a 'wow factor' for young observers. |
| Functionality | Optics struggle to pick out detail. |
Telescope FAQ
How do I choose the right telescope for me?
Choosing the perfect telescope can definitely be challenging, especially as a beginner. There are hundreds of options to choose from, with multitudes of different configurations, settings, and of course a wide range of prices.
The quality of telescopes has also drastically improved in recent years, so most models' quality is usually pretty good these days. That said, there are better options than others, and we've endeavoured to only include the very best in this guide.
The beginner telescopes can enable you to reveal 'the greatest show off Earth'. In order to get the best possible views of the night sky, you'll need to consider where you're observing from, what objects you'd like to see in particular, your setup if you're going to attempt astrophotography, and more.
Probably the most important factor in choosing a telescope is the optical quality it provides. You'll also want to think about what aperture you need and whether you need a more portable model or a larger, more powerful one.
We'd advise you to stick to reputable telescope dealers to buy your scope from, as you'll be sure to get exactly what you've ordered, and many will also provide a warranty with your purchase. Astronomical equipment businesses also tend to offer the best deals on their products, and have advisors on hand to help you make the right decision for you.
Below, you'll find a breakdown of different types of telescopes you can buy, as well as which model we think is best.
What types of telescope are there?
There are three main types of telescopes: reflector, refractor and catadioptric telescopes.
Reflectors have a main mirror to gather and focus light, whereas refractors have an objective lens. Catadioptrics have a main mirror, and a lens of the same diameter. All three of these types of telescopes have 'sub-types' which vary by design. For example, the most basic reflector telescopes have a Newtonian design, which means they have a main mirror and a smaller, secondary one to divert the light at right angles to the eyepiece from the top of the telescope.
As we've mentioned above, nowadays, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to quality (and relatively affordable!) telescopes. So, which type should you opt for? We think Newtonian reflector telescopes on a simple undriven alt-azimuth mount (known as a 'Dobsonian') offer the best value in terms of aperture.
However, if you are interested in learning your way around the night sky 'the old fashioned way', then a Dobsonian telescope might be the way to go. They don't come with any bells and whistles, so you'll need to arm yourself with a star map to make sense of stargazing. Dobsonians collect a lot of light, and they have enough resolving power to deliver breathtaking views of celestial objects. Dobsonian telescopes over 6 inches in aperture tend to be pretty large and imposing, so you'll need to consider where it can be stored if you purchase one. A garden shed or garage might be the best option.
If you add an equatorial or computerized mount, Newtonian or refractor telescopes become much more expensive. You can find several types of computerized mounts for Newtonian telescopes: Dobsonians (push-to or GoTo), single time-mounted (tracking or GoTo) and German equatorial (GoTo). For reference, for a computerized push-to Dobsonian, you'll be looking at spending about twice as much than for a manual model of the same aperture, while a GoTo will set you back almost four times the price of its manual counterpart. A premium Newtonian on a German equatorial mount can be as much as ten times more expensive than one on a manual mount!
If ease of use, portability and convenience are high on your requirements, and you like gadgets, then a short focal length refractor of up to 4 inches or a catadioptric (Schmidt- or Maksutov-Cassegrain) up to 5 inches on a computerized mount may well fit the bill. These are versatile telescopes with high magnification which enables you to observe amazing details on the moon and planets.
Achromatic refractors with short focal lengths typically display a degree of false color around the edges of bright objects like the moon because they can't focus all wavelengths of light to a precise point. Most users are happy to accept this drawback because refractors are so easy to use and care for; however, if you're after a clean, high-contrast view without false color, the Maksutov is the best option here.
The best views of the night sky are obtained through apochromatic refractors. Using special glass objectives, they focus all wavelengths of light to as near a single point as possible and are free of false color. It is worth noting though that apochromats cost around four times as much as equivalent-sized achromats.
How does a refractor telescope work?
Refractors work by bending — or refracting — the light they gather to give you a view of your astronomical target. Easy to set up, the refractor is best suited to planetary and lunar viewing, using lenses to collect and focus light to form an image, while an eyepiece magnifies the view.
The refractor has a fairly straightforward design, with a main objective lens at one end and a star diagonal with a threaded eyepiece at the other. Being intuitive to use, the refractor is often a popular instrument for novice astronomers, given their low maintenance. Refractors are usually affixed to a simple alt-azimuth mount, that slews from side to side and up and down to locate a desired target. Being easy to use means these telescopes are also simple to manufacture (at least for novice models) and, therefore, cheaper to buy.
The downside is that the higher the aperture, the more expensive the refractor gets. Unfortunately, this means that a basic refractor is also the number one target to replicate in mail-order catalogs and other non-reputable vendors, so caution must be exercised when purchasing this type of telescope.
Refractors are particularly good at giving highly magnified and high contrast images and, because of this, are ideal instruments to use when looking at solar system targets such as the moon and the planets. The best refractors usually have an aperture of 2 inches (60mm) or more and will provide you with reasonable views of astronomical objects. A 3 to 4-inch (80 mm - 90 mm) would be best suited if you're looking for a larger aperture.
The drawback of a refractor is that it can suffer from chromatic aberration, also known as color fringing. When a single lens doesn't focus all the colors emitted from a target object at the same point, bright objects such as the moon, Venus or Jupiter usually have a colored halo around them. To reduce this problem, many refractors are manufactured as achromatic or APOchromatic (also known as Extra Dispersion (ED) telescopes).
The achromatic refractor is cheaper than the apochromatic refractor and, combined with its efficiency, is often the type of telescope that novice astronomers go for. Even if you choose the more expensive achromatic, you'll likely get a stubborn degree of purple fringing around some targets.
Unless you're a seasoned skywatcher and you can afford to go for the more expensive apochromatic — which corrects for such an effect by using exotic glass for the lenses — this degree of color fringing will not ruin your observing experience to any great extent. If you decide to go for the expensive option, you will be stunned by the views you will get through these excellent telescopes. Be warned, though, you might find that some apochromatics come without a tripod, something that you'll have to buy separately along with any accessories.
- Discover the Best tripods, Best travel tripods and Best camera accessories for astrophotography in our handy guides.
How does a reflector telescope work?
There are two common types of reflector telescope — the Newtonian and the Dobsonian. The way these instruments operate is the same — they both use mirrors to reflect light to create an image of the object you're looking at.
The Newtonian telescope comprises a curved light-collecting mirror, which can be found at the tube's base. The light that hits this mirror is reflected back to the front of the tube, where a smaller flat mirror — oriented at 45-degrees — brings light to the observer who can see their chosen object.
The Newtonian can be found on alt-azimuth mounts, but you shouldn't be too surprised to find this type of reflector is more popularly affixed to an equatorial mount, allowing the telescope to follow the rotation of the sky while being aligned with your hemisphere's celestial pole. This reflector is a favorite in the amateur astronomy community due to its versatility in observing a wide selection of astronomical targets and allowing for astrophotography. With Newtonians, you can also buy a large aperture for less money — for instance, an eight-inch (203.2 mm) reflector would cost you less than a refractor with the same aperture, allowing you to get much more value for your money.
Newtonian reflector telescopes do require some maintenance. The mirrors must be aligned periodically to ensure that they are reflecting light properly. The mirrors can also become tarnished over time, so they may need to be repainted. If you choose a Newtonian reflector telescope, select one with a protective mirror coating. This will help extend the mirrors' life and make them easier to maintain.
Some beginners to the hobby of astronomy might find setting up and using an equatorial mount tricky — that's where the Dobsonian comes in. These telescopes give the capabilities of a reflector without the complexities an equatorial mount will bring since it employs an alt-azimuth mount. Dobsonians are very simple to use and can easily be pulled into orientation when looking at astronomical objects. If you're not confident in navigating your telescope though, then GoTo or computerized Dobsonians and Newtonians (that slew to objects for you using an in-built motor) are on the market — but cost more. Learn more about these in our 'What are Dobsonian telescopes' guide.
Whatever reflector you choose, these telescopes are excellent for low-magnification targets such as galaxies and many nebulas.
How does a catadioptric telescope work?
Ideal for astrophotography, the catadioptric is an excellent instrument for taking a wide range of astronomical targets and is manufactured in order to take the best parts of two kinds of telescopes: The reflector and the refractor. What's more, the catadioptric takes advantage of a lightweight design, meaning that it's much more portable than other kinds of telescopes and its sealed optics promote little to no maintenance. The only major downside to choosing a catadioptric is that the vast majority can be expensive. However, if you are on a strict budget, picking up one of these instruments isn't unheard of — you've just got to make sure to shop around.
While refractors use lenses, and reflectors make use of mirrors, to create and magnify an image, the catadioptric makes use of both lenses and mirrors for high-definition and superior views. During your observations, light from your chosen target passes through to a lens, which corrects or reduces aberration that distorts the view that is later taken in through the eyepiece. Curved primary mirrors then reflect this light onto a secondary mirror, which then reaches your eyes. You will find two kinds of Catadioptric telescopes — the Schmidt-Cassegrain and the Maksutov-Cassegrain.
The Maksutov-Cassegrain, also affectionately known as the 'Mak', corrects the optical problem that is experienced by reflectors — an aberration effect called 'coma,' which can make objects look distorted and appear like they have a tail. This effect is reduced or banished with the combined efforts of a spherical mirror and a meniscus lens, the latter of which is 'weakly negative'. The Maksutov is also adept at correcting for chromatic aberration, or color fringing, a distortion that creates an unwanted purple or blue edging around bright night-sky objects.
Packed into its short optical tube is a system that allows you to target higher magnification objects such as the planets, moon and double stars. Additionally, if you struggle to find objects and your way around the night sky, then both this type of catadioptric telescope and the Schmidt-Cassegrain can be found in abundance and equipped with a GoTo system.
The other most common kind of catadioptric, the Schmidt-Cassegrain, offers similar capabilities to the Maksutov and will allow you to make general observations of planetary targets and stars. It is also possible to expand the telescope's field of view with the help of corrector lenses, enabling exquisite views of an even wider selection of astronomical targets.
- Save money with the best Telescope deals or the Best budget telescopes under $500.
What is a finderscope?
A finder scope is a low-power (low magnification) telescope that sits on your main telescope. Your main telescope will typically have a narrow field of view, meaning you'll see only a little portion of the sky when you look through it. Your finder scope, with a wider field of view, assists you in pointing your telescope to your desired subject, making it easy to hone in on your target with minimal searching and repositioning.
Center your subject in the finder scope's frame; there are usually crosshairs or a dot so you know when it's central. Now when you look through your telescope's eyepiece, your subject will be centered here too.
Many telescopes include a finder scope with the package but if you need to purchase one separately it's worth knowing there are two main types. One has a straight-through view, and one has a right-angled view. Generally, you'd want a right-angle finder if you have a Newtonian reflector telescope and a straight-through view if you use a refractor or catadioptric due to the location of their eyepieces. Some finder scopes will also be magnified — higher magnification and a narrower field may be desirable if you need pinpoint accuracy.
You'll also come across the terms 'inverted' or 'erect image.' The latter means the finder scope has a correcting prism that flips the image the 'right way up’ (top-to-bottom) and ‘around’ (left-to-right). Some finder scopes don't have a correcting prism, so you see either a back-to-front image or upside down, which might be disorientating and make finding subjects more difficult, especially if you're just starting out.
What does aperture, magnification and focal length mean on a telescope?
Time to dispel jargon myths with a bit of a telescope glossary. The larger a telescope's aperture (the size of its main lens or primary mirror) the more light is collected and more fine detail is revealed. For example, a 200 mm aperture collects four times more light than a 100 mm telescope. Under ideal conditions, a 100 mm telescope reveals stars down to magnitude +11.8, while a 200 mm telescope will show stars down to magnitude +13.3. A 100 mm telescope will 'split' a double star separated by 1.5 arcseconds and resolves a three-kilometer lunar crater; however, a 200 mm telescope resolves a crater just 1.5 km across and a double star separated by just 0.6 arcseconds. Resolution is limited by the telescope's optical quality and the steadiness of the Earth's atmosphere.
Telescopic magnification depends on the telescope's focal length (the distance between the objective lens/primary mirror and the point of focus of the light it collects) and the focal length of the eyepiece used. Magnification is calculated by dividing the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. For example, a 100 mm telescope with a focal length of f/8 (eight times the telescope's aperture) has a focal length of 800 mm; used in conjunction with an eyepiece of 10 mm it will deliver a magnification of 80 times (800 divided by 10).
With any telescope, the range of useful magnification depends on a telescope's aperture and focal length, combined with the focal length of the eyepiece. Too low a magnification (taking in as wide an area as possible) will actually waste light since the 'exit pupil' of the eyepiece will be larger than the diameter of the pupil of your dark-adapted eye. On average, the adult pupil will dilate to around 7 mm in dark conditions. Therefore the exit pupil delivered by an eyepiece ideally needs to be 7 mm or smaller so that all the light gathered by the telescope — especially when attempting to see faint objects — can be taken in. Exit pupil can be calculated by dividing the telescope's aperture by the magnification delivered by any particular eyepiece.
Magnification: How do telescope eyepieces work?
Eyepieces work by magnifying the light focused by the telescope's primary mirror or objective lens. Every telescope eyepiece has a specific focal length (given in millimeters), and the shorter this figure is, the higher the magnification. To calculate the magnification provided by any particular eyepiece on any telescope, divide the telescope's focal length by the focal length of the eyepiece used. For example, a 1000 mm focal length telescope (say, a 100 mm refractor of f/10, or a 200 mm Newtonian of f/5) will deliver a magnification of 100 with a 10 mm eyepiece (1000 divided by 10 = 100).
Although any telescope can give impressively high magnifications using short focal length eyepieces, there is a point when increasing magnification will provide a worse image rather than improve it. When an object is magnified, its brightness is reduced as the finite amount of light is spread over a larger area. In addition, increasing magnification exacerbates the amount of atmospheric turbulence visible; therefore, high magnifications can only be used when seeing conditions are good. Finally, high magnification is practical only with driven telescopes. Otherwise, the object will quickly drift out of the field of view.
As a guide, your highest power eyepiece should deliver a magnification double the telescope's aperture in millimeters — for example, 200x on a 100 mm telescope, 400x on a 200 mm telescope, and so on.
It's best to have at least three good quality eyepieces that deliver low, medium and high magnifications — say around 50x, 100x and 200x. Taking as an example a 100 mm f/10 telescope, those eyepieces would be of 20 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm focal length. Let's assume that these particular eyepieces are of the commonly used Plossl variety. A field of view around one degree across (an area of 0.8 square degrees) is given by the 20 mm eyepiece — ideal for sweeping the deep skies and finding objects. The 10 mm eyepiece will just take in the half-degree diameter moon and have a field covering just one-quarter that of the 20 mm eyepiece. With its high magnification, the 5 mm eyepiece has a field of view covering just one-sixteenth that of the 20 mm eyepiece and can only be used when seeing conditions allow.
How we test the best telescopes
To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best telescopes to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every telescope through a rigorous review to fully test each instrument. Each telescope is reviewed based on numerous aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field.
Our expert staff and knowledgeable freelance contributors thoroughly test each telescope. This ensures honest reviewing based on the telescope's price, category, and intended use. For example, a 10-inch Dobsonian should not be compared to a 2.76-inch refractor, even though they may be the best in their own class.
We assess the ease of setup of both computerized and motorized mounts, as well as their reliability, accuracy, and noise level. Additionally, we decipher whether a telescope comes with appropriate eyepieces and tripods. We also make suggestions for any additional kits that may be beneficial for the best experience possible.
Here at Space.com, we offer complete editorial independence so, whether you're looking to purchase an item or not, you can rely on buying advice we offer, meaning that our reviews and buying guides and honest and transparent.
Aside from this comprehensive list, we do also have brand-specific telescope guides for Celestron, Skywatcher, Meade, and Orion deals for those loyal to their favorite brands. Like this guide, we also keep those updated year-round, so they're always worth checking out. You can also pick up high-end skywatching equipment from a number of retailers out there. Do Best Buy sell telescopes? They sure do, and we have a guide on Telescopes at Best Buy.
Still wondering 'what telescope should I buy'? We have also selected our favorite budget telescopes under $500, best beginner telescopes and best telescopes for kids and not just what the best telescope to buy for adults is, in case you're looking for those specifically.
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