Best telescopes for seeing planets in 2024

Having one of the best telescopes for seeing planets is critical if you want to get up close and personal with our solar system. These telescopes allow you to see beautiful views of Venus, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn and its rings, and on this list we've considered a variety of different price points and abilities. 

Even when they're part of our solar system, planets are distant objects in the night sky. However, their brightness compared to other celestial objects means they're excellent subjects to observe via a telescope. Some telescopes are better at observing planets than others, and so we've chosen models with great resolutions and a high magnification range, allowing you to see planets as clearly as possible.

Telescopes come in a vast array of price brackets, and in this guide to the best telescopes for seeing planets, you'll find everything from budget-friendly telescopes to those costing well over four figures. Whether you're brand new to astronomy or a professional, then, you should find something to suit. Everything on this list has been selected by our expert reviewers, and for many of the models, you'll find separate, in-depth reviews to give you even more information.

If you're interested in skywatching more broadly, take a look at our guide to the best telescopes, or to the best beginner telescopes if you're just starting out on your astronomy journey. The best binoculars can also be a powerful (and portable!) accessory for skywatching, especially if you intend to be on the go a lot. If you're looking for a gift for the budding astronomers in your family, then our guides to the best telescopes for kids and best binoculars for kids may be just what you're looking for.

Tom Kerss

Tom Kerss F.R.A.S. is a London-based astronomer, astrophotographer, author and consultant. Having previously worked at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, he is the founder of Stargazing✦London, which delivers world-class online astronomy and space courses with subject experts. Tom is also the host of the Star Signs podcast, providing updates from the world of space news, as well as what to look out for in the night sky.

The quick list

See our quick list below if you want to dive right in, or scroll further down for more detailed reviews of each product.

Best telescopes for seeing planets we recommend in 2024

Best telescope overall

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Part of Celestron's successful range of NexStar telescopes, it's easy to see why this particular model is the company's star buy. It's expensive but is a seriously impressive product, as we found in our in-depth Celestron NexStar 8SE review. 

This telescope has a high-quality Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design, which lets it absorb a huge amount of light. That means you can not only see the planets with breathtaking amounts of detail, but you can use the NexStar 8SE to gaze into the deep sky, too.

Smaller apertures are available in the NexStar 4SE, 5SE and 6SE models, but none compare to the awe-inspiring views offered by this 8-inch aperture, which lets in a whopping 78% more light than the NexStar 6SE.

While the Celestron NexStar 8SE comes with a price tag of around $1,500, its capabilities and features make it a valuable investment for beginners to experienced astronomers. With a database of 40,000 celestial objects and a 'tour mode' guiding you through popular targets, it provides a user-friendly experience for those not well-versed with the night sky.

The motorized single fork arm mount allows you to smoothly slew to your selected object using the handheld remote. Once it's aligned, the NexStar 8SE provides crystal clear views across the entire field of view, and it's compatible with many accessories.

Although the price is high, we were impressed by its durable build, including a sturdy steel tripod that's easily portable for dark sky sites. With proper care, this telescope has the potential to last for decades. If it fits your budget, the quality justifies the investment. However, if it's a bit beyond your budget, the rest of the list offers competitive alternatives that are worth considering.

• Read our full Celestron NexStar 8SE review

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Best for planetary imaging

Taking images of planets is a captivating hobby, and luckily, you can get started with any telescope that has a tracking mount. If you're serious about capturing images of our neighboring worlds, you'll need a telescope with a large aperture.

The Celestron CPC Deluxe 1100 EdgeHD allows you to see more than just the planets: Thanks to its huge 11-inch main mirror, you can enjoy intricate details of the surfaces of distant planets. If you're viewing Venus and Jupiter, expect to see a remarkable amount of surface detail. Even casual users will be able to easily find details such as deserts and dust storms on the surface of Mars. In other words, this is an incredible bit of kit.

The downside is that the CPC Deluxe 1100 EdgeHD doesn't come cheap. It's the most expensive telescope on this guide by quite a margin, which means it's probably not going to be suitable for amateur skywatchers. But for experienced astronomers or those with a very stretchy budget, you absolutely won't be disappointed with this telescope's capabilities. 

The CPC mount is dependable and robust, offering precise tracking for extended imaging sessions. If you're interested in deep-sky astrophotography, you can convert it into an equatorial platform using a wedge. Although it has some weight, two people can easily set up and take down this telescope in the field within minutes.

Keep in mind that the package includes only one eyepiece, so you might want to budget for additional ones, especially if you're keen on planetary imaging. Fortunately, there's an upgrade option available if planetary imaging does become a significant interest.

• If astronomical imaging is your thing, check out our review of the Unistellar eVscope 2

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Best for portability

It may be small, but the SkyWatcher Heritage-90P Virtuoso is a very capable telescope. It makes use of two mirrors and a meniscus lens, meaning an impressive 1.25m focal length can be squeezed into a tube that's only 28cm long. Its size makes it one of the most portable telescopes we've included in this guide, which makes it a great choice for taking out into the field or traveling around with.

The Heritage-90P Virtuoso has a Maksutov-Cassegrain design. Similar to a refractor telescope, it's known for providing sharp and high-contrast images — and this model is no different. It's a fantastic choice for observing planetary surfaces, and it does a stand-out job of showcasing details like the bands and moons of Jupiter. 

The included red dot finder isn't the best, but the motorized Virtuoso mount makes it easy to point the telescope at objects in the sky. The smooth slewing controls allow you to track objects as they move across the sky, making it easier to keep them in view.

You can upgrade the mount at any time via Sky-Watcher's Synscan GoTo device, giving it the ability to find more than 40,000 objects in the night sky for you automatically. It can also track the sky to counteract the Earth's rotation, keeping your object of interest within the field of vision at all times. 

If you are interested in a more powerful telescope with a similarly compact design and want to fast-track to the complete GoTo system, you might want to check out the Heritage-90's big brother, the Skymax-127 Virtuoso GTI.

• Check out our telescope deals hub to see if you can pick up a bargain

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Best for beginners

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When we reviewed the Celestron Inspire 100AZ refractor telescope, we found it to be a great telescope for beginners looking to get a better view of the moon and the planets without breaking the bank. You can typically pick up this telescope between $300 and $350, which makes it one of the most affordable options on this list.

There is a downside to that, however. At this price point, you don't get a fancy motorized mount: Instead, the Inspire 100AZ has a simple altazimuth mount which requires manual movement via a panhandle. More traditional stargazers may prefer this approach, however, and we think it's a fair trade-off given the price point of this telescope. Pair it with a stargazing app if you want to make the process a little easier to get used to.

This telescope offers a neat feature for astrophotography enthusiasts — the lens cap also functions as a smartphone mount, allowing you to capture stunning photos of planets and the night sky with your phone. It's a lightweight telescope that we found easy to set up and take down, however, it's worth noting that the optical tube is 26 inches (660mm) long, so it does require a bit of space.

Although the 4-inch aperture may not gather sufficient light for distant celestial objects, this telescope offers a decent view of the planets, particularly with the 20mm eyepiece. We observed detailed moon craters and even caught a glimpse of Andromeda (M31) along with some of the brighter star clusters.

It may not be the best telescope out there, but we think it's a solid choice for beginners and offers good value for the money, with some fun extra features.

• Read our full Celestron Inspire 100AZ review 

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Best combination package

The Celestron Omni XLT 102 is a unique package featuring a high-quality telescope and mount combination. It's easy to set up and doesn't require any tools, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced astronomers.

The 4-inch F/10 achromat gives fine views, and its focal length makes it a good match for some of the best planetary eyepieces. Unfortunately, only one eyepiece is supplied in the box, but with the addition of a 10mm and Barlow lens (take a look at our best eyepieces guide), you can achieve a magnification of 36x, 72x, 100x and 200x. At this top end, the Omni XLT 102 will provide you with some lovely details of our neighboring planets.

There's also a 150mm and 120mm model of this telescope (you can read our Celestron Omni XLT 120 review to find out more). All three models use the same CG-4 equatorial mount, but we've found the larger telescopes to come close to the weight limit of the mount, so that's something to bear in mind.

It may take some time to get used to the equatorial mount on this Omni XLT 102, particularly if you've not used one before. On equatorial mounts, the polar axis is parallel to the Earth's rotation, but once you've adjusted to using it, you'll likely find that tracking planets is manageable with just one hand. If a completely hands-free experience is something you'd like, there's the option to upgrade to a dual-axis auto-tracking kit which can be installed on this telescope.

• Find one of the Best telescopes for kids for those with younger astronomers

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Best for precision

The Sky-Watcher Skymax-180 PRO is designed specifically for exploring the solar system. Its long focal length and high-resolution optical system deliver flawless views of the planets, capturing vibrant details similar to a more expensive apochromatic refractor. A 7.1-inch primary mirror also provides enough light to reveal many of the moons in our solar system. 

We thought the included 2-inch/28mm eyepiece didn't fully unlock the telescope's potential, so we'd recommend investing in a more powerful 8mm or 10mm planetary eyepiece that will further enhance its optics.

The Skymax-180 PRO is mounted on a robust HEQ5 PRO equatorial mount, specifically crafted to handle substantial weights for optimal precision and stability. This setup is perfect for various photography applications, such as detailed planetary and lunar imaging and capturing images of various deep-sky objects.

If you plan to purchase another telescope in the future, it is beneficial to 'over-mount' the scope. This means choosing a mount rated for a heavier payload than the telescope you currently have so that you won't have to upgrade the mount in the future. It will also provide additional stability, especially at higher magnifications.

Many visual observers and astrophotographers favor the Skymax-180 PRO paired with the HEQ5 PRO mount. This versatile and robust combination is suitable for a variety of applications, making it an excellent all-in-one choice.

• Read our guide on the Best telescopes for deep space

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Best for functionality

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We think the Celestron Astro Fi 102 telescope is a great choice for newcomers to astronomy and those with a keen interest in technology. With a motorized mount and SkyPortal app support, this isn't a great telescope for purists, but if you're keen to embrace some of the best skywatching technologies, you're going to have a great time using this telescope.

In our Celestron Astro Fi 102 review, we praised just how well the SkyPortal app worked. Available on both iOS and Android, it features a database of around 100,000 celestial objects, any of which you can select and ask the telescope to automatically slew towards. The telescope moves quietly and quickly — and what's particularly neat is that you can even connect a Bluetooth video game controller to position the scope. 

While the telescope may not have the premium feel of some high-end models, its lightweight and portable design makes it ideal for carrying to various stargazing locations. However, it's still important to ensure adequate protection during transport to prevent any potential damage to the telescope.

With suitable eyepieces and conditions, this telescope offers clear, close-up views of the Moon, Saturn's rings, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.

• Read our full Celestron Astro Fi 102 review

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Best budget option

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During our Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ review, we established that this telescope was perfect for viewing the moon and planets as it's designed to give a high magnification of bright objects.

However, as it's a more affordable option than others, Celestron had to make some compromises on image quality. You may notice some chromatic aberration (also known as color fringing) around the edges when you observe bright objects or that the colors aren't as accurate as the ones observed with more premium models.

This telescope comes with a Barlow lens, which means you can use it to get beautiful views of celestial objects such as Saturn, Jupiter or the moon. However, it doesn't capture enough light to enable you to see objects deep in space.

One of our favourite things about the StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is its compatibility with Celestron's own StarSense app. We love this app, as it makes aligning your telescope quickly and easy. It's particularly great for beginners as it takes all the difficulty out of the process, allowing you to get to viewing the planets without any fuss.

This telescope has a 'push to' scope rather than a GoTo scope, which means it doesn't automatically move to find your chosen target. Instead, you'll need to use arrows on your phone screen which guide you to the right position. It's a little fiddly, particularly as there are no slow-motion controls, but it's still very helpful for newcomers over complete manual tracking.

• Read our full Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ review

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Best telescopes for seeing planets 2024: Frequently Asked Questions

How we test the best telescopes for seeing planets

At Space.com, we are confident that our recommendations for the best telescopes are honest, reliable, and up-to-date. We pride ourselves on putting every telescope through a rigorous review process that tests each instrument thoroughly. Our expert staff and knowledgeable freelance contributors carefully evaluate each telescope to ensure that our reviews are fair, unbiased, and based on real-life experience.

During the review process, we consider several aspects, such as the telescope's construction and design, performance in the field, and function as an optical instrument. We also consider each telescope's intended use, class, and price to ensure that we compare apples to apples.

We evaluate how easy it is to set up each telescope, whether computerized or motorized mounts are reliable and quiet and whether the telescope comes with appropriate accessories like eyepieces and tripods. If we think a particular telescope would benefit from other kit to make the most of it, we'll suggest it. This gives you the best experience possible. At Space.com, we maintain complete editorial independence to ensure that our buying guides and reviews are reliable, transparent, and unbiased. We are confident that our buying advice on telescopes is the best in the market, so you can make informed decisions about purchasing an instrument or not.

Unlike the deep sky, which remains almost unchanged throughout our lives, the planets constantly bring us new and sometimes surprising reasons to look again. They're easy to find and inspiring to take in — real worlds that our descendants or even we may visit one day. 

Any telescope can make them look impressive, but a well-tuned high-contrast instrument is what is needed to really do them justice, and you'll be thankful to have one to hand when something special occurs, like the arrival of an incredible gas giant storm, or a night of exceptionally steady seeing that invites you to max out the power. If you plan to take your own astrophotos, it's well worth considering a telescope mount with tracking capability, altazimuth or equatorial — both are suitable for short exposures. At such long focal lengths, the Earth's rotation quickly moves things out of the field of view, and dedicated planetary imaging cameras have small sensors. Regardless of which telescope you choose, you're in for an exciting new hobby as a Solar System explorer. Enjoy the magnificent highlights of our celestial neighborhood.