The Best Telescopes
Few activities are more profoundly rewarding than amateur astronomy. But if you want to get a closer look at the moon, planets, stars, and even other galaxies, you're going to have to shell out some money for a quality telescope. Of course, there are models that are obviously quite expensive. But fortunately, the stargazing hobbyist can still score an excellent telescope without selling the family farm. Here, we present our list of the best of the best in the world of telescopes.
What to Look For
In our research, we found that the best telescopes are user-friendly, reliable, and powerful enough to display nearby celestial bodies. The Celestron 70mm travel scope is impressive, especially considering the price. It comes with two different eyepieces that can capture the moon and planets in our solar system. If price is no object, consider Orion’s SpaceProbe telescope. Thanks to its smooth handling, the Orion produces a crystal clear image and is a breeze to maneuver. Read on to discover the perfect pick for you and your celestial yearnings.
Celestron 70mm Travel Scope
Grab and go gaze
Celestron is a big name in the world of telescopes. This company has been producing consumer-grade telescopes for decades, and this travel-friendly option is a testament to their knack for innovation. Lightweight, surprisingly durable, and easy to set up on the fly, this option is perfect for those midnight treks to those secret spots free of light pollution. And though light in weight, the optical performance is pleasantly surprising. The coated 70mm lens delivers enhanced views of the moon and planets and can even double as a daytime scope for spotting earth-bound wonders.
Pros:
- It comes with two quality eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) that provide 40x and 20x magnification levels.
- Including the tripod, the total assembled weight is 4.2 pounds, which feels like nothing when packed up in the included backpack.
- It offers an excellent value for the price.
Cons:
- While it’s certainly functional, the tripod sacrifices a bit of stability for its lightweight design.
Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture, 400mm AZ Mount
Easy to learn, easy to master
If you are new to the world of amateur astronomy, we recommend this pick from Gskyer. This scope comes with everything you need to get started in one easy-to-set-up package. The large adjustment dials and simple design makes swapping eyepieces and honing in on celestial objects a breeze. It also doesn’t hurt that this pick comes at a stellar price point, so it’s great for kids and adults alike. As a bonus, the Gskyer telescope comes with a phone mount and wireless remote, so you can snap pictures of the moon, planets, and stars without bumping the telescope and struggling with lining up your phone’s camera and the eyepiece.
Pros:
- Excellent for amateur astrophotography, this scope comes with a phone mount and wireless remote for snapping longer exposures.
- The simple setup and low price make this an excellent choice for beginners, especially considering that you’ll also get two eyepieces and a Barlow lens for your money.
Cons:
- The Barlow lens tends to sit a little loose, making it tricky to use in conjunction with the phone mount.
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ
Worth every penny
The StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ isn’t a toy. An excellent option for serious amateur astronomers shopping on a modest budget, this beauty sports a 130mm aperture for sharp images of the planets and moon. In fact, with an aperture that big and a focal length of 650mm at your disposal, you might even get to see some deep space splendors, like Andromeda and nebulas. And thanks to its smartphone compatibility, it’s easy to find celestial objects and make fine adjustments via the StarSense app. It’s no James Webb Space Telescope, but the StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ comes pretty darn close to perfection.
Pros:
- The StarSense app delivers incredibly accurate adjustments, and it’s easy to use.
- It comes with excellent accessories, including two eyepieces, a smartphone dock, a red-dot finderscope, a tripod, and more.
- You can purchase and add additional components to upgrade, like stronger eyepieces to enhance the magnification.
Cons:
- It’s pretty expensive, though it still offers high value for the price.
Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope
Steady the stars
For a super steady, smooth-moving telescope, go with the Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST. More advanced and less affordable than the beginner options, this handsome telescope features an equatorial mount that delivers buttery manual tracking of objects in the night sky. Although you’ll have to do some homework to truly master its mechanics, this balanced weighted system is a dream to use. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend a telescope based on the mount alone. This beauty delivers clear, bright images free of diffraction and aberrations through its 5.1-inch aperture.
Pros:
- Although the construction is relatively heavy and robust, it still manually adjusts with feather precision. That makes it easier to take advantage of this scope’s incredible optics that deliver detailed views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects.
- We appreciate that this scope comes with tons of extras, including a free software download to guide you in your journey.
Cons:
- This option has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s exciting to master.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope
Let the tech do the work
If you have a few extra bucks to spend, there’s no doubt that this telescope is well worth the money. With a completely computerized system and digital controls, this telescope is changing the game. It may have a slight learning curve, but once you figure it out it makes identifying stars a breeze. It can even locate celestial objects and track them for you. If you’re looking to take things to the next level, this is the telescope for you.
Pros:
- This massive aperture is eight inches, making it enough to see almost anything in our solar system. This gathers a ton of light and has more than enough power to see the well-known constellations.
- The Sky Align technology allows you to align your telescope with the current celestial map and find other objects in the night sky via a computer. The setup takes minutes but can allow for hours of easy stargazing.
Cons:
- This telescope is fairly expensive, so it probably won’t fit into the budgets of most casual hobbyists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right telescope?
There are so many facets to consider when buying a telescope, so you’ll have to consider what’s important to you before diving in. First and foremost, the easiest way to hone in on your perfect pick is to determine your maximum budget and stick to it. Next, consider how you intend to use the telescope: will you use it at home or on the go? Heavier telescopes offer greater stability, while lighter telescopes are easy to travel with. Do you want to learn about the technical aspects of telescopes, or do you want something simple that your youngsters can use? Some telescopes may have a steeper learning curve, while others offer simple designs that are easy to master.
What do the different eyepieces do?
The telescope eyepiece is used to create a viewable image from the optical system of the telescope. Without one, you won’t be able to really see anything. Different eyepieces offer different magnification levels. Unlike camera lenses, higher eyepiece focal lengths correspond to lower magnification levels. You can determine the magnification of your setup by dividing your telescope’s focal length by the eyepiece focal length. For example, placing a 10mm eyepiece on a 100mm telescope will produce a magnification of 10x.
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