1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best for beginners
3. Best budget telescope
4. Best for portability
5. Best GoTo Telescope
6. Best value enthusiast telescope
7. Best motorized telescope
8. Best GoTo for smaller budgets
9. Best for all skill levels
10. Best smart telescope
11. Best for tech lovers
12. Best for bigger budgets
13. Best for back-yard observing
14. Best for observing fine details
15. Best for intermediate users
16. Best for veteran astronomers
17. Best for astrophotographers
18. Telescope FAQs
19. How we test
The best telescopes are designed to improve astronomers' views of the universe, turning stargazing into an exciting adventure. They unveil breathtaking galaxies, nebulas, planets, and other celestial wonders with impressive clarity and depth.
Are you wondering which telescopes are the best and which one suits your needs? If so, there's no need to spend hours searching the internet because our expert panel has done the hard work for you. We test and review various different telescopes, from entry-level to advanced models, including different types like refractors, reflectors, catadioptric telescopes such as Maksutov-Cassegrains and even the latest smart telescopes.
Whether you're keen on stargazing and astrophotography using your smartphone or camera, planning to explore dark sky areas with a compact and portable telescope or wanting to dive deep into astronomy with a large Dobsonian model, we've got you covered no matter what.
There can be a lot of confusing jargon associated with telescopes, so if you're not sure what it all means, read our Telescope FAQ. At Space.com, we don't just review telescopes. We also have a full guide on the Best binoculars. And if you're looking to pair a telescope with one of the Best cameras overall or Best cameras for astrophotography, we've got you covered there too.
Gemma is a contributing writer to Space.com, Live Science, science and space magazines How It Works and All About Space, history magazines All About History and History of War as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) kids education brand Future Genius. She is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes', 'Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual to the Large Hadron Collider' and 'Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual to the Milky Way'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics. She was elected as a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Previously, she worked for Nature's journal, Scientific Reports, and created scientific industry reports for the Institute of Physics and the British Antarctic Survey.
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 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.
Best GoTo
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 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 motorized telescope
A fantastic scope for any experience level, it's incredibly easy to use yet powerful enough for deep space exploration and even astrophotography.
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Best GoTo for smaller budgets
It's not perfect, but in the world of GoTo mounts, we think this is a must-have for observers who are on a tighter budget. It's very user-friendly, gives excellent clarity and contrast and comes with all the extras you need.
Best for all skill levels
Includes a built-in tour mode that guides you to specific celestial objects, which is great if you're a beginner and you aren't quite sure what to look for. It has excellent optics in a user-friendly package.
Best smart telescope
If you've got the budget for it, this is Unistellar's most advanced telescope to date. For such a clever piece of kit, once out of the box it's ready to start using in just a few minutes. It has a very reliable app, and even features a Smart Light Reduction feature to eliminate light pollution in urban environments.
Best for tech lovers
Setting itself apart from traditional telescopes, this unique piece of kit uses its mobile app 'Singularity' to share captivating images of the night sky taken with its Sony image sensor rather than using an eyepiece. It's best used for capturing images of nebulas, galaxies and star clusters as it's not intended for viewing the moon or planets.
Best for bigger budgets
If you're serious about stargazing and have the budget for an eye-wateringly expensive telescope, then look no further. If you want an all-in-one, hassle-free system but aren't bothered about it being a 'traditional' telescope, you'll love this. It has an incredibly simple setup and a stunning design, although it does price out many astronomers.
Best for backyard observing
With a modest price point, this scope would be ideal for anyone starting out on their astronomy journey. It sets itself apart from other scopes with the inclusion of an equatorial mount, which can simplify tracking celestial objects. The trade-off, though, is that it's quite hefty weighing 12.6kg, so it's really only good for use in your backyard.
Best for finer details
A fantastic choice for beginner and intermediate astronomers, this telescope features a focal length of 1200mm, which enables you to observe the finer details of various celestial bodies. There are alternatives for a lower price, but for quality, we think this Orion scope still wins.
Best for intermediate users
This would make a great option for your 'next telescope' if you've reached the limit of your beginner model. It has a sturdy design, very good quality optics and is very easy to accessorize. It's not without it's flaws, but we were impressed by its quality.
Best for veteran astronomers
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 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 telescopes 2023: For stargazing galaxies, nebulas and more
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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 is a great choice for beginner astronomers — it's very user-friendly and captures images that are both sharp and luminous, while also providing a tactile yet substantial hand controller. The field of view may be a little limited, but the SkyAlign software and GoTo makes finding objects in the night sky easy, so it won't pose a huge problem. Also, the hand controller has nine different slewing speeds, making it easy to make precise movements or quickly explore the night sky.
One thing worth keeping in mind is that the NexStar SE scopes are quite power-hungry. We'd recommend you use an external power supply, as a pack of AA batteries will not last very long and you'll need to keep repurchasing them. This does limit its portability, but it's not a deal breaker if you're willing to carry a portable power bank or power station around with you.
Overall, in our Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope review, we found it to be a great telescope for beginners. It is easy to use, produces clear and bright images and comes with a variety of features that make it a great value for the price.
- 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 itself is well-constructed and is very easy to use. Its 100mm aperture lets in a significant amount of light, allowing you to observe faint celestial objects like nebulas and galaxies. It also has a long focal length, providing substantial magnification and detailed views of planets and other nearby objects.
The Inspire 100AZ comes with a variety of accessories, including two eyepieces, a red LED flashlight (for preserving night vision), an accessory tray, a StarPointer Pro finderscope to make it easy to find your subject and a smartphone adapter for basic smartphone astrophotography.
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.
- 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 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.
It's designed to be portable and lightweight, allowing for stress-free transportation and setup. It also comes equipped with the SkyPortal app, which seamlessly locates and identifies over a whopping 100,000 celestial objects for you to explore.
The Astro Fi 102 telescope uses a Maksutov-Cassegrain design with a large aperture and a long focal length. This combination provides excellent magnification, making it perfect for observing planets. Additionally, the telescope has a wide field of view, making it well-suited for viewing star clusters and nebulas without having to constantly reposition it when you want to move on to your next target.
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 aren'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 GoTo
✅ 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 it's a GoTo that you're after, we think the Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 is an exceptional GoTo scope that delivers breathtaking views of the night sky. It has a Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with a generous aperture of 235mm and a robust single-fork arm mount to ensure stability and precision. The motorized mount includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, providing 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 and two eyepieces (13mm and 40mm).
The NexStar Evolution 9.25 is the ideal choice for experienced skywatchers who are looking for a high-quality telescope that offers a complete tour of the universe. It's also a good choice for long-exposure astrophotography, as the motorized mount can track objects as they move across the sky. Built into the mount is the telescope's very own Wi-Fi network, allowing you to connect and control the scope via the Celestron SkyPortal app (downloadable for free on iOS and Android) — leave your chunky hand controller at home!
Although the NexStar Evolution 9.25 has an outstanding design, it is on the heavier side and not the most portable, so we think it's more suitable for backyard use than constant travel. However, this slight inconvenience is justified by its sturdy and top-notch qualities.
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 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 102 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
When we reviewed the Celestron Astro Fi 130 telescope, we were really impressed with it and found it to be an excellent value for money. Even though it doesn't fall into the 'budget' category, it's still considerably more affordable than many other telescopes in this guide, we think it's still a great choice in terms of value for money and would be perfect for enthusiast astronomers.
If you're new to stargazing, or even if you just don't have a lot of experience, this telescope can give you an astronomy experience to marvel at using telescope technology and good optics, serving as a virtual guide to the night sky.
This telescope has a 130mm aperture, which means it can gather a great amount of light and help you see faint celestial objects better at night. Its 650mm focal length provides a wide field of view, allowing you to observe a larger portion of the sky. It's both sturdy and lightweight, making it easy to carry around, and it comes with a stable tripod, a red dot finder and eyepieces, making it a great deal for its price.
The Celestron Astro Fi 130 is undoubtedly a great telescope for the price, but we think there are a few things that could be better. The battery life is a bit short, and the included eyepieces aren't the best quality. We think it's worth upgrading the eyepieces for a better experience, but for value for money, we highly recommend this scope.
- 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 motorized telescope
✅ 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 has an exceptional reputation, earning the esteemed title of 'The World's most beloved telescope,' and it's the number one bestseller on B&H Photo. It features StarBright XLT optical coating and provides unparalleled clarity and contrast for viewing planets and the moon. You can see Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and other deep-sky objects with breathtaking detail and vividness through its 203.2mm aperture lens. The image is free of chromatic aberration and color fringing, providing stunning night sky views.
In our Celestron NexStar 8SE review, we walked you through what it's like to get everything set up, which we thought was very straightforward and simple. 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.
Once you've set up and aligned the telescope, you can use the handheld controller to aim it at various celestial objects in the extensive database, such as planets, galaxies, double stars, star clusters and nebulas. For beginners (or those who can't decide what to observe first!), there's a 'sky tour' option that automatically guides the telescope to a range of different fascinating cosmic objects.
The telescope's motor operates smoothly and accurately. Automatic tracking is a dream for astrophotographers, allowing them to capture long-exposure shots that can be later stacked and edited to create stunning images of the cosmos.
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 GoTo for smaller budgets
✅ You don't have a big budget: If you want a telescope with GoTo but don't have the budget to spend on a really sophisticated instrument, this scope is a great option.
✅ You want simplicity: We found this scope to be incredibly user friendly and fairly simple to set up, and it offers information on over 40,000 astronomical subjects.
❌ You need a sturdy tripod: We noted that the stainless steel tripod was a little unstable in windy conditions, so you'll need to weigh it down.
🔎 Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 SynScan AZ GoTo A fantastic user-friendly scope ideal for anyone who wants a GoTo system but doesn't have a large budget to spend on a telescope. The tripod can be a little unsteady, but overall we think it's a great product. ★★★★½
If you have a limited budget but you really want to get started with GoTo skywatching, we recommend the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 Synscan AZ. The hand controller provides information on over 40,000 celestial objects, including comprehensive catalogs like Messier, NGC, IC and SAO, covering deep-sky objects and solar system targets. You'll also get a high-quality star diagonal, a 2x Barlow lens with a camera adapter, a 6x30 finderscope, a sturdy stainless steel tripod and an accessory tray. For everything you get, we think this package provides a lot of value for money.
Setting up the telescope is straightforward, and thanks to its manageable weight of 39.7 lbs (18kg), you can easily carry the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 SynScan AZ across your backyard. There are two power options: 8 AA batteries or a 12V power supply to operate the Servo Drive. Since batteries tend to lose power quickly in cold conditions, we'd recommend you opt for the 12V power supply for uninterrupted observations with the SynScan technology — plus it means you won't have to keep repurchasing batteries.
Aligning the Skymax 127 is a simple process, but beginners may need some practice to get it just right. We recommend thoroughly reading the manual to get familiar with the telescope before you take it out in the dark and realize you don't know what to do!
In terms of optical prowess, we don't have any complaints. We can fit a waxing gibbous moon phase in the field of view and, after tweaking the focuser, the craters and lunar mare come into exquisite focus, with lovely contrast and clarity. A moon filter offered even better sights. Slewing over to the star-forming region, the Orion Nebula (Messier 42), is also spotted easily with the 127mm aperture — it appears as a dusty patch of light with the Trapezium Cluster's member stars dazzling with brilliant clarity at the nebula's heart.
If we're being picky, we did notice that the stainless steel tripod can be a bit unstable. To help prevent your telescope from tipping over, we suggest supporting/weighing down the setup while slewing in windy conditions.
- Need more advice? Here's our specialized guide to the best telescopes for beginners
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Tripod can be a little shaky. |
| Performance | Alignment may take practice for beginners. |
| Functionality | Hand controller offers information on over 40,000 astronomical objects. |
Best for all skill levels
✅ You want easy, hassle-free calibration: The 6SE has convenient alignment technology, making it a quick and painless process.
✅ The whole family can use it: The 6SE can be used by anyone with any skill level, from beginners to more advanced users, meaning the whole family will be able to enjoy it no matter their experience.
❌ You want something portable: Due to its technology and components, it is a little on the heavy side. While it's not unreasonable, there are definitely lighter GoTos out there.
❌ Can be a tad noisy: We found the GoTo facility to be a bit noisy, so if you're going to be using it in your backyard, your neighbors may not be so happy!
🔎 Celestron NexStar 6SE Wit the Celestron NexStar 6SE's flawless optical coating, its ease of use and high-quality build, you have an instrument that is built to provide stunning views of the night sky for many years to come. ★★★★½
Celestron's range of NexStar telescopes is renowned for excellent optics, user-friendly assembly and a plethora of features. The telescope exemplifies all of these which we outlined in our Celestron NexStar 6SE review, and we think it's a fantastic choice for all skill levels.
If you're looking for a telescope that excels in light-gathering capabilities and offers an extensive array of astronomical objects to explore, the NexStar 6SE is a great option. With its impressive 150 mm aperture, it outperforms the Meade StarNavigator NG 114, while the NexStar+ hand controller boasts an expansive database featuring over 40,000 objects. However, in order to fully maximize the telescope's potential, you'll need to invest in some additional eyepieces, and while its database includes a wide range of celestial objects, not all of them can be observed in intricate detail.
While it's good for all skill levels, beginners will appreciate the built-in tour mode, which helps you find various celestial objects in the sky or within specific constellations. This is especially helpful if you have limited knowledge of the sky and aren't sure what to look for, and you just want the telescope to show you some interesting objects.
The SkyAlign technology is easy to use and quickly gets you pointed in the right direction. The motorized mount also has nine slewing speeds and different tracking rates. All of this sounds great, but there is a downside. The NexStar 6SE's battery can drain quickly, so we recommend powering the setup with an external power source to accommodate longer stargazing sessions.
Astrophotographers might not be too impressed with its slow f/10 focal ratio, which primarily makes the NexStar 6SE only suitable for taking photos of the moon and planets. However, more advanced photographers have the option to replace the secondary mirror with their DSLR or mirrorless camera, turning it into a more astrophotography-friendly f/2 setup.
- Read our full Celestron NexStar 6SE review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | StarBright XLT optical coating for crisp views. |
| Performance | Accurately tracks targets . |
| Functionality | Noisy motorized mount and obvious vibration. |
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
If you have a bigger budget and want to invest in some real smart technology, we love the Unistellar eQuinox 2. It's the newest addition to Unistellar's lineup and stands as their most advanced smart telescope to date. Building upon the success of its predecessor, the eQuinox, this version features a number of improvements.
In our Unistellar eQuinox 2 review we tested its ease of use, durability and compatibility with smart devices, and found the smart telescope to be highly usable. A standout feature is its Smart Light Pollution Reduction, which makes it suitable for use in urban environments — something that many other telescopes can't cope with.
It has a sleek, simple design with a single button on the telescope itself and a slotting mechanism with just two screws to hold it on the sturdy tripod, making this telescope one of the simplest we've ever reviewed (alongside the Unistellar eVscope 2 we reviewed).
It's ready to use just minutes after taking it out of the box, and it can be easily synchronized with an app (available on iOS and Android) via a quick and easy pairing process. Once it's paired with the app, you can manually slew the telescope and adjust the exposure settings as you wish.
After the telescope automatically aligns itself using the night sky and its built-in image sensor, you can use the accompanying app to easily find celestial objects like galaxies, star clusters, nebulas and planets. This feature is great, especially for users who may not be familiar with the night sky or constellations — although beginners may not want to spend as much as $2000 on their first telescope.
- 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 tech lovers
✅ You want something easy to use: The only setup required is putting it on the floor, opening the app and waiting for it to calibrate itself.
✅ You want to travel with it: It's incredibly small and lightweight, and with the backpack, it's seriously portable.
❌ You want to see and photograph the moon and planets: it's designed for deep-space viewing, so you won't be able to view the moon or planets.
❌ You consider yourself a purist: The Vaonis Vespera isn't 'technically' a telescope, as it has no eyepiece and it shares its images to its accompanying app.
🔎 Vaonis Vespera Observation Station An easy-to-use and futuristic-looking solution for beginners in light-polluted cities, the Vaonis Vespera Observation Station features impressive live image-stacking for galaxies and nebulas but it lacks resolution and can't image planets. ★★★★½
At approximately $1500/£1300, the Vaonis Vespera is the smallest and most reasonably priced smart telescope to date. This telescope from French startup Vaonis is a smaller, lighter version of its robotic older sister, the Vaonis Sellina, which we reviewed recently.
Vespera, named after the Latin for 'evening,' sets itself apart from traditional telescopes as it doesn't have an eyepiece. Instead, it captures captivating night sky images that can be shared with up to five connected smartphones or tablets using the Singularity mobile app. Think of the Vespera as more of a camera for taking stunning images of deep-sky objects, even in light-polluted towns and cities. It's not intended for observing the moon and planets, but it can be used to capture remarkable astrophotos of star clusters, nebulas and galaxies.
The Vespera is an impressive device that combines three advanced technologies: star pattern recognition software, live stacking for images and an easy-to-use app. Once activated, its Sony IMX462 image sensor quickly identifies a target in about five minutes and takes a photo every 10 seconds (the time may vary depending on the target), and stacks them all together to create an image. You can see the real-time noise reduction process in the Singularity app, resulting in clearer, more vibrant images with enhanced contrast. Our Vaonis Vespera review found that the pictures were a little soft, but they could easily be enhanced and sharpened with a little post-processing.
Additionally, it uses a planetarium to generate a 'tonight's best' list of different celestial targets and an algorithm to determine the optimum camera settings for viewing each target. Tech junkies will love this smart telescope.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Futuristic curvy design. |
| Performance | Copes well with light pollution but can't observe planets. |
| Functionality | Easy to set-up. |
Best for bigger budgets
✅ You want to do astrophotography: We thought this scope was as close to perfection as you can get for budding astrophotographers, particularly for a smart telescope.
✅ You want simplicity: For such a sophisticated bit of kit, this telescope is incredibly sleek and minimal but still packs a punch.
❌ You don't have a big budget: This is a very pricey piece of kit, so it'll likely price out many users, especially beginners.
🔎 Unistellar eVscope 2 A fantastically designed telescope, brilliant for photographers who want to get into astronomy and have the budget or astronomers who want an all-in-one system that’s simple to use and set up. ★★★★½
The eVscope 2 is a meticulously crafted bit of tech, perfect for astronomers with a very generous budget (around $5000) or pro astrophotographers looking for an all-in-one solution for astronomy. While it might not appeal as much to anyone who prefers the more traditional methods, its outstanding design makes it a great option for photographers who want to explore astrophotography. The eVscope 2's capability to capture impressive images ensures a rewarding stargazing experience for everyone.
The Unistellar eVscope 2 isn't like traditional telescopes, featuring a built-in camera, modern design and electronic eyepiece. It's the second version of the eVscope series and comes with noticeable improvements in its design and ease of use. With a 114mm aperture and a focal ratio of f/3.9, it's very well-suited for observing celestial objects like nebulas and galaxies.
It features a 7.7MP image sensor and a new electronic eyepiece designed by Nikon for those who want to get tactile with the telescope. The simple layout, stylish design and excellent smartphone app user interface make the eVscope 2 incredibly simple to use and photograph the night sky with — especially with its enhanced tracking feature, which we were very impressed with in our Unistellar eVscope 2 review.
- Read our full Unistellar eVscope 2 telescope review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Incredibly stunning looks and solid telescope construction. |
| Performance | Object go-to is intuitive and fast. |
| Functionality | App allows you to easily go-to celestial objects. |
Best for backyard observing
✅ You want an affordable EQ mount: The equatorial mount can effortlessly align with the Earth's rotation for easy object tracking.
❌ You'll be traveling with it: Although not impossible, this scope would be tricky and inconvenient to travel with and take to dark sky sites as it's pretty heavy, so we'd suggest sticking to your backyard.
🔎 Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2: A good choice for serious beginners on a budget, the versatile Sky-Watcher Explorer 130's equatorial mount lacks some precision yet remains an effortless way to explore the night sky. ★★★★
If you're lucky enough to live in a dark-sky area, the Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2, priced at under $300, is an excellent choice for beginners entering the world of astronomy and stargazing. What makes it stand out amongst other scopes in this price range is the equatorial mount it comes with. Once it's properly aligned with the Earth's axis, this mount makes it easier (with some practice) to track celestial objects as the Earth moves. With a respectable 130mm aperture, this telescope lets you explore the beauty of deep-sky objects, particularly the brighter ones.
While not as long as the Celestron Inspire 100AZ, the Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2's long tube length results in f/7 and makes high magnification possible. During our review of the Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2, we could easily get sharp views of the Jovian System (Jupiter, its rings and moons) and Saturn's rings looked impressive while using the supplied Barlow lens.
This telescope is best suited for stargazing in your backyard, mainly due to its 12.6kg combined weight, which makes it a bit more of an ordeal to take it out and about on sky-watching trips.
- Read our full Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Features equatorial mount. |
| Performance | Excellent lunar and planetary views. |
| Functionality | Fluent movement, but lacks precision and clutch. |
Best for finer details
✅ If you don't have loads of experience: This telescope is great for beginner and intermediate users, so it'll last you until you're ready to move up to something more sophisticated.
❌ You're an advanced astronomer: This telescope is likely not powerful or sophisticated enough if you're a seasoned skywatcher.
🔎 Orion Skyline 6-inch Dobsonian Reflector Telescope: A solid choice for beginner and intermediate astronomers thanks to its high-quality optics and ease of use. ★★★★
If you want to see some of the finer details, the Orion Skyline 6-inch telescope is a fantastic choice for beginner and intermediate astronomers due to its easy-to-use nature and high-quality optics.
This telescope uses an impressive 152mm objective lens which allows plenty of light to pass through, making your night sky targets more visible. The multi-coated optics further enhance your sky-viewing experience, providing a clear image of those targets. With a focal length of 1200mm, you can observe the stunning finer details of various celestial bodies, such as craters on the moon and features of other planets.
It offers impressive magnification of up to 133x, allowing you to view celestial objects with incredible detail. The included eyepieces are well-suited for observing the moon and planets, revealing beautiful finer details that you don't get with many other scopes. It's sturdy and user-friendly, making it a great choice even for those new to astronomy or don't have much experience. While there are cheaper alternatives available, they often don't match the quality of the Skyline 6-inch.
- See our guide of the best telescopes for viewing planets
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Impressive 152mm objective lens. |
| Performance | Multi coated optics provide clear images. |
| Functionality | Magnification capabilities of up to 133x. |
Best for intermediate users
✅ You want to see planets and the moon: This telescope provides beautiful views of Saturn, Jupiter and the moon with stunning clarity.
✅ You don't have a huge budget: While it's not the cheapest telescope on this list, we think it's fairly priced considering it's not a beginner scope.
❌ You're a beginner: This scope is aimed at more intermediate-level users who are comfortable with the tricky aspects that come with owning a telescope, so it might be a little much for beginners.
🔎 Celestron Omni XLT 102: A great option for intermediate users, it has good quality optics and a sturdy design, although we think the focuser could be better. ★★★★
The Celestron Omni XLT 102 is aimed at intermediate-level skywatchers, particularly those who have mastered setting circles and know how to use the right ascension and declination coordinates on the supplied high-quality CG-4 German equatorial mount.
The Celestron Omni XLT 102 uses Celestron's StarBright XLT coating to make the most of the light coming through, improving your viewing experience. This telescope also employs aspheric shaping technology to reduce spherical aberration, a common issue that can make light focus improperly. The outcome is crisper, more detailed images that accurately represent the natural colors of the celestial objects you're looking at.
With its mix of a 102mm aperture and f/10 focal ratio, this scope is able to produce excellent views of the planets, from Jupiter's atmospheric bands and moons to Saturn's rings and the craters on the moon, showing great contrast between areas in shadow and those bathed in daylight. There is a small amount of color fringing, but overall, the views you'll get through this telescope are outstanding.
It comes with a 25mm eyepiece, 1.25-inch star diagonal, heavy-duty stainless steel tripod, accessory tray, spirit level, Starry Night Special Edition software and a 6x30 finderscope.
- See more of the Best telescopes for seeing planets
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy design & very good quality optics. |
| Performance | Produces excellent views of the planets. |
| Functionality | StarBright XLT coating maximizes the transmisson of light. |
Best for veteran astronomers
✅ 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 when it comes to astrophotography. Normally, these telescopes create 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 edges of the image look blurry. However, Celestron's EdgeHD technology fixes this problem by providing a perfectly flat field. This means astrophotographers can now capture clear and detailed photos across the entire frame with no 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.
As a bonus, the optical tube assembly comes with Celestron's Advanced VX mount, which is tailor-made for imagers, capable of photographing across the meridian (an imaginary north-south line) without needing to do a meridian flip. The setup also performs periodic corrections to remove errors when tracking objects and features an auto guider port.
The Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD can carry a load of up to 30 lbs (13.6kg), too, so the tube and all your accessories are fully supported and stable. With the telescope itself, you'll also get the standard NexStar+ hand controller, a 40mm eyepiece and access to Celestron's SkyPortal app and Starry Night Special Edition software. 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 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 your primary focus is astrophotography, the Sky-Watcher's Skymax 150 is a fantastic choice and gives you a lot for your money. Some models even come with a top-notch equatorial mount, making it suitable for both short and long-exposure astrophotography. This well-constructed Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope includes a 28mm focal length eyepiece, offering 64x magnification for detailed and captivating views of celestial objects.
The Skymax 150 weighs 13.23 lbs (6kg), making it suitable for most equatorial mounts, and it's light enough to take with you to various dark sky sites. Many different makes and models of mounts will be able to support the weight of the telescope, as well as any extra accessories you may want to use, such as CCD or DSLR cameras, filter wheels and other add-ons. For added versatility, the Skymax 150 comes with a Vixen-style dovetail plate, which can be attached to various mounts.
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.
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.
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. |
Telescope FAQ
How do I choose the right telescope for me?
Choosing the right telescope can be quite a challenge for the beginner. There has never been as much choice, so many optical configurations and range of prices than exist on today's market. In general terms telescope design and optical quality are usually pretty good nowadays — it wasn't always so. As buyers have become more informed via the internet and astronomical publications they have become far more discerning in their choice. This has meant that optical quality has improved and truly awful telescopes are, thankfully, becoming increasingly scarce.
Choosing a good all-round beginner's telescope capable of revealing 'the greatest show off Earth' depends on a number of things, including — in no particular order — your budget, your observing site, the telescope's portability, ease of use and setup, what objects, in particular, you would like to view, your ability to upgrade as your experience develops and whether you intend to attempt astrophotography through the telescope with a digital camera.
Regardless of a telescope's aperture or physical size, the most important thing to be aware of when purchasing any telescope is its optical quality. It is not advisable to buy a new telescope from any source other than a reputable telescope dealer. Most companies that make astronomical equipment their business are only too happy to help and advise by phone, email or during a personal visit to their commercial premises. Any reputable company that specializes in selling and/or manufacturing optical instruments will give by far the best deal, in terms of price, service and advice.
So if your biggest question is, 'which type of telescope type should I buy?' or 'what is the best telescope in the world?' let us help.
What types of telescope are there?
There are three primary types of telescopes: Reflector vs refractor vs catadioptric telescopes. Reflectors use a main mirror to gather and focus light; refractors use an objective lens, while catadioptrics use a main mirror and a lens of the same diameter. All three kinds of instruments have their own 'sub-species' based on their particular optical design. For example, the most basic type of reflector is the Newtonian design, which uses a main mirror and a small secondary mirror, which diverts the light at right angles to the eyepiece through the top end of the telescope.
Given a choice of quality, affordable telescopes, which one should you opt for? A Newtonian reflector on a simple undriven alt-azimuth mount (known as a 'Dobsonian') offers the best value in terms of aperture. Dobsonians are ideal if you want to learn your way thoroughly around the skies the 'old fashioned' way, with no bells or whistles, just a star map in hand. They collect lots of light, reveal those faint fuzzies, and have enough resolving power to deliver knockout views of the moon and bright planets. You can only practically use a low to medium magnification on these instruments because anything higher than 100x will shoot through the field before you've time to appreciate the view. Dobsonians over 6 inches in aperture are pretty hefty, physically large, and ideally need to be stored out of the way in the garage or garden shed.
Newtonians and refractors become a much more expensive prospect when an equatorial or computerized mount is added. Computerized mounts for Newtonians come in several forms — Dobsonian (push-to or GoTo), single tine-mounted (tracking or GoTo) and German equatorial (GoTo). A computerized push-to Dobsonian costs around twice as much as a manual one of the same aperture, while a GoTo costs around four times as much; a high-end Newtonian on a driven German equatorial mount may increase the cost more than tenfold!
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 catadioptric (Schmidt- or Maksutov-Cassegrain) up to 5-inches on a computerized mount may well fit the bill. Both types of instruments are versatile performers and will show many deep-sky objects and reveal considerable detail on the moon and planets at high magnification.
Achromatic refractors of 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. In terms of delivering a clean, high-contrast view without false color, the Maksutov is the best option here.
The most exquisite views are to be had 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. However, it is essential to realize 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.
With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on telescopes, whether you should purchase an instrument or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable 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. There are plenty of stores out there that dabble in skywatching equipment as well. 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.
