There's plenty of telescopes at Best Buy and now is a great time to try and scope out a bargain as the holidays are in full flow.
If you're looking for some top telescopes deals then searching for telescopes at Best Buy is a great way to do it as the retailer has a wide range of models available and you can get discounts on some of the best telescopes out there. Below the deals, you'll find some buying advice, so you know what to be on the lookout for ahead of the holidays.
Not ready for a telescope? Read our best binoculars guide More top deals: Telescopes on Amazon See the latest discounts: Telescopes at Walmart
We keep this page updated year-round and we're keeping a keen eye out for fresh deals, which we'll add below when they become available. If you don't quite find what you're looking for below, we also have guides for budget telescopes for under $500, best telescopes for beginners and best telescopes for kids which could be what you're looking for.
If there's a specific manufacturer you trust, you should check out our guides for Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Meade and Orion telescope deals. But, to check out all the best deals on telescopes at Best Buy, read on below.
Today's best telescope deals at Best Buy
Buying advice
There are three basic types of telescopes: refractors, reflectors and catadioptrics. Refractors are great for highly magnified views of planets and moons, while reflectors offer better views of deep-sky objects, star clusters and galaxies. Catadioptric telescopes correct some of the visual problems found in these older styles – such as chromatic aberration – but they tend to be a little more expensive.
Black Friday this year falls on November 24 and Best Buy will likely offer some big discounts on telescopes. Even if deals are a little thin on the ground, it's worth checking back as we may see some early Black Friday deals. However, comparing different deals from retailers during the annual sales event is the best way to bag a bargain.
Reflectors
Reflectors are usually either Newtonian or Dobsonian in design. Newtonian telescopes are good for a wide range of viewing targets and are often useful for astrophotography – however, they require a lot of maintenance and can be complicated to set up, whereas Dobsonians are more straightforward.
Refractors
This type of telescope is ideal for beginners, offering a straight-forward assembly and a lower price point. They do, however, tend to suffer from chromatic aberration, where bright objects appear to have a kind of halo. This doesn't ruin the viewing experience, so don't let this put you off too much.
Catadioptric
Catadioptric telescopes fall into two broad categories: Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain. Schmidt-Cassegrains traditionally have bigger apertures, while Maksutov-Cassegrains usually have small apertures. As such, the Schmidt-Cassegrain is usually better for astrophotography and for broader views, while the Maksutov-Cassegrain is great for sharp views of planets and moons. Both types often come with a computerized GoTo system, which can work out which way the telescope is pointing and automatically adjust it to align with chosen targets.
Choosing a telescope
With all these variations, it can be tricky to figure out which telescope is best for you. We recommend taking two main things into consideration: personal budget and what you’d prefer to view in the night sky.
Lower budget models will usually be reflector or refractor telescopes, while catadioptrics are more expensive. If you’d prefer high magnification views of planets and moons, go for either a refractor or a Maksutov-Cassegrain design. For views of deep-sky objects, star clusters and galaxies, opt for a reflector or a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. And if you need more detailed guidance, have a look through our piece on the best telescopes, which goes into more detail on all of the above.
