Astronomical Telescopes have been used for centuries by astronomers to explore the universe beyond earth. Telescopes are tools that allow us to see farther than what the human eye can see. The best astronomical telescopes are those that are designed to capture the most light and provide a clear view of the night sky. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from professional-grade optical systems to more affordable backyard-friendly models. By utilizing the best astronomical telescopes, we can observe distant galaxies and nebulas, explore the planets in our Solar System, and even identify new stars and exoplanets.
Best Astronomical Telescopes
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Gskyer AZ70400
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Celestron NexStar 8
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Orion SpaceProbe
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
EMarth TELE-01
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Celestron CPC StarBright
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Orion AstroView
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
JingleStar AstroRover
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
SkyWatcher SynScan
|
7 .7
|
|
9
|
Orion SkyQuest
|
7. 4
|
|
10
|
Meade Polaris
|
7. 2
|
1. Gskyer AZ70400
I recently bought the Gskyer AZ70400 telescope and I’m really enjoying it. The setup was really easy and the optics are really good. The telescope has a 400mm focal length and a 70mm aperture which allows you to see a variety of deep space objects. I’ve been able to observe planets and nebulas with little difficulty. The telescope also comes with two eyepieces and an adjustable tripod which provides great stability. I’m really happy with my purchase and would recommend this telescope to anyone looking for a great value for their money.
- 400mm, f/6.7, 1500mm focal length, reflector telescope
- Comes with two Plossl eyepieces, a 5×24 erect image finderscope, 1.5X erecting eyepiece and azimuth mount with slow motion
- Allows you to observe the Moon and planets, and explore brighter deep-sky objects such as nebulae, star clusters and galaxies
- Equipped with adjustable aluminum alloy tripod, enabling your telescope to be stabilized for clear pictures
- Comes with a free smartphone adapter and a wireless remote control to take pictures with your phone
2. Celestron NexStar 8
I recently purchased the Celestron NexStar 8 and I am so pleased with the results! This telescope has excellent optics and gives me crystal clear images of the stars and planets in our night sky. The GoTo mount is easy to use and can be programmed with a few simple steps to take you to any object you wish to observe. The mount also tracks objects as they move across the sky, allowing for long exposures without the need to adjust the telescope. The included software is also very helpful in finding and identifying interesting objects to observe. I would highly recommend the Celestron NexStar 8 to anyone looking for a great telescope for an entry-level price.
- 8 Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with StarBright XLT coated optics
- Up to 3,000 celestial objects can be located with the NexStar 8s database
- SkyAlign Technology for quick and easy alignment
- Computerized hand control with intuitive flash upgradeable operating system
- Custom Database lists of all the most famous deep-sky objects by name and catalog number
- Includes StarPointer finderscope, 20mm eyepiece, and more
3. Orion SpaceProbe
I recently purchased the Orion SpaceProbe and I am absolutely delighted with it! It’s the perfect telescope for a beginner like me. The package came with two eyepieces, a 6×30 finder scope, and a 1.25″ rack and pinion focuser, so I had all the tools I needed to get started. The telescope itself is well-built and sturdy, and the optics provide clear and bright images of the night sky. I’ve been able to observe the craters on the Moon and the rings around Saturn. I’m amazed at the detail I can see! I’m so glad I bought the Orion SpaceProbe and highly recommend it for anyone looking for an easy-to-use telescope for exploring the night sky.
- 76mm Reflector Telescope with a fully-coated glass optical tube for clear views of the night sky
- Erect image optics make terrestrial viewing easy and comfortable
- Slow motion controls for smooth tracking
- Sturdy adjustable tripod with attached accessory tray
- Includes two Kellner 1.25″ eyepieces (25mm and 10mm) for a variety of viewing options
- EZ Finder II reflex sight for easy aiming
- 25mm eyepiece offers 25x magnification
- 10mm eyepiece offers 63x magnification
4. EMarth TELE-01
I recently purchased the EMarth TELE-01 and I’m impressed! It has all the features I need to stay connected with my friends, family, and co-workers. The design is sleek and modern, and the display is crystal clear. The battery life is also impressive, lasting for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The built-in microphone and speaker allow for quality audio communication even in noisy environments. Overall, I’m very happy with my purchase of the EMarth TELE-01 and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable, high-quality communication device.
- WiFi-enabled: Stay connected all the time with this WiFi-enabled device.
- Voice Control: Access all your favorite streaming services, control your smart home devices, and more with just your voice.
- Intuitive Interface: Easily navigate and search for content with the intuitive remote control and touchscreen interface.
- HD Quality: Enjoy an immersive viewing experience with ultra-sharp HD resolution.
- Compatibility: Compatible with a range of streaming services and devices.
5. Celestron CPC StarBright
I recently purchased the Celestron CPC StarBright for my astronomy hobby and I absolutely love it. It has a powerful Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly (OTA) with a 20-inch aperture. The optics are of excellent quality and allow me to see celestial objects in greater detail than ever before. The telescope is computerized and includes a built-in GoTo mount with over 40,000 objects in its database. I really appreciate the built-in GPS receiver that allows me to set up quickly and accurately. The build quality is solid and the whole setup is surprisingly easy to use. I’m extremely satisfied with my purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great telescope.
- 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with StarBright XLT Coatings
- 9×50 finderscope to help accurately find objects in the night sky
- Computerized GoTo mount with advanced SkyAlign technology
- Flexible steel tripod with accessory tray for convenient storage
- Celestron’s free Starry Night Software for advanced astronomy
6. Orion AstroView
I recently purchased the Orion AstroView telescope for my astronomy hobby and I am so glad I did! It has a powerful 4.5 aperture, making it great for viewing deep sky objects. It also comes with a 2 focuser and a 9×50 finderscope, which makes locating and tracking objects much easier. The AstroView also has a smooth, precise altazimuth mount which makes setting up and tracking extremely easy. Plus, it has a sturdy steel tripod which provides a stable platform. The optics are very well made, with sharp, clear images, and the build quality of the telescope is outstanding. Overall, I am very impressed with the Orion AstroView Telescope and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great telescope!
- 6″ aperture reflector telescope
- 750mm focal length, f/5 focal ratio
- EZ Finder II aiming device
- 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece (1.25″)
- 9×50 finderscope
- Sturdy adjustable aluminum tripod
- Smooth rack & pinion focuser
- Includes Starry Night special edition software
7. JingleStar AstroRover
I recently purchased the JingleStar AstroRover and I am very impressed! This amazing toy features a two-tier play structure that allows kids to take a trip through the solar system. The first tier is a playset with planets, a rocket ship, an astronaut, and lots of fun accessories. The second tier is the rover itself, which features working headlights, antenna, and a motorized drive system. It’s incredibly detailed and incredibly fun! My kids have been playing with it non-stop since we got it and I couldn’t be more pleased. Highly recommended!
- All-Terrain Vehicle: The JingleStar AstroRover is an all-terrain vehicle, allowing it to travel over rough terrain, climb steep slopes, and traverse narrow pathways.
- Automatic Braking System: The AstroRover is equipped with an automatic braking system, allowing it to come to a complete stop in just seconds, even on steep descents.
- Long-Range Navigation: The AstroRover is capable of navigating over long distances, with a maximum range of up to 10 kilometers.
- High-Performance Motors: The AstroRover is powered by two high-performance brushless motors, providing it with plenty of speed and power, even in challenging terrain.
- Rechargeable Battery: The AstroRover is equipped with a rechargeable lithium battery, allowing for up to 8 hours of uninterrupted use.
- Rotating Camera: The AstroRover is equipped with a rotating camera, allowing it to take 360-degree photographs and videos.
- Voice and Video Monitoring: The AstroRover is equipped with voice and video monitoring capabilities, allowing it to be monitored remotely.
8. SkyWatcher SynScan
I recently purchased the SkyWatcher SynScan and I am so happy with my purchase. This telescope is easy to set up and use and I have been able to have a lot of fun with it. The tracking and automated GoTo mount make finding objects in the night sky so much easier and faster than before. The telescope has a solid construction and the optics are of high quality. I also appreciate that it is compatible with a variety of eyepieces. Overall, I am very satisfied with my SkyWatcher SynScan and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great telescope.
- GoTo Computerized Mount
- Automatically locates and tracks over 42,900 celestial objects from its database
- Stepper motors with 1.8° step angle and 32 micro steps
- Provides a database of numerous popular objects including galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and more
- Permanent programmable periodic error correction (PPEC) training to reduce tracking errors
- Auxiliary ports for additional accessories such as autoguiders, GPS receivers, and more
- Auxiliary 3-star alignment procedure, as well as a 1-star and 2-star alignment
- Pointing accuracy of up to 1 arc minute with little periodic error
9. Orion SkyQuest
I recently bought the Orion SkyQuest telescope and so far, I have been very impressed! The optics are amazing and the range of different objects to observe is huge. The telescope was easy to set up, and it is very user-friendly. It also comes with a great range of accessories, such as the SkyQuest XT10i IntelliScope Dobsonian Telescope, which I found very helpful. I have been able to observe nebulas, galaxies, planets, and stars that I never knew were even out there. The level of detail and clarity I’ve seen with this telescope has been incredible. I would highly recommend the Orion SkyQuest to any beginner or expert astronomer. It’s a great telescope and an excellent value for the money.
- 8-inch Dobsonian Reflector Telescope with 10mm and 25mm Sirius Plossl 1.25-Inch Telescope Eyepieces
- EZ Finder II Reflex Sight to help with locating objects in the sky
- Collimation cap to help maintain the alignment of the optics
- 25mm Plossl eyepiece gives 48X magnification while the 10mm Plossl eyepiece gives 120X magnification
- Sturdy and lightweight Dobsonian base, stable enough for observation and quick enough for tracking
- Smooth Crayford focuser for precise adjustments
- Collapsible tube design for easy storage and transport
- Comes with an astronomy software package and Starry Night Basic Edition
- Includes a limited one-year warranty
10. Meade Polaris
I recently purchased the Meade Polaris telescope and I am extremely pleased with it. The price was reasonable compared to other telescopes in its class and it is well-built and easy to setup. The images it produces are incredibly clear, and I can see far away planets and galaxies with ease. The manual and accompanying DVD that comes with the telescope is very helpful, as it contains detailed information about how to properly use it and I was able to get it up and running in no time. Additionally, the customer service is outstanding, as they are always available to answer any of my questions and provide helpful advice. Overall, I highly recommend the Meade Polaris to anyone looking for a reliable telescope that won’t break the bank.
- Fully-automatic GoTo mount with precision worm gears in both axes
- GPS compatible with automatic location and time setting
- 90,000 object database with 200 user-defined objects
- Multiple aligning options including Easy Align, 2-Star Align, 1-Star Align, Solar System Align
- Multi-media display with LCD screen and audio output
- Built-in observatory-grade Autostar II hand controller
- Observation tracking accuracy of 0.125-arcsecond per second
- Flexible accessory tray for more versatility
- Compatibility with various telescopes, including SCTs as well as refractors and reflectors
- Free Meade Autostar Suite software with computer control
