Are you curious about the night sky and its stars? Telescopes are the essential tool for any budding astronomer and can help you learn more about our universe. But with all the different types of telescopes available, it can be hard to know where to start. This guide will help you find the best telescopes for beginners that will give you an excellent viewing experience and help you learn more about our night sky.
Best Telescopes For Beginners
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Celestron FirstScope
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
Celestron AstroMaster 70 EQ
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Celestron NexStar 130 SLT
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Orion 8945 SkyQuest
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Orion Astro StarBlast 5
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Orion SkyQuest 10014
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
Meade Lightbridge Mini 114mm
|
7. 4
|
|
10
|
Orion Observer II Equatorial Refractor
|
7. 2
|
1. Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope
If you’re looking for an inexpensive telescope that is easy to take on the go, then the Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is a great choice. This telescope has a 70mm aperture and is lightweight and compact, making it perfect for taking with you on trips. The optics are of great quality, providing bright and clear images of the night sky. The telescope also comes with two eyepieces, a 6mm and a 20mm one, giving you two different magnifications. The mount is easy to use and can be set up quickly and easily. Overall, the Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is a great buy for the price and is perfect for anyone who wants to take their stargazing with them on the go.
- 70mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics
- 360° panning mount with pistol grip handle and stepless speed controls
- 20mm and 10mm eyepieces, plus erect image diagonal
- 5×24 finderscope, plus 45° erect image diagonal
- Sturdy, pre-assembled aluminum tripod with accessory tray
- Bonus astronomy software package for tracking and identifying star patterns
2. Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ
I recently purchased the Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ telescope for my astronomy hobby and I am very pleased with it. This telescope is perfect for a beginner like me, as it is relatively easy to set up and use. The telescope comes with everything you need to get started, including a tripod, a finder scope, an erecting eyepiece, and an adjustable tripod. The optics on the telescope are very good, and I have been able to see some incredible sights in the night sky. I have also been able to get a good view of some of the planets in our Solar System. The telescope is also very lightweight and portable, making it perfect for taking on camping trips or traveling. I would highly recommend this telescope to anyone looking to get into the hobby of astronomy.
- Aperture: 70mm (2.76)
- Focal Length: 700mm (f/10)
- Eyepiece 1: 20mm (35x)
- Eyepiece 2: 10mm (70x)
- Barlow Lens: 3x (210x)
- Finderscope: 5×24
- Optical Coatings: Fully Coated
- Mount: German Equatorial
- Tripod: Steel
3. Celestron FirstScope
I recently purchased the Celestron FirstScope and I’m so glad I did! This telescope is perfect for beginners and amateur astronomers alike. The FirstScope comes with an easy to use 80mm telescope, a tripod, and two eyepieces. Setup was a breeze and I was able to start exploring the night sky in no time. The FirstScope is lightweight and portable, making it easy to take it on outdoor excursions. The telescope has excellent optics, allowing clear and bright images of the moon and planets. I highly recommend the Celestron FirstScope for anyone interested in star-gazing. It’s an affordable and fun way to explore the night sky!
- 76 mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope
- Erect image optics – Ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use
- Fully-coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity
- Quick and easy no-tool setup
- Smooth-functioning altazimuth mount with easy pointing to located objects
- Preassembled aluminum full size photographic tripod ensures a stable platform
- Includes two eyepieces (20mm and 4mm), finderscope, star diagonal, and a quick-release tripod accessory tray
4. Celestron AstroMaster 70 EQ
The Celestron AstroMaster 70 EQ is a great telescope for amateur astronomers looking for a good value. The 70mm aperture is great for providing a clear view of stars and planets, while the equatorial mount makes it easy to track them as they move across the night sky. The included eyepieces provide a wide range of magnification, allowing you to explore the night sky in detail. Assembly was quite straightforward, and the telescope is quite sturdy once it’s set up. I’ve been very happy with my purchase, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good value entry-level telescope.
- 70mm aperture
- 350mm focal length
- German equatorial mount
- Fully coated glass optics
- Includes two eyepieces
- Adjustable tripod
- Slow motion controls for tracking objects
- Includes Starry Night software
5. Celestron NexStar 130 SLT
I recently purchased the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT to upgrade from my previous telescope and I am really impressed. The 130 SLT has a lot of features that make it great for stargazing. It has a 130mm aperture that makes it great for viewing the night sky with clear, bright images. The star alignment feature is really helpful and makes setting up the telescope quick and easy. The telescope also comes with the SkyAlign feature which allows you to quickly align the telescope with the night sky. The GoTo mount is also a great feature, making it easy to find and center any object in the sky. The telescope also comes with a Barlow lens which is great for high-power viewing. Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a great telescope at a reasonable price.
- Computerized altazimuth mount
- Fully automated GoTo mount
- Compact and lightweight design
- Quick-release fork arm mount
- Fully motorized tracking with 4.3°/sec slewing speed
- SkyAlign technology allows alignment of three brightest stars to get started
- Database of over 40,000 objects including 120 solar system objects
- Included 25 mm eyepiece (magnification 26x)
6. Orion 8945 SkyQuest
I recently purchased the Orion 8945 SkyQuest telescope and I am so glad I did. It is an excellent piece of equipment for both amateurs and professional astronomers alike. The telescope is incredibly easy to assemble and the instructions are very clear. The optics are of excellent quality, and the resolution of the images is fantastic. I have been able to observe planets, stars, galaxies, and even meteor showers with remarkable clarity. This telescope is both lightweight and extremely durable, making it perfect for outdoor use. I would highly recommend the Orion 8945 SkyQuest as it is a great value for the money.
- 8-inch (203 millimeter) Dobsonian reflector telescope
- 900mm focal length and f/4.7 focal ratio
- Includes 2 eyepieces (10mm and 25mm Sirius Plossl), 8×50 finder scope, EZ Finder II reflex sight, Collimation cap, eyepiece rack, Starry Night astronomy software, and more
- Smooth 2-inch Crayford focuser with 1.25-inch adapter
- Lightweight and easy to assemble
- Includes adjustable height Dobsonian mount and base
7. Orion Astro StarBlast 5
I recently purchased the Orion Astro StarBlast 5 and I’m extremely pleased with it. It’s a great telescope for beginners, providing plenty of power for viewing the night sky. The setup was easy and the instructions were clear and concise. I was able to quickly align the telescope and start viewing stars and galaxies in no time. The 5-inch aperture gives plenty of detail, and the included eyepieces provide great views. I’m so glad I chose the Astro StarBlast 5, it’s an excellent telescope at an affordable price. Highly recommended!
- 3.5″ (90mm) Newtonian Reflector optical design
- 75x magnification power with 25mm eyepiece
- EZ Finder II reflex sight for easy aiming
- Comes with tripod, 5×24 finder scope, eyepieces and more
- Mount and tripod feature lightweight yet sturdy construction
- Sturdy base allows for easy setup, take down and storage
- Experienced astronomer star maps and instructional DVD included
8. Orion SkyQuest 10014
I recently bought the Orion SkyQuest 10014 and I love it. It is a great beginner telescope that is easy to use and set up. The optics are great and the images it produces are clear and sharp. It has a great range of magnifications and the mount is very stable. I also like the included finder scope which makes it much easier to locate objects in the night sky. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good quality beginner telescope.
- 10″ diameter parabolic reflector telescope
- 625x maximum magnification
- 2″ Crayford-style focuser with 1.25″ adapter
- 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece (1.25″)
- 9mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece (1.25″)
- Red dot viewfinder
- Computerized object locator (Crayford-style)
- Collimation cap
- Dust cover
- 2-year limited warranty
9. Meade Lightbridge Mini 114mm
The Meade Lightbridge Mini 114mm is a great telescope for those who are just starting out in astronomy. It is lightweight and easy to set up. The optics are clear and bright and provide a nice, wide field of view, making it ideal for observing the night sky. The telescope is also relatively inexpensive and comes with a mount and tripod. The mount is sturdy and allows for smooth tracking of the stars. The included eyepieces provide a good range of magnifications and the finder scope helps to locate objects quickly. Overall, I’m very pleased with this telescope and would highly recommend it for anyone interested in getting started in astronomy.
- 114mm aperture for detailed views of celestial objects
- 300mm focal length for high magnification of deep space objects
- 9×50 finderscope for easy pointing of the telescope
- Focal ratio of f/5.9
- Two 1.25″ Super Plossl eyepieces for different fields of view
- 1.25″ rack and pinion focuser for precise focusing
- Lightbridge Mini Dobsonian mount for easy assembly and disassembly
- Collapsible design for portability
- Erect image optics for terrestrial use
10. Orion Observer II Equatorial Refractor
The Orion Observer II Equatorial Refractor is a great telescope that I highly recommend. It is a quality telescope with excellent optics and a sturdy construction. The mount is smooth and easy to use, and has a built-in slow-motion control which makes it easy to track objects. The optics are excellent, providing clear and bright images even when viewing at higher magnifications. The equatorial mount allows you to track objects across the sky, making it easier to follow astronomical objects. It also comes with a finderscope which makes finding objects easier. All in all, I think the Orion Observer II Equatorial Refractor is an excellent telescope for anyone wanting to get into astronomy. It is reasonably priced, and offers great optics, sturdiness, and ease of use.
- 90mm aperture refractor telescope
- Altazimuth Mount
- Manual slow motion controls
- Equatorial mount, polar aligned
- Permanently mounted StarPointer finderscope
- 25mm and 10mm Sirius Plossl 1.25″ telescope eyepieces
- 1.25″ rack-and-pinion focuser
- Erect image diagonal
- Sturdy steel tripod
- Bonus astronomy software package
