If you’re new to astronomy, figuring out what are the best telescopes to buy can feel overwhelming. The options are vast, but the right choice depends entirely on what you want to see and your experience level.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We’ll walk you through the main types of telescopes, key features to consider, and specific models that offer great value. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for to start your stargazing journey.
What Are The Best Telescopes To Buy
There isn’t a single “best” telescope for everyone. The best one for you is the one you’ll use most often. It should match your budget, your viewing goals, and be simple enough to set up that it doesn’t become a chore. We’ll break this down into clear categories to help you decide.
Understanding the Three Main Telescope Types
All telescopes gather light, but they do it in different ways. Knowing these three basic designs is the first step to choosing.
Refractor Telescopes
These use lenses to bend light to a focus point. They look like a long tube with a lens at the front. Refractors are great for beginners because they are low-maintenance and offer sharp, high-contrast views.
- Pros: Simple and durable design. Excellent for viewing the Moon, planets, and double stars. They require little maintenance.
- Cons: Can become very large and expensive for a given aperture. Lower-cost models may show color fringes (chromatic aberration) around bright objects.
- Best for: Beginners, lunar and planetary observers, and those who want a grab-and-go scope.
Reflector Telescopes (Newtonians)
These use a curved mirror at the bottom of the tube to collect light and reflect it to a focus point. They offer the most aperture for your money, meaning you get more light-gathering power.
- Pros: Most affordable per inch of aperture. No color fringes. Great for viewing faint deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae.
- Cons: The open tube can require occasional mirror alignment (collimation). They are generally bulkier than refractors.
- Best for: Deep-sky observers, astrophotographers on a budget, and those wanting the biggest bang for their buck.
Compound Telescopes (Catadioptrics)
These hybrid scopes, like Schmidt-Cassegrains (SCTs) and Maksutov-Cassegrains (Maks), use a combination of mirrors and lenses. They fold the light path, making them very compact for their focal length.
- Pros: Very portable and versatile. Excellent all-around performers for both planets and deep-sky. Ideal for astrophotography.
- Cons: Generally the most expensive type. They can have a narrower field of view and take longer to cool down to nighttime temperatures.
- Best for: Intermediate to advanced users, astrophotographers, and those needing a highly portable yet powerful scope.
Key Features You Can’t Ignore
Beyond the type, these specifications will determine what you can see and how easy it is to see it.
Aperture: The Most Important Spec
Aperture is the diameter of the main lens or mirror. It’s measured in millimeters or inches. A larger aperture collects more light, allowing you to see fainter objects and more detail. A good starter aperture is 70mm to 90mm for a refractor or 114mm to 150mm for a reflector.
Focal Length and Focal Ratio
The focal length (e.g., 900mm) determines the telescope’s magnifying power. The focal ratio (f/number) is the focal length divided by the aperture. A lower f/ratio (like f/5) gives wider views and is better for deep-sky objects. A higher f/ratio (like f/10) provides higher magnification and is better for planets.
The Mount is Half the Telescope
A wobbly mount ruins the experience. There are two main types:
- Alt-Azimuth (Alt-Az): Moves up-down and left-right. It’s intuitive and great for visual observing.
- Equatorial (EQ): Aligned with Earth’s axis, it tracks stars smoothly by turning one knob. Essential for serious astrophotography but has a steeper learning curve.
Many scopes now come with computerized “GoTo” mounts that can automatically find and track thousands of celestial objects for you.
Top Telescope Recommendations by Category
Here are some consistently well-reviewed models across different budgets and purposes. Remember, the accessories included are just as important as the optical tube itself.
Best Overall Beginner Telescope: Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ
This reflector hits a sweet spot. Its 114mm mirror offers great views, but the real star is the StarSense app technology. You use your smartphone to plate-solve the sky, making finding objects incredibly easy without a complicated GoTo mount. It’s a fantastic bridge between manual and fully computerized scopes.
- Type: Newtonian Reflector
- Aperture: 114mm (4.5″)
- Mount: Alt-Azimuth with smartphone dock
- Great for: Complete beginners who want help navigating the night sky.
Best for Young Beginners: Orion SkyScanner 100mm
This tabletop reflector is affordable, simple, and surprisingly capable. Its 100mm mirror gathers plenty of light, and its short focal length provides wide, easy-to-find views. It’s lightweight and perfect for setting on a sturdy picnic table. It encourages spontaneity because it’s so quick to setup.
- Type: Newtonian Reflector
- Aperture: 100mm (4″)
- Mount: Mini Dobsonian tabletop
- Great for: Kids, families, and as a highly portable secondary scope.
Best for Planetary Views: Celestron Omni XLT 102mm Refractor
This refractor delivers crisp, high-contrast images of the Moon, Jupiter’s bands, and Saturn’s rings. The 102mm aperture is a good size, and the included equatorial mount is sturdy enough for reliable tracking. It’s a scope you won’t outgrow quickly as your skills improve.
- Type: Refractor
- Aperture: 102mm (4″)
- Mount: Equatorial
- Great for: Observers focused on the Moon and planets, and those learning an EQ mount.
Best for Deep-Sky on a Budget: Apertura AD8 Dobsonian
For visual observing, a large Dobsonian reflector offers unbeatable value. The AD8’s 8-inch (203mm) mirror collects massive amounts of light, revealing countless nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. It comes with premium accessories like a dual-speed focuser and good eyepieces, which are often where cheaper scopes cut corners.
- Type: Dobsonian Reflector
- Aperture: 203mm (8″)
- Mount: Dobsonian (simple rocker box)
- Great for: Serious visual observers who want maximum light grasp without electronics.
Best for Versatility and Growth: Celestron NexStar 6SE
This Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is a powerhouse in a compact form. The 6-inch aperture provides excellent all-around views, and the computerized GoTo mount makes finding targets a breeze. It’s a fantastic choice for someone who wants one scope that can do it all—from planets to deep-sky—and is ready for basic astrophotography with the right add-ons.
- Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Aperture: 150mm (6″)
- Mount: Computerized Alt-Az GoTo
- Great for: Intermediate users wanting a smart, portable, all-in-one system.
Essential Accessories to Enhance Your Experience
The right accessories can make a good telescope great. Don’t overlook these.
- Better Eyepieces: The ones included are often basic. A good quality Plössl or wide-field eyepiece in a mid-range focal length (like 15mm) will be your most-used piece.
- Barlow Lens: This doubles or triples the magnification of your existing eyepieces, effectively giving you more options for less money.
- Moon Filter: The full Moon is incredibly bright. A neutral density filter cuts the glare and improves contrast, allowing you to see more detail.
- Planetary Filter: Colored filters (like a #80A blue or #21 orange) can enhance details in Jupiter’s clouds or Mars’ surface.
- Red Flashlight: Essential for preserving your night vision while reading star charts or adjusting your equipment.
- Star Atlas or App: A planisphere or an app like SkySafari or Stellarium is crucial for learning the sky.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying
Learning from others errors can save you money and frustration.
- Chasing Magnification: Ignore boxes that boast “500x power!” Useful magnification is limited by aperture and atmospheric conditions. 300x is often the practical max for most nights.
- Choosing a Wobbly Mount: A cheap, flimsy tripod will make you hate using your telescope. Stability is non-negotiable.
- Starting Too Complex: A huge, computerized scope that’s difficult to set up will likely end up in a closet. Simplicity encourages use.
- Forgetting About Portability: Consider where you’ll store it and how far you’ll carry it. The best telescope is the one you actually take outside.
- Ignoring Your Local Conditions: If you have lots of light pollution, a huge scope for faint galaxies may be disappointing. A smaller scope for planets and the Moon might be more rewarding.
Your Step-by-Step Buying Guide
- Set a Real Budget: Include at least $100-$200 for essential accessories like a better eyepiece or a guidebook.
- Define Your Primary Interest: Is it the Moon and planets, or faint galaxies? This guides the telescope type and focal ratio.
- Assess Your Commitment: Be honest about how often you’ll use it and how much complexity you’re willing to learn.
- Check Used Markets: Sites like Cloudy Nights Classifieds have great deals from experienced astronomers who take care of their gear.
- Read Reviews, But Be Smart: Look for consistent feedback across multiple sources, not just the marketing on the box.
- Buy from a Specialty Retailer: Stores like High Point Scientific, Astronomics, or Orion Telescopes offer expert advice and support that big-box stores cannot.
FAQ Section
What is a good starter telescope for an adult?
A 6-inch or 8-inch Dobsonian reflector is often the top recommendation. It offers the most light-gathering power for visual observing at a very reasonable price, with a simple point-and-view mount.
How much should I spend on my first telescope?
A realistic budget for a good quality beginner telescope kit is between $300 and $600. This range avoids the truly terrible “department store” scopes and gets you a stable instrument with decent optics.
Can I see planets with a cheap telescope?
Yes, you can. Even a small 70mm refractor will show you Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, and the phases of Venus. More aperture simply reveals more detail, like the cloud bands on Jupiter or the Cassini Division in Saturn’s rings.
Is a computerized telescope better for a beginner?
It can be, but it has trade-offs. It makes finding objects easier, but it adds cost, complexity, and requires power. Some argue that learning the sky manually with a simpler scope is more rewarding in the long run.
What can I expect to see with a beginner telescope?
Expect stunning views of the Moon’s craters, Jupiter and its four largest moons, Saturn’s rings, bright star clusters like the Pleiades, and maybe the Orion Nebula. Distant galaxies will appear as faint gray smudges, not colorful spiral images.
Are refractors or reflectors better?
Neither is universally better. Refractors are typically better for lunar, planetary, and wide-field viewing and are low maintenance. Reflectors offer more aperture for the money, making them better for faint deep-sky objects, but they require occasional collimation.
Final Thoughts Before You Purchase
Choosing your first telescope is an exciting step. Remember that aperture and a solid mount are your top priorities. Avoid the temptation of ultra-high magnification claims. Start with realistic expectations—you’ll be viewing with your eyes, not the Hubble Space Telescope.
The best advice is to join a local astronomy club if possible. Members will gladly let you look through their scopes and offer hands-on advice. This firsthand experience is invaluable. With the right information and a bit of patience, you’ll find a telescope that opens up the wonders of the night sky for years to come. Clear skies!