12 Best Telescopes For Beginners

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There is nothing quite as relaxing as gazing up at the stars. The universe is such a beautiful thing that it’s no wonder so many people love spending quiet nights scoping out the vast expanse of space. If you are hoping to get into stargazing, then consider trying a telescope for beginners from our list of 12 recommendations below.

 

 

Telescope For Beginners

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1. What Is A Telescope?

A telescope is a scientific instrument that allows you to see things far away, or see something very small. They are often used in science for medical, astronomical and research purposes.

 

2. What Does A Telescope Do?

A telescope magnifies an object so you can view it more easily and in detail. There are different telescopes that do the same thing through different ways, but they all allow our eyes to see things we otherwise would not be able to see.

 

3. What Makes A Telescope For Beginners Different From Other Telescopes?

A telescope for beginners is designed specifically so that the uninitiated user can simply achieve encouraging results. Rather than overly complicated systems that are hard to set up or put into focus, these telescopes often come with simple designs and easy-to-follow manuals.

 

4. What Makes A Telescope For Beginners Different From Other Telescopes?

You can purchase telescopes from a number of retail shops and online. The best telescope for beginners, along with all the other telescopes on this list, can be found on Amazon.

How We Reviewed

To make sure we got an accurate review of the best telescopes for beginners, we spent a significant amount of time compiling a list of telescopes, their features, their benefits and drawbacks, their prices and warranties and more. Our aim was to compare them all in a short, easy-to-read list so you could more easily determine which product would suit your needs the best. We then studied our shortlist and recommended you our top choice for the best telescope for beginners.

Overall Price Range Of Beginner Telescopes

A telescope for beginners will vary in price, depending on the brand, the power of its magnification, and where you purchase it. There are also a large number of telescopes for beginners not featured on this list that may differ from our estimated price range.

Ultimately, the shortlist of 12 products we are recommending to you range in price from about $240 to $585.

What We Reviewed

• Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope
• Skyline 60×700 AZ Telescope
• Celestron AstroFi 90 Wi-Fi Refractor Telescope
• Meade StarNavigator NG
• Celestron AstroFi 102 Wi-Fi Maksutov Wireless Telescope
• Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian
• Celestron 22150 Omni XLT AZ 102mm Refractor
• SkyWatcher S11620 Traditional Dobsonian
• Vixen Optics 39954 R130Sf Newtonian
• Celestron 21064 AstroMaster 90 EQ Refractor
• SkyWatcher S11510 Maksutov-Cassegrain
• Astroscan Millennium Dobsonian Reflector

Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope

Feature​s

The Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope is a compact telescope that comes with everything you might need. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, which allows you to transport it wherever you may go. Before long, you will be able to locate more than 14,000 celestial objects with this easy-to-use telescope.

PROS

• It is a tabletop reflector telescope
• Has a computerized object locator
• Has a 750mm focal length

CONS

• Requires a table to use outside (or for you must crouch down)
• Significantly more expensive than others

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners comes with a limited 1-year warranty.

Skyline 60×700 AZ Telescope

Feature​s

The Skyline 60×700 AZ Telescope is a great beginner telescope. It has a sturdy, adjustable tripod that will support your telescope no matter where you are. It comes with a 40mm-diameter objective lens, a 3x barlow lens, a finder scope and an accessory tray.

PROS

• Has a 500mm focal length
• Is a stand-alone refractor telescope
• Has an easy-to-use eyepiece
• Comes with other lenses, a finder scope and tray

CONS

• Currently unavailable
• No warranty to back this product

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This telescope is unavailable on Amazon at present.

Check Price

Unfortunately, this telescope for beginners does not appear to come with a warranty.

Meade StarNavigator NG

Feature​s

The Meade StarNavigator NG is a great way to locate a wide selection of celestial objects. Its built-in “AudioStar” controller can help locate more than 30,000 celestial objects in the sky. Plus, it comes on a full-size aluminum tripod for easy setup.

PROS

• Comes in a bright blue color
• Has an AudioStar controller to locate 30,000-plus celestial objects
• Is a refractor telescope

CONS

• Significantly more expensive than alternatives
• No warranty included

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

Meade does not back this telescope for beginners with a warranty.

Celestron AstroFi 102 Wi-Fi Maksutov Wireless Telescope

Feature​s

The Celestron AstroFi 102 Wi-Fi Maksutov Wireless Telescope can help beginners see incredible objects deep in space. It is able to provide clear images of objects far beyond our solar system and can be controlled via Wi-Fi technology.

PROS

• Is a reflecting telescope
• Includes a StarPointer finder scope
• Can connect to Wi-Fi for wireless control

CONS

• List Slightly more expensive than other telescopes
• Does not come with a warranty

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners has no warranty.

Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian

Feature​s

The Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian is a terrific telescope for those just getting serious about stargazing. It is a very powerful telescope with a six-inch aperture (an opening that light passes through). It is a great investment for someone who knows they will want to stargaze for years to come.

PROS

• Is a tabletop reflector telescope
• Vibration-free imaging, thanks to its stable base
• Does not require polar alignment, making it simpler to use

CONS

• Requires a table to use outside (or for you to crouch)
• Slightly more expensive than other telescopes

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners comes with a limited 1-year warranty.

Celestron 22150 Omni XLT AZ 102mm Refractor

Feature​s

The Celestron 22150 Omni XLT AZ 102mm Refractor is a telescope that offers you high-quality results at a low price. It has a wide field of view both astronomically and terrestrially. This Celestron telescope is simple to set up and a joy to use.

PROS

• Reasonably priced
• Is a refractor telescope
• Comes with a StarPointer Pro finder scope
• Easy to set up and use
• Affordable

CONS

• Has a manual mount
• Is rather large so transporting it may be difficult

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners comes with a limited 2-year warranty.

SkyWatcher S11620 Traditional Dobsonian

Feature​s

The SkyWatcher S11620 Traditional Dobsonian is a rather pricey tabletop telescope. Yet it yields an impressive 1200mm focal length, which will help you see incredible objects in space. Still, it may be too expensive for a person first starting out to invest in.

PROS

• Is a tabletop telescope
• Has a 1200mm focal length
• Has a solid rocker-mount

CONS

• Requires a table to use outside (or for you to crouch)
• Most expensive on our list

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

Despite its high price, this telescope for beginners does not come with a warranty.

Vixen Optics 39954 R130Sf Newtonian

Feature​s

The Vixen Optics 39954 R130Sf Newtonian gives you a great way to get a taste of space exploration. It has a powerful lens so users can see incredible celestial objects. Additionally, it is built more compactly, so it is easily portable.

PROS

• Has a 650mm focal length
• Is smaller and more compact for portability
• Durably built

CONS

• Expensive compared with alternatives
• Does not come with a warranty

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners is not backed by a warranty.

Celestron 21064 AstroMaster 90 EQ Refractor

Feature​s

The Celestron 21064 AstroMaster 90 EQ Refractor is an affordable telescope with the ability to transport you millions of miles away. It is lightweight, meaning you can easily transport it and can create sharp views of Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings and countless other celestial objects. The telescope requires no tools to set up, and can easily be put into focus with its manual mount.

PROS

• Is a refractor telescope
• Has a 90mm objective lens
• Has an easy-to-use manual mount
• Comes with two eyepieces

CONS

• Does not come with a warranty
• Does not have Wi-Fi capabilities

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners does not appear to come with a warranty.

SkyWatcher S11510 Maksutov-Cassegrain

Feature​s

The SkyWatcher S11510 Maksutov-Cassegrain is a terrific, high-quality telescope for beginners. It is simple to use, powerful enough to see hundreds of celestial objects and available for a reasonable price. Plus, it has a 1.25-inch, 90-degree star diagonal and a red dot finder.

PROS

• Reasonably priced
• Has multi-coated, diffraction-limited optical systems for optimum contrast and sharpness
• Able to capture incredible images
• Has a red dot finder
• Affordable

CONS

• Does not come with a warranty
• Does not come with a tripod

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

Available on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners does not come with a warranty.

Astroscan Millennium Dobsonian Reflector

Feature​s

The Astroscan Millennium Dobsonian Reflector can put even the most inexperienced of astronomers at ease. It helps create clear, powerful images of distant objects in space. Astroscan’s included manual and star/planet locating guide can help guide you through the world of astronomy and make you feel confident in your star-searching skills. Plus, it has a sturdy design that makes it incredibly easy to transport to a friend’s house, out on a camping trip or simply to your backyard.

PROS

• Is a tabletop reflector telescope
• Reasonably priced
• Has a 450mm focal length
• Comes with two eyepieces, an instruction manual and the Scientifics Famous Star and Planet Locator

CONS

• Requires a table to use outside (or for you to crouch down)
• Does not come with a tripod

• Price
• where to Buy
• Warranty

This product can be found on Amazon for around $.

Check Price

This telescope for beginners comes with a limited 2-year warranty.

The Verdict

Deciding which telescope for beginners is best for you can be a difficult challenge when there are so many features, styles and costs to consider. We tried to make it easier for you by collecting a list of the best options available for you to explore for yourself.

Our pick for the best standing telescope for beginners is the Celestron 21064 AstroMaster 90 EQ Refractor. It is incredibly affordable, can provide great image quality and is super lightweight for travel.

Our pick for the best tabletop telescope for beginners is the Astroscan Millennium Dobsonian Reflector. This telescope is simple to use, reasonably priced and comes with all the tools you need to learn the many wonders of space.

Last update on 2023-03-27 at 23:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API