10 bestTelescopesof April 2025
112M consumers helped this year.
6% off
1
Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture 600mm Refractor Telescope for Kids & Beginners, Compact and Portable Travel Telescopio with Backpack
EACONN
9.8
2
Telescope, Telescopes for Adults Astronomy Professional, 90mm Aperture 1000mm High Powered Telescope for Beginners & Kids with Precision Adjustment Vertisteel AZ Mount Tripod Phone Adapter
SOLOMARK
9.6
3
Telescope 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescopes for Adults, Professional Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, Comes with 1.5X Barlow Lens Smartphone Adapter & 13% T Moon Filter
SOLOMARK
9.4
15% off
4
Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture 900mm Professional Refractor Telescope for Kids & Beginners, Compact and Portable Travel Telescopio with Carrying Bag
SOLOMARK
9.2
5
Skywatcher Evostar-90 AZ-3 3.5-Inch Refractor Telescope Silver
Skywatcher
8.9
Other
EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC Ultra Light Dobsonian 305 mm Generation II
Sky-Watcher Evolux 82ED Doublet Apo Refractor Telescope- Compact and Procurable Optical Tube for Affordable Astrophotography, White (S11310)
Bresser Classic 70/350 Refractor Telescope with Aluminium Mount and Smartphone Holder White
Bresser telescope Messier AR-90/900 OTA
6
Sky Watcher Star Adventurer 2I WIFI Pro Pack (50211) NEW 2020 MODEL
Skywatcher
8.6
7
ZWO Smart Telescope AP 50/250 Seestar S50
ZWO
8.4
8
80mm Aperture 500mm Refractor Telescope for Adults and Kids Beginners w. Pro Tripod, Phone Adapter, Portable Backpack
HOROX
8.1
9
Vixen Telescope AP 80/600 ED80Sf Porta-II
Vixen
7.8
10
Bresser Messier MCX-127 Telescope with 1900 mm Focal Length and GoTo Telescope EQ/AZ with Optional Equatorial or Azimuthal Mount Including Tripod
BRESSER
7.5
A Guide to Selecting the Best Telescopes
Choosing the right telescope can open up a whole new world of stargazing and celestial exploration. The key to finding the best telescope for you is understanding the different specifications and how they align with your observing goals. Whether you're interested in viewing planets, deep-sky objects, or just want a general-purpose telescope, knowing what to look for will help you make an informed decision.
Aperture
Aperture refers to the diameter of the telescope's main optical component, which can be a lens or a mirror. It is the most crucial specification because it determines how much light the telescope can gather. More light means brighter and clearer images, allowing you to see fainter objects. Aperture sizes can range from small (around 60mm) to large (over 200mm). For beginners, a telescope with an aperture of 70mm to 100mm is often sufficient for viewing the moon and planets. If you're interested in deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, consider a larger aperture of 150mm or more.
Focal Length
The focal length of a telescope is the distance from the lens or mirror to the point where the telescope forms an image. It affects the magnification and field of view. A longer focal length provides higher magnification, which is great for viewing planets and the moon. However, it also means a narrower field of view, which can make it harder to locate objects. Shorter focal lengths offer a wider field of view, making them better for observing star clusters and nebulae. Choose a focal length based on what you want to observe: longer for detailed planetary views, shorter for wide-field deep-sky observations.
Magnification
Magnification is how much larger a telescope can make an object appear. It is determined by dividing the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece. While high magnification might seem appealing, it's not always better. Too much magnification can lead to blurry images if the telescope's aperture isn't large enough to support it. A good rule of thumb is to use 50x magnification per inch of aperture. For general use, having a range of eyepieces to provide different magnifications is beneficial, allowing you to adjust based on what you're observing.
Mount Type
The mount is what holds the telescope and allows it to move. There are two main types: altazimuth and equatorial. Altazimuth mounts move up-down and left-right, making them intuitive and easy to use, ideal for beginners. Equatorial mounts are aligned with the Earth's axis, allowing for smoother tracking of celestial objects as they move across the sky, which is useful for astrophotography. Choose an altazimuth mount for simplicity and ease of use, or an equatorial mount if you're interested in more advanced tracking and photography.
Portability
Portability refers to how easy it is to transport and set up the telescope. This is important if you plan to take your telescope to different locations for stargazing. Smaller telescopes are generally more portable and easier to set up, making them great for beginners or those who travel frequently. Larger telescopes, while offering better views, can be cumbersome and require more effort to transport and assemble. Consider how often and where you plan to use your telescope when deciding on the right balance between size and portability.
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