Top rated telescopes for beginners

Looking to buy your top rated telescopes for beginners telescope but don't know where to start? We've picked out some of the best beginner telescopes on the market. The best telescopes for beginners are those that are easy to set up, won't stretch your budget and yet give you great views of night sky targets. But if you're starting out as a newcomer to astronomy, it can be difficult to know what to look for when buying your first telescope.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy a product through the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Maybe you have had a casual interest in astronomy for years, looking up at the night sky every chance you get. What kind should you get? What are the best telescopes for beginners? How much do you really have to spend? Which is best for you?

Top rated telescopes for beginners

A good telescope needn't cost the Earth. It is possible to explore the heavens with an inexpensive telescope, provided it's well-made. Are budget telescopes good? Like most questions about astronomy equipment, it depends what you want to use it for! Cheap, affordable, inexpensive telescopes are very common nowadays, spurred on no doubt by the boom that amateur astronomy has seen over the past few years. But just as an expensive telescope isn't always a good telescope, it's also the case that a cheaper, more affordable telescope doesn't mean you won't be able to get stunning views of the Moon, planets, stars and deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies. Complete beginner? Read our guide to astronomy for beginners. However, if you're starting out in astronomy and have a low budget, it can be tricky to navigate all the various brand names, types of telescope and whether or not you're getting good value for your money. For help with this, read Tim Jardine's excellent guide on how to choose your first telescope , or discover our pick of the best telescopes for beginners. Below we've selected some of the best budget telescopes that we've reviewed over the years, including advice on where to buy them online. Once you finally do get your telescope set up, find to how to get started with our guide to spending your first night with a telescope. If you want to be able to image the night sky, discover our pick of the best telescopes for astrophotography. There are only a few parts and they all fit together nicely, taking only a minute or two to set up without tools.

You'll also want to think about what aperture you need and whether you need a more portable model or a larger, more powerful one.

Few things are as awe-inspiring as being under a clear night sky, looking up, and gazing at a seemingly infinite array of stars overhead. So we rounded up 14 telescopes, and, after months of holding star parties, we think the Celestron NexStar 5SE is the best telescope for a curious amateur. It gathers enough light for you to view the best features of our solar system, and it provides enough power for you to begin exploring deep-sky objects. In addition, this model has an electronic GPS database preloaded with almost 40, celestial objects, so after you calibrate the scope, it can scan the skies for you. This electronic telescope lets you program it to find objects in the night sky automatically, saving you the effort of reading star charts and manuals.

Best overall 3. Best for quick set up 4. Best for basic astrophotography 5. Best Maksutov-Cassegrain 6. Best for back yard 7. Best for wide field observation 8. Best computerized telescope 9. Best grab and go telescope Best budget telescope

Top rated telescopes for beginners

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Whether it was viewing the planet Jupiter using high magnification, or seeing The Pleiades star cluster for the very first time, that first summer under the stars with my telescope was a pivotal stage of my life. But with some ingenuity on your part, we imagine that a single Dobsonian could fit in the majority of cars. Our expert review:. Each type of telescope has its own strengths and weaknesses. The Celestron Inspire 80AZ is the best beginner telescope for kids because it offers more over most beginner packages and it's easy to assemble. Best for deep space Mount type: Computerized Alt-Azimuth. A standout feature is its Smart Light Pollution Reduction, which makes it suitable for use in urban environments — something that many other telescopes can't cope with. Best computerized telescope. The OneSky is easily portable. The Double Cluster in Perseus looked good through the 20mm eyepiece. I recommend the Apertura 8-Inch Dobsonian telescope for beginners. Observing , Science , Telescopes and Equipment. This might be overwhelming for beginners who want to begin stargazing without spending too much time on setup.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy a product through the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Maybe you have had a casual interest in astronomy for years, looking up at the night sky every chance you get.

An Equatorial mount is needed for long exposure Deep Sky Photograph but adds some extra complexibility for some beginners. Lowest useful magnification: 15x. Or do you need to drive a good distance to view the sky properly? We looked at how stable the tripod was as the telescope was moved into various observing positions. These shots can be later stacked and edited to create stunning images of the cosmos. Simply put them on a table or sturdy surface and they're ready to go. Motorized mount a good choice for astrophotography. This telescope also comes in a inch version for those looking for even more light-gathering power. Aperture: 2. Mount type: Dobsonian. Each telescope is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth.