How do I choose the right telescope for me?

Choosing the perfect telescope can definitely be challenging, especially as a beginner. There are hundreds of options to choose from, with multitudes of different configurations, settings, and of course a wide range of prices. The quality of telescopes has also drastically improved in recent years, so most models' quality is usually pretty good these days. That said, there are better options than others, and we've endeavoured to only include the very best in this guide. The beginner telescopes can enable you to reveal 'the greatest show off Earth'. In order to get the best possible views of the night sky, you'll need to consider where you're observing from, what objects you'd like to see in particular, your setup if you're going to attempt astrophotography, and more. Probably the most important factor in choosing a telescope is the optical quality it provides. 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. We'd advise you to stick to reputable telescope dealers to buy your scope from, as you'll be sure to get exactly what you've ordered, and many will also provide a warranty with your purchase. Astronomical equipment businesses also tend to offer the best deals on their products, and have advisors on hand to help you make the right decision for you. Below, you'll find a breakdown of different types of telescopes you can buy, as well as which model we think is best.

What types of telescope are there?

There are three main types of telescopes: reflector, refractor and catadioptric telescopes. Reflectors have a main mirror to gather and focus light, whereas refractors have an objective lens. Catadioptrics have a main mirror, and a lens of the same diameter. All three of these types of telescopes have 'sub-types' which vary by design. For example, the most basic reflector telescopes have a Newtonian design, which means they have a main mirror and a smaller, secondary one to divert the light at right angles to the eyepiece from the top of the telescope. As we've mentioned above, nowadays, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to quality (and relatively affordable!) telescopes. So, which type should you opt for? We think Newtonian reflector telescopes on a simple undriven alt-azimuth mount (known as a 'Dobsonian') offer the best value in terms of aperture. However, if you are interested in learning your way around the night sky 'the old fashioned way', then a Dobsonian telescope might be the way to go. They don't come with any bells and whistles, so you'll need to arm yourself with a star map to make sense of stargazing. Dobsonians collect a lot of light, and they have enough resolving power to deliver breathtaking views of celestial objects. Dobsonian telescopes over 6 inches in aperture tend to be pretty large and imposing, so you'll need to consider where it can be stored if you purchase one. A garden shed or garage might be the best option. If you add an equatorial or computerized mount, Newtonian or refractor telescopes become much more expensive. You can find several types of computerized mounts for Newtonian telescopes: Dobsonians (push-to or GoTo), single time-mounted (tracking or GoTo) and German equatorial (GoTo). For reference, for a computerized push-to Dobsonian, you'll be looking at spending about twice as much than for a manual model of the same aperture, while a GoTo will set you back almost four times the price of its manual counterpart. A premium Newtonian on a German equatorial mount can be as much as ten times more expensive than one on a manual mount! If ease of use, portability and convenience are high on your requirements, and you like gadgets, then a short focal length refractor of up to 4 inches or a catadioptric (Schmidt- or Maksutov-Cassegrain) up to 5 inches on a computerized mount may well fit the bill. These are versatile telescopes with high magnification which enables you to observe amazing details on the moon and planets. Achromatic refractors with short focal lengths typically display a degree of false color around the edges of bright objects like the moon because they can't focus all wavelengths of light to a precise point. Most users are happy to accept this drawback because refractors are so easy to use and care for; however, if you're after a clean, high-contrast view without false color, the Maksutov is the best option here. The best views of the night sky are obtained through apochromatic refractors. Using special glass objectives, they focus all wavelengths of light to as near a single point as possible and are free of false color. It is worth noting though that apochromats cost around four times as much as equivalent-sized achromats.

How does a refractor telescope work?

Refractors work by bending — or refracting — the light they gather to give you a view of your astronomical target. Easy to set up, the refractor is best suited to planetary and lunar viewing, using lenses to collect and focus light to form an image, while an eyepiece magnifies the view. The refractor has a fairly straightforward design, with a main objective lens at one end and a star diagonal with a threaded eyepiece at the other. Being intuitive to use, the refractor is often a popular instrument for novice astronomers, given their low maintenance. Refractors are usually affixed to a simple alt-azimuth mount, that slews from side to side and up and down to locate a desired target. Being easy to use means these telescopes are also simple to manufacture (at least for novice models) and, therefore, cheaper to buy. The downside is that the higher the aperture, the more expensive the refractor gets. Unfortunately, this means that a basic refractor is also the number one target to replicate in mail-order catalogs and other non-reputable vendors, so caution must be exercised when purchasing this type of telescope. Refractors are particularly good at giving highly magnified and high contrast images and, because of this, are ideal instruments to use when looking at solar system targets such as the moon and the planets. The best refractors usually have an aperture of 2 inches (60mm) or more and will provide you with reasonable views of astronomical objects. A 3 to 4-inch (80 mm - 90 mm) would be best suited if you're looking for a larger aperture. The drawback of a refractor is that it can suffer from chromatic aberration, also known as color fringing. When a single lens doesn't focus all the colors emitted from a target object at the same point, bright objects such as the moon, Venus or Jupiter usually have a colored halo around them. To reduce this problem, many refractors are manufactured as achromatic or APOchromatic (also known as Extra Dispersion (ED) telescopes). The achromatic refractor is cheaper than the apochromatic refractor and, combined with its efficiency, is often the type of telescope that novice astronomers go for. Even if you choose the more expensive achromatic, you'll likely get a stubborn degree of purple fringing around some targets. Unless you're a seasoned skywatcher and you can afford to go for the more expensive apochromatic — which corrects for such an effect by using exotic glass for the lenses — this degree of color fringing will not ruin your observing experience to any great extent. If you decide to go for the expensive option, you will be stunned by the views you will get through these excellent telescopes. Be warned, though, you might find that some apochromatics come without a tripod, something that you'll have to buy separately along with any accessories.

How does a reflector telescope work?

There are two common types of reflector telescope — the Newtonian and the Dobsonian. The way these instruments operate is the same — they both use mirrors to reflect light to create an image of the object you're looking at. The Newtonian telescope comprises a curved light-collecting mirror, which can be found at the tube's base. The light that hits this mirror is reflected back to the front of the tube, where a smaller flat mirror — oriented at 45-degrees — brings light to the observer who can see their chosen object. The Newtonian can be found on alt-azimuth mounts, but you shouldn't be too surprised to find this type of reflector is more popularly affixed to an equatorial mount, allowing the telescope to follow the rotation of the sky while being aligned with your hemisphere's celestial pole. This reflector is a favorite in the amateur astronomy community due to its versatility in observing a wide selection of astronomical targets and allowing for astrophotography. With Newtonians, you can also buy a large aperture for less money — for instance, an eight-inch (203.2 mm) reflector would cost you less than a refractor with the same aperture, allowing you to get much more value for your money. Newtonian reflector telescopes do require some maintenance. The mirrors must be aligned periodically to ensure that they are reflecting light properly. The mirrors can also become tarnished over time, so they may need to be repainted. If you choose a Newtonian reflector telescope, select one with a protective mirror coating. This will help extend the mirrors' life and make them easier to maintain. Some beginners to the hobby of astronomy might find setting up and using an equatorial mount tricky — that's where the Dobsonian comes in. These telescopes give the capabilities of a reflector without the complexities an equatorial mount will bring since it employs an alt-azimuth mount. Dobsonians are very simple to use and can easily be pulled into orientation when looking at astronomical objects. If you're not confident in navigating your telescope though, then GoTo or computerized Dobsonians and Newtonians (that slew to objects for you using an in-built motor) are on the market — but cost more. Learn more about these in our ' What are Dobsonian telescopes ' guide. Whatever reflector you choose, these telescopes are excellent for low-magnification targets such as galaxies and many nebulas.

How does a catadioptric telescope work?

Ideal for astrophotography, the catadioptric is an excellent instrument for taking a wide range of astronomical targets and is manufactured in order to take the best parts of two kinds of telescopes: The reflector and the refractor. What's more, the catadioptric takes advantage of a lightweight design, meaning that it's much more portable than other kinds of telescopes and its sealed optics promote little to no maintenance. The only major downside to choosing a catadioptric is that the vast majority can be expensive. However, if you are on a strict budget, picking up one of these instruments isn't unheard of — you've just got to make sure to shop around. While refractors use lenses, and reflectors make use of mirrors, to create and magnify an image, the catadioptric makes use of both lenses and mirrors for high-definition and superior views. During your observations, light from your chosen target passes through to a lens, which corrects or reduces aberration that distorts the view that is later taken in through the eyepiece. Curved primary mirrors then reflect this light onto a secondary mirror, which then reaches your eyes. You will find two kinds of Catadioptric telescopes — the Schmidt-Cassegrain and the Maksutov-Cassegrain. The Maksutov-Cassegrain, also affectionately known as the 'Mak', corrects the optical problem that is experienced by reflectors — an aberration effect called 'coma,' which can make objects look distorted and appear like they have a tail. This effect is reduced or banished with the combined efforts of a spherical mirror and a meniscus lens, the latter of which is 'weakly negative'. The Maksutov is also adept at correcting for chromatic aberration, or color fringing, a distortion that creates an unwanted purple or blue edging around bright night-sky objects. Packed into its short optical tube is a system that allows you to target higher magnification objects such as the planets, moon and double stars. Additionally, if you struggle to find objects and your way around the night sky, then both this type of catadioptric telescope and the Schmidt-Cassegrain can be found in abundance and equipped with a GoTo system. The other most common kind of catadioptric, the Schmidt-Cassegrain, offers similar capabilities to the Maksutov and will allow you to make general observations of planetary targets and stars. It is also possible to expand the telescope's field of view with the help of corrector lenses, enabling exquisite views of an even wider selection of astronomical targets.

What is a finderscope?

A finder scope is a low-power (low magnification) telescope that sits on your main telescope. Your main telescope will typically have a narrow field of view, meaning you'll see only a little portion of the sky when you look through it. Your finder scope, with a wider field of view, assists you in pointing your telescope to your desired subject, making it easy to hone in on your target with minimal searching and repositioning. Center your subject in the finder scope's frame; there are usually crosshairs or a dot so you know when it's central. Now when you look through your telescope's eyepiece, your subject will be centered here too. Many telescopes include a finder scope with the package but if you need to purchase one separately it's worth knowing there are two main types. One has a straight-through view, and one has a right-angled view. Generally, you'd want a right-angle finder if you have a Newtonian reflector telescope and a straight-through view if you use a refractor or catadioptric due to the location of their eyepieces. Some finder scopes will also be magnified — higher magnification and a narrower field may be desirable if you need pinpoint accuracy. You'll also come across the terms 'inverted' or 'erect image.' The latter means the finder scope has a correcting prism that flips the image the 'right way up’ (top-to-bottom) and ‘around’ (left-to-right). Some finder scopes don't have a correcting prism, so you see either a back-to-front image or upside down, which might be disorientating and make finding subjects more difficult, especially if you're just starting out.

What does aperture, magnification and focal length mean on a telescope?

Time to dispel jargon myths with a bit of a telescope glossary. The larger a telescope's aperture (the size of its main lens or primary mirror) the more light is collected and more fine detail is revealed. For example, a 200 mm aperture collects four times more light than a 100 mm telescope. Under ideal conditions, a 100 mm telescope reveals stars down to magnitude +11.8, while a 200 mm telescope will show stars down to magnitude +13.3. A 100 mm telescope will 'split' a double star separated by 1.5 arcseconds and resolves a three-kilometer lunar crater; however, a 200 mm telescope resolves a crater just 1.5 km across and a double star separated by just 0.6 arcseconds. Resolution is limited by the telescope's optical quality and the steadiness of the Earth's atmosphere. Telescopic magnification depends on the telescope's focal length (the distance between the objective lens/primary mirror and the point of focus of the light it collects) and the focal length of the eyepiece used. Magnification is calculated by dividing the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. For example, a 100 mm telescope with a focal length of f/8 (eight times the telescope's aperture) has a focal length of 800 mm; used in conjunction with an eyepiece of 10 mm it will deliver a magnification of 80 times (800 divided by 10). With any telescope, the range of useful magnification depends on a telescope's aperture and focal length, combined with the focal length of the eyepiece. Too low a magnification (taking in as wide an area as possible) will actually waste light since the 'exit pupil' of the eyepiece will be larger than the diameter of the pupil of your dark-adapted eye. On average, the adult pupil will dilate to around 7 mm in dark conditions. Therefore the exit pupil delivered by an eyepiece ideally needs to be 7 mm or smaller so that all the light gathered by the telescope — especially when attempting to see faint objects — can be taken in. Exit pupil can be calculated by dividing the telescope's aperture by the magnification delivered by any particular eyepiece.

Magnification: How do telescope eyepieces work?

Eyepieces work by magnifying the light focused by the telescope's primary mirror or objective lens. Every telescope eyepiece has a specific focal length (given in millimeters), and the shorter this figure is, the higher the magnification. To calculate the magnification provided by any particular eyepiece on any telescope, divide the telescope's focal length by the focal length of the eyepiece used. For example, a 1000 mm focal length telescope (say, a 100 mm refractor of f/10, or a 200 mm Newtonian of f/5) will deliver a magnification of 100 with a 10 mm eyepiece (1000 divided by 10 = 100). Although any telescope can give impressively high magnifications using short focal length eyepieces, there is a point when increasing magnification will provide a worse image rather than improve it. When an object is magnified, its brightness is reduced as the finite amount of light is spread over a larger area. In addition, increasing magnification exacerbates the amount of atmospheric turbulence visible; therefore, high magnifications can only be used when seeing conditions are good. Finally, high magnification is practical only with driven telescopes. Otherwise, the object will quickly drift out of the field of view. As a guide, your highest power eyepiece should deliver a magnification double the telescope's aperture in millimeters — for example, 200x on a 100 mm telescope, 400x on a 200 mm telescope, and so on. It's best to have at least three good quality eyepieces that deliver low, medium and high magnifications — say around 50x, 100x and 200x. Taking as an example a 100 mm f/10 telescope, those eyepieces would be of 20 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm focal length. Let's assume that these particular eyepieces are of the commonly used Plossl variety. A field of view around one degree across (an area of 0.8 square degrees) is given by the 20 mm eyepiece — ideal for sweeping the deep skies and finding objects. The 10 mm eyepiece will just take in the half-degree diameter moon and have a field covering just one-quarter that of the 20 mm eyepiece. With its high magnification, the 5 mm eyepiece has a field of view covering just one-sixteenth that of the 20 mm eyepiece and can only be used when seeing conditions allow.

Best telescopes 2024: Stargaze galaxies, nebulas and more

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Quick list
Best for beginners
Best budget telescope
Best value for enthusiasts
Best premium
Best for planets
Best for portability
Best for astrophotography
Best smart telescope
Best for deep space
Best for kids
Telescope FAQ
How we test

Best telescopes 2024: Jump Menu

Man uses binoculars to look at the night sky as the sun sets and telescopes are on tripods around him — (Image credit: Getty)

1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best for beginners
3. Best budget telescope
4. Best value for enthusiasts
5. Best premium
6. Best for planets
7. Best for portability
8. Best for astrophotographers
9. Best smart telescope
10. Best for deep space
11. Best for kids
12. Telescope FAQs
13. How we test

Investing in one of the best telescopes is the perfect way to start you off on your astronomy journey, helping you to catch glimpses of the many wonders of the universe, including stars, planets, moons, nebulas and galaxies. There are various different kinds of optical systems available, as well as different levels of aperture and focal length to consider depending on what you wish to view. Check out our Telescope FAQs below to help you decide what system and specs might work best for you.

With a wide range of models on offer, it can be difficult to know where to start, so our expert reviewers have put together a list of some of the very best telescopes available for different purposes. Whether you're a beginner just starting out, a pro looking for top-quality optics or a tech-savvy person looking for the latest smart technology, there's something on our list for everyone.

If you already have something more specific in mind, then we also have guides to the best beginner telescopes, the best telescopes for deep space and the best telescopes for seeing planets. And if you're keen to involve your kids in your astronomy hobby, we have guides to the best telescopes for kids and best binoculars for kids to help spark their interest early.

Solar eclipse glasses deals April 2024

With the total solar eclipse fast approaching on April 8, we know many Space.com readers will be keen to get the full experience. It's essential to use specialist eye protection when looking directly at the sun, so we've included a list of certified options below to help you view the eclipse safely.

Amazon: Celestron solar eclipse glasses
Walmart: Solar glasses, binoculars and filters available
Best Buy: Solar glasses, viewers, telescopes and binoculars
B&H Photo Video: Single and multipack eclipse glasses
Adorama: Solar eclipse glasses and filter adapter kits
Target: Discounted ISO-certified solar glasses
Staples: Solar eclipse multipack available

Telescope FAQ answered by

Dr Gemma Lavender

A contributing expert to Space.com, Live Science, All About Space and more, Gemma is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics and became fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Gemma is also the Communications and Outreach Office at the European Space Agency.

The quick list

Best for beginners

Celestron NexStar 4SE

Best for beginners

A great scope for beginners, the Celestron NexStar 4SE is easy to use and set up, produces clear and bright images and has a whole host of useful features.

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Best budget telescope

Celestron Inspire 100AZ

Best budget telescope

A great beginner scope for anyone just getting started with astronomy, it comes with a variety of accessories.

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Best value for enthusiasts

Celestron Astro Fi 130

Best value for enthusiasts

We were really impressed with this telescope when we reviewed it and overall, thought that it's good value for money.

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Best premium

Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25

Best premium

We think this is an exceptional telescope that is high quality, easy to set up and offers breathtaking views. It's suited well for experienced astronomers too.

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Best motorized telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE

Best for planets

A fantastic scope for any experience level, it's incredibly easy to use yet powerful enough for deep space exploration and even astrophotography.

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Best for portability

Celestron Astro Fi 102

Best for portability

If you live in an urban area with lots of light pollution and need a telescope you can comfortably carry to dark sky sites, this could be the one for you.

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Best for astro

Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 PRO

Best for astrophotography

Our favorite pick for astrophotographers, this telescope is a great all-rounder, suitable for capturing everything from nebulas to galaxies. We thought it has outstanding optical quality with no sign of any distortion.

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Best smart telescope

Unistellar Equinox 2

Best smart telescope

If you've got the budget for it, this is Unistellar's most advanced telescope to date. It has a very reliable app, and even features a Smart Light Reduction feature to eliminate light pollution in urban environments.

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Best for deep space

Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD

Best for deep space

Great for experienced, long-time astronomers, this scope is excellent for astrophotography thanks to the Edge HD technology. It is a little on the heavy side, but it can carry a load of up to 30 lbs.

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Best for kids

Celestron FirstScope 76 Tabletop telescope

Best for kids

This is a top tabletop telescope and if you're a beginner or looking to inspire a young astronomer, this is an ideal starting point. It's easy to set up and put away, but it's not the most powerful.

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Best for beginners

Image 1 of 7

Celestron NexStar 4SE

Best for finding planets and other celestial objects easily with Celestron's SkyAlign technology.

Specifications

Optical design: Maksutov-Cassegrain

Mount type: Computerized Alt-Azimuth

Aperture: 4-inches / 102mm

Focal length: 1325mm

Highest useful magnification: 241x

Lowest useful magnification: 15x

Supplied eyepieces: 25mm

Weight: 23 lbs (10.44kg) fully assembled

Reasons to buy

Quick, uncomplicated setup

Celestron's high-quality build

SkyAlign technology

Reasons to avoid

Restrictive portability

Narrow field of view

Power hungry

Buy it if

✅ It's your first telescope: This scope is easy to use and set up, making it perfect for beginner astronomers.

✅ You want GoTo technology: You can easily find and track specific celestial objects with little or no prior knowledge.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want to travel with it: This telescope isn't the most portable as the tripod doesn't quite fold down entirely.

The bottom line:

🔎 Celestron NexStar 4SE If you want to view the planets and bright objects in the sky quickly and effortlessly, the Celestron NexStar 4SE will certainly do the job. ★★★★

The Celestron NexStar 4SE makes a fantastic choice for beginners owing to its fully computerized mount. Celestron's SkyAlign technology uses your date, time and location to auto-find various targets within the night sky at the push of a button, making it easy to get to grips with for newcomers to stargazing.

It features a 4-inch (102mm) aperture and a focal length of 1325mm, which is enough to give sharp views of the planets and other bright sky objects. The downside is that this combination results in a fairly narrow field of view of only 1.2 degrees, which means it struggles to fit bigger deep sky objects into the view. You get a 25mm Plossl eyepiece included in the box, but we think you'll get better results if you purchase an additional 32mm eyepiece and Barlow lens to make the most of the 241x highest useful magnification.

In terms of design, this scope has a very solid build and comes with a sturdy tripod and a handheld remote with tactile buttons, so there's no need to control it via an app. Weighing 23 lbs (10.4 kg) in total, it's not the most portable telescope, and the power-hungry mount eats through the required 8xAA batteries quickly, so we recommend hooking it up to an external power source. But for those who want to stargaze from their backyard, this would be a very easy and enjoyable scope to get started with.

Read our full Celestron NexStar 4SE review

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Celestron NexStar 4SE
Attributes	Notes
Design	Solid and sturdy build, signature orange colors.
Performance	Great for observing the moon and planets.
Functionality	Alignment correction can be tricky.

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Best budget telescope

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The Celestron Inspire 100AZ comes with a plethora of helpful accessories, but after our full review, we'd recommend updating the eyepieces.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)