To anyone looking for a new telescope, especially a first telescope, the array of options that exist might seem overwhelming. Here is my review, on the top-rated telescopes, to help up choose.
Start With Binoculars
In fact, what many astronomers' advice is to not start out with a telescope at all, but with a good pair of binoculars. They’ll not only give you a great view of the lunar surface, but let you see things like Saturn and its rings and Jupiter and its moons this fall—even distant galaxies and nebulae. And even if your interest in astronomy wanes, you’ll still be able to use them for things like birding and other outdoor activities.
For backyard astronomy, most experts recommend a 7 x 50 or 10 x 50 set of binoculars—or, as Ed Ting of Scopereviews.com notes, the largest lenses you can comfortably hold. It’ s the second number in that equation, the aperture of the lens (measured in millimeters), that’ s the most important consideration, that’ s what determines the amount of light the lens gathers. This makes a bigger difference in what you can see than the magnification factor, which is the first number of those two.
Choosing Your First Telescope
As Sky & Telescope explains, there are a number of distinct types, but they all fall into three broad categories: refractors, reflectors, and compound telescopes.
The key difference between a refractor and a reflector is that a reflector uses a mirror as the primary component of its design, while a refractor uses only a lens at the end of a long tube. That means reflectors can be much shorter in length while also allowing for wider apertures, although they can require more setup and maintenance to keep everything in alignment. Compound telescopes, as you might have guessed, are simply a combination of the two, and employ both mirrors and lenses that allow for even smaller and more portable telescopes, but at a higher cost.
However, it’s the aperture (or diameter of the lens) that you’ll want to pay the most attention to. As with binoculars, you will see telescopes that promise a level of magnification that sounds impressive, but that number will do you little good without a big enough aperture to actually collect the light needed to bring an image into focus. Some might be inclined to say that a bigger ’scope with a sizable aperture is better, but larger models are harder to store and transport.
How I Selected These Telescopes
I not a pro, but looking to getting into stargazing. I relied on reviews from expert sites and observer forums. I also looked at customer ratings available on vendor websites. I compared each model’s product specifications, including aperture, dimensions, features, availability, and overall ease of use. For the models that made the list, I went with the Orion StarBlast, just starting out I did not want to shell out big bucks.
BEST ALL-AROUND - Celestron NexStar 8 SE Computerized
Type: Compound | Aperture: 8 in. | Movement: Computerized | Best For: Viewing our solar system, comets, brighter deep sky objects, basic astrophotography
The NexStar series is well-pedigreed in astronomical circles, and the distinctive orange tube is a common site at star parties. The 8-inch aperture model is a personal favorite, striking a great balance between power, price, and convenience. Despite its larger size, the telescope is still portable thanks to its compact-but-complex design that replicates the optic performance of a longer telescope. It carries a slightly higher price tag, but it’s more than worth it for the generous increase in light captured and the subsequent uptick in the quality of your observations. That the computerized pad and guidance has not changed much in the past decade is a sign of the high degree of reliability. The NexStar works very well, and with a bit of practice, a new user can get it pointing and tracking with a decent degree of precision. As with any computerized telescope, a power source will be required, either from an outlet or portable power pack.
BEST FOR BEGINNERS - Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector
Type: Reflector | Aperture: 4.5 in. | Movement: Manual | Best For: First-timers and kids, observing larger objects in our solar system like the moon.
As the name suggests, Orion StarBlast is a blast. For folks who want to explore astronomy without breaking the bank, this is a gem of an option. All too often I have heard the story of a family buying a “value” telescope only to drop it in frustration due to low quality hardware, difficulty of use, or disappointment in its visuals. This is a solution to all those challenges in a grab-and-go mini package. The aperture of smaller scopes is often the limiting factor, but this clocks in at a considerable 4.5 inches—not huge but nothing to sneeze at. The self-contained design makes it easy to tote around and eliminates the need for setup or takedown. Keep in mind it works best sitting on a picnic or camp table. If you are opposed to sitting on the ground or are less flexible, this will be an inconvenience. However, this no-fuss design is ideal for those who don’t want the hassle of setting up a bigger ’scope, or for a new observer who wants to learn the sky.
BEST VALUE - Orion SkyQuest XT8
Type: Reflector | Aperture: 8 in. | Movement: Manual | Best For: Viewing planetary features, comets, other objects in our solar system, deep sky objects.
The granddaddy of the StarBlast, the SkyQuest is a telescope near and dear to my heart. Although it’s more than twice the price of the StarBlast, the 8-inch light collecting area is a massive shift upward in observation quality, unlocking much farther and fainter objects for the observer. The downsides are weight (it’s about 40 pounds) and size (the tube alone is 46 inches), so this isn’t a great telescope for carrying up a mountain or storing in a small apartment. For car camping, however, it does the job very well. Under a dark sky, the XT8 can reveal nebulae, Saturn’s rings, the moons of several planets—pretty much anything you can and will want to point it at. Without an onboard computer, you will be handling the aiming and tracking, but don’t panic. There is no better way to learn the night sky than with a simple and forgiving telescope like this one, along with a digital or analog star map.
BIG APERTURE - Sky-Watcher Flextube 250P SynScan
Type: Reflector | Aperture: 10 in. | Movement: Computerized | Best For: Observing deep sky objects, comets, planetary features, astrophotography.
This family of telescopes is my No. 1 recommendation for folks that want to level-up their backyard astronomy. The manufacturer isn’t one of the big names in amateur astronomy, but the folks at Sky-Watcher have a great reputation and are accumulating tons of positive reviews with their Flextube design. This construction allows for huge ’scopes to pack down enough to fit in the backseat of a Honda Civic. They do take a bit of setting up but can still go from unloaded to aligning in about 15 to 20 minutes once you are familiar with it. With a massive light collector like this, coupled with transportability and go-to pointing software, this is a game changer in the world of big telescopes.
Celestron PowerTank Lithium Best For: Powering telescopes and mounts;
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