There’s something truly captivating about viewing celestial bodies through a telescope up close, yet purchasing quality telescopes doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg.
Telescopes can change your view of the night sky in remarkable ways. By bringing distant celestial bodies closer, such as moon craters or planets into striking clarity.
At its core, the aperture should be your key consideration – larger apertures allow more light in, making objects appear larger. More advanced models also come equipped with smartphone apps that make finding stars, planets, and deep-sky objects easy.
If you want to skip the reviews, we say get the Celestron – NexStar 130SLT.
Best Telescope For Home Use Reviews
Celestron – NexStar 4SE
- NEXSTAR 4SE COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE: Celestron’s iconic orange tube telescope combines 4"...
- 4-INCH APERTURE MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE: 4-inch primary mirror packs enough light-gathering ability...
- FULLY-AUTOMATED GOTO MOUNT: With a database of 40,000+ celestial objects, NexStar SE's GoTo mount locates...
- EASY TO SET UP & USE: Assembling the telescope takes just a few minutes.Once you're set up, built-in...
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in...
Celestron’s NexStar 4SE telescope is a popular entry-level telescope for novices, providing stunning views of the Moon, planets, and deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula.
It boasts a 4-inch aperture for excellent light-gathering ability at an affordable price; its compact design and GoTo mount make it easy to use; plus its built-in database of over 40,000 celestial objects automatically finds and tracks them; With SkyAlign technology you can set the telescope up on three bright objects quickly!
As part of NexStar’s popular range, this telescope features Starbright optical coatings to deliver crisp and clear views. Furthermore, its StarSense auto-align feature uses GPS coordinates to quickly align it without the need for smart devices or computers.
The 4SE Telescope is an outstanding telescope for viewing planets, such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.
Additionally, its deep sky performance is excellent; you’ll be able to observe Andromeda and Orion Nebula with ease! Moreover, its four-inch aperture enables it to reveal many double stars and nebulae.
However, for serious astrophotography purposes, this telescope might not be your ideal option.
Although you can use it to capture images with it, its lack of a camera adapter means separate auto guider system needs are necessary for optimal results – for the best astrophotography experience, larger telescopes with higher aperture apertures may be more suitable.
Noteworthy is also its limited field of view of 1.2 degrees (about 2.5 full moons across). While this may seem small compared to larger and shorter telescopes such as Orion StarBlast or Zhumell Z100 models, which offer up to 3.6 degrees FOV capabilities – though in practice this should not present too many issues.
Celestron Astro Fi 102
- 102 millimeter Maksutov Cassegrain with fully coated glass optics
- Control your telescope via integrated WiFi using the free Celestron SkyPortal app for iPhone, iPad, and...
- Observe in no time with a quick and easy, no tool setup
- Accessories include: two eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), star diagonal, finderscope, and a NEW integrated...
- Adjustable height tripod includes an accessory tray
Even at its budget price, the Astro Fi 102 delivers an impressive set of features. Notably, this computerized alt-azimuth Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope delivers breathtaking views of craters on the Moon, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.
Furthermore, you can use it in daytime spotting scope mode or sync up easily via a Wi-Fi adapter with the SkyPortal app for full wireless control of this telescope.
The Astro Fi 102 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope provides exceptional optics at an attractively affordable price, using convex and concave mirrors for image formation that produces crisp images with little distortion across its field of view, up to 200x magnification on dark nights when using clear skies and no tools or advanced knowledge is needed for setup or operation.
An ideal option for beginning observers who want to start viewing night skies.
Astro Fi 102 can be manually adjusted or equipped with its fully motorized GoTo system for automated target selection, controlled via WiFi and the free SkyPortal app.
To use the Astro Fi 102, simply point your device at the night sky and touch its screen to select an object; its telescope will automatically slew to its target while providing helpful information about its target on its display screen.
Celestron’s SkyAlign technology makes observing preparation simple. Just center any three bright objects in the eyepiece, and your telescope will calculate its position automatically. Plus, their SkyPortal app provides a Sky Tour with all of the best celestial highlights based on time and location!
The Astro Fi 102 comes equipped with two 1.25″ Kellner eyepieces and a mirror star diagonal, but you can upgrade them for an improved viewing experience. A 32mm Plossl eyepiece offers 41x magnification with a wider field of view than its 25mm stock oculars.
You may also consider adding a dew shield to protect the telescope from condensation build-up or lessen glare from light sources in your observing site.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
- Model Number: 31045
- Objective Lens: 130 Millimeters
- Weight: 24 Pounds
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is an excellent option for beginners looking to explore astronomy as a hobby.
Equipped with a 5-inch mirror that captures enough light for viewing the Moon and planets more clearly than with the naked eye, as well as providing a good magnification range for viewing more distant galaxies and nebulae, its motor drive makes tracking objects easy while its database of over 10,000 celestial objects will help beginners locate their targets more quickly.
The AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian reflector telescope comes equipped with an equatorial mount featuring setting circles to help adjust ascension and declination settings easily.
Light and portable, it is easily transported between observation sites without tools being necessary – weighing only 20 lbs as opposed to Dobsonians which can weigh as much as 40 lbs!
This telescope comes complete with two eyepieces; a 20mm that provides a magnification of 32x and a 10mm that offers a magnification of 65x – perfect for beginners to start out. However, should they wish to start taking photographs they will require an adapter which is sold separately.
As with other Celestron reflectors, the AstroMaster 130EQ falls short when it comes to taking long exposure images of nebulae and deep-sky objects due to its use of a spherical primary mirror instead of a parabolic one; this can result in blurry images with distortion due to shaking during exposures and distortion.
Other 130mm devices with parabolic primary mirrors offer better details than what can be captured with the AstroMaster 130EQ.
Overall, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is an affordable telescope ideal for newcomers to astronomy. Its straightforward setup and high magnification capability make it an excellent way to learn about our night sky while being fun to use – and comes complete with a 2-year warranty should anything go wrong or become damaged or malfunction!
Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor
- Easiest setup of any entry level scope. With the folding accessory tray you just pop the tripod legs...
- Bold new design - The main telescope lens cap comes with a fully integrated smartphone adapter built-in,...
- Red LED flashlight - Stowed in the center of the mount head, the flashlight can be used to gently...
- Focus micrometer - Allows quick return to a specific focus point for specific targets (bird nests,...
The Celestron Inspire 100AZ refractor telescope offers great planetary and deep sky performance for beginners at an attractive price point.
Its main selling point is an innovative smartphone adapter built into its lens cap that makes capturing instant astrophotographs of the Moon or planets instantaneous; using elastic bands and a small hole, this clever design uses elastic bands and bungee cords adjustable bungee cords to provide maximum security any smartphone securely held by elastic bands; plus it fits any 1.25″ eyepiece!
Additionally, it fits any 1.25″ eyepiece for added versatility of use and connectivity!
The Inspire 100AZ stands out among telescopes of this price range by being easy to assemble: simply pop open its tripod legs, twist open its accessory tray lock knob, attach its optical tube, and secure its optical tube attachments onto a quick-release dovetail mount provided.
Once assembled, its EQ-2 computerized mount allows precise tracking of astronomical objects.
Celestron Inspire 100AZ can show all of the major details of our solar system, such as Jupiter with its four Galilean moons, Saturn’s rings, and Mars as a red dot.
However, its limited aperture means some deep space objects may be difficult to see due to fainter nebulae and star clusters; additionally, it captures single frame photos which can later be image-stacked using software such as Registax to provide better quality photos of planets than would otherwise be possible.
The Inspire telescope features an adjustable polar axis to correct for skewed pointing, which may be an issue with shorter telescopes. Its f/6 focal ratio creates some color defects around bright images known as chromatic aberration; however, this should not pose any significant difficulties to beginner observers.
Furthermore, this telescope comes equipped with a battery-powered, red LED flashlight that illuminates its accessory tray; you may take this off of its mount at will should you wish.
Furthermore, replacing its included Amici prism star diagonal with an upgraded dielectric mirror or prism would also prove beneficial should you plan to observe the Moon and planets regularly.
Celestron – PowerSeeker 127EQ
- PERFECT ENTRY-LEVEL TELESCOPE: The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is an easy-to-use and powerful telescope....
- MANUAL GERMAN EQUATORIAL MOUNT: With its slow-motion altitude rod, the German Equatorial mount allows you...
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: The ideal telescope for adults and kids to use together, the PowerSeeker is...
- MULTIPLE ACCESSORIES: The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope comes with 2 quality eyepieces (20mm and...
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in...
The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope is one of the best entry-level telescopes for beginners, offering both quality features at an attractive price.
This telescope comes complete with an eyepiece set and a 3x Barlow lens to enhance magnification power for maximum magnification potential.
Unlike many cheap hobbyist telescopes, the 127EQ features an equatorial mount to more easily compensate for Earth’s rotation – particularly important when viewing celestial bodies such as stars and planets that move across the sky.
The easy-to-use controls on this model make fine adjustments possible in both the Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (DE) axes for accurate pointing adjustments – making this ideal for beginners as well as families alike! This model makes an excellent gift.
Celestron’s PowerSeeker telescope series boasts a 5-inch primary mirror diameter for this model in their PowerSeeker series of telescopes, providing increased aperture over most telescopes within this price range and enabling users to observe more details of the Moon, Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, or distant sights such as distant galaxies and stars.
Though the 127EQ is an outstanding budget telescope, it does come with some compromises. The primary mirror uses a spherical shape which may cause optical aberrations and distortion to images; this issue can be addressed using a coma-correcting diagonal and additional attachments for additional correction of this distortion.
The 127EQ includes both a 20mm Kellner eyepiece and a 4 mm Ramsden eyepiece; the latter provides almost no eye relief and has a field of view equivalent to that of a drinking straw size. Unfortunately, its included erecting prism only offers 50x magnification with a flat image quality.
the 127EQ telescope may not provide stellar optical performance, but it remains an outstanding entry-level telescope.
With excellent optics, an effective 3x Barlow, and top-of-the-line software that will give newcomers to amateur astronomy a taste of what lies beyond our Solar System and beyond! In addition, its two-year warranty and technical support make the 127EQ an exceptional value proposition for entry-level amateur astronomy.
Celestron – NexStar 130SLT
- Computerized hand control with 4,000-object database
The Celestron 130SLT telescope is an excellent telescope for beginners. This computerized scope offers impressive optical performance and multiple features to keep beginners engaged with astronomy.
With its large yet manageable aperture, this computerized telescope makes observing DSOs, the Moon, and planets easy. Furthermore, this model is an economical choice that’s great for those who wish to gain more knowledge but lack time or money for costly accessories and software solutions.
It includes two eyepieces – 25mm and 9mm – which can be used at various magnifications for easy viewing of the Moon and planets, respectively.
While these eyepieces are quite good quality compared to more expensive telescopes, their magnification capabilities do not match up as effectively.
Furthermore, this telescope includes two additional accessories – StarPointer red dot finderscope and Star Diagonal which allow easy right-side up viewing of the Moon and planets quickly; making this feature particularly useful for novice astronomers wanting a quick start in their hobby!
The 130SLT comes equipped with an altazimuth mount, which allows it to track objects smoothly as they cross the sky. This feature makes the telescope great for beginners as they will be able to see more celestial details.
However, some users have reported difficulty aligning and focusing their telescope properly – this issue can be solved by purchasing additional accessories like focusers or collimator lenses.
One of the great features of the 130SLT is its affordability. More affordable than most telescopes in its category, yet offers similar features compared to more costly models; yet without as many unnecessary extras. Making it user-friendly.
At first glance, the Celestron 130SLT may appear ideal for beginners but is not designed to produce Hubble-like images.
While the resolution of some stars in bright globular clusters and planetary nebulae may allow you to spot distant galaxies as distinct spots on a sky map is limited.
If you wish to observe details on Moon and Jupiter surfaces such as their surfaces then additional eyepieces or magnification doubling Barlow lenses would likely be required for greater success.
Orion StarBlast II 4.5
- The whole family will enjoy the StarBlast II 4.5 EQ thanks to its parabolic primary mirror, convenient...
- Views of everything from the Moon and planets to distant objects like star clusters and galaxies appear...
- A fantastic wide-field astronomy telescope with reflecting optics large enough to keep you and your...
- The included EQ mount makes it easy to keep moving objects centered in the eyepiece with its handy...
- Included 25mm and 10mm Plossl eyepieces provide 18-power and 45-power views right out of the box! Also...
Orion StarBlast II 4.5 telescope is an ideal entry-level telescope for amateur astronomers and families interested in exploring the night sky. Setup is straightforward and offers high-quality optics at an accessible price point; plus it comes equipped with accessories to encourage stargazers’ explorations into space and science.
This telescope boasts a 4.5-inch diameter reflector tube and an easy-to-use equatorial mount that is intuitive for beginners or advanced amateur astronomers.
With its low power 2.2 degree field of view and low power setting, this telescope makes observing large star clusters and galaxies a pleasure for beginner as well as advanced amateur astronomers. You won’t outgrow this telescope over time either!
A telescope with an f/4 parabolic primary mirror and short focal length (450mm) allows users to quickly and easily locate celestial objects.
Its large 4.5-inch aperture also offers brighter views than smaller beginner telescopes at higher magnification; making this an excellent choice for beginners or kids looking to observe the Moon, planets, star clusters, or galaxies in space.
The StarBlast II 4.5 features two eyepieces with magnifications of 18x and 45x, as well as a 2x Barlow lens, plus moon maps and Orion’s Star Target Planisphere and Telescope Observer’s Guide that allow users to plan their observations and locate objects in the night sky.
This telescope is an excellent option for viewing Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s cloud bands, star clusters, and nebulae such as Veil Nebula as well as imaging cameras. Furthermore, this telescope is compatible with various astronomy accessories like eyepiece filters and imaging cameras for added versatility.
The StarBlast II telescope is easy to set up, with an instruction manual provided to guide users through. Its compact size and lightweight mount make it simple for users to transport it from one location to the next.
Tube rings enable easy alignment and balance adjustments if used on an uneven surface – though counterweights may also help ensure its proper balance if used on sloped surfaces.
Zhumell Z130 Portable
- Industry standard 1.25” focuser, compatible with many different accessories
- Changing magnifications is easier than ever with included 25mm and 10mm eyepieces
- Easy to use red dot finder makes aiming the Z130 a breeze for any level of user
Zhumell Portable is one of the premier portable tabletop telescopes, offering an array of features designed to make stargazing enjoyable and simple.
Perfect for anyone interested in astronomy – beginners as well as experts looking for an easy and cost-effective telescope solution – Zhumell Portable makes stargazing enjoyable and effortless, providing an enjoyable stargazing experience while being convenient enough for family and friends to share together without breaking the bank!
This telescope boasts a 130mm aperture and focal length of 650mm, giving it the capability of reaching high magnifications easily.
It features a parabolic mirror that helps eliminate spherical aberration for more detailed images, as well as high reflectivity coatings on all optical surfaces to allow more light through and produce clearer pictures.
The Zhumell Z130 Dobsonian telescope is an easy and straightforward portable altazimuth Dobsonian telescope to set up and use.
Assembling it takes just seconds and you’re ready for viewing in minutes thanks to its lazy susan mount; simply swing toward your desired object until centered with its eyepiece; Its Red Dot Finder makes this even simpler when searching in dark skies – plus, its tracking function tracks objects across the sky making this an excellent option for beginners!
Though the Z130 portable telescope does not include accessories like tripods or mounts, such as battery-powered illuminators (to help see celestial objects under low light conditions), its battery-powered illuminator provides great contrast on objects that would otherwise be hard to see.
The Z130 telescope boasts an impressive limiting stellar magnitude of 13.5, enabling you to observe faint stars and nebulae.
Furthermore, its larger aperture than that of its Z100 predecessor makes it perfect for deep space observations; however, this telescope does not include a Barlow lens which would increase magnification power further.
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