No matter your experience level or budget, new technology allows anyone to purchase high-quality telescopes for under $1000. These scopes boast incredible apertures and features comparable to professional-grade instruments.
If you want to skip the reviews, we say get the Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope.
Best Telescope For Under $1000 Reviews
Explore Scientific FirstLight 114mm
- Superior optics - get a closer look at our planets, Stars, and other deep-sky objects with our stargazer...
- Durable mount - designed to smoothly Track celestial objects, This mounting telescope has two flexible...
- High quality design - this astronomy telescope includes a 25mm Eyepiece with a red-dot finder to help...
- Impressive visuals - with a fast focal ratio of F/4. 3, This telescope shortens exposure times for...
- Smart device Compatible - stable and sturdy, our portable Newtonian telescopes includes an adapter to aid...
Explore Scientific’s FirstLight 114mm is one of the ideal telescopes for newcomers looking to start deep sky observing.
This 8-inch Newtonian scope offers enough light-gathering power to allow users to witness a range of celestial objects – from nebulae and star clusters, through solar system stars like Saturn, Jupiter, and even our Moon!
Additionally, this manual scope comes complete with a 25mm Plossl eyepiece, red dot finder, and smartphone camera adapter so users can capture what they see!
This short-tube Newtonian telescope uses rotatable tube rings, enabling you to easily adjust eyepiece placement at an ideal angle and balance among eyepieces without disassembling your telescope.
Furthermore, large bearings attached directly to its tube rings enable sliding them for improved balance without dismantling its entirety.
This telescope comes equipped with a German equatorial mount featuring two hand knobs on flexible shafts for control of Right Ascension and Declination, along with a counterweight (2 1/2 lbs) to maintain balance, as well as a full-size tripod to keep its stability, as well as a tray for keeping accessories handy and providing additional stability.
The FirstLight Telescope features a 40 mm draw tube focuser and Plossl 25 mm eyepiece for ease of use and has a large aperture providing ample light gathering capability – ideal for viewing planets and bright deep-sky objects with its fast focal ratio shortening exposure times for astrophotography.
The Explore Scientific FirstLight telescope is an excellent way for those starting out in astronomy on a budget to gain entry.
With enough resolving power to reveal details such as Sun, Moon, and planet features like cloud bands and shadows of each object; as well as being capable of resolving Jupiter’s Great Red Spot; its moons will appear as tiny dots of light!
In dark skies, this scope can even reveal thousands of galaxies resolving thousands of galaxies plus dust lanes or spiral arms of some bright Messier globular clusters!
Celestron – StarSense Explorer 8-inch
- PATENTED STARSENSE SKY RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY: This one-of-a-kind telescope uses patented, award-winning...
- STARSENSE EXPLORER APP: The app generates a list of the best objects to view based on your exact time &...
- LARGE APERTURE 8” NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR: A high-quality parabolic primary mirror and high-reflectivity...
- MANUAL DOBSONIAN BASE: Large diameter altitude bearings with variable tensioning and Teflon azimuth...
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in...
The Celestron – StarSense Explorer 8-inch is an exceptional Newtonian reflector telescope suitable for both newcomers and experienced users, providing stunning views even under light pollution conditions.
This telescope comes with an extensive set of accessories – such as its 25mm Plossl eyepiece allowing up to 48x magnification – giving beginners enough clarity of images in urban skywatching environments.
Furthermore, there’s even an included red dot finder that helps users target targets even during daylight hours when smartphone apps cannot.
The StarSense Explorer stands out from other Dobsonian telescopes by boasting an aperture size that is much larger than that of similar models in this price range; thus making it better suited for astrophotography than many of its rivals on this list.
Unfortunately, due to this larger aperture size, it also weighs and is bulkier compared to some models on this list; but this should come as no surprise considering its larger aperture size.
The StarSense Explorer stands out from other Dobsonian telescopes with its convenient handles on both its mount and telescope tube, making transport simple.
In addition, its 1.25″ to 2″ adapter allows users to add filters for an improved quality viewing experience; though these filters won’t stop light pollution entirely, they can make an important contribution toward maintaining clear images.
As with the other Dobsonian models on this list, the StarSense Explorer telescope can be used for both manual and computerized viewing.
Compatible with most smartphones and equipped with its own app for celestial object information and viewing capabilities, the app provides detailed celestial object details as well as taking photographs through it.
Easily locate objects while taking photographs through it too! Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive tutorials make this telescope especially appealing to new astronomers while its built-in cooling fan helps ensure cool operation in warmer climates.
Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI 150P
- 150mm aperture for bright, bold views
- Fast f/5 optics for increased light gathering power
- 750mm focal length perfect for viewing the Moon, planets, galaxies, and nebulae
- Built in Wi-Fi and full GoTo performance via the SynScan Pro app
- Patented Freedom Find technology uses dual encoders to allow manual control while retaining alignment
The Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI 150P telescope is an ideal option for beginners looking to start astronomy on a tight budget.
As our smallest scope, this one still packs enough light-gathering power to allow observing of both planets and the Moon – with two eyepieces offering magnifications of 26x and 65x respectively.
Furthermore, Sky-Watcher Freedom-Find dual encoder technology gives users maximum freedom during observation sessions by enabling manual movement along either axis without losing positional data – providing maximum freedom, convenience, and flexibility during observation sessions.
This telescope is perfect for beginners as well as experienced astronomers, being easy to set up with minimal effort and offering stunning nighttime views thanks to an outstanding optical system and StarBright XLT coating that gives striking pictures.
As it can also be used for astrophotography purposes it makes the perfect portable travel telescope, perfect for astrophotography purposes or photography sessions; lightweight enough to be carried easily by children too!
The Sky-Watcher Heritage-150P Flextube Virtuoso GTI Telescope is an extremely compact yet powerful Newtonian reflector that can be controlled using the free SynScan App.
Its large f/5 parabolic primary mirror produces clear images of the Moon and planets at high magnification, even showing Saturn and Jupiter’s rings; at moderate magnification levels, you may even spot Saturn and Jupiter’s rings! Unfortunately, it will not show Uranus and Neptune moons due to requiring more than double aperture than what this telescope offers.
The Sky-Watcher Heritage-150P telescope is lightweight and portable, weighing only 5.5 kg. Easy to assemble and set up, its mount can be adjusted in seconds with just a click or two, making this telescope perfect for amateur astronomers who want to begin exploring the night sky without exerting too much effort.
Featuring simple controls anyone can learn easily while its intuitive operation works with most smartphones or tablets for use when tracking objects with GPS coordinates.
Celestron – NexStar 5SE Telescope
- NEXSTAR 5SE COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE: Celestron’s iconic orange tube telescope combines 5 inch...
- 5-INCH APERTURE SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE: 5-inch primary mirror packs enough light-gathering ability...
- FULLY-AUTOMATED GOTO MOUNT: With a database of 40,000 plus celestial objects, NexStar SE's GoTo mount...
- 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...
If you are on a tight budget and looking for an economical telescope, the Celestron NexStar 5SE makes an excellent option. This compact computerized telescope is easy to use and suitable for beginner astronomers; plus its portable design makes it convenient when traveling.
However, astrophotography enthusiasts should opt for something else; unfortunately, this product cannot support astrophotography photography.
The NexStar 5SE telescope may have a small aperture and limited field of view, but its viewing power still makes up for these limitations.
Reaching magnifications of up to 295x allows it to provide enough viewing power for lunar and planetary observation as well as deep space objects. In particular, its performance with double stars under clear skies is exceptional: splitting double stars as close as one arc second apart!
NexStar 5SE features an equatorial wedge to make aligning your telescope easier with the night sky, as well as its use for polar alignment to maximize tracking system tracking capabilities.
Furthermore, StarBright XLT optical coatings help maximize light transmission while decreasing chromatic aberration for maximum light transmission and reduced chromatic aberration.
As a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, the NexStar 5SE offers breathtaking planetary observations; however, its image quality cannot compete with short focal length refractors when viewing deep-sky objects.
Furthermore, due to its small aperture size and limited capabilities, many nebulae and galaxies will remain unresolvable, even under dark skies.
The Celestron NexStar 5SE is an updated version of their popular NexStar 4SE model, yet features some key differences.
Chief among these differences is that the 5SE uses a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope while its counterpart (the 4SE) utilizes Maksutov-Cassegrain models which offer better optics at reduced costs than those using Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Furthermore, it boasts higher maximum magnification.
Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST
- This 5.1" aperture reflector telescope gathers an ample amount of light for great views of the planets...
- Compact optical tube design for easy portability and fast f/5 focal ratio for pleasing wide-field...
- Sturdy equatorial telescope mount and adjustable tripod allows manual slow-motion tracking of celestial...
- Complete assembled telescope weighs just 28 lbs. for convenient transport
- Includes two 1.25" Plossl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), smartphone camera adapter, DeepMap 600, MoonMap 260,...
If you want to gain greater insight into the stars and universe around us, purchasing a telescope may be an excellent way to do it. There are various models on the market so that you can select one that meets both your needs and budget.
Some telescopes even come equipped with computerized tracking systems which make locating objects in the sky easier while still remaining lightweight enough for easy transport; moreover, many even come with carrying bags specifically for protecting these precious instruments while traveling.
Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST telescope is a 5-inch Maksutov Cassegrain model, featuring a large aperture for enhanced views of celestial bodies.
Perfect for beginners due to its ease of use, but may not provide sufficient power for experienced astronomers; therefore it is important to know your own power requirements prior to purchasing such an instrument.
This telescope may not be ideal for observing the Moon and planets, though you can get decent views with its included eyepieces. It does, however, have impressive optical qualities for its price range; being capable of splitting close double stars while having good optical quality overall and offering magnification of up to 65x in good seeing conditions on any given evening. With a focal length of 650mm, this scope offers up good views of the Moon!
The SpaceProbe 130ST provides an excellent optical system at an attractive price and is well-suited to beginners.
Featuring a computerized tracking system and finderscope with easy setup procedures, as well as an adjustable fine adjustment knob to help manually center objects you are searching for, this telescope offers excellent value.
One drawback of this telescope is its EQ-2 mount, which may become unstable at high magnification. Furthermore, instructions may be difficult to comprehend and lead to confusion during the setup of the telescope.
If you’re in search of an inexpensive alternative to the SpaceProbe 130ST, a manual Dobsonian telescope could be just what’s needed.
The Celestron Omni XLT 102AZ offers a similar size and optical configuration as the SpaceProbe, yet features a simpler alt-azimuth mount that doesn’t need collimating.
Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain
- EXPERTLY MATCHED OPTICS: The Skymax series of Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tubes features matched primary...
- 94% REFLECTIVITY MIRROR COATINGS: Using a borosilicate primary mirror with an aluminum coating and a...
- VIXEN-STYLE DOVETAIL: An industry standard, the Vixen-style dovetail is the most commonly used dovetail...
- FULLY BAFFLED TUBE: Utilizing a fully-baffled tube, Sky-Watcher Maksutovs prevent stray light from...
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED: The 150mm Skymax Maksutov-Cassegrain comes equipped with everything you need to get...
Sky-Watcher Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes are an ideal way to view both stars and space objects with great clarity, such as planets or space debris.
These powerful instruments come equipped with built-in computers which makes locating celestial bodies much simpler. Plus they’re relatively lightweight allowing for convenient portability when going on trips – just pack one along!
The Sky-Watcher Skymax 150mm telescope provides incredible value for its price point. Constructed with high-quality borosilicate mirrors and featuring Sky-Watcher’s Radiant Aluminum Quartz (RAQ) coatings with 94% reflectivity to minimize chromatic aberration and false color issues, along with Metallic High Transmission Coatings on both corrector plate and corrector arm to help minimize vignetting for sharp, clear images.
Maksutov-Cassegragra telescopes are well known for providing stunning planetary views. Due to their slow focal ratio and long focal lengths 5-7 times longer than Newtonians or refractors, you will be able to witness domes, rilles, and craters on the moon during less-than-ideal oppositions; festoons, streamers, and increased detail in Jupiter’s cloud belt under good seeing conditions; as well as subtle banding in Saturn’s atmosphere.
Astrophotographic telescopes are an excellent option for anyone interested in astronomy and astrophotography, as they can be used with webcams or DSLR cameras to capture images of solar system objects and deep sky objects.
Although more costly than their refracting counterparts due to more complicated manufacturing and mounting requirements, you will get more power and quality for your money.
With its 6″ aperture and f/12 focal ratio, this telescope is well capable of showing some deep-sky objects; however, you must be wary of its field of view; large open clusters such as M51 or M64 will likely not fit within it, while some nebulae might become fuzzy at this size.
Celestron – NexStar 127SLT
- COMPUTERIZED STAR LOCATING TELESCOPE: The Celestron NexStar 127SLT offers a database of more than 40,000...
- MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL DESIGN: With a large, 127mm aperture, the NexStar 127SLT can gather enough...
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: The ideal telescope for adults and kids to use together, the NexStar 127SLT is...
- FAST SETUP WITH SKYALIGN: Celestron’s proprietary SkyAlign procedure has you ready to observe in...
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in...
The Celestron NexStar 127SLT telescope is an outstanding computerized telescope at an unbeatably affordable price, boasting all the features imaginable.
Featuring Maksutov-Cassegrain optics with minimal chromatic aberration and stunning detail on Moon and planet surfaces.
Furthermore, this fully motorized altazimuth go-to mount provides easy viewing access to over 40,000 objects – this makes this one of the best telescopes under 1000 dollars for those wanting to get into astronomy but looking for some technology found only in more expensive telescopes.
With its 5-inch aperture, this telescope can collect lots of light from the night sky, enabling you to see more details on the Moon and all its craters as well as explore some brighter Messier objects and split double stars with great magnification power.
Celestron’s Nexstar telescope lineup encompasses both SE telescopes and NEXSTAR telescopes; this telescope lies somewhere in between.
Utilizing SkyAlign easy alignment technology and StarPointer red dot LED finder with computer hand control makes finding the night sky’s most interesting targets a simple process; once aligned it will automatically track objects until its next use – ensuring you never lose track of what your viewing!
With this telescope, you will be able to witness the phases of Mercury and Venus. The Moon shows up especially well with its polar ice caps and dust storms on its surface; Mars offers plenty of fascinating dark markings on its surface as well. Jupiter can also be seen through high magnification; lucky viewers might even spot the Great Red Spot!
This telescope may not be as suitable for astrophotography as some of the more advanced telescopes listed here; however, this hasn’t stopped people from using it to capture some breathtaking nighttime photos!
Sky-Watcher EvoStar 100 APO Doublet Refractor
- EXPERTLY MATCHED GLASS: The EvoStar series features a matched doublet objective including one synthetic...
- OUTSTANDING COLOR CORRECTION: Using the finest quality glass and proprietary Metallic High-Transmission...
- EVOLVES WITH SKILL: No need to replace this telescope as your skill set evolves. Whether you’re a...
- 10:1 DUAL-SPEED FOCUSER: No matter the eyepiece or camera, finding focus is a breeze with this 10:1...
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED: The EvoStar 100 comes complete with a foam-lined aluminum hard case, 8x50 Right...
Investment in a telescope can be a difficult decision. From buying your first telescope to upgrading in size and type, there are many variables to take into account when buying.
If you’re just beginning or upgrading in terms of scope type and size, the Sky-Watcher EvoStar 100 APO Doublet Refractor may be just what you’re searching for as an entry-level option.
This refractor telescope is an ideal option for beginners as it doesn’t require a complex mount setup. With excellent optics and versatile use ranging from near-planet observations to deep space observations and photography astronomy capabilities. This telescope makes an excellent value pick.
The EvoStar features extra-low dispersion glass to enhance your experience when viewing deep-sky objects. It is also ideal for astrophotography; though additional accessories will be necessary to get the most from it.
Included with the scope are a 2″ Crayford-style focuser, 2-inch dielectric diagonal, two 1.25-inch eyepieces (5mm and 25mm), an 8×50 finderscope, tube rings, and quality foam-lined aluminum carrying case.
EvoStar telescopes also include an advanced GoTo hand controller with access to over 40,000 stars and deep space objects preloaded into its database. You can connect a smart device directly to the telescope via Wi-Fi and use the Celestron SkyPortal app for easy control.
Sky-Watcher EvoStar telescopes are excellent options for beginners, yet may prove more challenging in light-polluted areas due to being heavy and lacking polar finders on their mounts.
Therefore, when aligning them in dark spaces it is crucial that users rely on a compass as an aid to ensuring proper alignment of the telescope.
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