The best telescopes are great for scoping out massive stars, but they’re just as useful for looking at planets, and with a high-quality lens, you can get a clear view of almost every planet in the solar system.
The only problem is that astronomy can be quite complex, and if you don’t know how to find the best telescope for your needs, there is a good chance that you’ll end up with a lacklustre experience.
Below I have outlined what I consider to be the best retail level telescopes on the market today.
Our Top Pick
The Best Telescopes List 2020
Best Buy Telescopes Online Reviews
SaleBestseller No. 1
Zhizuka ZH400 Telescope 50mm Aperture 400mm with Phone Mount and Portable Tripod Stand Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids Beginners - Travel Telescope with Phone Adapter
- 50mm Large Aperture: Zhizuka telescopes for astronomy has a 500mm (f/5.5) focal length and 50mm aperture.Its 50mm large aperture provides excellent light-gathering power, delivering sharp and bright images of celestial objects–even in low light conditions.Perfect telescope for astronomers to explore stars and moon.
- 【Great Telescope for Kids& Beginners!】 The telescope meets all the needs of astronomy beginners, the adults & kids’ astronomical journey begins from here! Equipped with 3X Barlow len and two eyepieces, 20mm and 12.5mm, you can get magnification of 18X to 28.8X. This is a great telescope for adults astronomy beginners.Whether it's viewing planets and stars, our telescope is the best helper for adults & kids.
- Adjustable Tripod: This telescope allows for many different viewing positions with a adjustable aluminum alloy tripod and a carry bag, the telescope and tripod can fit inside the bag for easy traveling and storage.
- Easy to Assemble and Use:The telescope is designed to be user-friendly , it can be set up quickly without additional tools.You can find a lot of fun in assembling and develop the child's hands-on and observation skills.It comes with a detailed illustrated manual for easy set up and use.It is the perfect gift for kids or astronomers.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Amazon Basics | 90X Zoom HD Focus Astronomical Telescope Refractor | with Mobile Stand and Portable Tripod Stand | High Power Telescope Gift for Kids | Explore Moon, Planets, Stargazing
- Portability: Lightweight build with robust materials like aluminum for effortless carrying while maintaining durability.
- Observational Versatility: Telescopes on mobile stands offer flexibility through various types like refractors, reflectors, and compound telescopes, each tailored to diverse observational preferences.
- Stability and Maneuverability: Mounts are engineered to provide stable support and fluid motion, essential for precise viewing and capturing detailed astronomical images.
- Ease of Use: Designed for beginners and mobile users, these telescopes feature simplified setup and alignment, with built-in databases for easy celestial object location.
- Versatile Applications: Commonly used in education, public events, and by traveling amateur astronomers for various observation sites.
Bestseller No. 3
Pie Matrix Pegasus 76700 Newtonian Reflector Telescope with 235x Ultra HD Zoom,Fully Coated Glass Optics,Alt-Az Mount, Professional Telescopes to Explore Moon, Saturn Rings, Planets & Deep Sky Objects
- Professional-Grade Telescope for Enthusiasts: The Pie Matrix Pegasus 76700 Newtonian Reflector Telescope is the ultimate choice for both beginners and experienced stargazers, providing exceptional performance for celestial viewing and deep sky observation
- Versatile Eyepiece Options for Custom Viewing: The telescope includes 20mm, 12.5mm, and 6mm eyepieces, offering a wide range of magnification options from 35X to an impressive 235X (with the included Barlow lens), allowing you to tailor your viewing experience to your preferences
- Ideal for Astrophotography: With the included phone adapter, you can easily capture stunning images of the night sky and share your astronomical discoveries with friends and family, making it a perfect tool for budding astrophotography
- Trending and Popular Choice: The Pie Matrix Pegasus 76700 Newtonian Reflector Telescope is a highly sought-after and trending telescope among astronomy enthusiasts, offering cutting-edge features, exceptional value, and a complete package for a memorable stargazing experience
- Highly Reflective Aluminum/SiO2 Coated Mirror: Equipped with a highly reflective aluminum/SiO2 coated mirror, the Pegasus 76700 ensures crystal-clear, sharp images, enhancing your stargazing sessions with superior image quality
- Durable and Adjustable Tripod for Stability: The telescope comes with a sturdy, powder-coated black aluminum tripod that is fully adjustable, ensuring stability and ease of use in various observing conditions
SaleBestseller No. 4
HETVIN Telescope HD Vision Binoculars 10000M High Power for Outdoor Travel Stargazing Concerts Sports Optical Vision Binocular Fixed Zoom (30X60)
- Binocular high power HD telescope Clear imaginglQuick focuslSturdy and durable Lightweight mirror body Accompany you to explore the world Carry around Accompany you to explore the world.
- Internal metal mirror body Sturdy durable Metal mirror body design, with high strength shock resistance Can greatly enhance the service life of the telescope.
- BAK4 High light transmission prism Reduce light leakage, improve brightness, observe clearly without dark edges High transmittance, imaging, transparent and bright.
- Wide-angle eyepiece Immersive experience Make the eye observation more comfortable and solve the various discomforts of eye fatigue caused by using for a long time.
- Multilayer broadband coating Multilayer broadband coating makes light refraction and refraction lower Higher light transmittance, clear imaging, bright colors.
SaleBestseller No. 5
Amazon Basics TS-90X Zoom HD Astronomical Telescope with Tripod | Perfect Kids Gift for Moon, Planets Comprehensive 360° Viewing, Optics, Simple Assembly
- Comprehensive Viewing: The 360° rotation design allows kids to enjoy a full view without constant adjustment.
- Immersive Exploration: High-quality optics provide an immersive experience, letting kids discover celestial wonders like the moon, planets, and stars.
- Portable Stability: A lightweight tripod frame offers stability and easy portability for observation sessions.
- Simple Assembly: No tools needed! Beginners can set up this telescope in just one minute, ensuring hassle-free use for kids.
- Inspire Curiosity: This telescope ignites children's fascination with the universe, encouraging healthy study habits and reducing screen time.
- Durable Construction: Built with sturdy materials, this telescope ensures long-lasting use, even with regular handling by enthusiastic young explorers.
Bestseller No. 6
Amazon Basics | 40X60 Magnification Zoom HD Monocular Telescope | for Adults and Children | High Power Telescope Gadget | Outdoor Telescope with Built-in Compass
- 40X Magnification: Experience objects up to 40 times closer with our high-powered magnification, perfect for detailed nature observations and sporting events.
- Enhanced Vision: A 60mm objective lens ensures bright, clear images in low light and a wide field of view for easy tracking of moving subjects.
- Compact and Lightweight: Despite its powerful magnification and large lens, this monocular is designed to be lightweight and portable, ideal for adventures.
- User-Friendly Design: Designed for simplicity, it includes a focus knob for quick adjustments, catering to children and beginners alike.
- Versatile Viewing: Ideal for nature walks, sporting events, and stargazing, it often features a tripod mount for extended observation sessions without hand fatigue.
Bestseller No. 7
ZHIZUKA Telescope Zoom 90X HD Focus Astronomical Refractor with Portable Tripod Stand. F36050M High Power TeleScope Gift for Kids, Adults, Beginners to Explore Moon, Space, Planets, Stargazing, Wildlife Bird Watching Day-Night Sky, Hunting, Outdoor Travelling.
- Model F36050 Star Telescope: 18X, 27X, 60X, 90X magnification F36050 astronomical refractor telescope has good performance for observing celestial bodies, moon, stars, venus, mars, planets, etc. Telescope could be moved vertically (altitude) and horizontally (azimuth)
- Perfect Configuration:50mm Aperture, 360mm focal length, H6mm, H20mm 2 different interchangeable eyepieces, different magnification eyepieces could make you things observed at different distances and sizes objects. 1.5X Erecting Eyepiece: not only increases the magnification of telescope but also correct the direction of the image. A travel telescope with 18X magnification will have a magnification of 27X. and the travel telescope with 60X magnification will have a magnification of 90X
- Provides clear long distance view very easily. Works well at both day and night vision. Astronomy Galaxy Exploration & Good Habit Adaption. Educational Learning.
- Solid Tripod: Adjustable aluminum tripod is solid, not easy to brake, very durable and safe. Detailed and specific set up introduction. Best gift for beginners, kids, teens, entry-level amateur astronomers
- Perfect Gift Box. Package include: 1*Telescope, 1*Moon lens, 1*H20mm eyepiece, 1*H6mm eyepiece, 1*1.5X Erecting Eyepiece, 1*Tripod.
SaleBestseller No. 8
Celestron Speciality Series Travel Scope 70 Telescope
- All coated glass optical elements for clear, crisp images
- Erect image diagonal so that your views are correctly oriented
- Smooth functioning altazimuth mount with easy pointing to located objects
- Quick and easy no-tool set up
- The telescope and tripod fit inside the custom backpack for easy traveling and storage
- Country of Origin: China
Bestseller No. 9
(Refurbished) 90X Zoom HD Focus Astronomical Telescope Refractor (B0CX9FXTM7) | with Mobile Stand and Portable Tripod Stand | High Power Telescope Gift for Kids | Explore Moon, Planets, Stargazing
- This Renewed product is tested to work and look like new with minimal to no signs of wear & tear; the product comes with relevant accessories and is backed by a minimum six month seller warranty; box may be generic
SaleBestseller No. 10
Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope - Manual Alt-Azimuth Telescope for Beginners - Compact and Portable - Bonus Astronomy Software Package - 50mm Aperture
- Perfect beginners telescope: The Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ is an easy-to-use and powerful telescope. The PowerSeeker series is designed to give the first-time telescope user the perfect combination of quality, value, features, and power.
- Manual yoke mount: Navigate the sky with our refractor telescope. It features a yoke mount with a slow-motion altitude rod for smooth and accurate pointing. Adjust rod to desired position, then easily secure by tightening cross knob.
- Compact and portable: This telescope for adults and kids to be used together is compact, lightweight, and portable. Take the telescope to your favorite campsite or dark sky observing site, or simply the backyard.
- Multiple accessories: The Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope features 4 eyepieces (20mm, 12mm, 4mm, and 1.5x image erecting eyepiece), star diagonal, a finderscope, plus a 3x Barlow lens to triple the power of each.
How To Choose The Right Telescope For You?
Chances you are going to use the telescope for amateur astronomy. Because if you are a professional in this field, you wouldn’t rely on our review post. Because we have only reviewed telescopes that are low-cost and beginner-friendly. In that case, Dobsonian telescopes are your friend. This type of telescope is better for you as they are easy to use, portable, and budget-friendly.
Next, if you want to look at the deep-sky objects, then you should opt for a telescope with a larger aperture. For the record, you should take a telescope that has an aperture of at least 70 mm or 2.8 inches. Of course, in this case, the more the better.
Another important thing to note is that the magnification is not everything. You can theoretically magnify infinitely on a telescope. But that doesn’t mean it will produce a clear image of the object.
As a result, the main priority should be the diameter of the aperture. The aperture of the telescope determines how sharp and bright the image will appear with its light-gathering and power resolving capability. That way, you should look for a telescope with a larger aperture.
At the same time, you should buy a portable telescope that is easy to set up and use. There is no use of buying a gigantic telescope if you cannot manage or set it up with ease. Also, portable telescopes will come in handy if you need to carry with you from one place to another.
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