Starting your stargazing journey and not sure which telescope to buy? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our top picks for the best beginner-friendly telescopes out there.

What to Look for in a Beginner Telescope

Telescopes come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges, so there’s something out there for everyone. If you’re just getting started, here are some key things to think about. First, you’ll need to decide what you’re most excited to look at. Are you hoping to see the Moon and planets, or are you more interested in distant galaxies and nebulae? The kind of objects you want to view will help guide your telescope choice.

Next, think about the type of scope you want. There are three main types of telescopes, each with its own pros and cons. Refractor telescopes are easy to use, reflector telescopes let you see more, and compound telescopes combine the two for a more versatile experience. For beginners, a small refractor or a Dobsonian reflector is usually a great starting point.

You also need to consider ease of use. If you’re new to telescopes, you’ll probably want something simple to set up and operate. Some models are manual, some are electronic, and others can even be controlled with a smartphone app. Choose whatever feels easiest for you.

Look out for the aperture. It’s by far the most important spec on any telescope. It’s the diameter of the main lens or mirror. It determines how much light the telescope collects, which directly affects how much detail you’ll see. Generally, bigger is better, but keep in mind that a larger aperture usually means a bulkier telescope.

Next is the f-ratio. The f-ratio is the telescope’s focal length divided by its aperture. A lower f-ratio (like f/5) gives you brighter images with a wider field of view, which is great for viewing large star clusters or the Milky Way. A higher f-ratio (like f/10) gives you more magnification for zooming in on planets or the moon.

Don’t be fooled by big magnification numbers. You’ll see scopes advertised with high magnification like “600x”. Don’t fall for that. Realistically, you’re aiming for about 50x per inch of aperture. The aperture determines how much magnification is actually useful, not the number on the box.

When it comes to telescopes, it’s often a good idea to stick with trusted brands. Go with brands that have solid reputations and plenty of positive reviews. This helps ensure you’re getting quality gear that actually works.

Finally, your budget. At the end of the day, the right telescope for you is the one that fits your needs and your budget. If you can’t pay all at once, keep an eye out for sellers who offer financing or payment plans.

The Celestron NexStar 8SE is a top pick if you’re serious about diving into stargazing and want something powerful but user-friendly. This telescope is a compact Schmidt-Cassegrain design with a generous 8-inch aperture, which means it pulls in a ton of light, producing crisp, detailed views of everything from the Moon and planets to distant galaxies and nebulae.

What really makes the 8SE shine is how easy it is to use. With Celestron’s SkyAlign technology, all you have to do is point it at any three bright objects in the sky, and it automatically aligns itself. From there, the NexStar+ hand controller gives you access to a database of over 40,000 celestial objects. Just pick one, and the scope will automatically find and follow it, no star maps or complicated setup required.

Once it locks onto your target, the 8SE even tracks it in real time, so you don’t have to keep adjusting as the sky shifts. Setup can be a little tricky at first, but it comes with clear instructions and solid customer support if you get stuck.

The 8SE also includes a few handy accessories: a finderscope, a basic Plössl eyepiece, and a visual back. While the included eyepiece isn’t anything to write home about, you can easily upgrade your setup with options like Celestron’s X-Cel eyepieces (5mm, 9mm, 25mm) and a 2x Barlow lens. An AC adapter is also a smart add-on if you don’t want to rely on batteries.

If you want to explore the night sky without breaking the bank, the Celestron StarSense Explorer 22480 is a fantastic place to start. Sure, you can stargaze with just your eyes or some stargazing apps. But if you want to go beyond that, this budget-friendly telescope gives you a much better view without costing a fortune.

The StarSense Explorer is super beginner-friendly. It’s quick to set up, and the Alt-Azimuth mount lets you move the telescope easily up, down, left, and right. One of its coolest features is the smartphone dock. Just pop in your phone, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and you’re ready to explore.

The app uses your phone’s location and time to show you what’s in the sky right now, then gives you on-screen arrows to help you find and center planets, stars, and other space objects. It’s like having a stargazing coach in your pocket.

This telescope uses a 114mm Newtonian reflector, which means it gathers enough light to give you good views of the Moon, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons, and even some deeper space objects like the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Of course, it’s not going to compete with the big, expensive scopes in terms of image detail. But for the price? It’s one of the best deals out there. If you’re looking for something even cheaper (with a few trade-offs), check out beginner scopes like the Gskyer 70mm or Hexeum 70mm. But if you’re after a good balance of price and performance, the StarSense Explorer hits the sweet spot.

Most beginner telescopes will show you the moon and planets. But if you’re really looking to dive deep into space and explore galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters, the Sky-Watcher Classic 200 is a top choice for deep-sky viewing without overwhelming first-time users.

This telescope has a classic, no-frills design that’s surprisingly easy to use once it’s set up. Assembly is fairly straightforward, though the instruction manual could definitely be clearer, especially when it comes to setting up the focuser.

With its large 8-inch (200mm) aperture, the Sky-Watcher Classic 200 pulls in tons of light, which is key when you’re trying to see far-off objects like the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, or even the rings of Saturn and the cloud bands of Jupiter. It’s also a solid pick if you’re interested in trying your hand at basic astrophotography.

This telescope sits on a sturdy Dobsonian-style base with a rotating platform and tension-control handles, making it easy to move smoothly and adjust as you track objects across the sky. Just note that it doesn’t have an azimuth scale or automatic tracking, so following stars can be a bit of a learning curve at first. A laser collimator will make alignment much easier and is a worthwhile add-on.

It’s a bit bulky, but still portable enough to move around your backyard or take in the car for a night under dark skies. Inside the box, you get a good set of starter accessories, like a 2″ Crayford-style focuser, 1.25″ adapter, two eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and a finder scope.

Want to level up your setup? Consider adding accessories like a 2X focal extender, a Shorty 1.25″ Barlow lens, or a laser collimator for better accuracy.

If you love taking weekend camping trips or heading out to dark sky spots, lugging around a huge telescope can be a pain. That’s where the Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ comes in—it’s one of the best beginner-friendly portable telescopes out there.

The AstroMaster 102AZ is built for convenience. It’s lightweight, compact, and super easy to set up. Just unpack it, lock a few pieces in place, and you’re ready to explore the sky. The grab-and-go design makes it a breeze to toss in the car or carry to your favorite viewing spot.

Despite its size, this scope packs a punch with a 102mm (4-inch) aperture, which gives you sharp, detailed views of things like the Moon’s craters, Jupiter’s moons, and even Saturn’s rings. It’s got a smooth manual Alt-Azimuth mount, so you can easily point and move the telescope in any direction with a natural, intuitive feel.

One of the cool things about this scope is that it’s not just for stargazing. During the day, you can use it to check out distant landscapes, birds, or wildlife, or anything you’d want to zoom in on from a distance.

It also comes with two eyepieces (10mm and 20mm), an erect image diagonal (so views are right-side up, helpful for daytime use), a tripod, and a finder scope to help you line up targets. To top it off, you can download the Starry Night astronomy software and the Celestron SkyPortal app, which help you identify and locate thousands of objects in the sky.

If you’re ready to start capturing stunning photos of the night sky, the ZWO Seestar S50 Telescope is an incredible choice for beginner astrophotographers.

While some telescopes are great for deep-sky viewing (like the Sky-Watcher Classic 200) or effortless alignment (like the Celestron NexStar 8SE), the Seestar S50 is purpose-built for taking amazing space photos, and it makes the process surprisingly beginner-friendly.

This is a compact, all-in-one smart telescope that combines a telescope, tracking mount, camera, focuser, and dew heater into one sleek device. Sounds high-tech, but don’t worry, setup is a breeze, and there’s even a step-by-step video tutorial if you need help.

The Seestar TH10 mount offers smooth up/down and 360° panning, and you can use Equatorial Mode in the app for longer exposure times, more stable tracking, and crisp, professional-quality shots without that frustrating “star trailing” effect.

The Seestar app is packed with cool features for shooting the night sky. Plan Mode lets you schedule shots of different celestial objects, set them, and forget them. Mosaic Mode allows you to stitch multiple images together into wide, sweeping views of the stars. You can even view everything live from your iPad and capture photos without touching the telescope itself.

Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you can connect to your smartphone or tablet and control everything remotely. The app also gives you access to a real-time star map, helping you locate, identify, and track objects with just a tap.