If you are thinking of buying a telescope but are still not sure which choice to make, you can check the opinions of Amazon customers who have already tried them:
An Astronomical Telescope is an instrument used to observe stars, planets and other celestial bodies. Although there are several types of telescopes, two types currently predominate: reflection astronomical telescopes, which are distinguished by having mirrors, and refraction, which have a centered optical system.
When choosing an astronomical telescope, there are several aspects to consider before making a purchase decision. There is a really wide range of prices and we must be clear if the telescope is going to be for regular or very occasional uses, if it is for an amateur, if it is a gift for a child, etc. These are some of the key points:
- The aperture , which is the size of the diameter of the lens, is key, since it determines two fundamental factors: the brightness and the sharpness of the images. The larger the aperture, the sharper the images will be.
- Increases , unlike openness, are a factor where more is not always better. A rule to know the maximum magnification that a telescope supports is to multiply the aperture (in millimeters) by 2. Thus, for example, with a 75 mm aperture telescope we should not use a magnification of more than 150x, as we will lose sharpness.
- The mount is also key, since without a solid and stable mount the images will not be good due to possible vibrations. Apart from the materials, we will find that there are two types of mounts: altazimuth and equatorial. The first one is easier for beginners to use as its movement is more intuitive. In contrast, more experienced hobbyists prefer equatorial mounts because tracking is only done on one axis.
- The eyepiece . There are many varieties of eyepieces for astronomical telescopes, each one has different characteristics that will influence the quality of the image. The most common outside diameter is 1.25 ”(31.8mm), with smaller sizes out of phase.
- Astronomers Without Borders OneSky 130.
- Celestron AstroFi 90.
- Celestron NexStar 130SLT.
- Orion StarBlast 6i IntelliScope.
- Orion SkyQuest XT8i IntelliScope.
- Celestron 11069 NexStar 8SE.
- Meade LX90-ACF.
- Orion Atlas 8 EQ-G GoTo.
Top rated: Gskyer Telescope
Gskyer Telescope is equipped with 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting lenses. Best For Kids Beginners.You can use is as a Travel Telescope with Carry Bag, Phone Adapter and Wireless Remote.Best telescope for astrophotography under $500 as per space experts.
This telescope is a very complete option and with a very reasonable price. It comes with 31.7 mm (1.25 ″) eyepiece holders and a set that includes various eyepieces (35x, 56x, 70x, 112x, 117x, 175x, 234x and 350x) offering a wide range of magnifications.
I bought this telescope because I had already ordered another product of this brand and I was delighted. As always, it was perfectly protected, so there is no danger with transport. What I like the most about this brand is that it brings great instructions for assembly and handling, everything is perfectly explained. As for the product, the materials are of very good quality, so it does not seem that it will have problems with its durability. It is also very light so you can take it anywhere by car. Bring different lenses of different magnifications for whatever you need. It is a product of 10 like all of this brand, safe buy.
Best Value For Money Celestron Telesope
This PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope is suitable for beginners or kids 8-12 years old.It is Compact and Portable – BONUS Astronomy Software Package – 80mm Aperture.
This Celestron Travel Scope 70 has the versatility of being able to be used both in the terrestrial field and eventually in the astronomical one since its compact and portable design makes it ideal to transport it. It has the advantage of having all its glass optical elements treated (Coated), which allow us to obtain clear and sharp images.
I’m a beginner skywatcher, and I wanted to purchase a telescope that would allow me to see the planets, the moon, and nebulas right out of the box. I didn’t want to collimate (whatever that is) my telescope every time I use it. So, instead of purchasing a reflector telescope (which required collimating), I got a refractor telescope. I was concerned that I would not see much because I am in the middle of a light-polluted city. My telescope arrived on 7/19/19 at 8 pm. I was able to assemble it in 35 minutes by following a YouTube video. I don’t know the names of the different parts of my telescope, nor do I know how to use the different eyepieces correctly. I just put my new telescope on my patio and angeled it towards the brightest star in the early evening. I adjusted the control knobs until the star came into sharp focus. I wasn’t looking at a star. I was looking at Jupiter, and Jupiter had three moons orbiting it! I giggled with joy. I spotted another star southeast of Jupiter. I focused on it. Again, it wasn’t a star; it was Saturn with its prominent ring and one moon! Its 11 pm and I’m still star gazing and attempting to take pictures with my cellphone. I tried using the 3x Barlow, but I couldn’t see anything. I used the 20 mm and the 4 mm eyepieces to view Jupiter and Saturn and their moons. I’m going to purchase a 2x Barlow, a light pollution filter, a moon filter, and a solar filter. I’m happy with my purchase. I’m going to go back outside and hunt for nebulas! For more customer reviews
Best Catadioptric Telescope Celestron – NexStar 8SE
Top rated computerized telescope for beginners and advanced users for viewing planets and stars. Fully-Automated GoTo Mount – SkyAlign Technology – 40,000+ Celestial Objects – 8-Inch Primary Mirror. Best telescope under $1000 reddit community says.
For those searching for telescopes for astronomy beginners that are infused with the latest computer technology, Celestron’s NexStar 8SE Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope fits the bill perfectly. The NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope features Celestron’s iconic “orange tube” design and updated technology with the latest features for amazing stargazing for beginners and experienced observers. Celestron’s signature telescope combines advanced features and excellent optics in one easy-to-use system, the NexStar 8SE. It’s the perfect choice for your first serious telescope, offering striking views at an economical price.
The eight-inch primary mirror in this computerized telescope packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that our Solar System has to offer, from Saturn’s rings to the cloud bands on Jupiter and geographic features on the surface of the Moon. When it comes to deep sky objects, take your 8SE to a dark-sky site and you’ll see hundreds of pinpoint stars in the Hercules Globular Cluster, the spiral arms of the Whirlpool Galaxy, and more. Featuring a database of more than 40,000 celestial objects, the 8SE’s GoTo mount automatically locates and tracks objects for you. You can also take a Sky Tour and let your telescope show you the best objects currently visible. The single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all assemble and break down from separate components for easy transportation. SkyAlign technology gets your telescope aligned and ready to observe in minutes. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the night sky, you can easily align your telescope on any 3 bright objects.
Probably not for those just getting their feet wet, but this is a great scope for breathtaking views of DSO and planets. I recommend buying a Celestron ac adapter or a battery pack when you buy this scope, 8AA will not last very long and hardly put out enough amperage to drive motors properly. I purchased a Sceptre ac adapter and it works great.
Fairly easy to align and set up. Verify levelness of base each time you set it up and it should track fine. More Customer Reviews
Meade Instruments – ETX125 Observer Telescope
It is 127mm Aperture Maksutov-Cassegrain (MAK) Computerized GoTo Astronomy Telescope with AudioStar 30,000+ Object-Database & Guided Audio Tours – EQ Plate Tilt Plate. Best telescope under 1500 reddit expert says.
This large 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope marries the portability of the ETX with Meade’s premium optics. Enjoy detailed close-up views of the Moon and planets, and be amazed by the stunning views of star clusters, nebulae, and more! The ETX125 Observer is a fully-featured GoTo telescope that includes the AudioStar controller, the heart of this computer guided telescope. In addition to finding and tracking objects in the night sky for you, the AudioStar controller boasts a number of features of its own, including a 30, 000+ object database, built-in speaker, and over 4 hours of of audio content that educates you about objects you observe. Whether you’re observing on the go or from your backyard, the ETX125 Observer will make exploring the night sky easy, educational, and exciting. The beloved ETX125 telescope is back. Go ahead, start exploring!
This is a great scope. Beats the Monkey Wards (refractor) I got as a kid in the early 70’s. This is not rocket science but it will take some study and patience to get it out of the case and usable. Always, ALWAYS have 6 fresh AA batteries available for the scope proper, and an extra CR 2032 battery for the finder scope. Since this is not something most people are not going to use every night, practicing using it during the day will reduce the learning curve. The AutoStar audio dialog was extremely annoying, had to turn it off in the controller. The tripod is rock sold. More Customer Reviews
Best Computerized Observer
Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube is a favorite among experienced visual observers. The computerized altazimuth mount provides outstanding tracking accuracy while the 11” Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube delivers sharp views. One of the best $5000 dollar telescopes reddit community says.
A rock-solid dual Fork arm mount and large aperture At an affordable price: that’s what makes the CPC telescope series a favorite among experienced amateur astronomers. Celestron’s revolutionary skyalign plus an internal GPS make alignment a snap. Use the Computerized hand control to quickly slew to over 40, 000 celestial objects, then track your target precisely as it moves across the night sky. Imagers can place the CPC dual Fork arm mount on an optional HD Pro wedge to polar align it for long-exposure astrophotography. Thoughtful ergonomic design makes setting up and breaking down your CPC quick and painless.Best computerized telescope under $3000 2021.
I have a Nexstar 103 SLT computerized refractor telescope and to me the 1,2,or 3 star alignment sucks. You have to be a contortionist to be able to look at anything through it and half the time I had trouble with aligning it. I saved all the money for the CPC 800 XLT and was like a kid on Christmas Day when it arrived. It has been raining here in Oregon for 4 months and seeing the sky is hit or miss.The Moon peaked out of the clouds and I had my Canon T5i mounted to the visual back and got some decent pics of the Moon. I’ve heard people whining that it is too heavy;BS! It is well made and the reason it is heavy is because it isn’t plastic. It is well constructed and the optics are very good. I am 63 years old and have a partially paralyzed right arm and I can set it up in less than 5 minutes. I highly recommend this scope and combined with the wi-fi adapter from Celestron and the free Skyportal app, a 6 year old could get it up and running in less than 10 minutes. My only regret is that I didn’t have enough cash to get the 11″ scope. Good scope, Good Price. That’s all I got to say about that. More Customer Reviews
Best Stargazing Telescopes for Every Budget
Meade Polaris 130
Telescope at affordable price for beginners under $200,
These are best telescopes under $300 & $1000 as per reddit community.
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