How do I choose the right telescope for me?

Choosing the right telescope can be quite a challenge for the beginner. There has never been as much choice, so many optical configurations and range of prices than exist on today's market. In general terms telescope design and optical quality are usually pretty good nowadays — it wasn't always so. As buyers have become more informed via the internet and astronomical publications they have become far more discerning in their choice. This has meant that optical quality has improved and truly awful telescopes are, thankfully, becoming increasingly scarce. Choosing a good all-round beginner's telescope capable of revealing 'the greatest show off Earth' depends on a number of things, including — in no particular order — your budget, your observing site, the telescope's portability, ease of use and setup, what objects, in particular, you would like to view, your ability to upgrade as your experience develops and whether you intend to attempt astrophotography through the telescope with a digital camera. Regardless of a telescope's aperture or physical size, the most important thing to be aware of when purchasing any telescope is its optical quality. It is not advisable to buy a new telescope from any source other than a reputable telescope dealer. Most companies that make astronomical equipment their business are only too happy to help and advise by phone, email or during a personal visit to their commercial premises. Any reputable company that specializes in selling and/or manufacturing optical instruments will give by far the best deal, in terms of price, service and advice. So if your biggest question is, 'which type of telescope type should I buy?' or 'what is the best telescope in the world?' let us help.

What types of telescope are there?

There are three primary types of telescopes: Reflector vs refractor vs catadioptric telescopes. Reflectors use a main mirror to gather and focus light; refractors use an objective lens, while catadioptrics use a main mirror and a lens of the same diameter. All three kinds of instruments have their own 'sub-species' based on their particular optical design. For example, the most basic type of reflector is the Newtonian design, which uses a main mirror and a small secondary mirror, which diverts the light at right angles to the eyepiece through the top end of the telescope. Given a choice of quality, affordable telescopes, which one should you opt for? A Newtonian reflector on a simple undriven alt-azimuth mount (known as a 'Dobsonian') offers the best value in terms of aperture. Dobsonians are ideal if you want to learn your way thoroughly around the skies the 'old fashioned' way, with no bells or whistles, just a star map in hand. They collect lots of light, reveal those faint fuzzies, and have enough resolving power to deliver knockout views of the moon and bright planets. You can only practically use a low to medium magnification on these instruments because anything higher than 100x will shoot through the field before you've time to appreciate the view. Dobsonians over 6 inches in aperture are pretty hefty, physically large, and ideally need to be stored out of the way in the garage or garden shed. Newtonians and refractors become a much more expensive prospect when an equatorial or computerized mount is added. Computerized mounts for Newtonians come in several forms — Dobsonian (push-to or GoTo), single tine-mounted (tracking or GoTo) and German equatorial (GoTo). A computerized push-to Dobsonian costs around twice as much as a manual one of the same aperture, while a GoTo costs around four times as much; a high-end Newtonian on a driven German equatorial mount may increase the cost more than tenfold! If ease of use, portability and convenience are high on your requirements, and you like gadgets, then a short focal length refractor of up to 4-inches or catadioptric (Schmidt- or Maksutov-Cassegrain) up to 5-inches on a computerized mount may well fit the bill. Both types of instruments are versatile performers and will show many deep-sky objects and reveal considerable detail on the moon and planets at high magnification. Achromatic refractors of short focal lengths typically display a degree of false color around the edges of bright objects like the moon because they can't focus all wavelengths of light to a precise point. Most users are happy to accept this drawback because refractors are so easy to use and care for. In terms of delivering a clean, high-contrast view without false color, the Maksutov is the best option here. The most exquisite views are to be had through apochromatic refractors. Using special glass objectives, they focus all wavelengths of light to as near a single point as possible and are free of false color. However, it is essential to realize that apochromats cost around four times as much as equivalent-sized achromats.

How does a refractor telescope work?

Refractors work by bending — or refracting — the light they gather to give you a view of your astronomical target. Easy to set up, the refractor is best suited to planetary and lunar viewing, using lenses to collect and focus light to form an image, while an eyepiece magnifies the view. The refractor has a fairly straightforward design, with a main objective lens at one end and a star diagonal with a threaded eyepiece at the other. Being intuitive to use, the refractor is often a popular instrument for novice astronomers, given their low maintenance. Refractors are usually affixed to a simple alt-azimuth mount, that slews from side to side and up and down to locate a desired target. Being easy to use means these telescopes are also simple to manufacture (at least for novice models) and, therefore, cheaper to buy. The downside is that the higher the aperture, the more expensive the refractor gets. Unfortunately, this means that a basic refractor is also the number one target to replicate in mail-order catalogs and other non-reputable vendors, so caution must be exercised when purchasing this type of telescope. Refractors are particularly good at giving highly magnified and high contrast images and, because of this, are ideal instruments to use when looking at solar system targets such as the moon and the planets. The best refractors usually have an aperture of 2 inches (60mm) or more and will provide you with reasonable views of astronomical objects. A 3 to 4-inch (80 mm - 90 mm) would be best suited if you're looking for a larger aperture. The drawback of a refractor is that it can suffer from chromatic aberration, also known as color fringing. When a single lens doesn't focus all the colors emitted from a target object at the same point, bright objects such as the moon, Venus or Jupiter usually have a colored halo around them. To reduce this problem, many refractors are manufactured as achromatic or APOchromatic (also known as Extra Dispersion (ED) telescopes). The achromatic refractor is cheaper than the apochromatic refractor and, combined with its efficiency, is often the type of telescope that novice astronomers go for. Even if you choose the more expensive achromatic, you'll likely get a stubborn degree of purple fringing around some targets. Unless you're a seasoned skywatcher and you can afford to go for the more expensive apochromatic — which corrects for such an effect by using exotic glass for the lenses — this degree of color fringing will not ruin your observing experience to any great extent. If you decide to go for the expensive option, you will be stunned by the views you will get through these excellent telescopes. Be warned, though, you might find that some apochromatics come without a tripod, something that you'll have to buy separately along with any accessories.

How does a reflector telescope work?

There are two common types of reflector telescope — the Newtonian and the Dobsonian. The way these instruments operate is the same — they both use mirrors to reflect light to create an image of the object you're looking at. The Newtonian telescope comprises a curved light-collecting mirror, which can be found at the tube's base. The light that hits this mirror is reflected back to the front of the tube, where a smaller flat mirror — oriented at 45-degrees — brings light to the observer who can see their chosen object. The Newtonian can be found on alt-azimuth mounts, but you shouldn't be too surprised to find this type of reflector is more popularly affixed to an equatorial mount, allowing the telescope to follow the rotation of the sky while being aligned with your hemisphere's celestial pole. This reflector is a favorite in the amateur astronomy community due to its versatility in observing a wide selection of astronomical targets and allowing for astrophotography. With Newtonians, you can also buy a large aperture for less money — for instance, an eight-inch (203.2 mm) reflector would cost you less than a refractor with the same aperture, allowing you to get much more value for your money. Newtonian reflector telescopes do require some maintenance. The mirrors must be aligned periodically to ensure that they are reflecting light properly. The mirrors can also become tarnished over time, so they may need to be repainted. If you choose a Newtonian reflector telescope, select one with a protective mirror coating. This will help extend the mirrors' life and make them easier to maintain. Some beginners to the hobby of astronomy might find setting up and using an equatorial mount tricky — that's where the Dobsonian comes in. These telescopes give the capabilities of a reflector without the complexities an equatorial mount will bring since it employs an alt-azimuth mount. Dobsonians are very simple to use and can easily be pulled into orientation when looking at astronomical objects. If you're not confident in navigating your telescope though, then GoTo or computerized Dobsonians and Newtonians (that slew to objects for you using an in-built motor) are on the market — but cost more. Learn more about these in our ' What are Dobsonian telescopes ' guide. Whatever reflector you choose, these telescopes are excellent for low-magnification targets such as galaxies and many nebulas.

How does a catadioptric telescope work?

Ideal for astrophotography, the catadioptric is an excellent instrument for taking a wide range of astronomical targets and is manufactured in order to take the best parts of two kinds of telescopes: The reflector and the refractor. What's more, the catadioptric takes advantage of a lightweight design, meaning that it's much more portable than other kinds of telescopes and its sealed optics promote little to no maintenance. The only major downside to choosing a catadioptric is that the vast majority can be expensive. However, if you are on a strict budget, picking up one of these instruments isn't unheard of — you've just got to make sure to shop around. While refractors use lenses, and reflectors make use of mirrors, to create and magnify an image, the catadioptric makes use of both lenses and mirrors for high-definition and superior views. During your observations, light from your chosen target passes through to a lens, which corrects or reduces aberration that distorts the view that is later taken in through the eyepiece. Curved primary mirrors then reflect this light onto a secondary mirror, which then reaches your eyes. You will find two kinds of Catadioptric telescopes — the Schmidt-Cassegrain and the Maksutov-Cassegrain. The Maksutov-Cassegrain, also affectionately known as the 'Mak', corrects the optical problem that is experienced by reflectors — an aberration effect called 'coma,' which can make objects look distorted and appear like they have a tail. This effect is reduced or banished with the combined efforts of a spherical mirror and a meniscus lens, the latter of which is 'weakly negative'. The Maksutov is also adept at correcting for chromatic aberration, or color fringing, a distortion that creates an unwanted purple or blue edging around bright night-sky objects. Packed into its short optical tube is a system that allows you to target higher magnification objects such as the planets, moon and double stars. Additionally, if you struggle to find objects and your way around the night sky, then both this type of catadioptric telescope and the Schmidt-Cassegrain can be found in abundance and equipped with a GoTo system. The other most common kind of catadioptric, the Schmidt-Cassegrain, offers similar capabilities to the Maksutov and will allow you to make general observations of planetary targets and stars. It is also possible to expand the telescope's field of view with the help of corrector lenses, enabling exquisite views of an even wider selection of astronomical targets.

What is a finderscope?

A finder scope is a low-power (low magnification) telescope that sits on your main telescope. Your main telescope will typically have a narrow field of view, meaning you'll see only a little portion of the sky when you look through it. Your finder scope, with a wider field of view, assists you in pointing your telescope to your desired subject, making it easy to hone in on your target with minimal searching and repositioning. Center your subject in the finder scope's frame; there are usually crosshairs or a dot so you know when it's central. Now when you look through your telescope's eyepiece, your subject will be centered here too. Many telescopes include a finder scope with the package but if you need to purchase one separately it's worth knowing there are two main types. One has a straight-through view, and one has a right-angled view. Generally, you'd want a right-angle finder if you have a Newtonian reflector telescope and a straight-through view if you use a refractor or catadioptric due to the location of their eyepieces. Some finder scopes will also be magnified — higher magnification and a narrower field may be desirable if you need pinpoint accuracy. You'll also come across the terms 'inverted' or 'erect image.' The latter means the finder scope has a correcting prism that flips the image the 'right way up’ (top-to-bottom) and ‘around’ (left-to-right). Some finder scopes don't have a correcting prism, so you see either a back-to-front image or upside down, which might be disorientating and make finding subjects more difficult, especially if you're just starting out.

What does aperture, magnification and focal length mean on a telescope?

Time to dispel jargon myths with a bit of a telescope glossary. The larger a telescope's aperture (the size of its main lens or primary mirror) the more light is collected and more fine detail is revealed. For example, a 200 mm aperture collects four times more light than a 100 mm telescope. Under ideal conditions, a 100 mm telescope reveals stars down to magnitude +11.8, while a 200 mm telescope will show stars down to magnitude +13.3. A 100 mm telescope will 'split' a double star separated by 1.5 arcseconds and resolves a three-kilometer lunar crater; however, a 200 mm telescope resolves a crater just 1.5 km across and a double star separated by just 0.6 arcseconds. Resolution is limited by the telescope's optical quality and the steadiness of the Earth's atmosphere. Telescopic magnification depends on the telescope's focal length (the distance between the objective lens/primary mirror and the point of focus of the light it collects) and the focal length of the eyepiece used. Magnification is calculated by dividing the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. For example, a 100 mm telescope with a focal length of f/8 (eight times the telescope's aperture) has a focal length of 800 mm; used in conjunction with an eyepiece of 10 mm it will deliver a magnification of 80 times (800 divided by 10). With any telescope, the range of useful magnification depends on a telescope's aperture and focal length, combined with the focal length of the eyepiece. Too low a magnification (taking in as wide an area as possible) will actually waste light since the 'exit pupil' of the eyepiece will be larger than the diameter of the pupil of your dark-adapted eye. On average, the adult pupil will dilate to around 7 mm in dark conditions. Therefore the exit pupil delivered by an eyepiece ideally needs to be 7 mm or smaller so that all the light gathered by the telescope — especially when attempting to see faint objects — can be taken in. Exit pupil can be calculated by dividing the telescope's aperture by the magnification delivered by any particular eyepiece.

Magnification: How do telescope eyepieces work?

Eyepieces work by magnifying the light focused by the telescope's primary mirror or objective lens. Every telescope eyepiece has a specific focal length (given in millimeters), and the shorter this figure is, the higher the magnification. To calculate the magnification provided by any particular eyepiece on any telescope, divide the telescope's focal length by the focal length of the eyepiece used. For example, a 1000 mm focal length telescope (say, a 100 mm refractor of f/10, or a 200 mm Newtonian of f/5) will deliver a magnification of 100 with a 10 mm eyepiece (1000 divided by 10 = 100). Although any telescope can give impressively high magnifications using short focal length eyepieces, there is a point when increasing magnification will provide a worse image rather than improve it. When an object is magnified, its brightness is reduced as the finite amount of light is spread over a larger area. In addition, increasing magnification exacerbates the amount of atmospheric turbulence visible; therefore, high magnifications can only be used when seeing conditions are good. Finally, high magnification is practical only with driven telescopes. Otherwise, the object will quickly drift out of the field of view. As a guide, your highest power eyepiece should deliver a magnification double the telescope's aperture in millimeters — for example, 200x on a 100 mm telescope, 400x on a 200 mm telescope, and so on. It's best to have at least three good quality eyepieces that deliver low, medium and high magnifications — say around 50x, 100x and 200x. Taking as an example a 100 mm f/10 telescope, those eyepieces would be of 20 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm focal length. Let's assume that these particular eyepieces are of the commonly used Plossl variety. A field of view around one degree across (an area of 0.8 square degrees) is given by the 20 mm eyepiece — ideal for sweeping the deep skies and finding objects. The 10 mm eyepiece will just take in the half-degree diameter moon and have a field covering just one-quarter that of the 20 mm eyepiece. With its high magnification, the 5 mm eyepiece has a field of view covering just one-sixteenth that of the 20 mm eyepiece and can only be used when seeing conditions allow.

Best telescopes 2023: For stargazing galaxies, nebulas and more

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Quick list
Best for beginners
Best budget telescope
Best for portability
Best GoTo
Best value for enthusiasts
Best motorized telescope
Best GoTo for smaller budgets
Best for all skill levels
Best smart telescope
Best for tech lovers
Best for bigger budgets
Best for backyard observing
Best for finer details
Best for intermediate users
Best for veteran astronomers
Best for astrophotography
Telescope FAQ
How we test

Best telescopes 2023: Jump Menu

Telescope in-use against night sky — (Image credit: Jason Parnell-Brookes)

1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best for beginners
3. Best budget telescope
4. Best for portability
5. Best GoTo Telescope
6. Best value enthusiast telescope
7. Best motorized telescope
8. Best GoTo for smaller budgets
9. Best for all skill levels
10. Best smart telescope
11. Best for tech lovers
12. Best for bigger budgets
13. Best for back-yard observing
14. Best for observing fine details
15. Best for intermediate users
16. Best for veteran astronomers
17. Best for astrophotographers
18. Telescope FAQs
19. How we test

The best telescopes are designed to improve astronomers' views of the universe, turning stargazing into an exciting adventure. They unveil breathtaking galaxies, nebulas, planets, and other celestial wonders with impressive clarity and depth.

Are you wondering which telescopes are the best and which one suits your needs? If so, there's no need to spend hours searching the internet because our expert panel has done the hard work for you. We test and review various different telescopes, from entry-level to advanced models, including different types like refractors, reflectors, catadioptric telescopes such as Maksutov-Cassegrains and even the latest smart telescopes.

Whether you're keen on stargazing and astrophotography using your smartphone or camera, planning to explore dark sky areas with a compact and portable telescope or wanting to dive deep into astronomy with a large Dobsonian model, we've got you covered no matter what.

There can be a lot of confusing jargon associated with telescopes, so if you're not sure what it all means, read our Telescope FAQ. At Space.com, we don't just review telescopes. We also have a full guide on the Best binoculars. And if you're looking to pair a telescope with one of the Best cameras overall or Best cameras for astrophotography, we've got you covered there too.

Telescope FAQ answered by

Dr Gemma Lavender

Gemma is a contributing writer to Space.com, Live Science, science and space magazines How It Works and All About Space, history magazines All About History and History of War as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) kids education brand Future Genius. She is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes', 'Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual to the Large Hadron Collider' and 'Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual to the Milky Way'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics. She was elected as a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Previously, she worked for Nature's journal, Scientific Reports, and created scientific industry reports for the Institute of Physics and the British Antarctic Survey.

The quick list

Best for beginners

Celestron NexStar 4SE

Best for beginners

A great scope for beginners, the Celestron NexStar 4SE is easy to use and set up, produces clear and bright images and has a whole host of useful features.

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Best budget telescope

Celestron Inspire 100AZ

Best budget telescope

A great beginner scope for anyone just getting started with astronomy, it comes with a variety of accessories.

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Best for portability

Celestron Astro Fi 102

Best for portability

If you live in an urban area with lots of light pollution and need a telescope you can comfortably carry to dark sky sites, this could be the one for you.

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Best GoTo

Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25

Best GoTo

We think this is an exceptional telescope that is high quality, easy to set up and offers breathtaking views. It's suited well for experienced astronomers too.

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Best value for enthusiasts

Celestron Astro Fi 130

Best value for enthusiasts

We were really impressed with this telescope when we reviewed it and overall, thought that it's good value for money.

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Best motorized telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE

Best motorized telescope

A fantastic scope for any experience level, it's incredibly easy to use yet powerful enough for deep space exploration and even astrophotography.

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Best GoTo for smaller budgets

Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 SynScan AZ GoTo

Best GoTo for smaller budgets

It's not perfect, but in the world of GoTo mounts, we think this is a must-have for observers who are on a tighter budget. It's very user-friendly, gives excellent clarity and contrast and comes with all the extras you need.

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Best for all skill levels

Celestron NexStar 6SE

Best for all skill levels

Includes a built-in tour mode that guides you to specific celestial objects, which is great if you're a beginner and you aren't quite sure what to look for. It has excellent optics in a user-friendly package.

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Best smart telescope

Unistellar Equinox 2

Best smart telescope

If you've got the budget for it, this is Unistellar's most advanced telescope to date. For such a clever piece of kit, once out of the box it's ready to start using in just a few minutes. It has a very reliable app, and even features a Smart Light Reduction feature to eliminate light pollution in urban environments.

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Best for tech lovers

Vaonis Vespera Observation Station

Best for tech lovers

Setting itself apart from traditional telescopes, this unique piece of kit uses its mobile app 'Singularity' to share captivating images of the night sky taken with its Sony image sensor rather than using an eyepiece. It's best used for capturing images of nebulas, galaxies and star clusters as it's not intended for viewing the moon or planets.

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Best for bigger budgets

Unistellar eVscope 2

Best for bigger budgets

If you're serious about stargazing and have the budget for an eye-wateringly expensive telescope, then look no further. If you want an all-in-one, hassle-free system but aren't bothered about it being a 'traditional' telescope, you'll love this. It has an incredibly simple setup and a stunning design, although it does price out many astronomers.

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Best for backyard observing

Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2

Best for backyard observing

With a modest price point, this scope would be ideal for anyone starting out on their astronomy journey. It sets itself apart from other scopes with the inclusion of an equatorial mount, which can simplify tracking celestial objects. The trade-off, though, is that it's quite hefty weighing 12.6kg, so it's really only good for use in your backyard.

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Best for finer details

Orion Skyline 6-inch Dobsonian Reflector

Best for finer details

A fantastic choice for beginner and intermediate astronomers, this telescope features a focal length of 1200mm, which enables you to observe the finer details of various celestial bodies. There are alternatives for a lower price, but for quality, we think this Orion scope still wins.

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Best for intermediate users

Celestron Omni XLT 102

Best for intermediate users

This would make a great option for your 'next telescope' if you've reached the limit of your beginner model. It has a sturdy design, very good quality optics and is very easy to accessorize. It's not without it's flaws, but we were impressed by its quality.

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Best for veteran astronomers

Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD

Best for veteran astronomers

Great for experienced, long-time astronomers, this scope is excellent for astrophotography thanks to the Edge HD technology. It is a little on the heavy side, but it can carry a load of up to 30 lbs.

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Best for astrophotography

Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 PRO

Best for astrophotography

Our favorite pick for astrophotographers, this telescope is a great all-rounder, suitable for capturing everything from nebulas to galaxies. We thought it has outstanding optical quality with no sign of any distortion.

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Best telescopes 2023: For stargazing galaxies, nebulas and more

Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.

Best for beginners

Image 1 of 7

Celestron NexStar 4SE

Best for finding planets and other celestial objects easily with Celestron's SkyAlign technology.

Specifications

Optical design: Maksutov-Cassegrain

Mount type: Computerized Alt-Azimuth

Aperture: 4-inches / 102mm

Focal length: 1325mm

Highest useful magnification: 241x

Lowest useful magnification: 15x

Supplied eyepieces: 25mm

Weight: 23 lbs (10.44kg) fully assembled

Reasons to buy

Quick, uncomplicated setup

Celestron's high-quality build

SkyAlign technology

Reasons to avoid

Restrictive portability

Narrow field of view

Power hungry

Buy it if

✅ It's your first telescope: This scope is easy to use and set up, making it perfect for beginner astronomers.

✅ You want GoTo technology: You can easily find and track specific celestial objects with little or no prior knowledge.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want to travel with it: This telescope isn't the most portable as the tripod doesn't quite fold down entirely.

The bottom line:

🔎 Celestron NexStar 4SE If you want to view the planets and bright objects in the sky quickly and effortlessly, the Celestron NexStar 4SE will certainly do the job. ★★★★

The Celestron NexStar 4SE is a great choice for beginner astronomers — it's very user-friendly and captures images that are both sharp and luminous, while also providing a tactile yet substantial hand controller. The field of view may be a little limited, but the SkyAlign software and GoTo makes finding objects in the night sky easy, so it won't pose a huge problem. Also, the hand controller has nine different slewing speeds, making it easy to make precise movements or quickly explore the night sky.

One thing worth keeping in mind is that the NexStar SE scopes are quite power-hungry. We'd recommend you use an external power supply, as a pack of AA batteries will not last very long and you'll need to keep repurchasing them. This does limit its portability, but it's not a deal breaker if you're willing to carry a portable power bank or power station around with you.

Overall, in our Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope review, we found it to be a great telescope for beginners. It is easy to use, produces clear and bright images and comes with a variety of features that make it a great value for the price.

Read our full Celestron NexStar 4SE review

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Celestron NexStar 4SE
Attributes	Notes
Design	Solid and sturdy build, signature orange colors.
Performance	Great for observing the moon and planets.
Functionality	Alignment correction can be tricky.

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Best Budget Telescope

Image 1 of 7

The Celestron Inspire 100AZ comes with a plethora of helpful accessories, but after our full review, we'd recommend updating the eyepieces.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)