We've discovered and highlighted the best telescopes at Best Buy and the discounts that go with them so you can bag a bargain ahead of upcoming annual sales events, like Amazon Prime Day.
Searching for telescopes at Best Buy is a good option for deal hunting. The retailer stocks some of the best telescopes and they have several worthwhile telescope deals too. Sometimes, worthy discounts can be a little thin on the ground but we keep this page updated throughout the year, so when new deals become available, you'll find them here. We'll also remove expired discounts. Such is the range of models on offer, there should be something suitable for everyone, regardless of budget and experience.
Not ready for a telescope? Read our best binoculars guide More top deals: Telescopes on Amazon See the latest discounts: Telescopes at Walmart
Below the telescope deals you'll find here, we've included some handy buying advice, just so you know what to look out for. If you are new to astronomy or you're trying to inspire a budding scientist, our guides to the best budget telescopes for under $500, best telescopes for beginners and best telescopes for kids will point you in the right direction, if nothing here suffices.
Generally speaking, if a deal seems too good to be true, it often is. And, if you don't recognize the name of a brand, stay clear of it as you can't guarantee its quality. If there's a manufacturer you normally trust, it could be worth checking out our guides to the best Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Meade and Orion telescope deals. However, if you want to check out the best telescopes at Best Buy and their discounts, scroll down below.
Best telescope deals at Best Buy July 2024
Buying advice
There are three basic types of telescopes: refractors, reflectors and catadioptrics. Refractors are great for highly magnified views of planets and moons, while reflectors offer better views of deep-sky objects, star clusters and galaxies. Catadioptric telescopes correct some of the visual problems found in these older styles – such as chromatic aberration – but they tend to be a little more expensive.
Reflectors
Reflectors are usually either Newtonian or Dobsonian in design. Newtonian telescopes are good for a wide range of viewing targets and are often useful for astrophotography – however, they require a lot of maintenance and can be complicated to set up, whereas Dobsonians are more straightforward.
Refractors
This type of telescope is ideal for beginners, offering a straight-forward assembly and a lower price point. They do, however, tend to suffer from chromatic aberration, where bright objects appear to have a kind of halo. This doesn't ruin the viewing experience, so don't let this put you off too much.
Catadioptric
Catadioptric telescopes fall into two broad categories: Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain. Schmidt-Cassegrains traditionally have bigger apertures, while Maksutov-Cassegrains usually have small apertures. As such, the Schmidt-Cassegrain is usually better for astrophotography and for broader views, while the Maksutov-Cassegrain is great for sharp views of planets and moons. Both types often come with a computerized GoTo system, which can work out which way the telescope is pointing and automatically adjust it to align with chosen targets.
Choosing a telescope
With all these variations, it can be tricky to figure out which telescope is best for you. We recommend taking two main things into consideration: personal budget and what you’d prefer to view in the night sky.
Lower budget models will usually be reflector or refractor telescopes, while catadioptrics are more expensive. If you’d prefer high magnification views of planets and moons, go for either a refractor or a Maksutov-Cassegrain design. For views of deep-sky objects, star clusters and galaxies, opt for a reflector or a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. And if you need more detailed guidance, have a look through our piece on the best telescopes, which goes into more detail on all of the above.
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