Finding the best telescopes on Amazon can be a little trickier than you think. The online retailer has a huge range of telescopes to choose from but not all of them are top-quality. We've looked for the best telescopes on amazon - from reputable brands - and put the best deals in this guide for you.
When scoping out the best telescopes on Amazon we recommend sticking with known names like Celestron, Meade and Sky-Watcher. We've tested numerous models from these brands and can vouch for their quality and reliability.
We've included deals that can save you up to $300 on some amazing equipment, so there's something here to suit every level of astronomer and every budget. If you're looking for a specific brand and deals on their models then you'll want to check out our in-depth guides for Celestron telescope deals | Sky-Watcher telescope deals | Meade telescope deals | Orion telescope deals.
There are a number of brands available on Amazon and we can't speak about the quality of all of them so be wary if you don't recognize the company name, no matter how tempting the deal is. If you're unsure you can always check out our best telescopes and budget telescopes under $500 guides to help you with your telescopic needs. Otherwise, if you want to check out the best telescopes on Amazon, read on below.
Telescopes on Amazon: Today's best deals
Buying advice
There are three main types of telescope: refractors, reflectors and catadioptric. Below, we’ve gone into the benefits and drawbacks of each design. If you want a full breakdown, have a look through the guidance in our article on the best telescopes.
Refractors
These telescopes are usually best for providing high-magnification views of targets like planets and the moon. They’re also very easy to set up and to maintain. Combine this with the fact that they usually retail for a lower price point and you can see why this is a popular option with beginners. They do tend to suffer from a visual problem called ‘chromatic aberration’, where bright objects in the sky appear to be surrounded by a halo. However, this shouldn’t dampen the experience for any viewers.
Reflectors
With wider apertures, these types of telescope are able to take in more light and therefore better suited for spotting fainter objects. They tend to be useful for views of low-magnification targets like galaxies and nebulas. Unfortunately, these types of telescopes can suffer from something called the ‘coma’ effect, where objects appear elongated instead of spherical/ circular. Again, though, this is a minor issue - and probably something you can get used to at this low price point.
Catadioptric
There are two main catadioptric designs: the Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain. Both types often come with a computerized GoTo system, which can work out your position and location - and align with night sky targets that you program into the device. They also usually fix the problems mentioned above (coma and chromatic aberration.) As such, they’re also usually more expensive. Typically, you’ll find that the Schmidt-Cassegrain designs have bigger apertures, and the Maksutov-Cassegrain sport smaller apertures, so the former is better for fainter deep sky targets and the latter will offer high magnification views.
Deals you missed
When a deal has expired, we'll move it below. That way, you can compare current prices to those in the past. You'll also get a sense of what to look for when you're seeking out telescopes on Amazon.
