These days, many of us live in cities and towns with a lot of light pollution, meaning we often cannot see the stars. The use of a telescope can reveal more stars. In this guide we consider what the best telescope on Amazon is.
However, there are plenty of places out in nature that we can escape to, and when we do, we can see stars in all their glory.
Of course, you cannot do without a telescope! Telescopes allow you to see the sky a lot more clearly and make for a wonderful star-gazing experience.
However, there is an abundance of telescopes out there and many places to buy them from. So, in trying to find the best one, you would normally be faced with decision fatigue. But we are here to help! In this article, we will discuss the best telescopes you can buy on Amazon (Find out What Are The Two Most Important Properties Of A Telescope?). Amazon is a huge online retailer that has many great telescopes to choose from.
We will take you through our top 5 telescopes as well as provide a guide on the qualities to look for when choosing a telescope, and more! So, if you’re interested, be sure to read on.
Best Telescopes On Amazon
Let’s check out our top picks for the best telescopes on Amazon!
The AstroMaster Newtonian telescope from Celestron is great for beginners who have no experience when it comes to stargazing.
It has a very easy setup process and comes with a German Equatorial mount which means it turns smoothly and pointing will be more accurate. So, beginners can get used to assembling and handling the telescope quickly. This Celestron telescope comes with a Newtonian reflector that has an aperture of 130mm!
This means that the telescope, when used correctly (Check out How To Focus A Telescope), should be able to see the craters on the moon, star clusters, the Galilean moons of Jupiter, and the rings of Saturn! Some bright nebulae will also be visible.
This is a scope that allows you to get lost exploring the skies above us, which is perfect for cozy date nights or a fun night with fellow astronomy enthusiasts! And that’s not all! This telescope comes with many accessories for you to experiment with to find out how you like to gaze at the stars.
It includes a tripod, glass optics that are fully coated, two eyepieces, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope.
You can even access a free download of one of the highest-rated astronomy platforms to take your love of space to the next level!
Pros
Easy set up process – ideal for beginners
Comes with many accessories
Newtonian reflector for a detailed gaze at moons and planets
This telescope is suitable for both children and adults to use. It does not require any tools to be set up and the instructions are clear and easy to follow.
One of the highlights of this telescope is that it is portable. It comes with a carrying bag meaning it is easy to pack up and take wherever you like. So, no matter if you want to stargaze in your backyard or on vacation in another state, this is the scope for you!
Another highlight of this Hexum telescope is its high-quality optics. It has an aperture of 80mm (3.1″) and a focal length of 600mm (23.6″).
This means it is able to capture more light to make the sky brighter and of more clarity. Not only that, but locating planets and constellations in the sky is made easier with the 5×24 finder scope.
The Hexum telescope comes with two eyepieces that are easily replaceable. Also included is a 3 x Barlow lens that trebles the magnification of each eyepiece for a better stargazing experience.
Pros
Can be used by both children and adults
Comes with a portable carrying bag for convenience
Optics of high quality to better see the sky at night
Cons
Reports of issues with the telescope locking mechanism
Can you name all of the constellations in the night sky? Well, pick up this telescope and learn how! This Solomark telescope is a reflector telescope, meaning it uses mirrors instead of optical lenses.
Not only that but the surface of this telescope’s tube is covered in carbon fiber, meaning it is a sophisticated design that is both light and sturdy. In fact, Solomark boasts the high quality of this telescope and tripod.
The tripod is adjustable and made from aluminum alloy. It makes for a smooth use to see the various constellations in the sky at your leisure.
You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of storage space if you want to use this telescope because it comes with many accessories, such as an extra tray for the tripod, a 1.5 X Barlow lens, a 13% moon filter, 2 eyepieces, and a cellphone adapter so you can take amazing pictures of the sky!
Pros
Comes with a sturdy tripod
High-quality optics so you can observe the planets with ease
Comes with a cellphone holder so you can take beautiful pictures of the sky
This is another great telescope from Celestron! Beginners can use it but it is well-suited to telescope pros who want something a little different from the typical telescope.
This Celestron NexStar telescope is computerized and has the latest technology and features for a unique space observation experience. It comes with a remote control that can be used to track stars in the sky.
Find what you want and watch the telescope move to that exact star position. So, you can choose to gaze at all of your favorite constellations and planets.
This automated go-to mount has a database of over 40,000 celestial objects, so you can even find new favorites!
This telescope has an 8-inch (200 mm) mirror which is able to gather enough light to make the sky brighter and clearer.
And, you can attach a camera to the telescope to take some wonderful close-up pictures of the sky!
Pros
Telescope connected to a database of 40,000 celestial objects so you can easily find your favorite constellations
Comes with high-quality optics including an 8-inch mirror
Excellent 2-year warranty and customer support
Cons
The control setup is complicated
Reports that the controls are difficult to calibrate and align with stars
Last but not least, we have this excellent refractor telescope from Gskyer! This telescope comes with three eyepieces of different sizes, 120x, 60x, and 24x, which make for different (but equally brilliant) viewing experiences.
The aluminum tripod is also adjustable, meaning you can access various viewing positions and challenge yourself to find as many constellations as possible – you can even make up some new ones!
Not only that, but it also comes with 3x Barlow lens trebles the magnification of each eyepiece and ensures that the sky is clear – you can easily get lost in the night’s sky with this simple telescope.
The Gskyer telescope comes with high-quality optics. The glass lens has an aperture of 90mm (3.5″) and is fully coated which means you get to experience amazing images while protecting your eyes.
Pros
Portable telescope
Comes with 3 different eyepieces
90mm aperture that is fully coated, which means your eyes are protected while observing the stars
Cons
You have to be sat down or on your knees to view the sky, even when the telescope is fully extended. Viewing can become more comfortable with the addition of a diagonal.
Best Telescope On Amazon: Buyer’s Guide
Sometimes, deciding on the best telescope for you can get a little overwhelming, even when the list has been narrowed down to the top 5.
However, we have a solution for that, too! We have composed a buyer’s guide for the top features to look out for when shopping for telescopes on Amazon!
Exploring these features in more detail will help you to narrow down what you are looking for in a telescope and find the one that is best for you!
If you decide on a Celestron telescope you might like our article How To Use A Celestron Telescope.Let’s check out our buyer’s guide in more detail below!
Aperture
Aperture is the term used to describe how well a telescope can gather light. The aperture of a telescope is how well it can gather light to make the fuzzy images of the sky clearer and brighter.
It is one of the most important features of a telescope so you should consider it carefully.
The smaller the aperture, the less clear the sky is going to be. Generally, any telescope with a 70mm (2.8″) aperture or less will only be suitable for viewing the moon. There are many benefits of using a telescope with a larger aperture.
So, you will want at least 80mm (3.1″) for a clearer viewing experience when it comes to stars and other celestial objects.
Focal Ratio And Focal Length
The focal length of a telescope is the distance the mirror or lens needs to be able to focus on the stars.
The focal length of the telescope is a deciding factor in the telescope length as well as the eyepiece’s respective magnifications.
Meanwhile, the focal ratio of a telescope refers to the tube’s focal length divided by the mirror or lens’ diameter. These numbers will be detailed on every telescope, so you will not need to do any math!
The lower the focal ratio is, the more difficult it is for the telescope to provide good magnification. So, if a telescope has a lower focal ratio then it is great to use in the daytime.
However, you will want to keep an eye out for a telescope with a higher focal ratio if you want to use it at night.
Reflecting vs Refracting Telescopes
Although they sound similar, refracting and reflecting telescopes are different!
Reflecting telescopes use mirrors instead of convex glass. Light will bounce off these mirrors from inside the telescope and be brought to your eye. This allows you to see the night sky.
Reflecting scopes are amazing for seeing the darkest and deepest parts of space, and you will likely be able to see supernovas and globular clusters. Reflecting telescopes are not great for daytime viewing.
Refracting telescopes are the most popular type of telescope. These telescopes will collect light at the end of the tube, which allows you to see through them.
Reflector telescopes are the best for beginners because you will not need to adjust them manually as you do for other telescopes.
Refracting telescopes can typically be used at any time of day. You can use them in the daytime but also look at all of the planets and moons.
You can even use refractor telescopes in cities because they are great at reducing light pollution effects.
A major advantage of reflecting telescopes is that at larger aperatures the lenses in refractor telescopes become prohibitively expensive to produce. At large aperatures reflectors are cost-effective.So, if you are an advanced telescope user who wants to look at the deeper parts of space then you should opt for a reflecting telescope.
However, if you are new to the world of observing space and want to be able to use a telescope no matter the time of day, then you should opt for a refracting scope.
Telescope Mounts
Most telescopes will come with a mount. However, the mount needs to be of good quality to make the telescope easier to use.
So, having a quality mount is just as important as having a quality telescope.
If your mount wobbles or shakes when you are trying to use it, then this is going to make for a miserable stargazing experience. There are two types of mount for a telescope: The Equatorial and the Alt-Azimuth.
The Alt-Azimuth mount is a mount that is steady and can move in every direction. They have tensioning dials which means you can change the tension to one that works best for you.
Alt-Azimuth mounts can be used for astronomy and daytime terrestrial activities.
These can be transported with ease so are perfect for vacations or campouts. Some Dobsonian mounts of truss tubes that can easily be disassembled and reassembled as and when you need them.
Meanwhile, equatorial mounts are easy to use and can be adjusted easily. In an equatorial mount, there is a single axis that moves. A single movement of this axis compensates for the earth’s natural rotation.
This is important for astrophotography and for those who want to have a single spot fixed in their viewpoint.
Barlow Lenses
Barlow lenses are accessories that allow you to magnify your eyepieces. This means your eyes can be further away from the telescope and still be able to see a lot.
So, this provides them with relief and protection while still allowing you to observe the stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need To Leave The City To Use A Telescope?
Some celestial objects, such as galaxies and nebulae, are best observed in an environment that allows for a dark sky without light pollution.
However, you will be able to see the planets and the moon clearly by using a telescope in a city.
A good rule to follow is this: observations made in an area without light pollution will have more detail, and this is especially true when talking about deep space.
However, if you live in a city then you will still be able to see many objects in space.
Do I Need To Be An Astronomy Expert To Use A Telescope?
No, you do not need to be an astronomy expert to use a telescope! Many people who enjoy using telescopes know very little about observing space.
However, if you are a beginner, it is best to observe objects that are easier to find such as constellations, the moon, and planets like Mars, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter.
All of these listed objects are very bright and can easily be found by using star maps.
However, depending on the type of telescope you choose you can also try and spot objects in deep space such as galaxies!
What’s The Difference Between A Reflector And A Refractor Telescope
Reflector telescopes will use mirrors instead of lenses. They typically need to be manually adjusted and can be used to see the deepest and darkest parts of space.
These kinds of telescopes are not typically suitable for daytime terrestrial viewing.
On the other hand, refractor telescopes are perfect for beginners because they do not need to be manually adjusted.
These telescopes use lenses instead of mirrors and are suitable for both night and daytime viewing. They can even be used in cities, despite the light pollution.
Hi, my name is Jason Anderson, and I am a Physics Professor. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated with space, the universe, the moon, you name it. I spent hours and hours at the planetarium close to my hometown, wondering what else could be out in the universe.
Since then, I’ve been an avid stargazer and astronomer, and love nothing more than spending my time charting stars, observing planets, and finding constellations.
This is why I decided to start Telescope Guru. I only wish to share this fun pastime with the world. With this site, I hope to answer all of your questions relating to astronomy, telescopes, and stargazing.
