The best telescopes allow astronomers to access exceptional night sky views, from stars and planets to galaxies and nebulas. They come in various configurations; our guide breaks down the jargon and runs through the factors that matter when choosing a telescope.
December is the perfect time to buy a new telescope, whether you're fresh to skywatching or a seasoned pro upgrading your kit. The Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice — the longest night of the year — arrives on Dec. 21, bringing great views of bright planets like Jupiter and Mars, which will be perfectly visible in the dark sky. The Cold Moon, rising Dec. 15, is also a great target for spotting famous lunar features, such as large craters or even Apollo landing sites (read more in our moon observation guide).
We've included telescopes suitable for a range of different purposes in this guide, but we can also guide you through seeing planets, observing deep space, getting started with beginner telescopes or getting clever with the best smart telescopes. And if you're looking for a Christmas gift for the younger astronomers in your life, there are plenty of high-quality telescopes for kids that we've fully reviewed and tested.
The quick list
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.
Best budget telescope
The Celestron Inspire 100AZ is a great beginner scope for anyone just getting started with astronomy, it comes with a variety of accessories.
Best value for enthusiasts
We were really impressed with the Celestron Astro Fi 130 when we reviewed it and found it's very good value for money.
Best premium
We think this is an exceptional telescope that's easy to set up and offers breath-taking views. It's suitable for experienced astronomers too.
Best for astrophotography
This smart telescope takes beautiful deep sky photos in just a few seconds, but it's not an all-rounder telescope.
Best motorized telescope
A fantastic scope for any experience level, incredibly easy to use yet powerful enough for deep space exploration and even astrophotography.
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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.
Best for accessories
This telescope is suitable for capturing everything from nebulas to galaxies. It has outstanding optical quality with no signs of distortion, and can accommodate plenty of accessories.
Best smart telescope
If you've got the budget for it, this is Unistellar's most advanced telescope to date. It has a very reliable app and features a Smart Light Reduction feature to eliminate light pollution in urban environments.
Best for deep space
Great for experienced, long-time astronomers, this scope is excellent for astrophotography thanks to the Edge HD technology. It's a little on the heavy side, but it can carry a load of up to 30 lbs.
Best for kids
This is a great tabletop telescope and an ideal starting point for beginners and young astronomers. It's easy to set up and put away, but it's not the most powerful.
Best telescopes 2024 that we recommend
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Best for beginners
✅ 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.
❌ You want to travel with it: This telescope isn't the most portable as the tripod doesn't fold down entirely.
🔎 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 fantastic choice for beginners thanks to its fully computerized mount. Celestron's SkyAlign technology identifies the current date and time as well as your location to auto-find various targets within the night sky at the push of a button, making it easy for newcomers to get to grips with stargazing.
This telescope has a 4-inch (102mm) aperture and a focal length of 1,325mm, enough to give sharp views of the planets and other bright sky objects. The downside is that this combination results in a fairly narrow field of view of only 1.2 degrees, which means you will struggle to fit bigger deep sky objects into the view. The NexStar 4SE comes with a 25mm Plossl eyepiece, but we think you'll get better results if you purchase an additional 32mm eyepiece and Barlow lens to make the most of the 241x highest useful magnification.
This telescope is very sturdy in design, which is reflected in its weight. At 23 lbs (10.4 kg) the NexStar 4SE is far from the lightest on this list, nor is it the most portable, as its accompanying tripod doesn't fold down completely.
Another thing to note about this telescope is how power-hungry it is; the mount tears through the 8xAA batteries required so quickly, we'd recommend using an external power source instead. Because of this, the NexStar 4SE is perhaps best suited for those who want to stargaze from their backyard rather than take it on the go.
- Read our full Celestron NexStar 4SE review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Solid and sturdy build, signature orange colors. |
| Performance | Great for observing the moon and planets. |
| Functionality | Alignment correction can be tricky. |
Best budget telescope
✅ You're a beginner: We found it easy to set up and take down, perfect for beginners.
✅ You want to take astro shots on your smartphone: The lens cap cleverly turns into a smartphone holder so you can capture images of the night sky.
❌ You aren't confident locating objects yourself: This telescope doesn't have GoTo technology, so you'll need to be able to locate specific celestial objects yourself (or with the help of a stargazing app).
❌ You want detailed views of deep sky objects: While this telescope can give great views of planets and the moon, objects further away may appear a little underwhelming.
🔎 Celestron Inspire 100az: Aimed at beginners and those looking to upgrade, this 4-inch refractor performs best with the moon and planets. It comes with a lens cap that converts to a smartphone holder for easy astrophotography. ★★★★
The Celestron Inspire 100AZ is a great choice for beginners. Its user-friendly features and sturdy build make it a breeze to use even for the uninitiated, and it's a relatively affordable option compared to other telescopes in this guide.
An achromatic refractor with a 4-inch/100mm aperture and a reasonably short focal length of 660mm, the Celestron Inspire 100AZ is designed to be used at home to view planets, the moon and deep sky objects. It's perched on a simple altazimuth mount that moves side to side and up and down, with a panhandle to lock it in the exact position you want.
The 100mm aperture gathers a significant amount of light, allowing clear observations of faint celestial objects like nebulas and galaxies. Moreover, its long focal length provides substantial magnification for detailed views of planets and other nearby objects.
During our Celestron Inspire 100AZ review, we noticed a small amount of false color (purple color fringing), and a slight blurring in the field of view. The latter is easily resolved by investing in one of the best eyepieces to make the most of the Inspire 100AZ's optical system. The slight amount of false color shouldn't be a dealbreaker for most, unless you are particularly keen on getting completely accurate colors.
The Inspire 100AZ telescope comes with various accessories including two eyepieces, a red LED flashlight to maintain night vision, an accessory tray and a StarPointer Pro finderscope for locating celestial objects. We loved that the lens cap turns into a smartphone adapter, so you can take astro shots with your phone.
- Read our full Celestron Inspire 100AZ review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Fairly lightweight. |
| Performance | Excels with lunar views. |
| Functionality | Easy to set up and take down. |
Best value for enthusiasts
✅ You want a beginner-friendly, grab & go, easy-to-use telescope: We thought this was a great entry-level telescope that can find targets at the touch of a button and is great for on-the-go observations.
❌ You want a 'traditional' telescope: We found this telescope is completely useless without the app, so if you want a more traditional telescope without much of the newer technology, look elsewhere.
🔎 Celestron Astro Fi 130: A good telescope at an exceptionally good price, it has everything you'd need if you're just starting out, although we would recommend upgrading some of the pieces included. It can lose charge quickly in cold conditions, though, so consider buying an additional power source. ★★★½
Celestron's Astro Fi 130 is a very capable entry-level telescope with an affordable price tag. This well-constructed telescope consists of a Newtonian reflector and a sturdy aluminum tripod, 10mm and 25mm Kellner eyepieces offering 65x and 26x magnification, and a red dot finder.
We'd strongly recommend purchasing some mid-range Plossl eyepieces to get the very best out of this scope. During our Celestron Astro Fi 130 review, we also noted that its batteries can be quick to drain in cold weather, so you might want to consider investing in 12V rechargeable batteries.
This telescope is a great choice for beginners; it has everything they need to get started on their stargazing journey. The SkyAlign technology doesn't require prior knowledge of the night sky to get ready for viewing, and the Celestron SkyPortal app makes it easy to control the scope via your smartphone or tablet. The app can even recommend celestial objects to view and guide the computerized mount to them.
The optics on the Astro Fi 130 allow for good views of the Moon, offering enough magnification to see the craters and rilles on the lunar surface. Venus and Mars are also easy to pick out, and we were even able to catch a glimpse of the Andromeda Galaxy.
- Read our full Celestron Astro Fi 130 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Very sturdy build with well constructed tube and tripod. |
| Performance | Makes use of SkyAlign technology for easy alignment. |
| Functionality | Great for lunar and planetary observing, but some views are fuzzy. |
Best premium
✅ You want to view a wide range of subjects: This scope has a large aperture which enables clear and detailed views of a wide range of celestial objects, including planets, deep-sky objects and nebulas.
✅ You're an experienced skywatcher: Although its easy setup is a dream for beginners, this scope is best suited for more advanced, passionate astronomers who want a full view of the universe.
❌ You want something portable: Portability isn't one of the Evolution 9.25's strengths, so it's best used for backyard gazing.
🔎 Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25: A fantastic telescope best suited to experienced skywatchers, with a price tag to match its premium features. It's not the easiest to transport, but we think it's one of the best GoTo telescopes you can buy ★★★★½
The Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 is an outstanding GoTo scope that provides breath-taking views of the night sky. Its Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube boasts a generous aperture of 235mm and a sturdy single-fork arm mount for stability and precision. The motorized mount features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that allows for an impressive 10 hours of uninterrupted stargazing.
The NexStar Evolution 9.25 comes with a good selection of accessories including a red dot finderscope, star diagonal, accessory tray, international AC adapter, hand control and two eyepieces (13mm and 40mm).
Unlike the previous option in this list, the NexStar Evolution 9.25 is a great pick for more experienced skywatchers looking for a top-of-the-range telescope. It's an investment, sure, but it's impressively designed and boasts quality features.
Astrophotographers may also find this telescope and its motorized mount to their liking as it can track the movement of celestial objects. You can easily control the NexStar Evolution 9.25 through the free Celestron SkyPortal app, which removes the need for a controller and frees up your hands during shoots.
While it boasts an impressive design, this telescope is on the heavier side. As such, it's definitely not the most portable option, and we think it's best suited for backyard stargazing. Nevertheless, its robust construction and excellent features more than make up for this if you're not looking for a telescope to take on the go.
- Grab a bargain over on our Celestron Binocular and Telescope deals page
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | A bit bulky and tricky to transport. |
| Performance | Crisp views with no defects. |
| Functionality | Motorized mount a good choice for astrophotography. |
Best for astrophotography
✅ You want an automated telescope: Focusing, tracking, finding targets and stacking processed images is all automatic with this one.
✅ You want to take deep sky images: The Origin can do this and more in just a few minutes, with little pre-knowledge required.
❌ You want a traditional telescope: This one doesn't have an eyepiece and only gives you views of the night sky on a mobile device.
❌ You're on a budget: At around $4,000, this telescope is on the pricier side.
🔎 Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory: This (pricey) smart telescope can do every part of stargazing autonomously, and produces beautiful photos of the night sky in seconds. ★★★★½
The Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory is a smart telescope unlike any other, in that it doesn't come with an eyepiece and has a built-in camera instead. Essentially, it allows you to view and image the night sky on a mobile device rather than through the telescope directly.
The result is beautiful, clear images of deep sky objects and distant galaxies in a matter of seconds, even in areas with light pollution. During our Celestron Origin review, we found that within seconds of selecting an object in the accompanying app, the telescope could capture crystal clear images of nebulas with almost no noise. We liked the fact the 'snapshot' mode allows you to manually adjust settings to take single photos, too. That said, we didn't have much luck imaging planets, though it may be that we needed more time with the telescope to get to grips with it.
Beginners will love this telescope thanks to the quick and easy setup. It can also handle every part of stargazing automatically, from focusing to tracking targets, which means you can start using it with no previous astronomy experience. The Origin app is easy to use and makes taking images effortless. The 'Planetarium View' shows users a representation of the night sky, and tapping on an object gives you the option to slew the telescope to it directly.
The Celestron Origin looks like a standard telescope, but as mentioned above, it doesn't have an eyepiece. It's also on the heavy side, so it's not one to buy if you're looking for a telescope to take on the go. The nearly $4,000 price tag might also put off some potential buyers, but if you have the funds, we'd highly recommend this smart telescope.
- Read our full Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Bulky, but full of useful features on the mount. |
| Performance | Beautiful, clear photos of deep sky objects. |
| Functionality | Motorized mount, but not a traditional telescope with an eyepiece. |
Best motorized telescope
✅ You're looking for a long-term telescope: There's no question that this telescope is pricey, but it's one that will last you for decades — it's not called 'The World's Most Beloved Telescope' for nothing.
✅ You want to use it for astrophotography: Thanks to the smooth and accurate tracking, this scope is a great option for taking stunning astro images of deep sky objects.
❌ You're on a budget: Although this is definitely worth the money and we'd recommend it if your budget can stretch to it, it is very pricey. If you're on a budget or you're new to the medium, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that will be more than good enough.
🔎 Celestron NexStar 8SE: An outstanding telescope with incredible optics that would suit a beginner, intermediate or advanced astronomer. It's great for astrophotography and gives beautifully bright and detailed views. Our only fault with it is that it can price out beginners. ★★★★½
The Celestron NexStar 8SE is one of the most flexible telescopes we've ever reviewed, and an ideal scope to learn and grow with. It's beginner-friendly, requiring no prior knowledge of the night sky to use, yet its stunning optics will be enough to satisfy intermediate to advanced astronomers as well. The only downside is the price, but if you have the funds, then we have no qualms about recommending it.
The Celestron SkyAlign app helps you to align the scope using three bright stars, after which the entire operation is automated. You simply push the buttons on the handheld remote to select your desired celestial object and the motorized mount will slew the telescope towards your target. You can select from a range of objects categorized under 'solar system', 'stars' or 'deep sky', or you can select 'sky tour' which will automatically choose objects of interest to show you depending on your location.
With an 8-inch aperture and Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design, this telescope is able to absorb a huge amount of light and offers bright and clear views of objects within our solar system and beyond. The catadioptric construction, which combines both refraction and reflection, has allowed Celestron to keep the distinctive orange tube relatively short, so it's eminently portable for taking with you on the hunt for darker skies.
In our Celestron NexStar 8SE review we were seriously impressed by the smoothness and accuracy of the motorized fork arm and think it would be a great option for those seeking to do long-exposure astrophotography. However, the telescope does require a whopping 8x AA batteries, so we'd recommend buying some rechargeable batteries for this power-hungry scope to prevent future costs from mounting up. This is especially important considering that the range of the Celestron NexStar 8SE means that you'll likely be using it for many years to come.
- Read our full Celestron NexStar 8SE review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Can be transported as a fully-assembled setup. |
| Performance | Outstanding optics, slightly tricky to align if you're not used to it. |
| Functionality | Easy to assemble and disassemble. |
Best for portability
✅ You'll be traveling with it: This scope is our top choice for portability, so it's ideal if you plan on taking it away on camping trips or to areas with darker skies.
✅ You're a beginner: If you just want to look at the moon and some planets, this is a great choice.
❌ You want good quality parts: This telescope has an element of 'you get what you pay for'. It's adequate for basic astronomy, but the tripod isn't the best quality, the optics could be better and it didn't have a premium feel.
🔎 Celestron Astro Fi 102: Best suited for viewing the moon and planets, this telescope is great for beginners and anyone with no prior experience. It can be a little tricky to setup initially, and it's not the best quality scope we've reviewed, but it'll do the job. ★★★½
The Celestron Astro Fi 102 has many benefits for newcomers to astronomy — it's relatively easy to set up, it has a motorized mount that automatically slews to your chosen target and it's in an affordable price bracket for a Maksutov-Cassegrain scope. It also has an array of convenient features and accessories to help you get started.
One of the things we loved about this scope in our Celestron Astro Fi 102 telescope review was its portability. It has a compact body and weighs only 6 lbs (2.7kg), so it's extremely easy to carry with you out in the field. A word of caution, though, it's not as robust as some pricier scopes and probably couldn't withstand getting wet, so make sure to take a cover with you in case of passing showers. We also think it would feel more stable with a sturdier tripod as the one that's included felt a bit flimsy and needed some extra weighing down.
This telescope comes with integrated WiFi so you can pair it with your phone using the Celestron SkyPortal app. The app contains around 100,000 celestial objects that you can select for the telescope to slew to, making it easy for beginners to navigate the sky above them with no prior knowledge.
For the price, the Celestron Astro Fi 102 offers good views of the Moon and its craters and closer planets such as Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. In good conditions, you can also hope to catch a glimpse of Uranus or Neptune. There is some sharpness drop-off towards the edges, but you'd need to purchase a much more expensive scope to avoid this.
The plastic casing is acceptable but we don't think it could survive a substantial knock or a soaking from a passing shower as the seals aren't great, unlike some of the hardier, fully-sealed telescopes available.
- Read our full Celestron Astro Fi 102 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Highly transportable, but tripod needs weighing down. |
| Performance | Initial setup can be tricky, but after that it's a breeze. |
| Functionality | Large database of celestial objects on SkyPortal. |
Best for accessories
✅ You want to travel with it: Most astrophotography involves traveling to dark sky sites, and this telescope is light enough to do just that.
✅ Your primary focus is astrophotography: We recommend this telescope as the best for astrophotography thanks to its amazing optics.
❌ You're looking for something super sophisticated: For those looking for high-end, sophisticated instruments and have the money to spend on them, a smart telescope would likely be a better fit.
🔎 Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 PRO: This telescope is perfect for astrophotographers who want to take it on shoots — it has great quality optics and an excellent build. It can accommodate plenty of accessories, although not all models come with a tripod. ★★★★
The Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 is perfect for astrophotographers thanks to its high-quality equatorial mount, which can suit both short and long-exposure shots.
This telescope weighs in at just 13.23 lbs (6kg) so you can easily take it to different locations to seek out darker skies. It works well with many equatorial mounts and accommodates additional accessories like CCD or DSLR cameras, filter wheels and other add-ons. It also comes with a Vixen-style dovetail plate for easy mount attachment.
This well-built Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope comes with a 28mm focal length eyepiece that provides 64x magnification, enabling you to see detailed views of various celestial objects.
The Skymax 150's optics are impressive, delivering crisp, distortion-free views. It's a versatile telescope, perfect for capturing images of planets or distant galaxies and nebulas. It's also user-friendly and easy to accessorize, making it a great choice for astronomers and astrophotographers of all abilities. We also think the Skymax 150 is very good value compared to some other products on this list.
The focuser is very smooth to operate and the telescope keeps a good amount of fine focus once it's been found, which is vital for long nights of astrophotography sessions.
If this isn't the right telescope for your needs, but you're still after a Sky-Watcher scope, check out our Sky-Watcher deals hub to find more models from the brand.
- Check out the Best cameras for astrophotography
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | High quality build, excellent optics. |
| Performance | Outstanding optics, with no sign of distortion. |
| Functionality | Great for a wide selection of astrophotography. |