Explore the Universe: The Top 15 Telescopes for Amateur Astronomers in 2023
Alex Blair Jun 8, 2023 11:40 PM
The hobby of amateur astronomy is growing in popularity, so it's important to have access to the best telescope possible. However, there are a lot of options out there, so it can be difficult to know which ones are the best. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best telescopes for amateur astronomer. Keep reading to learn more!
HOW WE PICKED & TESTED
- Clear optics: We test telescope optics for haze, flaws, and chromatic aberrations, and we compare our picks against models from major manufacturers.
- User-friendliness: We assess each telescope’s setup and ease of use, and we test its image quality.
- Sizes: We look for telescopes that fit both beginner and advanced users.
And the winners:
Best Overall Telescope: Orion StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope
The StarBlast II 4.5 EQ is a fun little four-inch telescope that is compact enough to be portable, but large enough to give everyone in the family viewing opportunities. The optical quality is good, and the 70mm f/2.8 lens and wider field of view are enough to capture plenty of detail. It comes with two eyepieces, one 20-power and one 50-power. (The previous version of this telescope came with a 25mm and 10mm.) The included tripod is also adjustable in height, so you can set it up higher or lower for more people. It's also convenient that the StarBlast II has slow motion controls on the EQ mount, so you can get objects centered in your eyepiece, even if they're moving fast across the sky during certain astronomical events.
The Orion Starblast II is a decent choice for families who want a fun, portable telescope, but the six-inch cousin, the Orion StarBlast 6.5 EQ, is a better choice. Orion StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope has a larger aperture, better optics, and a much better optical finder.
Features We Like
- Portable and Easy to Use
- Great Optics and Ease of Operation
- Comes With 2 Eyepiece Pairs
- Comes With Accessories
- Comes With Manufacturer's Limited Lifetime Warranty
Check Today's Deal
Best Value Telescope: Sarblue Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope, Mak60 Telescopes for Kids Adults 750x60mm, Compact
This Maksutov-Cassegrain 750x60mm telescope is a good choice for a beginner or a kid who wants to discover the night sky. It highlights excellent image quality, and it's excellent for kids.
Sarblue Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope, Mak60 Telescopes for Kids Adults 750x60mm, Compact performed well in bright daylight, and it's compact and portable. It works well with both smartphone and tablet, and while it's not the brightest telescope we tested, it's not bad for the price. The 25-35mm eyepiece that comes with the telescope is a nice addition, and the full accessories set is a nice touch as well.
The only complaint we have about this telescope is the included eyepieces. We highly recommend the 50mm model, which is $30 more than the 25mm eyepiece, but the 25mm eyepiece makes viewing objects near the zenith difficult.
Features We Like
- Compact & Portable
- Mak60 Design Delivers Crisp and Clear Images
- Easy to Use and Setup
- High Quality Optics
- Easy to Carry
Check Today's Deal
Best Saving Product: Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm
This telescope has a good reputation and it's easy enough for beginners to use, but we found the image clarity and color rendition subpar compared to the competition. Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm has a wide field of view but mediocre image quality, and the resolution drops off fast as you move from center to edge.
Also, the tripod was packaged separately, and an additional accessory pack (including a carrying bag, remote control, tripod, eyepiece, and Barlow lens) costs more money. For the price, we wish the optics were better.
Features We Like
- Wireless Bluetooth Phone Adapter (Android & IOS)
- Carrying Bag Included
- Reflector Lens Included
- Telescope Tripod Can Work With A cellphone
- Quality is Guaranteed
Check Today's Deal
- AI Score9.8
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandOrion
Sarblue Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope, Mak60 Telescopes for Kids Adults 750x60mm, Compact
CHECK LATEST PRICE- AI Score9.7
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandSARBLUE
- Prime
- AI Score9.6
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandHEXEUM
Gskyer Telescope, Telescopes for Adults, 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope,Telescope
CHECK LATEST PRICE- AI Score9.4
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandGskyer
- Prime
- AI Score9.2
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandGskyer
- Prime
- AI Score9.0
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- Prime
- AI Score8.8
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandSOLOMARK
- Prime
- AI Score8.8
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- Prime
- AI Score8.8
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- Prime
Telescope 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescopes for Adults, Professional Telescopes for
CHECK LATEST PRICE- AI Score8.6
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandSOLOMARK
SOLOMARK Telescope, 80EQ Refractor Professional Telescope -700mm Focal Length Telescopes
CHECK LATEST PRICE- AI Score8.4
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandSOLOMARK
- Prime
- AI Score8.4
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- Prime
- AI Score8.4
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- AI Score8.4
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- AI Score8.2
The AI Score algorithm meticulously scrutinizes data from a multitude of websites, providing you with an all-encompassing score. It is important to note that AI Score is an impartial tool, devoid of any affiliations or influences from manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more
- BrandCelestron
- Prime
Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here are some important factors to consider when it comes to buying a good telescope:
- Get the right telescope for the right price: When buying a telescope, it is important to ensure that you get the right telescope for the right price. The wrong telescope may not be useful at all, especially if you are using it for the first time.
- Budget: Do you have a budget? This is very important because a telescope can be expensive.
- Ease of use: Look for a telescope that has features such as an altazimuth mount. This will help you in making adjustments and in adjusting the telescope with ease.
- Telescope lens size: Another important thing to consider is the telescope lens size.
- Telescope eyepieces: Another important thing to consider is the telescope eyepieces.
FAQ 1: What is the best telescope for an amateur astronomer?
Answer: The best telescope for an amateur astronomer depends on their needs and wants. Generally speaking, there are three categories of telescopes for the amateur astronomer refractor, reflector, or a compound. Refractor telescopes use lenses to gather light and present a sharper image in the eyepiece; they tend to have smaller apertures and be more portable. Reflector telescopes use mirrors to gather light and are usually larger in size since they can have larger apertures; however, they may require some periodic maintenance as the mirrors get dusty over time. Finally, compound telescopes are hybrids of refractors and reflectors; they use lenses and mirrors together to provide maximum light gathering ability with less weight than either type individually.
FAQ 2: How much should I spend on a telescope for amatuer astronomy?
Answer: The amount spent on a telescope for amateur astronomy depends primarily on two factors how serious the user is about their hobby and what features are desired in the telescope itself. Beginner telescopes can start at around $100 while higher end models can cost several hundred dollars or even more if additional accessories such as motorized mounts are included. High quality optics also require greater investment so it's important to consider how much you're willing to spend before making a purchase. Generally speaking, if you're looking to get into astrophotography then you'll need to budget accordingly since these types of activities require specialized equipment that can be fairly expensive.
FAQ 3: Are there any good mid range telescopes for amateur astronomers?
Answer: Absolutely! Mid range telescopes can provide great performance without breaking the bank so many novice astronomers opt for them when starting out with their hobby. Some popular mid range options include Dobsonian mounts which usually offer good stability at an affordable price point; Schmidt Cassegrain models which offer larger aperture sizes without requiring too much maintenance; or Mak Cass hybrids which combine both optical designs into one unit providing solid performance at various focal lengths. When shopping around it’s important to read reviews from other users in order to gain an understanding of what may work best given your specific needs and wants as an amateur astronomer!
In conclusion, the best telescope for amateur astronomer of 2022 is Orion StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope. It has great optics and ease of operation. It is easy to operate, has a large database of objects, and is perfect for beginners.
Other great telescopes include Sarblue Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope, Mak60 Telescopes for Kids Adults 750x60mm, Compact and tTelescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm. All of these telescopes offer superb optics and features, and will get you started on your journey to explore the night sky.
Don't forget to check: