Whether you’re a beginning astronomer or a parent looking for the perfect starter scope for young observers, today’s best telescopes for beginners combine quality optics, ease of use, and quick access to a world of information about the wonders of the night sky — all for less than $100. Read on to learn more!

Not every new astronomer knows exactly where to start when buying a telescope for the first time. This guide will help make your decision process a little easier. Find out more here! 🔭

Find the best telescopes for beginners at OPT! Our vast collection of amateur telescopes include features like easy setup, kid-friendly, and portability. Start your astronomy journey here!

Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced amateur, this helpful guide compares 12 popular telescope designs to help you decide which telescope to buy!

By Brian Fulda

Meet the OPTeam! Mack Murdoc, @mackmurdoc on Instagram, shares the inspiring moment that got him started in astrophotography and a few of his favorite images. Learn more about his journey here!

Get to know Antoine & Dalia Grelin, also known as Galactic Hunter, in this exclusive OPT interview! Learn how they met, their goals, and some fun things that might surprise you! 

Not sure what each piece of your telescope is for? This step-by-step beginner's telescope guide will show you everything you need to know to get started!

OPT is proud to present this special presentation of Women in Astronomy!

Watch this video to learn about women in the space industry like NASA engineers, OPTeam astrophotographers, and many more! Everyone’s story in astronomy starts somewhere, and like many beginners, they were all once there too. We hope you are inspired to pursue your dreams and to keep looking up.

Clear Skies Network brings the global astronomy community straight to your home living room with world-class guest speakers, who sometimes invite special guests of their own!

Find the telescope that's right for you with our telescope buying guide. Explore what there is to know before making your decision, the parts of a telescope, and more! 🔭

Finding the perfect telescope can be tough with so many options. Fortunately, OPT is here to help guide you with our picks for the Top 10 Best Telescopes Under $500!

With such a large variety, it may be difficult for a novice to make the right decision on what type of Telescope to invest in. Fortunately, OPT is here to help guide you to the Top 10 Best Telescopes Under $300!

It is estimated that Mars won't be close again until 2035. Don't miss this exciting event and check out The Top 10 Telescopes for Mars Opposition!

The Cassegrain Telescope emerged over time as one of the most popular designs in the world. The sharp, high-contrast images of both deep-sky objects and planets this telescope produces make it a good choice for both the intermediate and more experienced astronomer. Learn more here to find out if it's the right telescope for you!

As some of the least expensive and most common types of reflecting telescopes, Newtonian Telescopes bring just that to both amateur astrophotographers and experienced astronomers. Here's some valuable information from OPT about the ins and outs of these versatile telescopes!

Whether you're looking to beat the glow of city lights for stargazing or doing astrophotography, this blog has you covered on how to find dark sky sites and what to do if you can't leave the city.

Find out what magnification you need to see your favorite planets in the night sky tonight!

Galaxies are some of the most distant objects we can observe. While most planets, stars, and nebulae are usually pretty nearby to us, we can observe galaxies that are millions of light years away. Find out how here!

The Jupiter and Saturn conjunction has not been this close in over 200 years! Click here to see our best planetary guides in one!

Observing the planets is easier and more fun with a telescope! Learn about the different features visible on each planet and how to best observe them. 

Check out these 5 ways to stargaze without a telescope tips for the best night viewing experience. Enjoy the beauty of the night sky next time you are out at night and don't forget to look up!

The constellation of Lyra shines bright in the Northern Hemisphere from spring through late autumn and is home to one of the brightest stars in the sky: Vega. Learn more about this constellation and the star deaths found within it. 

 

By Tony Darnell

 

What's in the sky? We've summed it all up for you in this helpful guide: The Top Astronomy Events of June 2022!

What's in the sky? We've summed it all up for you in this helpful guide: The Top Astronomy Events of May 2022!

Don't miss out on the top celestial events of April 2022 with this helpful blog post!

Mark your calendar and save the date for these astronomy events heading this month! You can also download the free calendars provided to you by OPT. Clear Skies!

August 2021 has many exciting events this month for all levels. Plan ahead and spend time under the stars! Learn more here.✨

 

By Yessenia S. Pereyra

Take more astro adventures with this ultimate astro bucket list! Whether you are a new astronomer, or looking for a challenge, these events are some of the best you can experience in a lifetime!

These astronomy events for July 2021 are a great reason to stargaze this month! Learn more here. >

Check out these exciting things happening in the night sky! Click here to see the full list and save the date.

Get ready to look up in May with these exciting astronomy events happening all month! We also get to welcome the start of Milky Way season! Learn more here. 🌠

Save the date for these April astronomy events! Check out what else is in the night sky for each hemisphere too.

Get ready to kick-off the galaxy season with our What's in the Sky blog for March! Plan ahead and download our easy to read calendars. Clear skies! 🔭✨

Looking for what's in the sky this year? Check out our list of the best astronomy events happening in 2021!

Get ready for February's cosmic display of astronomy events with this easy to read calendar! Download it and save it as a reference throughout the month. Clear skies! 🔭✨

Don’t miss any of the astronomy events happening in 2021! Get your gear ready and check out this blog with free downloadable calendars to save the date. 

We are closing out 2020 with some rare astronomy events like the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn! Download your free calendars here and save the date for these astronomical events happening December 2020!

New season, new night sky targets! Download your free calendars here and grab your seasonal outerwear to fall in love with the night sky again and again with these November 2021 astronomy events. 

It's spooky season and the night sky has a lot of treats for astronomers to observe and image all month long! Click here to download your free calendars and save the date! 🎃

Get ready for the Mars Opposition 2020 with OPT's guide that includes info on what telescopes, cameras, and accessories will give you the best experience and success in imaging or observing Mars. See how AstroBackyard captured Mars and what equipment he used. Click here to learn more!

Cloudy outside? Read this guide for some astronomy inspiration.

The Eagle Nebula, or Messier 16 as it is also known, is only about two million years old and is part of a star cluster containing some 8,100 stars. And while the brightest stars in the cluster are visible with binoculars, the nebula itself can only be seen through a telescope.

Read more about the differences of viewing this iconic astronomical target between the famous Hubble Space Telescope, and viewing from a telescope from your own backyard!

By Tony Darnell

Learn how to master basic star trails with this OPT astrophotography tutorial! Learn about basic settings, difference between settings to capture star trails, and more! Watch it here.

Capture the universe and hold it in your pocket with the help of telescope smartphone adapters! Learn all about these helpful and affordable tools on OPT University.

By Danielle Austin

Ever wondered what gear you need to do astrophotography? This blog post goes over everything from simple astrophotography with a smartphone or DSLR up to complex deep sky astrophotography setups.

By Brian Fulda

Learn about the common mechanical issue your equipment can experience with long exposure imaging and how to fix it. 

By Yessenia S. Pereyra

Test your knowledge or learn something new! This astrophotography glossary will help you understand some of the common terms used in the hobby.

 

By Yessenia S. Pereyra

Explore the many different levels of deep sky astrophotography setups and find out what gear you need to achieve your dream image.

By Brian Fulda

Read up on which devices require power, ways to power your equipment from home, and what batteries to use when doing astrophotography out in the field!

By Antoine Grelin, OPT Affiliate

Learn about all the parts that make an astrophotography setup, also known as an astrophotography rig! Click here to watch it now.

Interested in light pollution filters, but aren't sure which one to get? This helpful blog post explains the differences in beginner's terms and provides helpful comparison charts and images to help you decide.

Join us as Rafal goes over the best tips and tricks to photograph the Moon for beginners and photographers in the hobby.

Whether you have years of experience with DSLR photography or you are just starting out this guide will give you the best options on what star tracker to start your journey into astrophotography.

Find out what the difference between monochrome vs color cameras here! Drew breaks down the differences between these astronomy cameras and more!

DSLRs or astro dedicated cameras? We break it all down for you here! 

One of the questions our imaging specialists get asked daily is do I need a color sensor or a monochrome sensor for astro-imaging? The quick answer is that you can use both! Both monochrome and color sensors have their benefits and both have their drawbacks.

Wonder what the difference between astrophotography monochrome and color cameras are? This blog will provide an introduction to the Bayer filter system and how it is used in color cameras to produce color astro-images!

Narrow your search on the best beginner deep space cameras with this list put together by OPT experts! See the stunning results that some OPT team members have captured with these beginner deep space cameras. See the pictures here!

OPT experts walk you through the essential step to capture stunning astro-images, which is polar alignment. Learning this astrophotography skill is important, especially when it comes to longer focal lengths.

Learn how to use the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer to get that perfect polar alignment every time! Having precise polar alignment will help you produce brighter and clearer astrophotography images.

Learn how to use your equatorial mount with this easy telescope tutorial by OPT experts. These tips will help you balance your EQ mount to perfection!

Learn how to use a QHYCCD Polemaster on telescope mounts to get that perfect polar alignment every time!

Scroll through this guide to learn more about the steps you need to take to capture your first astronomy image!

Ready to start producing nebulae images of your own? Read through our list of things you need to get started! This is part one into our astrophotography for beginners series. Let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get started in astrophotography? Check out this guide on the best astrophotography telescopes for beginners! We all need to start somewhere, and we'll show you the way.

An in-depth guide on DSLR astrophotography settings and techniques for optimal exposure. Take the best night sky photos tonight with OPT!

Got a DSLR or Mirrorless camera? You're already primed to start the DSLR astrophotography hobby. Find out how you can take amazing shots of the night sky!

Looking for the best and most affordable astrophotography setup? Check out OPT's curated list for beginners to start imaging the planets and deep sky!

What kind of imagers are there? How do the work? What are they best suited for? Find out in this article on the Telescope Camera Types.

Interested in planetary imaging, but don't know where to begin or what gear you need? We go over planetary imaging basics and cover all the best planetary telescopes, mounts, cameras, and accessories in this beginner-friendly blog post.

Planetary imaging is a fun and rewarding hobby that allows beginners and advanced amateur astronomers to delve into astronomical imaging without much of the expense and complexity of deep space astrophotography. There are also quite a few opportunities for planetary imagers to contribute to some significant scientific research. However, it is important to first understand what equipment is needed to successfully capture images of the solar system.

With many factors to consider such as location and equipment for the right approach to capturing a good-quality image of Jupiter you're probably thinking "Where do I start?" Follow this step-by-step guide on How To Image Jupiter and you will be well on your way to becoming an expert!

Thinking about getting started in astrophotography? The Star Adventurer Pro is the perfect astronomy tool to help you take that next step in capturing the night sky. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about setting up and using the Star Adventurer Pro!

Find some astrophotography inspiration with these top 10 Southern Hemisphere targets! This video also features astrophotography tips to get the best results. Watch it here. >

Milky Way season is here! Check out these top 15 summer objects to capture this summer. Click here to watch now.

Learn about every camera spec you need to know about your DSLR, Mirrorless, or Astro camera! Click here to watch the video now. 

There are two main guiding methods most people will choose from for Astrophotography, and those are the guide scope, and the off-axis guider. Read up and learn their own unique advantages and disadvantages.

By Bray Falls, OPT Affiliate

Have you finally moved on from stacking your single astrophotography images? Read our in-depth guide on How to Master Polar Alignment on Your Mount! 🔭

By Bray Falls, OPT Affiliate

What are Deep Sky Astrophotography Filters? Read up on what, when and where each type of filter can be useful for your Astrophotography sessions.

By Bray Falls, OPT Affiliate

Get your deep space gear ready because galaxy season is here! In this video Mack Murdoc goes over the top 15 spring targets you can capture this season. 🔭

Get that perfect image stretch with this tutorial on astrophotography image processing! Learn tips for Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, PixInsight, and more astrophotography software. Watch it here!

Figuring out the correct back focus for your telescope can be a daunting task to beginners and experienced astrophotographers alike. In this article, we’ll go over why back focus spacing is so important to get right, everything to consider for back focus spacing, and how to use adapters and spacers to get your back focus spacing perfect.

By Brian Fulda

Looking for the perfect astronomy gift for the space lover in your life? With the world's largest array of telescopes and astronomy accessories, OPT is your one-stop shop for astronomy gifts this holiday season!

We are proud to announce OPT's line of new product bundles for beginner astronomers and astrophotographers! Whether you're a beginner looking to start visually observing the night sky or you want to dip your feet into the hobby of astrophotography, OPT's bundles have got you covered.

The future of astrophotography is looking smart! Learn how you can easily explore and save the night sky to your phone with the Unistellar eQuinox and STELLINA by Vaonis. 🔭📱✨

Need help figuring out how to attach a dovetail, tube rings, or other accessory to  your telescope, or which one to buy? This blog has you covered!

By Brian Fulda

With many brands to choose from for mounts, cameras, telescopes, power supplies, computers, etc., it gets a bit mind-numbing trying to find a good setup that you know will work. Read up on our breakdown!

By Bray Falls, OPT Affiliate

We break down the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro and the iOptron SkyGuider Pro to answer your question on what makes these star trackers different. Spoiler alert: They are very similar! Learn more here.

By Yessenia S. Pereyra

The ZWO ASI183 is one of the most well-rounded cameras on the market! We break down all the reasons why the ASI183 is great for Deep Space, Planetary, Lunar, and Solar. Click here to watch now. >

This video goes over why the ZWO ASI174MM is a perfect astrophotography camera for planetary, lunar, solar, and deep sky imaging! Watch it here! >

Learn why an electronic focuser can improve your imaging sessions and how to install it onto your telescope with Mack Murdoc. Stream it here! >

Find the best accessories for galaxy season here! Mack Murdoc reviews what makes this list of astro gear our top 10 gear for capturing galaxies. Watch the video here. >

Looking for some deep space astrophotography gear inspiration? Watch as Mack Murdoc breaks down the top five cameras for galaxy season. Click play here!

Watch this video to learn what telescopes to use for galaxies. These best-performing telescopes are great for taking photos of galaxies and other deep space objects.

In three easy steps start your journey into the night sky. After downloading the app, no cell signal is needed to observe the night sky. Travel to remote sites to unlock even more objects to view in the night sky from the app. Learn more here!

Complete your dream astro toolbox with this guide on the best astrophotography accessories to optimize your image results as recommended by experts at OPT! 

Watch this video before upgrading your astronomy camera to the ZWO ASI1600MM Pro or the upgraded ASI2600MM Pro!

Find the perfect astrophotography stocking stuffers here! These gift ideas make excellent accessories to get the most out of imaging nights by optimizing astronomy setups. Learn more here.

Check out our astrophotography gift guide for that perfect astro-gift! 

The EAGLE 4 Pro has landed! Watch this video to learn about the premium-grade features you can experience with the PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4 Pro.

In this Radian 61 astrophotography telescope rundown, learn what’s in the box, Radian 61 features, and image samples captured with the Raptor 61!

Watch as Dustin Gibson walks you through the Radian carbon fiber tripod's sleek design and its innovative features!

The ZWO ASI533MC Pro is an astrophotography camera powerhouse! Capture stunning deep sky images with crisp detail or use it for solar and lunar photography.

Get your eVscope questions answered here by OPT experts. The eVscope was developed for people interested in astrophotography but intimidated by the gear and for people wanting to share the universe in a fast and convenient way. Learn what you can see, how to set up the eVscope, and much more!

Learn more about what makes the TPO 10-inch Newtonian a high-performing telescope from OPT experts. The 10-inch TPO imaging Newtonian is an f/4 system perfect for deep space photos.

The countdown has begun for a new Radian Telescope! Check back to this page for updates. Clear Skies!

Watch this video to learn more about the popular Spectrum Telescope solar filters used by astronomers during the 2017 solar eclipse! OPT experts walk you through the different Spectrum telescope solar filters and provide tips for your solar success. Learn more here!

Stop your search on astrophotography cameras and bookmark this page! OPT experts have put together this guide on planetary and lunar cameras based on experience and results. See the best planetary and lunar astrophotography cameras here!

Optimize your observing experience with the top 10 telescope accessories recommended by OPT experts!

Get the best out of your Milky Way imaging nights with these top-performing accessories.

PlaneWave professional telescope mounts are used by astronomy-driven universities and commercial companies worldwide, producing exceptional results. Learn everything you need to know about using the L-350 mount with this easy guide!

Learn everything you need to know about the Triad Filter with video tutorials and guides in this blog. Capture the H-beta wavelength, H-alpha wavelength, Oiii emission line, and Sii emission line all with one filter!

The Stellina is a smart, automated, and complete astrophotography system for all experience levels. Check out why we recommend this incredible system!