Best Budget Telescopes
Best Telescopes for Astronomers on a Budget
Celestron Cometron FirstScope 76 Telescope - $64.95
The Celestron Cometron FirstScope is a lightweight Newtonian Reflector with an Alt-Azimuth mount and a Dobsonian tabletop base for stability. The Celestron Cometron Firstscope is the best budget reflector telescope for its price, with a 76mm aperture for clear viewing of many night sky objects and a complete kit that includes two eyepieces, a 5x24 finderscope, and a download of Celestron’s Starry Night software.
Pros:
- Best budget Dobsonian telescope
- Easy to operate, so it makes a good starter telescope
- Lightweight and portable for travel
Cons:
- Because it’s a reflector scope, it requires collimation
Universal Astro 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope - $85.95
The Universal Astro 70mm Refractor is a user-friendly first telescope for both kids and adults. This portable telescope provides sharp, clear viewing of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects, and it can also be used for daytime viewing of terrestrial objects. The Universal Astro 70mm Refractor comes with a complete kit that includes a universal phone adapter and Bluetooth remote, plus a handy travel bag.
Pros:
- Best budget telescope for beginners
- All-in-one kit includes everything you need to start viewing
Cons:
- Cellphone holder can make it hard to focus the telescope
Celestron Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope with Backpack - $139.95
The Celestron Travel Scope 80 is a budget-friendly telescope for both night sky and daytime viewing. This refractor telescope has a pan-handle Alt-AZ control for accurate tracking, plus an erect image diagonal for viewing images right side up. The Celestron Travel Scope comes with Celestron’s Starry Night Software package and a smartphone adapter for capturing images of both celestial and terrestrial objects.
Pros:
- Easy to use for beginners, even kids
- Easy to travel with
- Comes with a backpack for storing and carrying accessories
Cons:
- Tripod is prone to vibration
- You can lose your target with tripod adjustments
Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope with Backpack - $139.95
The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a lightweight telescope designed for travel accessibility. This budget refractor telescope features a smooth Alt-AZ mount with easy pointing for viewing both night sky and daytime objects and comes in a complete kit that includes a tripod, two eyepieces, and a finder-scope. The Celestron TravelScope 70 also has an erect image diagonal for right-side-up viewing and includes The Sky X-First Light Edition on CD-ROM.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Designed for portability
- Best budget telescope for viewing planets
Cons:
- Tripod is prone to vibration
Orion FunScope 76mm Tabletop Dobsonian f/3.9 Telescope Kids Kit - $94.99
The Orion FunScope is a complete telescope kit that’s perfect for young astronomers. This Newtonian scope has a Dobsonian base for stability and ease of viewing. Its 76mm reflecting optics can collect 60% more light than most beginner telescopes, making it easy to see moon craters, bright planets, and brighter deep sky objects. The kit includes an array of useful accessories, including two Kellner eyepieces, a 2X Barlow lens, and a red dot finderscope. The Orion Funscope is packed with features to help kids learn about the night sky, including an astronomy book. Moon Map and Star Target for finding stars and other objects.
Pros:
- Best budget telescope for kids
- Easy to operate
- Portable for traveling
- Includes many accessories for viewing and learning
Cons:
- Reflecting telescope requires collimation
Celestron Travel Scope 60DX with Backpack - $99.95
Celestron’s Travel Scope 60 DX has all the accessories you need for viewing and learning about the night sky in one budget-priced package. This 60mm refractor telescope can also be used for daytime viewing and comes with a smartphone adapter for creating your own images of both celestial and terrestrial objects. For steady image capture, the Travel Scope kit includes a Bluetooth shutter release that operates remotely. Other accessories include Celestron’s Starry Night software, two eyepieces and an erect image diagonal, plus a backpack for easy transport.
Pros:
- Best budget Celestron telescope for beginners
- Portable for traveling
- A good starter telescope for kids
- Easy to capture quality images
Cons:
- Tripod is prone to vibration
- You can lose the target with tripod adjustments
Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope - $69.95
The Celestron PowerSeeker is the best budget refractor telescope for the whole family, with the quality and power needed for both night sky and daytime terrestrial viewing. The PowerSeeker has fully coated glass optical components for enhanced image brightness and comes with two eyepieces plus a 3X Barlow lens that triples their magnifying power. This telescope comes with an aluminum tripod and manual Alt-AZ mount for easy object tracking. The kit also includes Celestron’s The Sky — Level 1 planetarium software for learning more about the night sky.
Pros:
- Best telescope on a budget for beginners of all ages
- No tools needed for setup
- Easy to travel with
- Suitable for both celestial and terrestrial viewing
Cons:
- Tripod is prone to vibration
Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope - $389.99
The Celestron 114LCM is an affordable Newtonian reflector telescope that offers many of the features of more advanced computerized instruments. The Celestron 114LCM has NexStar computer control technology and SkyAlign for fast and easy alignment with any three bright celestial objects. This computerized starter scope comes with a database that can locate more than 4,000 celestial objects, and it’s compatible with many advanced accessories for easy upgrading.
Pros;
- Best budget computerized telescope
- Easily upgraded with advanced accessories in the LCM telescope family
- Computerized hand control for locating objects at the touch of a button
TPO Ultrawide 180 f/4.5 Astrophotography Lens & Guide Scope - $389
Weighing less than a pound, the TPO Ultrawide 180 is the smallest dedicated astrophotography telescope on the market, and it just may be the best budget telescope for astrophotography. The TPO Ultrawide 180 is an affordable telescope/lens for beginning astrophotographers or anyone looking for a versatile imaging telescope that can also work as a finderscope, guide scope, and visual spotter. This portable scope has a fixed aperture, 180mm focal length, and a fast f/4.5 focal ratio for sharp images of near and distant sky objects.
Pros:
- Best budget telescope camera
- Multifunctional scope for both night sky and terrestrial viewing and imaging
- Excellent image quality and field of view
- Very portable — it can fit in a suitcase
Cons:
- Instructions in the box are vague — just a picture diagram without words
Explore Scientific Firstlight AR90mm White Tube Refractor w/AZ Mount - $159.99
The Explore Scientific Firstlight AR90mm is a high-quality but very affordable refractor telescope for beginners. The Scientific Firstlight AR90mm has a 90mm aperture for capturing plenty of light and comes with a smartphone adapter for capturing and sharing images. The complete kit includes a sturdy Alt-AZ yoke mount and aluminum tripod, plus an erect imaging diagonal and red dot viewfinder for easy targeting.
Pros:
- Best budget refractor telescope
- Smartphone connectivity enables both viewing and capturing images
- Kit includes everything you need to get started
