If you’re looking to upgrade from whatever slightly-crappy viewfinder app you downloaded to your smartphone, the Classic 200 comes with a 9x50 finderscope. Two eyepieces (one 25mm and one 10mm) help widen the field of view, and a two-inch focuser with 1.25-inch adapter adds to the telescope’s flexibility. The Sky-Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-Inch is one of the best for its ease of use - it uses Sky-Watcher’s proprietary tension control handle to make swiveling and adjusting a breeze. Their alt-azimuth, or two-axis, mounts are easy to maneuver, they let in plenty of light, and they offer simple setup. Pros: - Dobsonians are ideal for beginners - Large aperture and magnification - Adapter, eyepieces, and finderscope includedĭobsonian telescopes are some of the best telescopes for beginners. Specs: - Aperture: 8 inches - Maximum Magnification: 400x - Telescope Type: Newtonian reflector - Mount Type: Alt-azimuth Why It Made The Cut: With a large 8-inch aperture, precise controls, and additional accessories, the Sky-Watcher Traditional Dobsonian 8-inch is an ideal option for absolute beginners. The Best Telescopes for Beginners: Reviews and Recommendations Best Overall: Sky-Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-Inch Get inspired with some of the best space games. I also looked into those with special features like finderscopes to help you locate specific celestial objects. I prioritized telescopes that are easy to carry around so that you’ll actually want to use them. I looked for devices with magnifications of at least 30x for those who want to see details on large planets like Jupiter and Saturn.Įase of Use: Like I said before, you don’t need a Galileo-esque telescope to check out Jupiter. It’s calculated by dividing the focal length by the length of the eyepiece, according to Sky & Telescope. Magnification: The magnification of a telescope tells you how far you can zoom in with your telescope. For another perspective on light, check out our guide to the best lava lamps. I went for models with apertures of at least 3 or 4 inches, depending on the type of telescope. The more light, the greater detail you’ll be able to see. I used what I learned from them, as well as outside research, to narrow down my choices for the best telescopes for beginners based on the following criteria:Īperture: A telescope’s aperture describes the diameter of the lens - and, therefore, how much light it lets in. Best Starter Set: Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ How We Picked the Best Telescopes for BeginnersĪs a journalist and product reviewer, I’ve interviewed astronomers and astrophysicists about finding the best telescopes. Best Overall: Sky-Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-Inch - Best for Kids: Gskyer 90mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope - Best Value: Celestron FirstScope Telescope - Best Computerized: Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope - Best Portable: Popular Science by Celestron Travel Scope 70 Whether you know absolutely nothing about telescopes or this is the 15th article you’ve read to convince yourself to bite the bullet, the best telescopes for beginners will help you reach new celestial heights. Today’s telescopes aren’t like Galileo’s - nowadays, you can find lightweight devices that can be easily transported anywhere. If you’re a suburb-to-city transplant like me (or just a new astro-enthusiast), the best telescopes for beginners can help you find your favorite constellations and planets from any rooftop or park. When I moved to New York City for college, I had to adjust to barely seeing any stars in Manhattan even on the clearest nights, and even though I now live in Brooklyn, I can only get a slightly better view from my roof. The house I grew up in was in a wooded part of town, and as soon as spring started every year, I’d spend at least an hour out on the porch each night trying to see if I could point out Orion’s Belt or the Big Dipper. My favorite part about summers in my home state of Georgia is getting to see all the stars on a clear night. I’ve been hunting for the best telescopes for beginners for a while now.
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