Buying Guide: Best Telescopes for Beginners

Would you like to explore the sky on your own? With these telescopes you will be able to start successfully in the world of astronomy.

He has a great interest in the night sky. You don't have the necessary knowledge, but would love to be able to observe the cloud belts of Jupiter or the rings of Saturn, and then perhaps hot gas nebulae and distant galaxies?

For all this you need a telescope. The offer is so large that it can be confusing at first. But with our buying guide it will be much easier for you to choose the right one. In addition, we also present you with proposals for different prices, the accessories necessary to get started and links to expand your knowledge.

From experience we know well that beginners prefer an inexpensive telescope with which they can observe and photograph the Moon and planets, as well as nebulae and galaxies... However, it is better to take it step by step. Start by observing luminous objects, such as our satellite and the planets of the Solar System, and gain experience.

Our recommendations take your needs into account and will help you find the ideal instrument. At first you don't need complex accessories, just good optics, a stable mount and stars in the sky.

Explore the Solar System with the telescope

With a small lens telescope we can see details on the Moon and the brightest planets.

• Greater contrast
• If the 90° angle viewfinder is used we will obtain a vertically corrected image, although horizontally inverted
• Compact and lightweight design
• Ideal for travel

Tip: They are perfect for exploring the Moon, Mars or the rings of Saturn.

AC 80/400 AZ-3 initiation telescope

AC 102/660 AZ-3 Telescope

These are compact and bright lens telescopes. The AC 80/400 is especially suitable for exploring the Milky Way and comets, while the AC 102/660 is a specialist in planetary observation. The zenith mirror acts as a reversing optic to correct the image horizontally. Includes an intuitive luminous pointer finder to facilitate orientation in the sky. Supplied with a complete set of eyepieces, 10 and 20 mm. The AC 102/660 includes a 2" focuser for wide-angle eyepieces with an adapter for 1.25" eyepieces.

Vixen AC 70/900 A70Lf Mobile Porta Telescope

It is a classic telescope with long focal length lenses, especially suitable for observing luminous objects at high magnifications, such as the Moon and planets. The Vixen AC 70/900 includes a 6x24 finderscope with a vertically inverted image. A complete set of 10 and 20 mm or 6 and 20 mm eyepieces is also included in the scope of delivery. The Vixen AC 70/900 has an excellent quality frame. A cheaper option is the Omegon AC 70/900 telescope, an alternative for those who prefer to start on a tighter budget, but without losing quality.

AC 70/900 EQ-1 Telescope

Explore deep space with the telescope

A large aperture mirror telescope will allow you to observe fainter nebulae and galaxies.

• High luminosity
• Vertically inverted image, although it is not a problem for observing the sky
• Simple assembly
• Convenient viewfinder on the side of the telescope

Tip: Ideal for observers who want to delve into the depths of the Universe, to star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies.

Dobson Advanced XN 203/1200 Telescope

It is a classic 8" Dobson, perfect for anyone who wants to take astronomy seriously. It is used to observe the Moon and planets, as well as nebulae and galaxies. It is supplied with a 25 mm eyepiece, although it is worth complementing it with good quality eyepieces. .Includes a 2" focuser. It is compatible with the Radiant finder, which you can attach at will to search for nebulae and galaxies. This telescope can be equipped with the PushTo digital celestial navigation system.

Finding celestial targets with the help of a telescope navigation system

The night sky hides countless objects that can only be seen through a telescope. But how do we find something we can't see? The simplest solution is to use a celestial navigation system.

• "GoTo" systems are equipped with motors thanks to which the telescope can automatically align itself with an object.
• In "PushTo" systems, the telescope is manually aligned following the indications we get on the screen of our phone.
• For this to work, we must first align the telescope with some reference stars.

If you're just starting out, digital navigation systems will help you:

• Find objects faster, even if you have little experience
• Orient yourself through the night sky during your observations
• Operate yourself, without full automation: with PushTo systems you are the one who places the object in the eyepiece
• Have control over what you observe

Maksutov National Geographic MC 90/1250 GoTo Telescope

This National Geographic telescope comes equipped with GoTo to automatically align with an object. Its size makes it perfect for traveling, taking it to the mountains to observe the sky. In terms of astronomical performance, this telescope is well equipped: The planets become beautiful objects of observation thanks to the resolution of 1.3 arc seconds. It also allows you to view deep sky objects , such as the Orion Nebula, or take a walk through the Milky Way.

Dobson Push+ mini N 150/750 Pro Telescope

It is a mirror telescope with a digital navigation system via smartphone . Depending on the app you use, you can observe thousands of different objects. It also has a luminous pointer finder that is intuitive to use. The N150/750 is supplied with a 20 mm eyepiece. Furthermore, you can always complement it with other good quality eyepieces to enjoy short focal length observations. It also includes a prismatic rail to be able to install the telescope on other mounts.

Tracking comfort with an EQ mount

Do you already have any experience? Then you may consider purchasing a telescope with an equatorial mount. These are usually called "EQ" and are designed to compensate for the rotation of the sky with the movement of one of its axes. At first we recommend that you do it manually, and then choose to equip a motor: this way you can take your first astrophotos of very bright objects, such as the Moon and planets.

However, to get it to work properly, you will first need to align the mount with the north celestial pole. In addition to the optics and tripod, you will also need counterweights and, if necessary, a power supply for the motor. With all this, the object will remain centered in the eyepiece even at high magnifications.

• Telescope astrophotography experience
• Center objects in the eyepiece even at a high magnification factor
• Align the telescope with the north celestial pole before observing
• Counterweights and, if necessary, a power supply are required.

Advanced Telescope 150/750 EQ-320

It is a luminous Newton telescope with a 150 mm aperture on an equatorial mount. The Omegon instrument is equipped with an intuitive luminous pointer finder. The 10 and 25 mm eyepieces included in the delivery can be supplemented with a 5 mm eyepiece. The sturdy mount holds the tube firmly and ensures a stable image. Thanks to the smooth movement of the axes, the celestial object will remain perfectly visible in the field of view. The EQ3-2 mount can be equipped with tracking motors.