Sunshine Nate & David the NK Stargazer present

The 2025 Telescope Buying Guide

A word about this guide…

This telescope buying guide is presented by TikTok astronomers Sunshine Nate and David the NK Stargazer. The advice offered here is based on our combined years of experience as amateur astronomers. No part of this guide has been paid for by sponsors, nor are there any affiliate links for which we make a commission. The images shown here may represent specific brands, but that doesn’t imply an explicit endorsement. The purpose of this guide is to help people avoid common mistakes that sidetrack great experiences in this hobby. If you have any questions about anything in the guide, you can always contact us here.

You can view Sunshine Nate’s general FAQ here.

Welcome to the 2025 telescope buying guide. Use this resource to help avoid common mistakes when buying your first telescope and give yourself or your family something that will spark curiosity and encourage STEM learning at home and at school.

Telescope Buying 101: Three Basic Rules

Here are three basic rules to keep top of mind when shopping for your first telescope.

Avoid big-box stores

We’ve all seen the displays at the big stores. Colorful boxes covered with beautiful images of deep space objects and planets. It seems like a great deal, especially since they come packaged with sets of eyepieces and filters and cell phone adapters. But these telescopes are a disappointment almost 100% of the time! They are cheaply made with poor optics, and their accessories are typically plastic and easily breakable.

Try before you buy

If you live in or near a moderately sized city, there’s a good chance you have a local astronomy club in your area. These clubs are usually made up of very knowledgeable and friendly people who are excited to introduce the hobby to newcomers. Most of these clubs hold monthly public events where you can go look through telescopes and ask questions. Take advantage of this resource to help make your decision.

Search for local clubs at Sky & Telescope

Buy something suitable for your goals

It’s easy to buy too much or too little if you don’t keep in mind what you want to get out of the hobby. The allure of the “great deal” often leads to a disappointing experience, while overspending based on unrealistic expectations can cause someone to give up because they tried to tackle too much at once. Think about what you want to observe, what you want to learn, and set a budget to keep yourself in check.

Know the Lingo: Types of Telescopes

These days there are as many types of telescopes as there are types of stars. There are scopes for visual observing, photography, smart scopes, deep sky, and planetary. Finding the right one can be difficult. Start your decision making process by knowing what the basic types are and what they’re good at.

Optical Tubes

The optical tube is the part of the telescope you look through, and which type you choose should be based on what type of observing you want to do. Rather than diving into a bunch of technical details, we’re going to provide a high-level description and break each type of tube down by what it’s best for.

Reflecting Telescopes

Reflecting telescopes are constructed of two mirrors: a primary and a secondary. The primary mirror is the larger of the two and is located at the bottom of the tube. It reflects light up to the secondary mirror, which sends the light collected by the primary out to the eyepiece.

Pros:

Large mirrors gather lots of light, enabling the observation of dimmer objects
Dobsonian reflectors are easy to setup
Reflectors on EQ mounts can be used for visual observing and astrophotography
Prices are generally less expensive for “more scope”

Cons:

Scopes with larger mirrors are very heavy
Long tubes can be difficult to transport (truss tube options are more portable but more expensive and difficult to setup)
Collimation (alignment) of the mirrors must be done regularly for best viewing

Recommended for:

Beginning astronomers who want to learn the night sky and observe visually (through the eyepiece)
Intermediate astronomers who want to see dimmer, more challenging deep sky objects
Observers who want to view planets, nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and comets
Anyone on a tight budget - a better scope can be purchased for less money in this category

Refracting Telescopes

Refracting telescopes (or refractors) use lenses instead of mirrors. A combination of two or more lenses magnifies and focuses the light through the tube to the eyepiece. A “mirror diagonal” is commonly used between the tube and eyepiece to create a more comfortable 90 degree viewing angle.

Pros:

Refractors with long focal lengths are exceptional for planet viewing (f10 and above)
General use refractors are compact and easily transportable with a simple mount
Refractors do not require collimation since they don’t use mirrors

Cons:

Cheap refractors have poor optics and heavy chromatic aberration (discoloration around the edges of bright objects)
Quality refractors are expensive - around $600 base price for the optical tube alone
Refractors are not “multi-use” scopes - they are made either deep sky astrophotography or high-power planetary viewing

Recommended for:

Intermediate to advanced astronomers who are focused on planetary viewing/imaging or deep sky astrophotography
People who are coming to astrophotography with a photography background and a large budget

Cassegrain Telescopes

Cassegrain telescopes are more common these days and use a mirror-based design that makes them useful for both planetary and deep sky viewing. The design essentially “folds” the optical tube by directing light from the primary mirror to the secondary, straight through the center opening in the primary mirror.

Pros:

Cassegrain telescopes are great hybrid scopes for planetary and deep sky observing
The optics (mirrors) in Cassegrain telescopes are almost always premium, with options for advanced coatings available
Cassegrain telescopes rarely require collimation
Suited for both visual observing and astrophotography

Cons:

Cassegrain telescopes are expensive - over $1000 for an 8-inch tube and mount
Larger Cassegrain telescopes are heavy and can be difficult to assemble
The front corrector plate is made of glass and is expensive to replace if broken

Recommended for:

Intermediate to advanced astronomers who enjoy visual observing and may want to try some basic astrophotography
Beginning to intermediate astronomers with a larger budget who want a combination of excellent optics with go-to capability

Mounts

Telescopes Have Two Main Parts

It’s helpful to know that every telescope is made up of two distinct parts: the optical tube and the mount. The optical tube is the part that you look through. The mount is what the telescope sits on and what you use to move the scope around.

At the most basic level, telescopes mounts are either altitude-azimuth (Alt-Az) or equatorial (EQ). Alt-Az mounts are the simplest and most common type. They move up and down and left and right. Equatorial mounts are more advanced mounts that can track objects in the sky and keep them oriented in the optical tube in the same position all night. This makes equatorial mounts the best option for astrophotography.

For astronomers just starting out, Alt-Az mounts are perfect because they’re simple. The simplest type of Alt-Az mount is found on a Dobsonian telescope: a large reflecting (mirror) telescope sits on top of a mount that sits on the ground, and you push the telescope to the object you want to see.

Go-To vs. Manual Mounts

Mounts are also classified as either go-to or manual. Go-to mounts typically have computerized hand controllers that contain databases of thousands of objects. When you start observing, you perform an “alignment” procedure (this usually consists of aligning the scope with two or more stars) so the telescope can determine its location. Once the alignment is successful, the hand controller is used to select objects to observe. Once selected, the telescope will “slew” to the object, center it in the eyepiece, and you can observe it.

Manual mounts, as the name implies, means that you must manually locate the object you want to observe and keep it centered by continuously moving the telescope. Location of objects is made easier with a finder scope, which is typically included as part of the package, or a red dot finder that places a dot or reticle in the sky when you look through it.

Accessories

For visual observing there are a few accessories you can add that will make your experience much more enjoyable. You don’t need to go crazy but consider a few things below.

Eyepieces

When you buy a telescope, you’ll likely get a couple of eyepieces included. Usually it’s a low power (20mm or higher) and a high power (10mm or lower). A good wide-field eyepiece would make a good addition. If you have a telescope with an 8 inch or larger mirror, a 40mm eyepiece will give you a wide, clear view for larger objects like the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy. It’s also good for large open star clusters like the Pleiades and the Double Cluster.

Higher power eyepieces can be useful for up-close viewing of planets like Saturn and Jupiter, however, keep in mind that higher power comes with sacrifices. The high magnification will make the eyepiece opening smaller, meaning the view will be dimmer and harder to adjust for your eye. Additionally, if you’re using a high-power eyepiece with a manual scope, like a Dobsonian, the object you’re viewing is going to move through the field of view very fast and will be difficult to keep centered. Generally speaking, for most scopes 8 inches and below, 10mm is about as much power as you can expect to be useful.

As for types of eyepieces, stick with those that use glass elements and are of the Plossl design. You can sometimes find better prices if you buy them in sets, and you’ll get a range of magnification. Look for ones that advertise “large eye relief” particularly if you observe with glasses. These will be less frustrating to use.

Zoom eyepieces can be a good option if you invest in one with quality optics. These eyepieces usually have a range of 25mm to 8mm and are especially nice for planetary viewing. Aside from glass optics and Plossl design, a “parfocal” zoom eyepiece is preferable. Parfocal means you won’t need to adjust your telescope’s focus knob each time you change the zoom.

And a word on expensive eyepieces: learn more before you spend hundreds of dollars on name brands or specific types. For visual astronomy, brands like Nagler and Pentax are very popular, but also extremely pricey. Know what result you’re looking for before you make a costly mistake.

Finder Scopes

Pretty much any telescope you buy will come with a finder scope, and you don’t need to buy a replacement to start. Some will be magnified, meaning looking through the finder will magnify the area you’re targeting, as if you have a smaller, low-power telescope to help locate objects. More often, however, telescopes come with a red dot finder. When you look through a red dot finder scope there isn’t any magnification. It projects a small red dot on the area of the sky you’re aiming at so you can get an object in view.

Which type of finder you use is entirely based on your preference. More experienced observers often find a standard finder scope more helpful for pinpointing small or faint objects, while newer observers are happy with the simplicity of the red dot finders. Comfort is a consideration as well. Leaning over and looking through something sideways on a large Dobsonian telescope can be uncomfortable if you’re struggling to find an object.

A nice and affordable upgrade to a standard red dot finder is a Telrad. This finder is quite large but not heavy. Instead of a single red dot it projects a targeting reticle, which can be helpful when finding an object depends on measuring small distances between surrounding areas of the sky. Telrad finders can also be purchased with options to make the reticles pulse and turn green or red, which some observers find to be more comfortable for long observing sessions.

Dual use finders can be convenient if you will be doing nighttime observing and solar observing. Models such as the SkySurfer V by Baader Planetarium have an illuminated finder circle for night and can be flipped around and used for solar alignment during the day. This is an expensive option, however, so you only need to consider it if you’re purchasing a solar filter.

Other Helpful Accessories

How do you locate objects to observe? These days most people use apps since smart phones are so common. There are plenty of options for both Android and iOS. Some are free and some are paid. In the app store for your particular phone, search for “planetarium” and take a look at what’s available.

If you prefer a more manual method, or if you’re buying for a kid who doesn’t have a smart phone, a planisphere is a very cool, completely analog tool for locating nigh sky objects. To use it, simply adjust the outer circle to match your date/time. Larger planispheres will contain more objects.

Filters are popular with new telescope buyers; however you only need to invest in one to start out: a Moon filter. The Moon is incredibly bright when viewed through a telescope - so bright that it can actually be uncomfortable. A basic Moon filter will attach to the bottom of your eyepiece and dims the light enough that you can view comfortably for longer. For an upgrade check out a polarizing filter. This type is made up of two separate filters that allow you to adjust the amount of dimming.

As for other filter types, specific color filters can be useful to see some planetary details, but you really need to know what you’re looking for to buy the right thing. And many filters claim to reduce light pollution, but the benefit they provide versus their cost is debatable.

“The best telescope for you is the one that you’re going to use!”

- Me (David the NK Stargazer) I said that, probably while wearing that hat

Smart Telescopes

In the past few years “smart” telescopes have become more popular as they’ve become more affordable. These scopes use integrated cameras and computers to “stack” images of deep sky objects, and they’re controlled through an app on your phone or tablet. There are a handful of brands that offer smart telescope options, including some that are familiar in the astronomy community.

Whether or not a smart telescope is the right choice for you depends on a number of factors.

Cost - Smart telescopes range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. The difference in cost is usually due to the scope’s intended purpose; is it for casual deep sky observing or astrophotography? Astrophotography scopes will cost a lot more.
Observing Experience - Smart scopes don’t use eyepieces. They are camera-based telescopes that integrate computer control and an app. You don’t “hunt” for objects like you do with a traditional telescope. Instead, the app presents you with an easy-to-use menu of objects that you can point the scope to and observe via “live-stacking” - a process where images are taken continuously and stacked, giving you an ever-improving image of the object you’re viewing.
Targets - If you primarily want to view the Moon and planets, a smart telescope is not a good choice. Smart scopes are made for viewing deep sky objects such as galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae. This is due to their wide-field cameras and low magnification.
Intended Goal - If your goal in starting astronomy is to learn the night sky, smart telescopes eliminate that experience almost entirely. A smart telescope aligns itself when you power it on. You don’t manually locate anything, and don’t even need to refer to a star chart or planetarium software.

Smart telescopes are neither a good nor bad choice. It depends entirely on what you want to do with it. For learning the constellations, asterisms, and planets, and if you enjoy being outdoors under the night sky, choose a traditional optical telescope. If you’re more interested in seeing objects in color and detail, and maybe getting into astrophotography someday, a smart telescope might be a good choice for you.

If you’re considering a smart telescope and budget is a primary concern, you’ll want to look at the Seestar S50 or S30 by ZWO, or the Dwarf 3 by Dwarflabs. Each of these scopes is under $500. There are other models made by Unistellar, Vaonis, and Celestron that start around $2000.

Non-Telescope Options

If you’re not ready to invest in a telescope, either because of cost or because you’re not sure if it’s a hobby you’ll stick with, there are still great options to start with.

Binoculars are a great way to stargaze. Good quality binoculars can provide clear, crisp, 3-D views of deep sky objects, and a good pair for astronomy can be had for less than $100. Celestron makes an excellent line of astronomy binoculars called SkyMaster that start around $80 and go up from there.

If you decide to go with binoculars, a tripod is highly recommended. Arms get tired holding them up, particularly the larger SkyMaster series (pictured). A sturdy metal or carbon fiber tripod will make the observing experience much more enjoyable, and the adapter to mount the binoculars to the tripod is typically included with the binoculars.

For an even simpler and lighter option, look for a newer product called ultra-wide-angle binoculars (pictured). This is an optical device that has low magnification and a wide field view. They are light and easy to use, and are great for viewing large deep sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy or the Orion Nebula.

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering buying a telescope this year, take your time and do your research. Avoid the extremes - super cheap deals and high-priced options. Seriously consider what you want to get out of the hobby and take small steps. A few other tips:

Consider buying used from a reputable source - Used gear, especially scopes that were previously owned by other astronomers, can be a great value. Look to local astronomy clubs to find people who are selling. Local resources like Facebook Marketplace can also be good for shopping used but never pay before you can see the equipment and take it home.
Watch out for defunct brands - Unfortunately the pandemic and poor management claimed two long-time favorite astronomy brands recently: Orion and Meade. When they were in business, both brands were highly respected and frequently recommended, and in fact some of their scopes are still great choices if you can find them used. But understand that support and warranty service will be unavailable if you need it.
Get involved with your local astronomy club - You’re going to need help and guidance as you’re getting started in astronomy. A local astronomy club is your best resource. A yearly membership is usually $50 or less and comes with so many benefits, often including monthly speakers, loaner telescopes, and access to observatories. Check your local club to see what they offer.
Take advantage of the Astronomical League - Most local astronomy clubs include membership in the Astronomical League as a benefit. The AL offers several observing programs that you can complete, and that recognize your achievements with a certificate and pin. There are programs for beginners and experienced observers. These provide structure for your learning and help set goals to keep you focused.

Enjoy your new astronomy journey!

We hope this guide helps you make an informed decision about what to shop for as you start out in astronomy. We are happy to answer any questions you may have if you don’t find the answers here. Send us an e-mail.