Best Telescopes for 2025
Up to date (2021) only about 600 people have traveled to space out of a world population of 7.7 billion people. While it’s not everybody who’d be interested in space traveling, millions of us would do everything for a chance. First off, space exploration is ridiculously expensive. For instance, SpaceX and Axiom Space are charging over $50 million while Blue Origin is charging about $28 million per ticket.
This means the majority of us have zero chance of traveling to space. The closest we can get to exploring space is using a telescope. Luckily, these devices have greatly improved that through the two lenses you can experience the beauty of the space. That’s what I am covering in this post.
If you are in the market for the best telescopes, you can get overwhelmed by the different types of telescopes, especially if you are a novel stargazer. By simply looking at the telescope specs, you may not be able to tell which one suits your needs because you may not understand what the specs mean and how they affect your viewing.
The good news is that we have done the work for you. We’ve handpicked the best and top-rated telescopes for a wide range of users.
Best Telescopes for viewing galaxies, stars and planets
1. Celestron - NexStar 5SE Telescope - Top Pick
Our top pick for the best telescope is the Celestron NexStar 5SE. Celestron, a top-rated telescope for both newbies and experienced explorers. This computerized model has a database of over 40,000 celestial objects.
Because it’s automated, the telescope locates and tracks astronomical objects automatically showing you the space in all its glory. You can also control it from your PC.
Because it’s lightweight, you will easily carry the Celestron NexStar 5SE anywhere. So if you are someone who likes to travel a lot with a telescope, you’ll appreciate the convenience of tagging this device along.
Another great feature for this telescope is that it offers automatic alignment, thanks to its remote control. It also packs the Celestron orange tube, which is known to provide the best viewing experience. Its 5″ aperture offers a fantastic light pickup capability for breathtaking views of the planets and the Moon.
The focal length of 49″ with a magnification of 50x eliminates the blurring effect in the telescope, meaning you’ll be able to dig deeper into the night sky and still get a clear view of faraway objects.
Another feature we love is the SkyAlign technology. This technology will allow you to set up your telescope and have it working in a matter of minutes, making it one of the most user friendly telescopes on the market.
Features
- 25 mm eyepieces and 50x magnification
- F/10 focal ratio
- Focal length, 49” (1250 mm)
- Aperture, 5” (125 mm)
- Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design
- Computerized Telescope
If you’re looking for a microscope that can set you off on your astronomical journey on the right foot, the NexStar 5SE is your best bet.
Pros
- Excellent optics: The eyepiece has 50x magnification
- Features PRECISE GOTO that can help a user find faint objects in light-polluted areas
- Computerized and fully automatic
- Travel friendly and user friendly
- You can add more eyepieces
Cons
- Drains the battery too fast
- Pricier
2. Celestron - 70mm Travel Scope DX - Best Telescope for Beginners
The Celestron Travel Scope 70DX has been designed with beginner stargazers in mind. While this model costs under $100, it produces great results both for terrestrial and celestial objects viewing. Apart from watching the stars and the planets, you can use this telescope to watch wildlife during the day.
The Celestron Travel Scope 70DX features a 70mm objective lens and 2 eyepieces; 20mm and 10mm. The fully coated glass optics and large aperture delivers a high-resolution viewing. The coated lenses allow the telescope to absorb more light for a crisper, sharper viewing, day or night.
There is also a Bluetooth shutter release feature that will allow you to control the shutter remotely on any iOS or Android smartphone without interfering with your telescope’s placement.
Additionally, this Celestron telescope comes with a smartphone adapter that you can use to connect its eyepiece to any smartphone for excellent digiscoping opportunities. The eyepiece provides additional magnification that can help you capture a clear image of the planets and the Moon via your smartphone.
The Celestron Travel Scope weighs only 3.3 lbs, and you can assemble it in less than a minute without tools. It comes with a backpack for easy storage and transportation.
Specifications
- 70 mm aperture objective lens
- 400 mm of Focal Length
- Weighs only 3.3 pounds
- A focal ratio of f/5.7
- Refractor optical design
- Two eyepieces—one 10 mm and one 20 mm
- A 1.25-inch Moon Filter
Pros
- You get a 2-year warranty
- Budget friendly beginner microscope
- Smartphone adapter
- 70 mm objective lens
- Lightweight and travel friendly
Cons
- Best for beginners
3. Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope - Best Mid-range Model
There’s nothing as frustrating as realizing you can only use your telescope to view the Moon and nothing else. Things can get worse if you spent a fortune buying the device.
Though most beginners start by observing the Moon, they eventually become more curious and feel like delving deeper into space.
Doing this requires a telescope with a reliable mount, top-grade well-shaped mirrors, and a big aperture. That’s what The Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope provides.
If you are operating on a budget and can’t afford a high-end telescope. There’s no need to settle for less when it comes to the viewing experience. The Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope is what you need and at a pocket-friendly price.
The device will wow your friends and family with gorgeous and fascinating views of the mountains and craters on the Moon. With its wide field of view, the fun doesn’t end there. On a clear night, you’ll be able to observe, in crisp detail, the planet Jupiter and its moons. You’ll also see the stunning rings of Saturn, thanks to the telescope’s significant 114 mm (4.5″) aperture and wide-field precisely crafted f/4 reflective parabolic mirrors.
While this is a midrange model that delivers great viewing, it’s not the best for serious astrophotographers who want to photograph the sky.
Specifications
- Two eyepieces of 6 mm and 17 mm
- A focal ratio of f/4
- A focal length of 450 mm
- An aperture of 4.5” (114 mm)
- Reflector optical design
If you are looking for a budget telescope that has nearly all the features of top-end telescopes, the StarBlast 4.5 Astro telescope ticks all the boxes. It will provide you with an excellent viewing experience on the go.
Pros
- Great for beginners and kids
- Easy to set up and user-friendly
- Portable and compact
- Great for viewing the moon, jupiter and saturn
Cons
- Table mount design can be limiting
4. Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope
If you are looking for a mid-range telescope that is great for tracking terrestrial and celestial bodies, you will love the Orion SpaceProbe telescope. This telescope comes with top-shelf accessories making it possible to dig deeper and view the Deep Sky Objects (DSOs). It’s most suited for DSO viewing, stargazing, and celestial viewing.
This is a 130ST Reflector is well-suited for intermediate stargazers or beginners. The ST you see in the name of the product is an acronym for “short tube”. Telescopes with short tubes are perfect for wide-field viewing, which is best for viewing deep space objects like nebulae and galaxies.
The Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST has a 5.1-inch (130 mm) aperture, which will provide you with a great viewing experience. Its attachments and accessories are of higher quality than what is found in many scope kits. Besides that, it’s also lighter, meaning you can carry it wherever you go.
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST has a focal ratio of f/5, which is fast enough and offers excellent performance. It also includes two Sirius Plossl 10 mm and 25 mm eyepieces which offer magnifications of 65x and 26x respectively.
Specifications
- Two eyepieces included 10 mm and 25 mm
- The focal ratio of f/5
- 650 mm focal length
- 130 mm aperture
- Reflector optical design
Pros
- Travel friendly
- Wide field of view
- Ideal for deep space exploration
- Good balance of quality and price
- Easy to assemble and setup
Cons
- The low specification EQ mount
5. Sky-Watcher Skymax 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain - Large Aperture Compound-Style Reflector Telescope
Also referred to as the Mak, the Sky-Watcher Skymax Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is a perfect blend of quality, style and performance. This telescope is reputable for providing high-contrast sharp views, making it one of the best telescopes for planetary observation.
This telescope offers a long 1540mm focal length, 12.1 f/ratio, and a 127mm large visual aperture, all in a small portable package. Its features help in delivering outstanding planetary detail, better than what other telescopes provide.
If you are looking for a different aperture, this is also a 90mmm, 102mm, 150mm and 180mm variations with different focal length and f/ratios.
The Mak’s primary mirror is made from aluminum-coated borosilicate with an overcoat of quartz. This enables it to produce a reflectivity of 94%. The corrector plate used in this telescope utilizes Sky-Watcher’s proprietary MHTC (Metallic High -Transmission Coatings) that will give you professional-grade optics and viewing experience.
One of the greatest advantages of the Mak is that it has a short tube. Its stubby OTA is just 12.5″ (320 mm) long when the visual back is removed. And the tube is only 145 mm in width, making it very compact. However, with its rugged build and the thick corrector plate, the telescope weighs more than you’d expect, at 3 kg. That notwithstanding, it’s a portable device that’s also easy to mount.
Specifications
- Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design
- An aperture of 127 mm
- Focal Length of 1540 mm
- A focal ratio of f/12
- Secondary mirror, 42 mm
- Central Obstruction, 42mm = 33%
- Length, 320 mm
- Weight 3 Kg
- Eyepieces Included: 28 mm
The Skymax Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope comes with a bundle of impressive accessories, including a straight-through finderscope (6×30), 90-degree star diagonal, and a 2-inch 28mm eyepiece. All these work synergistically to provide an outstanding viewing experience.
Pros
- Premium model
- Foolproof, easy DSLR attachment
- Easy to mount
- Portable and compact
- Detailed and crisp planetary views
Cons
- Expensive
6. Gskyer Telescopes, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount - Best Telescopes for Kids
The Gskyer 70 mm AZ Refractor telescope is one of the most affordable but functional telescopes you can get on the market today. It will suit you if you are buying a telescope for the first time and is something you and your kids can enjoy using.
This telescope makes a great starting point for those who want to have an idea of stargazing before investing in a high end model.
Most telescopes in the class where the Gskyer telescope belongs are regarded as travel scopes. This is because they are easy to set up, convenient to carry, and lightweight. With its included accessories and focal specs, this scope can allow you to observe the craters and mountains on the Moon and planets, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons, and cloud bands, among others.
Its optics are quite decent, with a longer focal length than many scopes in its price point. The Gskyer is a refracting telescope. Its lenses are made from high-quality glass with anti-reflective coatings to ensure they absorb as much light as possible.
Specifications
- Two eyepieces included 10 mm and 25 mm
- Focal ratio f/5.7
- Focal length 400 mm
- Aperture 70 mm
- Refractor optical design
The Gskyer telescope was designed for beginners and kids. That explains why its tripod is too short for adults. So if you want to use it, you’ll need to upgrade some of its accessories. If you are buying it for your kids, it’s advisable that you first gain some experience in using telescopes and have some telescopic accessories to help your kids have a good viewing experience.
Pros
- Comes with a wide range of accessories
- 2 year warranty
- Great for kids
- The optical system is protected from rain (weather)
- Budget friendly model
Cons
- Ideal for kids and beginners only
Conclusion
Whether you are new to telescopes or a hardcore stargazer, you’ll find a telescope that suits your need from the above list. The list was curated by enthusiastic night observers with several years of experience in this field. They are the best telescopes you can get today, and they come at different price points, so you can choose one or two that suit your budget.