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8 Best Rated Telescopes For Beginners in 2021 [Guide]

January 17, 2021 by Mary Robinette Kowal

telescope for solar eclipseI think we can all agree that:

  Skygazing is an activity suitable for everybody. Whether you’re a kid, a teenager, or an adult; the sky, the stars, and the planets are ageless and timeless  

I’m serious! It truly is never too early or too late to get into the habit of Stargazing. You can live from the ages of 3 to 60 and the sky remains the same: unchanging and transfixed.

And with the help of modern-day technology, you can get the fully immersive experience of stargazing if you have a good telescope.

And not only that, you can even photograph what you see and preserve it forever using the best telescopes for Astrophotography. The good part is that you can do all of this from the get, without any prior experience! You just need to get your hands on some good equipment. Here at Dopeguides, we want all our readers to know that they, too, can get into the rewarding habit of stargazing.

And so, after conducting the proper research and spending time going through reviews, I have come up with a list of the highly-rated telescopes for beginners along with a clear and concise telescope buying Guide at the end near the Conclusion.

Best Rated Telescopes For Beginners 2021:

These are our top picks for telescopes for beginners on the market today.

Best TelescopesRATING
Gskyer Telescope 70mm10/10 (Editor's Choice)
Celestron - PowerSeeker 127EQ9/10
MaxUSee 70mm9/10
FREE SOLDIER Telescope9/10
Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope9.5/10
Celestron - NexStar 4SE8.5/10
HUTACT Telescope8/10
National Geographic 50Mm8.5/10

1. Gskyer Telescope 70mm

Why we love it:

  • Replaceable eyepieces
  • Adjustable tripod
  • Cross-hairs in scope

ProsCons
✅ Wireless remote included❌None
✅ Lifetime maintenence❌

Why we recommend this:

First of all, this is a pretty steller best rated telescope for beginners. It has everything you’d think to find in the finest telescopes for beginners. It comes with fully coated optics that will protect your eyes if you’re afraid of eyesight issues. I know a lot of people are, so it is good to have a nice even coat on the optics to prevent any damage.

It also includes a wireless remote with a display that allows you to scan the sky and take amazing pictures whilst you do so making it one of the greatest telescopes for astrophotography. But perhaps the biggest selling point of this product and what makes it one of the best telescopes for beginners is the customer service.

A lot of people shy away from getting into this hobby because they’re afraid it will be difficult to figure out and are afraid of losing money (a valid concern, might I add), but the Gsyker has lifetime maintenance and a helpline that responds in less than 24 hours.

It may not be the ultimate telescope for the money considering the price, but it definitely is worth it. So feel free to ask as many questions as you want to!

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2. Celestron – PowerSeeker 127EQ

Why we love it:

  • Easy-to-use
  • Very powerful
  • Portable

ProsCons
✅Software included❌Alignment is necessary
✅ Lightweight

Why we recommend this:

This one has been described as the perfect telescope for entry-level stargazing and with good reason. It has a German Equatorial mount which allows for slow-motion gliding to help you track objects with greater precision.

Capturing the international space station as it passes before the sun is a spectacle of envy for many astronomers and with this slow-motion tracking, you might be able to do just that! This is one of the best telescopes for astrophotography for this very reason.

It is also compact and extremely lightweight, which makes it so that you beginners can start your stargazing journey just about anywhere without having to worry about a thing! And you can rest assured that you’re buying from a well-established company that has been in business since the 60s!

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3. MaxUSee 70mm

Why we love it:

  • Wide range of magnification
  • Easy to carry
  • Sharp images

ProsCons
✅Phone adapter included❌Attachments can be complicated
✅ Reasonable price

Why we recommend this:

This is a product that I would have no problem classifying as one of the best telescopes for the money out there. It comes at an extremely reasonable price with a phone adapter and various other attachments which help aid your stargazing experience overall.

Despite the fact that some reviewers have suggested that the attachments themselves can be difficult to use, I still think this is a product worth buying considering the sharp imagery and variable magnifications.

This beginner telescope is one that is easy to set up, easy to operate and easy to adjust and this one fulfills all of that. So if you’re in the market for a budget telescope, this is the product for you.

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4. FREE SOLDIER Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Multi-coated lens
  • Bonus accessories
  • Suitable for both day and night

ProsCons
✅Travel bag included❌No physical instructions
✅ Suitable for kids

Why we recommend this:

This is one of the finest telescopes for kids and the list wouldn’t be complete without it. The best telescopes for home use are those which the whole house can enjoy without much issue. Not only is this a product that kids can use but it is also a powerful home telescope for adult beginners looking to get into stargazing.

It comes with a travel bag included so that you can take the easy to assemble telescope anywhere you want to and resume your stargazing activities. This, too, comes with a phone adapter and wireless remote which help you snap amazing pictures making it one of the highly-rated telescopes for astrophotography.

Some people have complained about the lack of physical instructions but you can directly download the pdf manual from the product page so who needs one anyway!

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5. Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Detachable lid
  • No-tool set up
  • High-precision

ProsCons
✅Crystal clear view❌Limited viewing angle
✅ Compact design

Why we recommend this:

This is the best telescope for kids not because of the tiny compact design and bright appealing color scheme, but for the educational value it contains.

This powerful 750mm focal length telescope features a detachable lid which reveals the inner workings and mechanisms of the telescope making it an instrument that not only provides aid to curiosity but further instills it.

The inner mechanism would appeal to any adult as much as it does to the child and once you see that the tabletop tripod, small book-bag sized design and phone attachments which provide for an amazing viewing experience, you’ll want to get one yourself.

This is yet again another one of the most suitable telescopes for home use. The only caveat is that the viewing angle is small due to the jsize, but the pictures are crystal clear and sharp, so really it shouldn’t matter.

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6. Celestron – NexStar 4SE

Why we love it:

  • Fully computerized
  • Automatic tracking
  • Unbeatable warranty

ProsCons
✅Full database❌Relatively expensive
✅ Free software

Why we recommend this:

I’ll say this before anything. This is the top-notch gold standard for telescopes for best telescopes for beginners. The only reason it is ranked so low on the list is because of how pricey it is. Most people would not be comfortable spending so much money if they’re new to the stargazing hobby.

But if you do want to spend more money for more quality, you should definitely get this one because it is the great telescope for the money and for astrophotography.

This is a fully computerized telescope that uses AI to help track objects in the sky with the help of its large and extensive database which includes over 40,000 celestial objects. I’d say it is the most suitable type of telescope for photographers who do not want to waste time skimming through the skies to find picture-worthy spectacles.

Celestron is one of the top telescope brands out there and one thing I can say without the shadow of a doubt is that this is the greatest telescope money can buy on this list.

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7. HUTACT Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Portable backpack included
  • 30 days refund
  • Suitable for kids

ProsCons
✅Small size❌New on shelves
✅ Suitable for kids

Why we recommend this:

This was a great find in my research for beginner telescopes. Not only is it lightweight and compact, it features a travel backpack that the whole ensemble folds neatly into. Perfect for hiking trips or for home use for kids. I’d say this is one of those few rare budget telescopes on the market today.

A good telescope for beginners can range from the super expensive to the super chea. This is a reasonably priced telescope that offers you the best of both worlds.

The only issue here is the lack of reviews on this product because it is new to the shelves. But those will start popping up soon and if this telescope is anything like advertised, it’s a hit.

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8. National Geographic 50Mm

Why we love it:

  • Sturdy and secure
  • Sponsored merchandise
  • High quality optics

ProsCons
✅Strong body❌New on shelves
✅ Great introductory telescope

Why we recommend this:

This sponsored merch product is appealing on first sight. And I’ll say this, it makes a great companion for kids who are curious about the stars.

It is marketed as an “introduction to astronomy” telescope and features a sleek black hull with sturdy tripods. It does not take pictures but it has some amazing optics for a better viewing experience.

If you want to go really low down the price range, don’t just settle for anything as there is great leg room when it comes to the best budget telescopes. The lens are coated for protective viewing on this telescope so you aren’t compromising on safety in any way.

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Conclusion

So, there you have it, the best beginner telescopes on the market today, and all of them offered at a reasonable price even with special nuanced features.

Don’t make compromises on a hobby, even if your price range is low. You can deduce from this fairly small list that most of these products come in a great variation on all price ranges. You just have to conduct the proper research!

But if you’re not really the researching type and are looking for more stargazing products, check out some of our other articles:

  • 6 Best Telescope Eyepieces for Viewing Planets [Reviewed]

  • 8 Best Tripods For Astrophotography in 2021 [Reviewed]

  • Best Telescope For Deep Space Astrophotography [Guide]

Info Box

Telescope Buying Guide

When you’re in the market for stargazing products you’ll find that the best way to go isn’t looking for the biggest telescope you can buy, but the internal features of the product. You have to know what you are looking for and work your way up from there.

  • If you want casual stargazing, go for a small portable one which you can use in conjunction with your phone with ease. You want to get something that is easy to set up and easy to operate.
  • If you want to take amazing pictures, get a Computerised Telescope which can help track the correct objects in the sky for you to photograph
  • If you want something which can help you scour the deep night sky in your own time, get a large powerful machine and rest it in a good spot.

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Mary Robinette Kowal
Mary Robinette Kowal
Hey! I'm Mary Robinette Kowal, an author, speaker &  producer on anything & everything tech and space related. I'm best known for winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Writing about space is a huge passion of mine, so here’s a little piece of my mind.
Mary Robinette Kowal
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