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Best Telescopes for Kids 2021 [Top 9 Reviewed]

December 2, 2020 by Mary Robinette Kowal

best telescope for kidsI hope you agree with me when I say:

 Astronomy is a great hobby for kids 

These young minds harbor enough intellect and curiosity to venture out beyond the horizon of the world they live in.

Be it stargazing or terrestrial tracking, these outdoor skills are assets to these nurturing minds.

However, dealing with telescopes is often a hefty task for both adults and kids. What telescope could reduce this burden while making the task fun (as it should be!)?

Well, we have compiled a list of reviews for the best telescope for kids. With these insights, you can easily navigate yourself to the best kid’s telescope!

We have also included a guide on the ‘The best type of telescope for you?’, where we’ve talked about the three types of telescopes and important vocabulary.

It’s all the way to the end, make sure to give it a read!

The best telescope for Kids [2021]

Here are our top picks for the best telescope for your kids.

KIDS TELESCOPESRATINGPRICE
Celestron 21035 Portable Refractor Telescope10/10 (Editor's Choice)
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Orion 10016 Astro Reflector Telescope9.5/10
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Meade Instruments Refractor Telescope9/10
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SOLOMARK Telescope Travel Scope 70mm9/10
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MaxUSee Kids Telescope 400x40mm 8.5/10
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Twinstar Kids Refractor Telescope8/10
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Celestron Astro Fi 90 Wi-Fi Refractor8/10
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Levenhuk Skyline Portable Refractor Telescope7.5/10
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Educational Insights Geosafari Jr. Talking Telescope7/10
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1) Celestron 21035 Portable Refractor Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Comes with two lenses (10mm and 20mm)
  • Includes diagonal and finderscope
  • Starry Night Astronomy software!

ProsCons
✅ Great value❌ Tripod isn’t strong enough
✅ Adjustable tripod
✅ Portable and lightweight

Why we recommend? 

Celestron is a renowned manufacturer of astronomical gadgets alongside its customer care services and an excellent warranty. But today, we’ll talk about specs.

The Celestron 21035 Portable Refractor Telescope comes with two power lenses (10mm and 20mm) to match your preferences and power outlet. Not only does it produce high-quality images, but also has the most user-friendly features making it the best telescope for kids.

An included 45 degrees diagonal for better viewing angles and a finderscope to locate objects easily, this is the best telescope for beginners.

Furthermore, for the intrigued young minds, this amazon kids telescope comes with FREE Astronomy Software. You can now print the clearest pictures of your neighbor planet.

And, did we mention? You get all of this under $100! Talk about great value.

This is the best beginner telescope for kids you’ll find on Amazon today. Order yours now!

If you’re looking for cheap telescopes, look at this guide; Best Telescopes Under $300.

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2) Orion 10016 Astro Reflector Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Compact and Portable
  • High quality 6 Inches Aperture
  • Already assembled

ProsCons
✅ Comes with Finderscope❌ Doesn’t come with a tripod
✅ Comes with accessories❌ Doesn’t work for near-earth objects
✅ High magnification

If you’re in search of a telescope for 10-year-old kids or someone who’s just learned the basics, we recommend the Orion 10016 Astro Reflector Telescope.

With its 6 inch aperture, you can now gawk at Saturn’s rings and with a crisp high-quality picture, fall in love with the moon all over again.

Although reflector telescopes are not ideal for near-earth objects, they prove to be great for distant objects.

The finder scope ranks it higher on our list for the best kid’s telescope. Not only can you easily locate objects, but this pre-assembled telescope is compact enough for a child’s use.

Moreover, this lightweight telescope is portable and comes with its own backpack!

Users love Orion’s YouTube videos. You can refer to them at any time.

However, since this is a table-top telescope, it doesn’t come with a tripod.

This is still a great kid telescope, available on Amazon for the best deals.

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3) Meade Instruments Refractor Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Red dot viewfinder
  • Three power lenses
  • Slow motion quality controls

ProsCons
✅ Comes with a planetarium DVD❌ Lots of small parts
✅ Easy to set-up❌ Issues with the mount
✅ 102mm Aperture

Another refractor telescope for kids and beginners on our list is the Meade Instruments Infinity 102AZ Refractor Telescope. It comes with three power eyepeices you can now gaze at the furthest star or look at enlarged specs on a billboard.

The mount is not only adjustable but has slow-motion quality controls for easy tracking of distant objects. To add to that, the unique red dot viewfinder adds to the ease of users making this a favorite in our search for the best telescope for beginners.

A lovely addition is the Autostar Suite Astronomy planetarium DVD which now allows you to print images of more than 10,000 heavenly celestial bodies. We believe this is why reviewers rate this telescope as the best kid telescope. We would too!

We should add that this family telescope has a lot of spare and small parts which could be dangerous for toddlers and kids below the age of 5. Make sure to keep an eye out.

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4) SOLOMARK Telescope Travel Scope 70mm

Why we love it:

  • Comes with a lot of accessories
  • Includes a smartphone adaptor
  • Excels at night and daytime viewing

ProsCons
✅ Adjustable tripod with slow controls❌ Shaky tripod
✅ Portable and lightweight❌ Lots of small parts
✅ Includes two power eyepieces

If you trust your kids with telescopes, they will be extremely delighted with the SOLOMARK Telescope Travel Scope 70mm will present them with many gifts included an adaptor for their smartphone and a Barlow lens.

Gaze at variations with the two eyepieces or add the Barlow lens for greater magnification. Whatever you decide on, this amazon kids telescope will not disappoint you!
Not only is it portable but also perfect for animal viewing as it works effectively in daylight. Why limit your sight to the sky?

The adjustable tripod, although slightly shaky has great slow-control features on the mount, making it a great telescope for kids.

All in all, this is not only a kid’s telescope but works well for professional use as well!

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5) MaxUSee Kids Telescope 400x40mm

Why we love it:

  • Comes with 4 eyepieces
  • Comes with a moon mirror
  • Includes a phone adaptor

ProsCons
✅ Variable magnification❌ Smaller aperture
✅ Barlow Lens❌ Vertical range is short
✅ Inexpensive

If you’re in search of the best beginner telescope for kids, we recommend the MaxUSee Kids Telescope, which not only expands options from terrestrial viewing to the heavenly bodies but does so at a great price!

The telescope comes with two different magnifications and up to 4 eyepieces so now you can gaze with your preference.

It also comes with a phone adaptor, a child’s favourite feature. Moreover, with its star guide and map, this is definitely the best kid’s telescope.

All of us are aware of the dangers of leaving a kid alone with a telescope, MaxUSee adds a moon filter for your kid’s safety. Reviewers have called this telescope, the best starter telescope for kids. You should check it out on Amazon today!

We should add that the images produced will be smaller and slightly blurry in some cases due to the aperture.

Want to find out your telescopes FOV, here’s our Telescope Field of View Calculator!

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6) Twinstar Kids Refractor Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Great magnification range
  • Easy to set-up
  • Comes with Barlow lenses

ProsCons
✅ Affordable❌ Need to purchase bundles
✅ Various packages available❌ Issues with finderscope
✅ Many eyepieces

Tired of your child going on about the Discovery kids telescope? Are you looking for a family telescope? Then you should check out the Twinstar Kids Refractor Telescope with its packing features and user-friendly features.

Switch between the different magnifications of 15x to 50x and use your child’s telescope for your own astronomical needs. Producing crisp images, the aperture is one of the best you’ll find.

Despite its technological advancement, this telescope is easy to set up with the instruction manual and even more easy to use. You can purchase the various fun bundles with activities for your kid!

Although you might find aligning the finderscope a little hard, this is still a great deal at its price.

Here is a guide on aligning the finder scope for beginners.

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7) Celestron Astro Fi 90 Wi-Fi Refractor

Why we love it:

  • Integrated Wi-Fi
  • Sturdy built
  • Comes with a dew protector

ProsCons
✅ Diagonal and finderscope❌ Wi-Fi issues
✅ Smartphone adaptor❌ Pricey
✅ Swap eyepieces

Celestron has made use of the younger generation’s use of Wi-Fi integrated into a telescope. You can now use the telescope with the ease of an app!

The sturdy built and dew protector make it one of the best kid’s telescopes but since it is pricey we would not recommend it for children below the age of 6.

The diagonal and the finderscope are great navigating tools to boost your kid’s astronomical capability.

Swap eyepieces or have fun with the interactive Celestron Sky Portal app, this can definitely qualify as a children telescope.

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8) Levenhuk Skyline Portable Refractor Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Portable
  • Multi-use
  • Lots of accessories

ProsCons
✅ Up to 132x magnification❌ Not very powerful
✅ Easy to use mount❌ Can’t show details

While this might not be your typical discovery kids telescope, the Levenhuk Skyline Portable Refractor Telescope has a lot of quality features.

From its portability to the alt-azimuth mount, tracking celestial objects has never been easier. It’s multi-use as a telescope or tracker make it an addition to our list for the best telescope for kids.

Not to mention, this telescope comes with all the standard accessories like Barlow lenses and a packing bag!

The reason why it’s one of the last products on our list is due to its lacking quality and inability to show details.

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9) Educational Insights Geosafari Jr. Talking Telescope

Why we love it:

  • Great for younger kids
  • Quizzes and activities
  • Speaks in 4 languages

ProsCons
✅ Great for kid beginners❌ Shows NASA’s images
✅ Great educational tool❌ It’s a toy

For your convenience, we have added an interesting yet popular product. The Educational Insights Geosafari Jr. Talking Telescope is great for kids under the age of 5 who are taking an interest in astronomy.

Featuring high-quality images from NASA, and 10,000 interactive fun quizzes, this ‘telescope’ proves to be a great educational tool.

It is in fact a great telescope for kids.

However, be aware that this is still a toy and not an actual telescope. But it can do its job on setting your kid right on track for their first best telescope for beginners!

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Conclusion

We hope these reviews have provided you with enough insight to find your perfect telescope. We highly recommend buying one of these products at the earliest for the best deals!

 

Types of Telescopes

What is the Best Type of Telescope for You?

There are three kinds of telescopes and they differ slightly in terms of functionality.

Refractor Telescopes

The most popular long tube telescopes can be used for both terrestrial and celestial viewing needs. Not only are these usually affordable but the best beginner telescope for kids. The only con is the permeability for distant objects.

If you need a refractor, read our other article; 11 Best Refractor Telescopes for Beginners [2021].

Reflector Telescopes

These telescopes are only used for viewing objects in the sky, ideal for planet observers due to their clear pictures providing details with their mirrors.

These are often used by professionals but can be used by passionate stargazers.

Compound Telescopes

If you’re looking for a telescope that combines both the features of the reflector and refractor telescope, this is your pick. With the combination of lens and mirrors, this complex telescope will serve.

 

Notes

We recommend going through these terms to enhance your astronomy vocabulary. You might have noticed these throughout the reviews.

  • Aperture

This is how astronomers refer to mirror/lens size. The bigger the size of the aperture, the more light is let in and crisp images are produced.

  • Magnification

The bigger an image is shown, has units like 10x, 20x, 30x. The greater the magnification, the more you’ll see.

  • Finderscop

It is a tool (kind of like a mini telescope) that is attached to the top of the telescope to easily target objects.

You might want to clear other doubts as well while you’re at it; read on, Astrology Vs Astromony [The REAL Difference]

 Ready to go on a stargazing trip with your kid? Get these telescopes for the best deals on Amazon right now! 

  • 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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