Best Telescopes of 2025

Kenneth Collin Avatar
Kenneth Collin
Last Updated: 1 Feb 2025

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Telescopes are optical instruments designed to observe distant objects in space. They come in different sizes and types, from small handheld models to large professional ones used by astronomers. Telescopes work by gathering and focusing light, allowing us to see far-off galaxies, stars, and planets in our solar system. They are essential tools for anyone interested in astronomy, whether you're a beginner or an experienced stargazer. With a good telescope, you can explore the wonders of the universe from the comfort of your own backyard.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope with Motor Drive Cover #TOP 1
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope with Motor Drive
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Celestron StarSense Explore DX 130 Telescope Cover #TOP 2
Celestron StarSense Explore DX 130 Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.8
EACONN 80mm Aperture Refractor Telescope Cover #TOP 3
EACONN 80mm Aperture Refractor Telescope
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Telescopes

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope with Motor Drive

31051
Grey
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope with Motor Drive Cover
Celestron 31051 AstroMaster 130EQ Motor Drive Newtonian Reflector Telescope, Dark Blue

The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ offers an impressive manual German equatorial mount, making it easy for you to accurately locate and track celestial objects. With its motor drive, you can enjoy automatic tracking of stars and planets as they move across the night sky, enhancing your stargazing experience. The telescope features a simple, no-tool setup with a full-height adjustable steel tripod, allowing you to start observing in no time. Additionally, you receive essential accessories, including two eyepieces and a finderscope, which help you get the most out of your observations.

What We Like
Easy celestial tracking
Quick no-tool setup
Includes essential accessories
Sturdy adjustable tripod

Celestron StarSense Explore DX 130 Telescope

22461
Black
130 DX Reflector
Celestron StarSense Explore DX 130 Telescope Cover
Celestron 22461 StarSense Explore DX 130 Newtonian Reflector Telescope with Smartphone App-enabled Technology - includes Two Eyepieces, Phone Dock and Height-adjustable Tripod, Black

The Celestron StarSense Telescope offers high-quality optics with a 130mm Newtonian reflector, allowing you to view stunning celestial objects clearly. Its manual altazimuth mount features smooth dual-axis slow motion adjustments, making it easy for you to track targets in the sky. With innovative smartphone technology, the award-winning StarSense app guides you through the night sky, helping you find stars and constellations effortlessly. Additionally, the included accessories, such as two eyepieces and a red dot finderscope, enhance your stargazing experience, ensuring you have everything you need to explore the universe.

What We Like
High-quality optics
Smartphone app for guidance
Easy tracking of celestial objects
Includes essential accessories

EACONN 80mm Aperture Refractor Telescope

EACONN
EACONN
Ink Black
EACONN 80mm Aperture Refractor Telescope Cover
Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture 600mm Refractor Telescope for Kids & Beginners, Compact and Portable Travel Telescopio with Backpack

The EACONN Refractor Telescope features an impressive 80mm aperture, allowing you to capture more light for brighter and clearer images of celestial objects. Its rough adjustment and positioning gimbal make it easy for you to smoothly adjust the altitude and azimuth, enhancing your viewing experience. With the inclusion of two eyepieces, you can enjoy magnifications from 30x to 66x, making it simple to locate objects in the night sky. Additionally, the telescope comes with a mobile phone adapter, streamlining your photography efforts while stargazing.

What We Like
Large aperture for bright images
Easy altitude and azimuth adjustment
Includes multiple eyepieces
Mobile phone adapter for photography

Celestron 22035 Travel Scope DX 70mm Telescope Kit

22035
Silver
70 DX with Backpack
Celestron 22035 Travel Scope DX 70mm Telescope Kit Cover
Celestron 22035 Travel Scope DX 70mm Portable Refractor Telescope with Fully-Coated Glass Optics, Backpack, Astronomy Software Package, and Digiscoping Smartphone Adapter

The Celestron Travel Scope DX is an all-in-one telescope kit designed for astronomy enthusiasts. With fully-coated glass optics and a large 70mm objective lens, you can enjoy brighter and more detailed views of celestial objects at night and land-based sights during the day. The powerful eyepieces, including 20mm and 10mm options, allow you to experience both low- and high-power viewing. Additionally, attaching your smartphone lets you capture stunning images and videos of the Moon, planets, or wildlife, enhancing your stargazing experience.

What We Like
Complete telescope kit included
Powerful eyepieces for varied viewing
Large aperture for brighter images
Smartphone adapter for easy capturing

OYS 70mm Aperture 400mm Telescope for Beginners

OYS
TEL-01
OYS 70mm Aperture 400mm Telescope for Beginners Cover
Telescope, Telescopes for Adults, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount, Telescope for Kids Beginners, Fully Multi-Coated Optics, Astronomy Refractor with Tripod, Phone Adapter, Backpack

The OYS Beginner Telescope is an excellent choice for both novice astronomers and children. With its 400mm focal length and large 70mm aperture, you can enjoy stunning images that are bright and clear. The variable magnification, featuring two eyepieces, allows you to view objects at 20X or 44X magnification, making it easier to explore celestial bodies and landscapes. Its portable design means you can set it up quickly and take it anywhere with ease. Plus, the included phone adapter lets you capture amazing moments to share with family and friends.

What We Like
High-quality optics
Portable and lightweight
Variable magnification options
Phone adapter for easy sharing
#TOP 6

SOLOMARK 90mm High Powered Telescope

901000B
Black901000
Black
SOLOMARK 90mm High Powered Telescope Cover
Telescope, Telescopes for Adults Astronomy Professional, 90mm Aperture 1000mm High Powered Telescope for Beginners & Kids with Precision Adjustment Vertisteel AZ Mount Tripod Phone Adapter

The SOLOMARK High Powered Telescope features high-performance optics with a 90mm aperture and 1000mm focal length, allowing you to enjoy bright and clear images of celestial wonders. The precision adjustment provided by the Vertisteel AZ Mount makes tracking planets and stars effortless, enhancing your stargazing experience. Its easy assembly means you can quickly set it up and start exploring the night sky, whether you're a beginner or an experienced observer. The adjustable tripod ensures stability, giving you the perfect height for comfortable viewing sessions.

What We Like
High-performance optics for clear images
Smooth precision adjustments
Quick and easy assembly
Sturdy adjustable tripod
#TOP 7

Celestron Travel Scope 60 DX Telescope Kit

22007
Black & Grey
60 DX with Backpack
Celestron Travel Scope 60 DX Telescope Kit Cover
Celestron 22007 Travel Scope 60 DX Portable Refractor Telescope with Smartphone Adapter – Ideal for Beginners with Fully Coated Glass Optics, Tripod, Backpack and Bonus Accessories, Black/Grey

The Celestron Travel Scope 60 is a portable telescope kit that includes everything you need to start your astronomical journey. With its 60mm refractor and fully coated glass optics, you can enjoy clear images of celestial bodies at night and observe birds and wildlife during the day. The included smartphone adapter allows you to capture stunning photos and videos, enhancing your viewing experience. The intuitive pan handle and Alt-Az control ensure smooth tracking and accurate pointing, making navigation easy and enjoyable for you.

What We Like
Includes smartphone photography accessories
Day-to-night viewing capabilities
Portable and easy to carry
Smooth tracking and navigation
Comes with bonus accessories
#TOP 8

Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor Telescope with Smartphone Adapter

22403
Blue
100 mm
Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor Telescope with Smartphone Adapter Cover
Celestron 22403 Inspire 100AZ Refractor Telescope with Built-In Smartphone Adapter, Blue

The Celestron Inspire 100AZ Telescope is a user-friendly instrument designed for quick observations. Its 100mm short refractor design features fully coated glass optics, ensuring clear and bright images of celestial objects. The no-tool setup means you can start stargazing almost immediately, making it perfect for both beginners and seasoned astronomers. Additionally, the included accessories, such as two eyepieces and a red dot finderscope, enhance your viewing experience by providing versatile options for different observations.

What We Like
Lightweight and portable design
Easy, no-tool setup
Includes useful accessories
Smooth manual control
Adjustable height tripod
#TOP 9

SOLOMARK 130EQ Telescope with Accessories

130EQ
130EQ
SOLOMARK 130EQ Telescope with Accessories Cover
Telescope 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescopes for Adults, Professional Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, Comes with 1.5X Barlow Lens Smartphone Adapter & 13% T Moon Filter

The SOLOMARK 130EQ Telescope offers a large 130mm aperture, ensuring high resolution and enhanced light collection for observing deep space objects. Its high-quality optics, featuring fully-coated glass, allow you to see brighter and more detailed planets, improving your stargazing experience. The German Equatorial mount provides precise positioning and smooth tracking of celestial bodies, making it easier for you to follow the moon and planets as they move across the sky. Additionally, the stable tripod ensures that you can locate celestial objects accurately without any wobble.

What We Like
Large aperture for detailed views
High-quality optics for brightness
Precise tracking with equatorial mount
Stable tripod for accurate location
#TOP 10

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ Telescope

c22450
Grey/Black
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ Telescope Cover
Celestron 22450 StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ Refractor Telescope, 32 Inch Tube Length, f/10 Focal Ratio, Silver/Black

The Celestron StarSense Explorer Telescope transforms your stargazing experience with its innovative smartphone guided tour feature. You can easily navigate the night sky without any prior telescope experience. Its award-winning StarSense technology analyses star patterns overhead, providing real-time positioning to help you locate celestial objects. The accompanying Explorer app generates a list of visible objects, making it simple for you to spot planets, bright nebulae, and more, whether in the city or under darker skies.

What We Like
Smartphone guided navigation
Real-time star pattern analysis
List of visible celestial objects
Easy to use for beginners
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best telescope to see planets with?

Five of the Best Telescopes to See Planets. Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor.Sky-Watcher Classic 6-inch Dobsonian.Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Newtonian Reflector.Celestron Omni XLT 102mm Refractor.Celestron NexStar 6SE Compound.

2. Which type of telescope is best?

A reflector telescope is said to be the best value for your money, as they offer the most aperture for your dollar. For example, a 6-inch diameter refractor telescope can cost up to 10X as much as a 6-inch Newtonian reflector.

3. How powerful can a telescope see planets?

Experienced planetary observers use 20x to 30x per inch of aperture to see the most planetary detail. Double-star observers go higher, up to 50x per inch (which corresponds to a ½-mm exit pupil). Beyond this, telescope magnification power and eye limitations degrade the view.

Editor's Notes

During our telescope research, we found 306 telescope products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 75,934 customer reviews through our big data system to write the telescopes list. We found that most customers choose telescopes with an average price of £216.90.

The telescopes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of telescopes, including Celestron, EACONN, OYS, SOLOMARK.

Written by
Kenneth Collin Avatar

Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.