Best Reflector Telescopes of 2026
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Reflector telescopes are a popular choice for amateur astronomers due to their affordability and versatility. These telescopes use mirrors to reflect and focus light, allowing users to observe celestial bodies with clarity and detail. They come in a range of sizes and designs, from tabletop models to larger, more advanced options with computerized tracking systems. Reflectors are ideal for observing deep-sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae, and are also well-suited for astrophotography. With proper care and maintenance, a reflector telescope can provide years of enjoyment and discovery for stargazers of all levels.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 7 Reflector Telescopes
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope with Motor Drive
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.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope with Accessories
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a powerful and user-friendly reflector telescope, perfect for both beginners and experienced users. Its fully-coated 130mm primary mirror ensures high-quality views of celestial and terrestrial objects, making your stargazing experience more enjoyable. With a lightweight frame and manual German Equatorial mount, you can easily set up and adjust the telescope for precise positioning. The included two eyepieces and StarPointer red dot finderscope enhance your viewing experience, allowing for quick and accurate targeting of your desired objects.
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Beginner Telescope
The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is an ideal beginner telescope, offering ease of use and powerful features. Its German Equatorial mount allows you to smoothly navigate the night sky, making it simple to find and focus on celestial objects. The lightweight and compact design means you can easily transport it to your favourite observing spots, whether it's the backyard or a camping site. Additionally, with multiple accessories included, such as two eyepieces and a Barlow lens, you can enhance your viewing experience and explore the universe in greater detail.
SOLOMARK 130EQ Telescope with Accessories
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.
Celestron LCM 114 Series Computerised Newtonian Telescope
The Celestron LCM 114 Telescope is a computerised Newtonian reflector that automatically locates 4,000 celestial objects, making it easy for you to find stars, planets, and galaxies. If you’re unsure what to observe, simply press the Sky Tour button, and the telescope will suggest the best visible objects, saving you time and guesswork. It comes complete with an adjustable aluminium tripod, two quality eyepieces (25mm and 9mm), and a StarPointer red dot finderscope, ensuring you have all the essential tools for stargazing. Additionally, you can download the SkyPortal App for an enhanced astronomy experience.
Celestron StarSense Explore DX 130 Telescope
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.
Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerised Telescope
The NexStar 130SLT Telescope is a computerised marvel that allows you to explore the night sky with ease. With a database of over 40,000 celestial objects, you can locate stars, galaxies, and nebulae with pinpoint accuracy. Its compact design makes it perfect for weekend camping trips, ensuring you can enjoy stargazing anywhere. The Newtonian reflector optical design gathers ample light, revealing stunning details of planets and the Moon. Plus, Celestron's SkyAlign feature ensures a quick setup, so you can start observing in just minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a reflector telescope used for?
Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to help astronomers see more clearly far-away objects in space. A mirror collects light from objects in space, forming the image. This first mirror, which can be very wide, reflects the image to another mirror.
2. Are reflector telescopes better?
Refractor telescopes use specialized lenses that make them a favorite for deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae. Reflector telescopes are more popular with larger and brighter objects like the Moon and planets because they use mirrors that provide more sensitivity to all wavelengths.
3. What is a reflecting telescope and how does it work?
Reflecting telescopes are sometimes called Newtonian telescopes after their inventor Isaac Newton who built the first one in 1668. They use mirrors to collect and focus the light towards the eyepiece. Mirrors are lighter than lenses and they are also easier to shape into a smooth and perfect surface.
During our reflector telescope research, we found 108 reflector telescope products and shortlisted 7 quality products. We collected and analyzed 190,637 customer reviews through our big data system to write the reflector telescopes list. We found that most customers choose reflector telescopes with an average price of £262.38.
The reflector telescopes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of reflector telescopes, including Celestron, SOLOMARK.
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.