Best Refractor Telescopes of 2026
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Refractor telescopes are optical instruments that use lenses to bend and concentrate light, allowing users to observe distant objects with great clarity. These telescopes are popular among astronomers and hobbyists alike, as they provide crisp images of celestial bodies and are relatively low maintenance compared to other types of telescopes. Refractor telescopes come in a range of sizes and prices, making them accessible to anyone with an interest in stargazing. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a beginner, a refractor telescope can provide hours of enjoyment and insight into the mysteries of the universe.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 8 Refractor Telescopes
EACONN 80mm Refractor Telescope for Beginners
The EACONN Refractor Telescope features a large 80mm aperture that captures more light, providing you with bright and clear images of celestial objects. Its rough adjustment and positioning gimbal makes it easy for you to adjust the telescope's altitude and azimuth, allowing for comfortable viewing. You will also appreciate the included accessories, such as two eyepieces for varying magnifications and a finder scope to simplify locating targets. Additionally, the design is portable, complete with a carrying backpack, making it convenient for outings and adventures in astronomy.
Celestron 22030 Travel Scope with 80mm Lens
The Celestron 22030 Travel Scope is an all-in-one telescope kit designed for astronomy enthusiasts. With its 80mm objective lens and fully-coated glass optics, you'll enjoy clear, bright views of celestial objects at night and land-based sights during the day. The inclusion of two powerful eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) allows you to switch between low and high magnifications, enhancing your viewing experience. Additionally, the telescope comes with a travel backpack and full-height tripod, making it easy to take on your adventures.
Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ Refractor Telescope
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is a powerful refractor telescope perfect for both adults and children. It features high-quality 70mm optics that allow you to clearly view celestial and terrestrial objects. With a lightweight frame and a manual Altazimuth mount, you’ll enjoy smooth and accurate pointing, making it easy to locate and observe your desired targets. Additionally, the included eyepieces and StarPointer red dot finderscope enhance your stargazing experience, allowing for quick adjustments and precise aiming.
Celestron 21035 Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope Kit
The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is an exceptional portable refractor telescope, perfect for both beginners and experienced stargazers. Its superior optics, featuring a 70mm objective lens, ensure clear and bright images of celestial bodies. With two powerful eyepieces, you can enjoy both low and high-power views, making it suitable for exploring the night sky or observing terrestrial objects during the day. The included travel backpack and full-height tripod make it easy to take your telescope anywhere, allowing you to enjoy astronomy wherever you go.
Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ Refractor Telescope Kit
The Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ is a powerful refractor telescope that is easy to use for both adults and children. Its fully-coated 90mm optics allow you to enjoy clear and bright views of the night sky or distant terrestrial objects. The lightweight frame and manual German Equatorial mount provide smooth, precise adjustments, making it simple to track celestial bodies. Setup is quick and tool-free, so you can spend more time observing. Plus, it comes with two eyepieces and a StarPointer finderscope, giving you flexibility and accuracy when searching for objects.
EACONN 80mm Aperture Refractor Telescope
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.
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Telescope
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX is a 102mm refractor telescope that features patented StarSense Sky Recognition Technology, allowing you to easily locate celestial objects. By using your smartphone, the telescope analyses star patterns overhead, providing real-time positioning. The StarSense Explorer App automatically generates a list of visible objects, making stargazing effortless, whether you're in the city or under darker skies. With stable, slow-motion control, you can smoothly track your desired targets, ensuring a delightful viewing experience.
SOLOMARK 80mm Aperture 900mm Refractor Telescope
The SOLOMARK Refractor Telescope features an impressive 80mm aperture, which allows you to capture more light for brighter and clearer images. Its stable tripod, equipped with a super azimuth gimbal, makes it easy for you to adjust and position the telescope comfortably. With specially configured WA eyepieces, you can enjoy magnifications of 90X and 45X, perfect for observing the lunar craters and various planets. Furthermore, the telescope is designed for easy assembly, making it suitable for beginners and kids alike.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a refractor telescope better?
If you are interested in astrophotography, purchasing a refractor is a better option because of it's specialized optic design that captures deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae. If you are interested in brighter celestial objects like the Moon or planets or a beginner, a reflector telescope is ideal.
2. Is a refractor telescope better than a reflector?
Refractors generally have the edge over reflectors for a quality image, both from the standpoint of lens/mirror quality and precision optical mountings, and lack of central obscurations. Equally important in a choice of telescope type is the focal length and the resulting field of view.
3. What is a disadvantage of a refractor telescope?
1. Very high initial cost relative to reflector. 2. A certain amount of secondary spectrum (chromatic aberration) unavoidable (reflector completely free of this)
4. What are refractor telescopes used for?
Refracting telescopes. Commonly known as refractors, telescopes of this kind are typically used to examine the Moon, other objects of the solar system such as Jupiter and Mars, and binary stars.
During our refractor telescope research, we found 263 refractor telescope products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 174,748 customer reviews through our big data system to write the refractor telescopes list. We found that most customers choose refractor telescopes with an average price of £191.43.
The refractor telescopes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of refractor telescopes, including EACONN, 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.