There is nothing more beautiful on earth than the stars in the sky and while we cannot all be astrologers.
Stars and planets can be very far and to witness this amazing creation, you need the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies
High quality telescopes will help you not just see the stars more clearly but to also see other features in space such as aircrafts, meteorites, planets and other great things.
You can finally understand everything you learnt in that science class and even have a romantic night while at it.
Best Telescopes For Beginners and Pros For Viewing Planets And Galaxies
1. Orion 8945 SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
The Orion SkyQuest XT8 is the best telescope for your money and it’s a very popular reflector telescope among the astrology lovers because it is very accurate, simple to use and rock-solid stable.
This telescope features a large aperture with 8’’diameter optics that lets in enough light for you to stars, moon and planets in very clear detail.
The Dobsonian base allows the optical tube to be well balanced so the user can just point and view the galaxy without worrying about stability.
This telescope is very affordable and it’s of great value to your entire family since it’s easy to use.
Orion SkyQuest comes with all parts and tools and features a pretty decent 25mm ploss eyepiece and easily adjustable finderscope.
The 2’’ and 1.25 eyepiece adapter ensure that you can use multiple accessories and you are not restricted to just one.
Drawbacks:
- This telescope is pretty heavy and bulky.
2. Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope
Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker is one of the best value for money telescope in the world and it’s perfect for first time users since it has simple features and offers great value.
This is one of the few telescopes you can use straight from the box when you join it with the tripod and place the eyepiece so it’s easy to use.
This best budget telescope features fully coated optical glass which enhances brightness hence making the images more clear.
The 3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying power of this telescope while the equatorial mount makes it easy to track and follow objects across the sky.
As if that wasn’t enough, Celestron has a free SkyPortal app that helps you identify any object you see on the sky if you hold your phone up.
Drawbacks:
- You will spend a lot of time collimating this telescope to get the perfect image.
3. Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
If you are new to astronomy, you will be surprised at how big telescopes are but professionals find this Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 to be extremely small so it’s the best telescope for people who want to travel or camp.
However, you should not let the size of this scope to fool you because it’s packed with amazing features that other amateur telescopes can only dream of.
This best beginner telescope features a 4.5’’ aperture and 900mm focal length so it allows 260% more light than other amateur scopes providing you with clear views of nebulas, galaxies and everything above.
The best home telescopes has a nice portable Dobsonian base and handy navigation knob so you can just point the telescope to what you want to see and relax.
This telescope is not short of accessories either since it comes with a 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, 6×30 finderscope, collimation cap, eyepiece rack, astronomy software and many more.
Drawbacks:
- No complaints yet.
4. Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope
Like all Celestron telescopes for beginners, you will not have to guess what you are seeing on the sky as it comes with light edition astronomy software with over 10,000 objects.
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is designed for travellers as it is very compact and lightweight and it fits in a small carry bag.
The travel scope provides great value for money and it’s suitable for viewing both celestial and terrestrial objects thanks to the 10mm and 20mm eyepieces that allow up to 20x magnification.
The all coated glass optical components and erect image diagonal ensure you get crispy clear images that are correctly oriented.
Celestron features a smooth altazimuth mount that will help you locate objects with ease and a preassembled full size tripod to ensure stability and support during viewing.
Drawbacks:
- It’s a very affordable telescope but the tripod could be better.
5. Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope
The Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope is the best rated telescope for people who are totally new to astronomy because it can guide and teach you everything you need to know about the sky and galaxies.
This beginner telescope is very compact and lightweight so it’s easily portable which means you can travel with it to many places and it’s also easy to use and assemble.
Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope has a fully computerized operating system and a database with over 40,000 objects.
While other telescopes let you select an object in the sky and then checkout what it’s called, this telescope helps you choose the best objects in the sky depending on where you are and the time and teaches about them.
You can use the standard 25mm plossl eyepiece or add a 12.5mm or 6mm plossl eyepiece to get better magnification.
This telescope comes with a nice tripod and motorized altazimuth mount to enhance stability and it uses 4 AA batteries.
Drawbacks:
- Since it’s a small telescope you r view is limited and you have to change batteries every day.
6. Orion 13160 StarSeeker IV 130mm GoTo Reflector Telescope
Orion 13160 StarSeeker IV is also another great telescope for newcomers and like Celestron, it has handy built in tour mode thanks to the GoTo hand controller that helps you trace and follow objects easily.
The telescope can be operated manually or electronically and it is very accurate.
On top of this telescope being very easy to use and light on your arms, this best beginner telescope also comes with slanted altazimuth mount and cylindrical leg tripod to help you get a 360 degrees view of the sky.
This affordable telescope also features a 23mm and 10mm wide-field eyepieces, EZ Finder II sight and an accessory holder to place everything you are not using at the moment.
With a 5.2inch aperture, 130mm optics and a database with over 42000 objects, you are sure to enjoy any clear night with your family.
Drawbacks:
- The finder II sight is defective.
7. Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope
Just like all the other telescopes in the NexStar, this Celestron 130 SLT also has a computerized hand control with over 4000 objects on its database.
The unit comes with a fully assembled tripod, mount and accessory tray so it’s very easy to put together without any tools.
The best rated telescope features a star pointer finder scope and SkyAlign technology so you can simply find and 3 stars at the same time.
This is a reflector telescope with 2 good eyepieces so it allows a lot of light to enter hence you see the images more clearly.
This telescope uses batteries so you won’t have issues with cords and it’s compatible with nexremote control software which helps you control your telescope from the computer remotely.
Drawbacks:
- You have to align and collimate the mirrors often to get accurate images.
Buying Guide For The Best Telescope For Viewing Planets And Galaxies
Buying the best telescope for beginners can be quite daunting especially because of the big words and phrases used such as aperture, altazimuth, focal length and collimating.
However, you should not fear because it’s never that serious, this telescope reviews and guide will help you know the best telescope to buy to see planets and stars even if you absolutely know nothing;
- Aperture:
Aperture is the diameter of the primary lens or mirror that determines how much light enters to the eyepiece.
The bigger the aperture, the better your image will be especially if you are planning to look at small and far away objects in the sky.
- Eyepiece:
The eyepiece you use on a telescope also determines the details you will see on an object. You need an eyepiece with higher magnification but not at the expense of field of view so you have to balance.
The best at home telescope must have longer focal lengths so you can get better magnification hence see more details.
- Ease of Use:
The best telescope for your money must be easy to set up or assemble even when it’s dark otherwise you might lose interest in the hobby.
If possible, buy a telescope that requires no assembly or one that can be assembled without tools.
Collimating the telescope should also be super easy and there should be simple instructions to do so in order to get an accurate view.
- Size and Weight:
Unless you have a pickup or you plan to do all your stargazing at home, the best home telescopes should be compact and lightweight.
Even though most telescopes use tripods for support, you are the one who will have to carry that telescope from point A to point B so it has to be easily portable.
- Warranty:
Instead of asking yourself how much does a good telescope cost, buy a telescope from a reputable manufacturer who can protect or exchange your telescope for a good amount of time.
Conclusion
Buying the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies to witness this amazing creation is only the beginning when it comes to astronomy.
You must dig into your books and learn a lot about the sky, stars and plants in order to differentiate them and you must also learn how to use a telescope well.
