5 Best Telescopes for Amateur Astronomers

Our picks for the 5 best telescopes for amateur astronomers in the market today- from absolute newbie to seasoned stargazers, we've picked for you ideal options for any budget.

Stargazing can be an enriching hobby that not only entertains but educates. If you're an amateur astronomer, or just dipping your toes into the cosmos, having the right equipment is essential. But with countless options available, finding the best telescope can be a daunting task.

That's why we've compiled a list of the 5 best telescopes for amateur astronomers. Each one is unique in its design and functionality, offering various features to enhance your celestial exploration. So, whether you're looking for a new hobby or aiming to take your amateur astronomy to the next level, these telescopes could be your perfect partners in exploring the night sky.

1- The Hexeum 80mm Portable Telescope with AZ Mount and Accessories

The Hexeum 80mm Portable Telescope is a fantastic tool for anyone from a beginner to an intermediate stargazer. Let's take a look at the specifications, the pros, and the cons to get the full image:

Cost: $149.99

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Specifications	​Details
​Aperture	80mm
​Focal length	600mm
Magnification	24X and 60X
Accessories	Two eyepieces, 3X Barlow lens, 5x24 finder scope, phone adapter, adjustable tripod, wireless remote control, carry case

Pros	Cons
Excellent light intake and clarity	Instruction manual could be more detailed
High magnification capability	-
Useful accessories included	-
Lifetime maintenance guarantee	-

With an 80mm aperture and 600mm focal length, this telescope captures light efficiently, translating even faint stars into intriguing points of light. It comes equipped with two eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), providing 24X and 60X magnification, respectively. This magnification can be tripled with the included 3X Barlow lens.

A 5x24 finder scope is included, helping you locate your desired astronomical object. To make your stargazing experience more shareable, a phone adapter is provided.

And for easy setup and transport, the package includes an adjustable tripod, a wireless remote control, and a carry case. All these features make it a great value for money, further reinforced by a lifetime maintenance guarantee.

The only complaint users have noted that the instruction manual could be more comprehensive. But even with this minor flaw, the Hexeum 80mm Portable Telescope is a top-notch choice for amateur astronomers, offering an enriching sky-gazing experience.

2- ToyerBee 70mm Portable Telescope for Adults, Kids, Beginners, with Accessories

The ToyerBee 70mm Telescope is a thoughtfully designed instrument that caters to both beginners and experienced stargazers. Its 70mm large aperture objective lens ensures bright and clear images of celestial bodies, enhancing your viewing pleasure of the moon and planets.

Cost: $69.99

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One of the highlights of this telescope is its diverse magnification range. It comes with two eyepieces and a 3X Barlow lens, enabling magnification from 15X to 150X. This feature ensures that whether you're observing nearby stars or distant planets, you're well-equipped for the job.

Accommodating different viewing positions, the telescope includes an adjustable tripod. Its height can be adjusted between 16’’ to 46’’, adding versatility to your astronomy sessions. Additionally, the package is enhanced with the inclusion of a wireless remote and a smartphone adapter, allowing you to not only capture but also share the breathtaking views of the cosmos with others.

Specifications	Details
​Aperture	70mm
Magnification range	15X to 150X
Tripod height	Adjustable, 16’’ to 46’’
Included accessories	Two eyepieces and a 3X Barlow lens

Pros	Cons
Versatile magnification range	Tripod stability
Clear and bright images	-
Adjustable tripod	-
Wireless remote and smartphone adapter included	-

While the ToyerBee 70mm Telescope is packed with impressive features, one point of critique has been the stability of the tripod. Nonetheless, considering the telescope's overall performance and its affordability, this seems a small issue to overlook.

The ToyerBee 70mm Telescope stands out as a versatile tool that can enrich your astronomical exploration. It's a great fit for adults, kids, and astronomy beginners, promising to make every stargazing session an exciting adventure.

3- Gskyer 70mm Telescope, AZ Mount, for Kids & Beginners with Accessories

The Gskyer Astronomical Refracting Telescope is an impressive tool that promises to meet the needs of both novice and seasoned astronomers. With its 70mm large aperture, it delivers clear and detailed views of celestial objects such as stars and the moon, making every stargazing session a rewarding experience.

Cost: $99.79

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One of the standout features of this telescope is its powerful magnification. It comes equipped with two interchangeable eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens that triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece. This allows for an array of magnification options, ensuring you can observe celestial objects at varying distances with ease.

Accommodating various viewing positions, the telescope includes an adjustable aluminum alloy tripod. It provides ease in setup and transportation, adding a layer of convenience to your astronomy sessions. Additionally, the package includes a wireless remote and a smartphone adapter. This allows you not only to explore the night sky with ease but also to capture and share stunning celestial images with others.

While the Gskyer 70mm Telescope comes with several impressive features, there are a few points of critique, including the stability of the tripod, the focuser alignment, and the lack of a user manual. However, considering the telescope's overall performance and versatility, these may be small issues to overlook for some users.

Specifications	Details
​Aperture	70mm
Magnification range	15X to 150X
Tripod height	Adjustable, 16’’ to 46’’
Included accessories	Two eyepieces and a 3X Barlow lens

Pros	Cons
Versatile magnification range	Tripod stability
Adjustable tripod	-
Wireless remote and smartphone adapter included	-

The Gskyer 70mm Telescope is packed with impressive features, but, like many other budget-friendly products, it seems like the material was a little bit flimsy for some users but they were still able to get good value and images out of the product.

The Gskyer 70mm Telescope stands out as a versatile tool that can enrich your astronomical exploration. It's a great fit for adults, kids, and astronomy beginners.

4- SoloMark Polaris 130EQ Telescope

The SoloMark Polaris 130EQ Telescope is an intelligently crafted instrument that caters more towards experienced astronomers. Its 130mm large aperture ensures bright and vivid images, enhancing your viewing pleasure of the moon, planets, and deep space objects.

Cost: $326.99

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One of the highlights of this telescope is its impressive magnification capacity. It comes with two Kellner eyepieces and a 1.5X Barlow lens, enabling magnification up to 260X. This feature ensures that whether you're observing the moon's craters or distant nebulae, you're well-equipped for the task.

Accommodating different viewing positions, the telescope includes an adjustable aluminum tripod. Additionally, the package is enhanced with the inclusion of a moon filter and a smartphone adapter, allowing you not only to capture but also share the breathtaking views of the cosmos with others.

Specifications	Details
Aperature	130mm
Magnification range	Up to 260X
Tripod material	Aluminum
Included accessories	Two Kellner eyepieces, 1.5x Barlow lens, moon filter, and a smartphone adapter

Pros	Cons
Powerful magnification capacity	Not recommended for kids under 12 unless accompanied by an adult
Clear and bright images	Included eyepieces and Barlow lens may need to be upgraded
Carbon fiber tube for lightness and elegance	Uncertainty about long-term tripod stability
Moon filter and smartphone adapter included	Not suitable for travelers requiring fast assembly and compactness

While the SoloMark Polaris 130EQ Telescope is packed with impressive features, a few points of critique include the suitability for kids, the need for eyepiece upgrades, the long-term stability of the tripod, and its convenience for traveling. Nonetheless, considering the telescope's overall performance, these seem minor issues to overlook.

The SoloMark Polaris 130EQ Telescope really does stand out as a versatile tool that can enrich your amateur astronomy hobby. It's a great fit for adults, teenagers, and astronomy enthusiasts.

5- HOROX 70mm Telescope, Coated Optics, Tripod, Phone Adapter, & Backpack

The HOROX HX70x400 Telescope is a brilliantly engineered device that serves both novice and seasoned astronomers. Its 70mm objective lens with a 400mm focal length ensures luminous and sharp images of celestial objects, enhancing your experience of observing the moon, birdwatching, or exploring natural scenery.

Cost: $89.99

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A key feature of this telescope is the broadened field of view provided by the 70mm aperture and 400mm focal length, a noticeable upgrade from telescopes with 60mm/50mm focal length. It comes with two replaceable Kellner eyepieces (K20mm and K9mm) allowing for 20x-44x magnifications, offering a range of viewing possibilities.

Adding flexibility to your viewing sessions, the telescope includes an adjustable aluminum tripod with a height range between 20'' to 54''. This is complemented by the addition of a smartphone adapter, enabling you to capture and share the awe-inspiring views of the cosmos with others.

Specifications	Details
Aperture	70mm
Focal Length	400mm
Magnification range	20X to 44X
Tripod height	Adjustable, 20’’ to 54’’
Included accessories	Two Kellner eyepieces, 5x24 finderscope, smartphone adapter

Pros	Cons
Expanded field of view	Zoom could be better
Adjustable tripod	Materials could be of higher quality
Smartphone adapter included	-

Despite its impressive features, the HOROX HX70x400 Telescope has received some critique regarding the zoom capabilities and the quality of materials used. However, given the overall performance and convenience of the telescope, these points seem minor.

The HOROX HX70x400 Telescope is a versatile instrument. It's an excellent choice for adults, children, and beginners in astronomy, promising to turn every stargazing session into an unforgettable experience.