Looking for the best telescopes for beginners and enthusiasts? We have selected beginner-friendly refractors, reflectors, Dobsonians, portable telescopes and computerised models to help you choose the right telescope for astronomy and stargazing.
✔ Beginner telescopes • Refractors • Reflectors • Dobsonians • Computerised telescopes • Portable scopes
↓ See our recommended telescopes below
Top Recommended Telescopes
⭐ A popular beginner reflector telescope with good aperture for the Moon, planets and brighter deep sky objects.
⭐ A compact tabletop reflector offering good value and simple setup for beginner stargazing.
⭐ An entry-level reflector with strong magnification potential, best suited to beginners willing to learn an equatorial mount.
Looking to improve your setup? Explore our best eyepieces, top filters, and essential accessories.
Best Beginner Refractor Telescopes
Refractor telescopes are often a good choice for beginners because they are simple to use, low maintenance and excellent for viewing the Moon, bright planets and star clusters.
⭐ A simple beginner refractor telescope with easy setup and pleasing views of the Moon and brighter planets.
⭐ A lightweight refractor telescope ideal for travel, camping and quick observing sessions.
⭐ A clear refractor telescope well suited to lunar detail, planets and brighter star clusters.
⭐ A compact short-tube refractor that is easy to carry, quick to set up and useful for wide-field views.
⭐ A simple beginner refractor telescope for lunar observing, bright planets and learning the basics of stargazing.
⭐ A budget-friendly refractor with a longer focal length, useful for viewing the Moon and brighter planets.
Best Reflector Telescopes
Reflector telescopes usually offer more aperture for the money than small refractors. They are a good choice if you want brighter views of star clusters, nebulae and some galaxies.
⭐ A strong beginner reflector with a good balance of aperture, portability and value.
⭐ A budget-friendly starter telescope for beginners learning how to use an equatorial mount.
⭐ A beginner reflector telescope with enough aperture to show the Moon, planets and brighter deep sky objects.
⭐ A capable 130mm reflector offering a useful balance of aperture, portability and beginner-friendly performance.
Best Dobsonian Telescopes
Dobsonian telescopes are excellent for visual astronomy because they provide large aperture on a simple, stable mount. They are especially good for deep sky observing and are often one of the best value choices for serious beginners.
⭐ A simple tabletop Dobsonian telescope ideal for complete beginners and casual lunar observing.
⭐ A popular tabletop Dobsonian with good light-gathering ability for beginners wanting more than a basic starter scope.
⭐ A larger tabletop Dobsonian that gives brighter views than smaller beginner scopes while staying fairly portable.
⭐ An excellent Dobsonian telescope with strong deep sky performance and a stable, easy-to-use mount.
⭐ A powerful 8-inch Dobsonian telescope for deep sky observing, lunar detail and impressive planetary views.
Best Smart and Computerised Telescopes
Smart and computerised telescopes help beginners find objects more easily. They usually cost more, but they can make stargazing less frustrating if you are still learning the night sky.
⭐ A smartphone-guided telescope that helps beginners find objects in the night sky more easily.
⭐ Dobsonian simplicity combined with smartphone guidance for easier object finding.
⭐ A computerised telescope with automatic object tracking, especially useful for the Moon and planets.
⭐ A smartphone-enabled reflector telescope for beginners who want help navigating the night sky.
⭐ A compact computerised telescope that can locate and track many night sky objects once set up correctly.
⭐ A compact GoTo tabletop Dobsonian combining useful aperture with app-controlled object finding.
Best Compact Planetary Telescopes
Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes are compact designs with long focal lengths. They are useful for viewing the Moon and planets, especially if storage space and portability matter.
⭐ A compact Maksutov telescope well suited to lunar and planetary observing where portability is important.
⭐ A stronger compact telescope for detailed views of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn.
Still unsure which telescope is right for you? A refractor is often simple and low maintenance, a reflector usually gives more aperture for the money, and a Dobsonian is one of the strongest choices for visual deep sky observing.
For more help, read our refractor vs reflector telescope guide, our how to choose a telescope guide, or our guide to what you can see with a telescope.