Embarking on the journey of astronomy doesn’t require a massive investment. With a budget of under $200, you can acquire a capable instrument that brings the wonders of the night sky into clear view. The market is filled with excellent options for beginners, students, and families looking to start their stargazing adventures. These telescopes are designed for ease of use while providing rewarding views of celestial objects.
Choosing the right telescope involves considering factors like aperture size, portability, and included accessories. A good starter scope should be simple to set up and come with features that enhance the viewing experience. This roundup highlights eight of the best telescopes available in this accessible price range, each offering a great balance of performance and value to help you begin your astronomical observations.
Our Top Telescope Picks for Stargazers on a Budget
- Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Refractor Telescope
- Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescopes
- Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope
- Orion 10012 GoScope 80mm TableTop Refractor Telescope
- Emarth 70mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope with Tripod & Finder Scope
- MAXLAPTER 70mm Aperture 400mm Refractor Telescope for Kids & Beginners
- Celestron – 114LCM Computerized Newtonian Telescope
- SOLOMARK 70AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope with Smartphone Adapter
Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Refractor Telescope
The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is built for the observer on the move. Its fully-coated 70mm glass optics gather ample light to provide crisp, clear views of the Moon’s craters, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s moons. The lightweight design and included custom backpack make it simple to take on hiking trips or family vacations, ensuring you never miss a chance to observe the sky.
Setting up this telescope is a straightforward process that requires no tools, making it an ideal choice for beginners. You can be ready to observe in minutes. The package includes a full-height tripod for stable viewing, and access to astronomy software helps you learn about the night sky and plan your observations.
Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescopes
This 70mm aperture telescope is designed for user convenience and optical performance. The high-quality lenses feature anti-reflection coatings that produce bright, high-contrast images, while the scratch-resistant coating adds to the instrument’s longevity. With a 400mm focal length, it offers a good balance for viewing both lunar and terrestrial subjects.
Versatility in magnification is a key benefit, with three eyepieces (K25mm, K10mm, K6mm) and a 3X Barlow lens included. This combination allows for a magnification range from 20x to 200x. The addition of a remote control and phone adapter makes it easier to capture images and share your viewing experiences with others.
Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope
The Gskyer telescope is a popular model known for its reliable performance for newcomers to astronomy. Its 70mm aperture and 400mm focal length provide a solid foundation for observing the night sky. The altazimuth mount is intuitive to use, allowing for smooth vertical and horizontal movement to track objects as they move across the sky.
This telescope comes with multiple eyepieces to vary the magnification, giving you different perspectives on celestial targets. The sturdy tripod provides a stable platform, reducing vibrations for a clearer view. It is a complete package that includes the essential items needed to start observing right away.
Orion 10012 GoScope 80mm TableTop Refractor Telescope
The Orion GoScope stands out with its larger 80mm objective lens, which collects more light than 70mm models for brighter and more detailed images. This tabletop design is extremely portable and perfect for setting up on a sturdy outdoor table or a wall. It is an excellent choice for families or for taking to dark-sky sites without the bulk of a full-size tripod.
Despite its compact size, the GoScope does not compromise on optical quality. It delivers sharp views and is simple to operate, making it very approachable for young astronomers. Its quick setup means you can go from carrying case to observing in just a minute or two.
Emarth 70mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope with Tripod & Finder Scope
The Emarth telescope offers a complete starter kit for anyone interested in astronomy. The 70mm aperture provides good light-gathering capability for viewing the Moon and planets. A finder scope is included, which is an essential tool for quickly locating objects in the sky before viewing them through the main telescope.
This model includes a stable tripod and multiple eyepieces to get you started with different magnification levels. The overall design prioritizes ease of use, with straightforward controls that are simple to understand for a first-time user. It represents a solid value for its comprehensive set of features.
MAXLAPTER 70mm Aperture 400mm Refractor Telescope for Kids & Beginners
The MAXLAPTER telescope is designed with the absolute beginner in mind. Its 70mm aperture and 400mm focal length make it a capable instrument for introductory astronomy. The setup process is simplified so that users can assemble the telescope without confusion and begin observing quickly.
This package typically includes helpful accessories like a finderscope and a range of eyepieces. The emphasis is on providing a frustration-free first experience with a telescope, making it a good gift option for children or adults developing a new interest in the stars.
Celestron – 114LCM Computerized Newtonian Telescope
The Celestron 114LCM offers a significant technological advantage for the price with its computerized GoTo mount. This feature automatically locates and tracks celestial objects for you, which is a major benefit for those who find navigating the night sky challenging. The 114mm Newtonian reflector design provides a larger aperture for viewing fainter deep-sky objects.
After a simple alignment procedure, the database of celestial objects can be accessed through the hand control. This telescope simplifies the process of finding planets, star clusters, and nebulae, allowing you to focus on observation rather than star-hopping manually.
SOLOMARK 70AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope with Smartphone Adapter
The SOLOMARK 70AZ is a refractor telescope that includes a particularly useful accessory for the modern stargazer: a smartphone adapter. This allows you to attach your phone to the eyepiece to take pictures or video of what you see, perfect for sharing with friends and family. The 70mm aperture ensures bright and clear views.
With its altazimuth mount and included tripod, this telescope is stable and easy to point at different areas of the sky. It is a well-rounded package that combines traditional viewing with the ability to easily document your astronomical findings.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Right Telescope for You
When I first started looking for a telescope under $200, I was overwhelmed by the choices. It’s a fantastic budget to get started, but you need to know what to prioritize. The most important thing to understand is that a telescope is a tool for gathering light, not just magnifying things. More light means brighter, clearer views of stars, planets, and nebulae.
The first big decision is the type of telescope. You’ll mainly find reflectors and refractors in this price range. Reflectors use mirrors and are generally the best value for your money, offering the most aperture (the diameter of the main lens or mirror) for the cost. A larger aperture is your best friend for viewing faint galaxies and star clusters. Refractors use lenses and are typically more compact and low-maintenance, making them great for quick moon viewing or as a travel scope. Avoid the temptation of tiny, wobbly tripods and overly complicated mounts. A simple, stable Altazimuth (up-down, left-right) mount is often the most user-friendly for beginners.
Pay close attention to the eyepieces included. They are measured in millimeters (mm) – a smaller number means higher magnification. A scope that comes with a 25mm or 20mm eyepiece is good for wide-field views, while a 10mm or 9mm is better for zooming in on the Moon’s craters or Saturn’s rings. A Barlow lens, which doubles or triples the power of your existing eyepieces, is a fantastic bonus that effectively gives you an extra eyepiece for free.
My final piece of advice is to manage your expectations. You won’t see Hubble-like colors in the Orion Nebula, but you will see its faint, wispy glow. You won’t see the surface of Jupiter in immense detail, but you will clearly see its cloud bands and its four largest moons. The magic is in connecting with the cosmos with your own eyes. For anyone starting this journey, finding one of the 8 best telescopes under $200 is a perfect first step into a lifelong hobby.
FAQ
What can I realistically see with a telescope under $200?
You can see a surprising amount! The Moon will be your most spectacular target, with craters, mountains, and valleys in stunning detail. You can easily see the rings of Saturn and the cloud bands of Jupiter along with its four largest moons. Brighter deep-sky objects, like the Orion Nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy, will be visible as faint, grayish smudges of light. It’s a fantastic starting point for learning the night sky.
Is a reflector or refractor telescope better for a beginner?
Both have their merits, but for a strict budget under $200, a reflector telescope often gives you more bang for your buck. Because mirrors are cheaper to manufacture than high-quality lenses, you can typically get a larger aperture reflector for the same price as a smaller refractor. That larger aperture is crucial for viewing fainter objects. Refractors are simpler to use and maintain, but you’ll usually sacrifice some light-gathering power.
How important is the mount and tripod?
Extremely important. A wobbly mount can ruin the experience, making it frustrating to find and track objects. Look for a telescope that comes with a sturdy, metal tripod rather than a flimsy, plastic one. A stable Altazimuth mount is perfect for beginners as it’s very intuitive to point and move. Avoid very cheap equatorial mounts on budget scopes, as they can be confusing to set up without providing a stability benefit.
Can I use this telescope for daytime viewing, like birdwatching?
Many telescopes can be used for terrestrial viewing, but there’s a catch. Astronomical telescopes often present an upside-down or mirror-reversed image. This doesn’t matter for looking at the stars, but it’s disorienting for looking at landscapes or birds. You would need to purchase an additional accessory called an erecting prism to correct the image, which is an extra cost to consider.
What is the single most important spec to look for?
Aperture. This is the diameter of the telescope’s main light-gathering lens or mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. A larger aperture allows more light to enter the telescope, which results in brighter and more detailed images. In your search for the 8 best telescopes under $200, always favor a model with a larger aperture over one that boasts extremely high magnification, as the aperture determines what you can see, while magnification just makes it bigger.