Astrophotography refers to the photography of astronomical objects, celestial events, and areas of the night sky. Apart from celestial bodies like the Sun, planets, and moon, astrophotography can be used to click pictures of objects invisible to the human eye such as dim stars, nebulae, and galaxy. Astrophotography is quite popular.
Astrophotography requires an elaborate set up of equipment. It includes cameras, telescopes, mounts, lenses, and specialized software. The most important part of the process is telescope. Choosing the correct telescope is very important in order to click amazing pictures. There are lots of telescope options one could choose from.
Best Astrophotography Telescopes
| Image | Telescope for Astrophotography | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Celestron - NexStar 8SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope | 99% |
 | 2. Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope | 96% |
 | 3. Celestron - NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope | 93% |
 | 4. Gskyer Telescope, 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope | 89% |
 | 5. Celestron - AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope | 85% |
1. Celestron –NexStar 8SE Telescope- Computerized Telescope
The Nexstar 8SE Computerized Telescope consists of the brand’s iconic orange tube design with updated technology and the latest features for amazing and memorable stargazing for beginners as well as experienced observers. It comes with an attractive and unique design that makes it stand out in the crowd. It is one of the best telescopes for astrophotography.
The NexStar 8SE telescope comes with an eight-inch aperture. The eight-inch primary mirror in this Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope for adults and kids to be used together packs enough light-gathering ability to observe the best that our solar system has to offer while retaining a compact form factor. The NexStar 8SE telescope has a fully automated GoTo mount. Featuring a database of more than forty thousand celestial objects, the GoTo mount built into the telescopes for astronomy beginners automatically locates and tracks objects for you.
The NexStar 8SE telescope is quite easy and simple to assemble and breakdown. The single fork arm design and sturdy steel tripod all assemble and break down from separate components for easy transportation. The Sky Align technology gets your telescope aligned and ready in minutes. The NexStar 8SE telescope also comes with a bonus free starry night software. It is one of the top consumer rated astronomy software program. It is very useful for an interactive sky simulation. This software program makes astronomy and astrophotography even more interesting for observers.
What We Like About It
- NexStar 8SE telescope is very useful for amateur as well as experienced observers.
- The NexStar 8SE telescope is very easy to break and assemble which makes it very portable.
- The product comes with a two-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from experts from the US.
2. Orion 09007 Space Probe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope
This telescope comes with a sleek and attractive design which makes it appealing. The Orion Space Probe Equatorial Reflector Telescope comes with a 5.1-inch aperture that gathers ample amount of light for great views of the planets and Moon, as well as brighter galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters. The telescope has a 24 inches long optical tube design for easy portability and a fast f/5 focal ratio for pleasing wide-field performance makes this telescope a very versatile product. It provides the best telescope astrophotography.
The Orion Space Probe Equatorial Reflector Telescope comes with a good and sturdy EQ equatorial telescope mount and adjustable tripod allows manual slow-motion tracking of celestial objects as they appear to migrate across the night sky. The product has a counterweight bar length of eight inches. The telescope could be easily unassembled and assembled. The fully assembled telescope weighs around 27lbs for easy and convenient transportation.
The Orion Space Probe Equatorial Reflector Telescope comes with two 1.25 inches Sirius Plossl eyepieces. One is 25mm and the other is 100 respectively. The telescope has a 6×30 finder scope. It comes with a 1.25inch rack and pinion focuser. The additional accessories with this telescope include a tripod accessory tray, collimation cap, starry night astronomy software, and much more exciting items. The additional free software makes astronomy and star gazing even more interesting and fun for kids and adults.
What We Like About It
- Orion Space Probe Equatorial Reflector Telescope is the best telescope for astrophotography.
- The telescope is easy and simple to use. It is very much portable can could be easily carried from one place to another.
- The telescope is versatile and could be enjoyed by the whole family.
3. Celestron- NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope
The Celestron NexStar 130SLT is a computerized star locating telescope. The Celestron NexStar 130SLT is a computerized telescope that offers a database of more than 40,000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, and more. The telescope locates the desired object with pinpoint accuracy and tracks it appropriately. The telescope is easily compatible with a two-inch eyepieces.
The telescope is easy to use and convenient to operate. The Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is a very compact and portable telescope. It could easily be carried from one place to another. The telescope is easy to assemble and unassembled. This telescope for adults and kids to be used together is ideal for weekend camping trips or executions to dark sky sites. Its compact form factor makes it easy to transport and assemble anywhere. The NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope comes with a free download of one of the top consumer rated astronomy software programs.
The NexStar 130SLT is the largest telescope in the SLT family. The 130mm aperture gathers enough light to see our solar system and beyond. The observers can view Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands, and the Moon in brilliant detail. Celestron’s proprietary SkyAlign procedure makes it ready to observes in minutes. Simply center any three bright objects in the eyepiece and the NexStar SLT aligns with the night sky, ready to locate thousands of objects. It is the best astrophotography telescope available out there.
What We Like About it
- NexStar 130SLT telescope is a very portable device. It is easy to assemble and carry.
- It comes with a free download of the top astronomy software program for an interactive sky simulation.
- The telescope comes with an additional two-year warranty and unlimited access to expert technical support.
4. Gskyer Telescope, 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope
The telescope has a unique design that enhances the stargazing experience for the viewers. The Gskyer Astronomical Refractor Telescope is a telescope with high-quality optics. It has an aperture of 90mm. The focal length of the telescope is 600mm(f/6.7). The telescope has a fully coated optics glass lens with high transmission coatings which creates stunning images and protects the viewer’s eyes. It is the best telescope for deep space photography.
This telescope comes with a very high magnification. It has three replaceable eyepieces of 24x, 60x, and 120x respectively. The telescope also has a 3x Barlow lens. This 3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece. The high magnification of this telescope makes even the farthest of the celestial objects easily visible to the viewer.
The Gskyer Astronomical Refractor Telescope comes with an adjustable tripod. This telescope allows for many different viewing positions with the adjustable aluminum tripod that comes with it. The height of the aluminum tripod can be adjusted from about 31.5 inches to 49 inches as per the requirement of the viewer. The telescope is very easy to operate and run. No tools are required for reflecting telescope even for the novice. It is very quick and easy to focus. It is the best telescope for photography. It is very simple, convenient, hassle free, and easy to use and utterly simple to operate and function.
What We Like About It
- The Gskyer Astronomical Refractor Telescope is a very easy and simple telescope to understand and operate.
- This telescope comes with a twelve-month worry-free guarantee and round the clock technical support from experts from the US.
- The Gskyer Astronomical Refractor Telescope is suitable for scientific and research purposes.
5. Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope is a very powerful reflector telescope. It is the best reflector telescope for astronomy beginners. The telescope comes with a fully-coated glass optics and a sturdy and lightweight frame. The telescope comes with two eyepieces. The telescope also has a star pointer red dot finderscope. The telescope also has an adjustable tripod.
The Celestron Astro Master 130EQ Reflector Telescope comes with a high-quality 130mm optics. This 130mm glass optic objective lens is the heart of the whole system of the telescope. The Astro Master mount features two slow-motion control knobs that allow the user to make precision adjustments. This unique feature makes the telescope truly desirable.
The telescope has a quick set up and uses a simple lightweight frame. The telescope for kids and adults to be used together features a lightweight frame manual German Equatorial mount for smooth and accurate pointing. Set up of the telescope is quick, easy and no tools are required for the assembly of the telescope. The telescope uses two eyepieces. One is 20mm and the other is 10mm respectively. Additional accessories with the telescope include a travel tripod and a star pointer red dot finderscope. It is one of the most preferred astrophotography telescopes. This telescope is simple to use and easy to carry. It is beneficial in understanding the motion of the celestial objects in the sky.
What We Like About
- The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope is super easy to use and comes with a simple and understandable setup.
- The telescope is versatile and could be used by both kids and adults to watch the sky.
- The telescope comes with a two-year warranty with technical support from experts.
How we Chose the Top astrophotography telescope in our List
Choosing a suitable astrophotography telescope for yourself basically depends upon the purpose for which you want the telescope. If you are a beginner with astrophotography, you should go for less expensive models whereas if you are a professional astrophotographer then you must choose a sophisticated model. Choose a telescope model that provides consistent results. Go for a telescope that is pleasurable and easy to operate. Astrophotography requires a great deal of patience, and trial and error. Therefore make a detailed research of the brand and model you are planning to buy.
While choosing your astrophotography telescope also look for the additional accessories that are being provided with it. These accessories are a vital part of the telescope and very helpful in the smooth functioning of the telescope. Make sure you get all the required accessories to aid the photography process. Choose the best telescope for astrophotography 2019. It should be easy and portable to carry to various places.
Astrophotography telescopes require a set of eyepieces and lenses. Choose a telescope with high magnification and great optics. These telescopes are of various types depending upon the type of lens being used. These could be refractors, reflectors or compound telescope. Refractors collect light with lenses, reflectors with mirrors whereas compound telescopes are the mixture of both. Astrophotography telescopes also use additional equipment like cameras, unique software, adjustable tripods, and other tools. Make sure you choose a model that comes with all these additional tools which are vital for a good astrophotography experience.
Different types of astrophotography telescope
Telescopes for astrophotography could basically be of three types- refractor, reflector, and compound. The refractor is the most common type of telescope with the objective lens focusing light to form an image at the back eyepiece. The eyepiece is a little magnifying glass with which you can look at the image. The reflector telescope uses a mirror to gather and focus light. It has a small secondary mirror that directs the light from the primary to the side of the tube where it meets the conveniently placed eyepiece. This telescope provides sharp and contrasty images of all manner of celestial objects at the nominal cost.
Various models of astrophotography telescopes also differ on the basis of their use and structure. Like the Celestron Astro Master, telescope is meant for beginners and amateurs in astrophotography while Gskyer Telescope can be used by amateurs as well as by professionals. The Celestron Astro Master telescope is a reflector telescope while Gskyer is a refractor one. Celestron Astro Master has a lens of 130mm whereas Gskyer comes with a lens of 600mm. Celestron Astro Master telescope has two eyepieces of 20mm and 10mm respectively whereas Gskyer has three replaceable eyepieces.
Different types of astrophotography telescopes have different specialties and applications. Choosing the best astrophotography telescope depends upon many factors. The price of these telescopes also varies from brand to brand. Every product has its own attribute. Choose a telescope that suits your requirements and needs. Get an astrophotography telescope that is cost-effective and reliable.
Recommended Reading:
- Best Telescopes
- Best Telescopes Under $200
- Best Telescopes for Kids
- Best Reflector Telescopes
- Best Refractor Telescopes
- Best Beginner Telescopes
- Best Catadioptric Telescopes
- Best Amateur Telescope
- Best Cheap Telescopes
- Best Dobsonian Telescope
- Best Telescope Eyepiece
- Best Telescope for Viewing Planets and Galaxies
- Best Telescope Under $300
- Best Telescope Under $100
- Best Telescope Under $500