A great way to observe and appreciate the universe around us is by exploring the sky and the amazing objects in it. Only when you do this can you truly appreciate the beauty that the cosmos has to offer. This is where a good quality telescope comes in. A telescope is much more than just a tool for astronomy. It is an excellent link to the planets and galaxies and space beyond.
There is a wide range of telescope available with a host of features depending on your experience level and choosing the right telescope lets any user, be it a beginner or an expert, to view and enjoy the mysteries of the universe around. So, what is the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies? Read on to know more of the best telescopes on the market that will bring you the joy of viewing the galaxies and planets above you.
Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets and Galaxies
Here are our reviews of telescopes for viewing planets and galaxies.
1. Celestron 70 mm Travel Scope
Best Overall
If you’re an astronomy enthusiast and are looking for the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies, the Celestron 70 mm Travel Scope is among the best beginner telescopes. Easy to set up, the telescope is lightweight and user-friendly. The scope is equipped with a fully-coated optical lens that delivers bright, crisp and clear images. The basic telescope is very simple, but it is excellent for viewing stars, planets and other celestial objects.
- The manual alt-azimuth telescope features a panhandle that lets you navigate the skies easily.
- The scope is equipped with a 70 mm objective lens that offers great viewing quality and 20x magnification.
- The scope has 2 high-quality eyepieces (10 mm and 20 mm) that offer low- and high-power views.
2. Gskyer Travel Scope
Editor’s Choice
The Gskyer Travel Scope is an excellent telescope offering a great combination of performance, quality, and price. The beginner-friendly scope is very easy to assemble and use. While being compact and portable, the Gskyer Travel Scope offers top-tier optical capabilities and visual resolution, which makes it a great buy.
- With an aperture of 70 mm and a focal length of 400 mm, the telescope offers high-resolution and precise images.
- The scope features a fully-coated optic lens that protects your eyes and delivers stunning images.
- The telescope comes with a smartphone adapter and a wireless camera remote that allows you to explore and take pictures of celestial objects.
3. Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Telescope
Best Value
The AstroMaster Newtonian Telescope from Celestron is one of the most loved scopes for beginners. The reflector telescope offers detailed and sharp views of Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, etc. The AstroMaster Newtonian Telescope is one of the best telescopes for viewing planets and galaxies and an excellent way for you to discover the night sky.
- The scope has a high-quality fully-coated primary mirror of 114 mm.
- The telescope features 2 control knobs that let you make adjustments to observe both terrestrial, as well as celestial objects in slow motion.
- Featuring a manual equatorial mount and a lightweight frame, the AstroMaster Newtonian Telescope offers accurate and smooth pointing.
4. Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope
Equipped with the iconic “orange tube” design, the Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope is a computerized scope that delivers an excellent experience of viewing planets and galaxies. The scope is very easy to put together and disassemble for easy and convenient transportation. The telescope is equipped with SkyAlign technology, which lets you get the telescope ready for use very quickly.
- The telescope is equipped with a 6” mirror that offers sufficient light-gathering capability and provides the best observation.
- The telescope has a “GoTo Mount” that is fully automated and features a database of over 40,000 celestial objects. And, it tracks and locates objects automatically.
- The scope includes a free download of the “Starry Night” software that provides excellent interactive sky simulation.
5. Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope
The next telescope on our list of the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies is the simple, yet powerful Orion SpaceProbe Telescope. The scope weighs around 27 lb and is quite lightweight, offering easy transportation. The scope comes with an aluminum tripod that is adjustable and an accessory tray where you can store all your extras like eyepieces, flashlights, etc.
- The scope features a 5.1-inch aperture that gathers plenty of light and provides excellent views of the moon, planets, stars, nebulas, galaxies, etc.
- With a 24-inch long optical tube, the Orion SpaceProbe Telescope is very portable.
- The adjustable tripod and mount of the scope allows you to track celestial objects in the sky in slow motion.
6. Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope
The Orion StarBlast Astro Reflector Telescope is a compact telescope that is sure to inspire your inclination to explore. The simple telescope is very easy to set up and use and is a great scope for beginner and amateur astronomers. Although the telescope is very simple in terms of design, it has high-quality optics that offer a high level of performance.
- The telescope has a 4.5-inch aperture and an f/4 focal ratio that offers bright and detailed views of the moon, planets, stars and nebulas.
- The scope includes 2 Explorer II Kellner telescope eyepieces of 6 mm and 17 mm.
- The scope has a stable tabletop base which offers smooth Alt Azimuth motion that allows you to track celestial objects manually.
Telescope for Viewing Planets and Galaxies Buyer’s Guide
If you are looking for the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies, then there are a few factors that you must keep in mind before making your final purchase decision so that you get the best value for your money.
Aperture
When buying the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies, the most important thing to consider is the aperture. The aperture has a huge effect on your ability to see objects that are far away. In fact, if you want to view galaxies and planets properly, then the aperture is the most important thing to consider as you will not be able to see much with a telescope with a small aperture.
The aperture of the telescope is essentially the diameter of its lens or mirror and the size of the aperture affects the amount of light coming into the tube of the telescope. A telescope with a larger aperture delivers a sharper and brighter image, which is important to view planets and galaxies that are very far away.
Size
Usually, the better a telescope is, the larger its size will be. However, this is not the rule of thumb as there are some smaller scopes that are better than larger-sized telescopes. However, generally, better telescopes have larger scopes, which results in a larger telescope and so, the weight of the telescope will also be more. Generally, most telescopes weigh around 20 to 30 lb; however, you may be able to find a lightweight refractor telescope weighing around 5 lb.
Focal Length
Another important factor to consider is the focal length of the telescope, which is essentially the distance between the focal point and the center of the lens or mirror. This is basically the point where the light rays meet or converge. The focal length affects the length of the telescope and you must ensure that the length is something that you’re comfortable with. If you want to view the galaxy, then a telescope with a shorter focal length is good; however, if you want to observe planets closely, a telescope with a longer focal length is better.
If you want to see celestial objects that are at a distance, then you must ensure that the telescope you buy has a decent focal length and a long aperture. If you have these two, then you can have some fantastic planets and galaxy viewing. Hopefully, with our review of the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies, you have all the information you need to buy a good telescope without spending a lot.
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