Our Ultimate Telescope Shortlist: 26 Scopes
It might be difficult to ask a novice, non-specialized audience to choose from 200+ telescope options. This following list will include telescopes that are suited for various audiences, but for the majority of you, our advice to “just get a Dobsonian” still holds true.
To make your decision-making easier, the list would exclude all of our “Not Recommended,” the majority of our “Partially Recommended,” and even many of our “Recommended Scopes.” The list will not include any telescopes with estimated shipping dates that are more than a month away or telescopes that are backordered and, based on our estimation, would take longer than a month to ship.
If you have any specific requirements, we still advise you to visit the Telescope Ranking page to compare all the 200+ telescopes that are offered in the US and to choose one from there. This is a minuscule, easy-to-decide, list of the same mammoth
Manual Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
3.7/5
While not particularly useful overall, the Funscope 76 offers a super-cheap introduction to the world of astronomy and telescopes in a diminutive package. It’s not a serious observing tool by any means, but the FunScope comes with quality accessories and handles similarly to a much larger instrument.
Orion SpaceProbe II 76 EQ
Equatorial Reflector
3.9/5
Manual Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
4.25/5
Manual Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
4.25/5
Manual Tripod EQ Reflector
4.1/5
The Orion StarBlast is essentially identical to the Zhumell Z114 optically, but on a different mounting. The StarBlast II version is perched atop a rather spindly EQ-1 equatorial mount. While there is a bit of a learning curve to using the EQ-1, you’re rewarded with a full-sized tripod, equatorial movements, and the ability to upgrade to motorized tracking later on.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ
Partially Computerized Tripod AZ Refractor
3.7/5
The StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor has decent optics and a pair of quality eyepieces included. It’s also very easy to aim thanks to Celestron’s StarSense Explorer Technology. However, there are probably a dozen things you can actually see with this telescope where the StarSense Explorer app might be of any benefit, due to the pitifully small 80mm aperture.
Manual Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
4.3/5
Manual Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
4.3/5
The Z130 is the best of the Zhumell tabletop Dobs, featuring even more aperture and a slower focal ratio of f/5, which makes it less demanding of collimation and eyepiece quality. The Z130 comes with tube rings and a nicer focuser when compared to the Heritage 130P. The only downside is that, at over 20 pounds, you’ll be hard pressed to find a suitable surface for the scope to rest on.
Manual Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
4.3/5
The Heritage 130P has a whopping 130mm (5.1″) of aperture, includes a pair of great eyepieces and a collimation tool, and also features a collapsible tube that allows it to fit into a smaller space, which makes it a better choice for kids. This does create the disadvantage of stray light being able to easily enter the tube, which can be (mostly) remedied by creating a foam shroud. However, the compactness and light weight are more than worth this minor inconvenience.
Manual Tripod EQ Reflector
3.9/5
The SpaceProbe 130ST is just a Z130/Heritage (our $200 pick) optical tube placed atop an EQ-2 equatorial mount, and includes high-quality Sirius Plossl eyepieces. While perhaps not the largest nor most advanced scope in its price range, the 130ST is a great platform for beginners and can be easily upgraded to motorized, hands-free tracking later on.
Skywatcher Heritage 150P Tabletop Dobsonian
Rank 1
4.5/5
The Heritage 150P is essentially a bigger version of the smaller 130mm Heritage, with the same user-friendly tabletop Dobsonian mount and collapsible tube but a bit more light gathering capability. While still a tabletop telescope, it packs great views in a package that can fit in almost any vehicle, storage space, or container.
Popular Science Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 100AZ
Partially Computerized Tripod AZ Refractor
4.2/5
Sporting the same great features of the StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ but with a significantly lower price, this scope is quite a bargain for what you get and compares favorably in view quality to 114mm reflectors in its price range. The StarSense Explorer technology is a nice (if unnecessary) bonus that’s included for essentially no extra cost.
Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 130P
Fully Computerized Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
4.4/5
The Virtuoso GTi 130P adds GoTo functionality to the beloved Heritage 130P without hindering the ability to move the telescope manually—even when powered on and aligned—with a minimal increase in weight. However, the usefulness of this feature with a wide-field and relatively small instrument is questionable, especially when a larger scope could be purchased for the same price. The 150mm model is only a bit more expensive.
Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150P
Fully Computerized Dobsonian Reflector
4.8/5
Editor’s Choice
The Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150P is a fully GoTo 6” telescope in a compact, lightweight package that can be used manually. With quality optics, well-made included eyepieces, and the ability to be used manually even while the mount’s electronics are powered on and aligned with the sky, it’s hard to argue against this fabulous instrument-especially at a price on par with most manual telescopes of its aperture.
Manual Dobsonian Reflector
4.5/5
The XT6 is a nice scope with well-designed altitude bearings, good optics, and a 2” metal Crayford focuser, but its high price tag and basic accessories mean there are better deals to be had elsewhere in some cases. With recent changes to the scope’s design, it also has few differences from the more-expensive SkyLine 6.
Fully Computerized Tripod AZ Reflector
4.1/5
The Astro-Fi 130 is optically identical to the 130ST and Z130, but sports a 2” plastic rack-and-pinion focuser. The Astro-Fi’s fully computerized GoTo mount is controlled by your phone or tablet, and will automatically slew to and track almost any object you choose. However, the scope is a bit of a battery guzzler and the free SkyPortal app is lacking – for optimal use, you’ll need a rechargeable power supply and a copy of SkySafari Pro, both of which increase the price of this gizmo by quite a bit.
Manual Dobsonian Reflector
4.5/5
Manual Tripod EQ Reflector
4/5
Manual Dobsonian Reflector
4.9/5
Editor’s Choice
GSO-made ‘best bang for your buck’ offering from HighPointScientific, the most popular US telescope retailer. It’s optically and functionally the same as the Zhumell Z8/Orion Skyline 8, but often priced lower. The Z8 and AD8 have the exact same set of eyepieces, focuser, altitude bearing, and finderscope. As of April 2022, AD8 is the least expensive of the three options, and HighPointScientific’s assistance makes it superior in every way.
Celestron StarSense Explorer 8”
Fully Computerized Dobsonian Reflector
4.7/5
Apertura AD10
Manual Dobsonian Reflector
4.9/5
Editor’s Choice
The Apertura AD10 builds on the AD8 by adding just a bit more aperture. The accessories and focal length are the same, and the scope is only a tiny bit more bulky, but the views are over 56% brighter than an 8” scope! If you can afford the additional expense, it is well worth it compared to an 8-inch Dobsonian.
Celestron StarSense Explorer 10”
Fully Computerized Dobsonian Reflector
4.7/5
If your budget is big but you don’t want a 12”, the StarSense Explorer 10” Dobsonian is easily one of the best 10” scopes you could buy thanks to its lightweight base and the usefulness of the StarSense Explorer technology in finding deep-sky objects. However, be prepared to spend quite a few extra bucks on some accessories for your new scope.
Fully Computerized SCT
4/5
Apertura AD12
Manual Dobsonian Reflector
4.8/5
Editor’s Choice
The AD12’s massive tube requires a strong owner and a large vehicle (or a convenient at-home setup such as a dolly or cart to simply roll it outside) to be set up and transported easily, but if you can fulfill these requirements, you’ll be rewarded with a massive aperture and stunning views at a price that can’t be beaten with the help of the best accessories in the class.
Sky-Watcher 8″ Flextube SynScan Collapsible
Fully Computerized Dobsonian Reflector
4/5
The Skywatcher 8″ Collapsible GoTo features full GoTo but can be pushed around manually with or without aligning the GoTo system – and without disrupting the alignment of said GoTo system. It can even be controlled via your phone or tablet with the SynScan Pro app or SkySafari. The GoTo 8” Collapsible is more or less a regular 8” Collapsible with the SynScan system.
Celestron NexStar Evolution 6
Fully Computerized SCT
4.1/5
The Evolution 6 features substantial improvements over the NexStar 6SE—mainly a built-in lithium-ion battery and Wi-Fi control capability out of the box. It also has better gearing, a slightly simpler setup, and comes with two eyepieces out of the box, as opposed to the 6SE’s single 25mm Plossl. However, the views are identical to those through the 6SE.
Sky-Watcher 12″ Flextube Collapsible
Manual Dobsonian Reflector
4.5/5
While not the cheapest nor most well-accessorized on our list, with a 12” Dobsonian you’re beginning to almost require a truss tube due to the massive length and bulk of such an instrument-particularly if you plan to transport the scope and do not own a large vehicle. The SkyWatcher 12″ Flextube Collapsible is very easy to set up and transport.
Fully Computerized SCT
4.2/5
The 8” Evolution has the same bells and whistles as the 6”, but with more aperture-and is a substantially steadier and better-made scope than its cheaper cousin, the NexStar 8SE. However, given the availability of cheaper computer-aided or GoTo Dobsonians with wider fields of view, the Evolution is quite the luxury package with few real-world advantages.