Ranking 211 Telescopes with Price Groups

We're of an opinion that anyone buying a telescope should save at least £200 by any means. If your budget is below £200, you're typically looking at entry-level telescopes that are portable and easy to use but can help to decide on whether you want to upgrade to something bigger. If you're serious about the hobby, you should bump up your budget to £300+ and it is, in fact, the price range that we recommend to most amateur astronomers. 8" Dobsonians, which cost around £350, are the most perfect choice for most of you. Astrophotography is even beyond this budget, for which you should look at £1000+ telescopes.

Caution

Almost anything decent is out of stock due to COVID-related disruption in production lines combined with outstanding demand from the consumer side. So if you want a scope, you may have to place a backorder and wait several weeks to months, sadly. We'd also suggest staying away from Amazon for buying bigger-sized telescopes (£300+) because you'll get better technical and post-sales support, product range, deals from online telescope retailers, and also, better assurance that you'll get what you ordered. Most £300+ telescopes are shipped in two boxes (tube in one and the base in another) and Amazon (or some of its third-party vendors) is infamous in the astronomy community for shipping only one of the boxes every now and then. That being said, we still love Amazon for everything else and would still recommend Amazon for accessories, cheaper telescopes, and even the £300+ telescopes if (and only if) the pricing or availability is alluring! In the UK, Orion's Telescope.com, 365Astronomy, WexPhotoVideo are all reputable retailers with great shipping, refund, and financing options, and your experience would be as good as your usual Amazon orders.

£100

£175

£225

£350

£500

£800

£1250

£1500+

Below ~£75

Telescopes below £75 have to make large concessions in quality and usefulness to the point that they’re little more than fun toys for casual glimpses at the Moon, planets, and other bright targets. However, if it’s all you can afford, the scopes below still beat having nothing.

Best Value

Orion Funscope 76 Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 1

4.1

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.

Check Amazon Price

N.B - Product unavailable in the UK since July 2020

Celestron Cometron Firstscope Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 2

The Cometron FirstScope is similar to the Funscope in terms of overall usefulness and sports largely the same optics and accessories, but uses an optical as opposed to a battery-powered red dot finder. This may make the scope a little more inconvenient to use, but reduces the cost by a small amount.

£60.39 at PicStop Check Amazon Price

Skywatcher Heritage 76

Rank 3

3.9

£79 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron FirstScope 76mm Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 4

3.9

The basic bare-bones FirstScope will work okay, but lacks a finder or acceptable quality eyepieces. The views through this instrument at even low powers are mushy and the eyepieces feel like looking through a drinking straw.

£55 at PicStop Check Amazon Price

Celestron FirstScope Moon Signature Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 5

3.9

Identical to the Celestron Firstscope, but with a different optical tube decoration.

£59 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Best with Tripod

Meade Infinity 70
Refractor

Rank 6

3.8

The Meade Infinity 70 is one of the few inexpensive refractors we recommend. While lacking in aperture and suffering from chromatic aberration, the scope does come on a full-sized tripod - and offers considerably sharper images than the tabletop 76mm telescopes available in its price range.

£74.99 at PicStop Check Amazon Price

~£100 range

Telescopes in the £100 range are acceptable but tend to come with either a mediocre mounting, mediocre accessories, or some other major limitation hindering performance.

Best Value

Orion Skyscanner 100mm Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 1

4.5

The Orion Skyscanner 100, unlike its smaller sub-£100 brethren, offers a truly parabolic primary mirror allowing for sharp images of the Moon, planets, and other targets at anything but the lowest powers. It’s also extremely portable, fitting in even a moderately sized backpack.

£96.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Heritage-100P

Rank 2

4.5

£135 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Zhumell Z100 Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 3

4.4

The Zhumell Z100 has all of the same advantages and disadvantages of the Skyscanner and exactly the same optics, but includes a 17mm Kellner (24x) instead of the 20mm Kellner eyepiece (20x) of Skyscanner’s for low power. In the UK, Zhumell is often priced higher when compared to Skyscanner unlike the situation in the US.

Check Amazon Price

Orion SpaceProbe II 76 EQ Reflector

Rank 4

3.8

The SpaceProbe II has significantly less light-gathering ability than even a 70mm refractor, but offers potentially the sharpest images of any of the scopes in its price range. However, the mount is a little confusing for beginners and the included accessories are decidedly mediocre.

£104.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Celestron PowerSeeker 80 EQ Refractor

Rank 5

3.8

£127.79 at PicStop Check Amazon Price

Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS Refractor

Rank 6

3.8

The PowerSeeker 80AZS is almost useless for planetary and lunar observing thanks to its high amounts of chromatic aberration and abysmal included 4mm eyepiece and Barlow, but makes for a great wide-field instrument for viewing large deep-sky objects.

£113.79 at PicStop Check Amazon Price

Celestron AstroMaster 76 EQ Reflector

Rank 7

3.8

The AstroMaster 76EQ isn't the biggest or best scope in its price range, but delivers sharp views on a relatively sturdy mount.

£109 at WexPhoto

~£175 range

A budget of £175 will get you a workable telescope with few constraints that permanently hold it back, albeit with a few concessions on accessories.

Best Value

Sky-Watcher Heritage 130p Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 1

4.7

The Heritage includes the same accessories and sports the same optics as the Z130, but features a collapsible tube that allows it to fit into a smaller space and reduces the weight by a bit when compared to Z130 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.

£205 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Zhumell Z130 Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 2

4.5

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. Z130 comes with tube rings and a nicer focuser when compared to Heritage 130P. One downside is that at over 20 pounds, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a suitable surface for the scope to rest on. Also, Z130 is usually priced higher in the UK when compared to Skywatcher Heritage 130P, unlike the situation in the USA.

Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skyhawk-1145P EQ1 Reflector

Rank 3

4.5

£189 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Orion StarBlast 4.5 EQ Reflector

Rank 4

4.5

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.

£178 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Heritage-114P Virtuoso

Rank 5

4.5

£259 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Zhumell Z114 Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 6

4.4

The Zhumell Z114 offers many of the same advantages of the Z100, but with a collimatable and slightly larger primary mirror offering sharper images and 30% more light gathering capability. It features the same red dot finder and 17mm/10mm Kellner eyepieces that are included with the Z100.

Check Amazon Price

Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 7

4.3

While often recommended as a beginner telescope and indeed not a bad choice, the Orion StarBlast Astro is essentially identical to the cheaper Zhumell Z114, and offers no significant differences. At its price point, you’d be better served by the equatorially-mounted StarBlast II or one of the 130mm tabletop dobsonian reflectors.

£175.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Meade Infinity 102 Refractor

Rank 8

4.2

The Infinity 102 is admittedly not our favorite choice in its price range due to the chromatic aberration and less-than-ideal mounting, but offers relatively sharp views and super-low maintenance, plus the potential for terrestrial viewing that reflectors lack.

Check Amazon Price

Item discontinued. Last stocks left.

Meade Polaris 130 EQ Reflector

Rank 9

4.1

Offering the most light-gathering capability in its price range, you might be wondering why the Polaris 130EQ isn’t at the top of our list. This is because Polaris 130EQ seems to suffer from less-than-ideal quality control and a significant proportion of 130EQs seem to ship with poorly figured primary mirrors, offering mushy images at even moderate magnifications. It’s a gamble you might want to pass on.

Check Amazon Price

Item discontinued. Last stocks left.

Sky-Watcher Heritage-90P Mak

Rank 10

4.1

£259 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Meade Infinity 90 Refractor

Rank 11

4.1

The Infinity 90’s unobstructed aperture means that it ends up offering similarly bright and sharp views to the Z114, albeit with the disadvantage of chromatic aberration on bright targets such as the Moon and planets. It also features the same included accessory bundle (3 eyepieces and a Barlow) as most of the Meade Infinity and Polaris scopes.

Check Amazon Price

Item discontinued. Last stocks left.

Sky-Watcher Skymax-90 (EQ-1) Mak

Rank 12

4.1

£239 at WexPhoto

Sky-Watcher Startravel-102 (EQ-1) Refractor

Rank 13

4.1

£269 at WexPhoto

Meade Infinity 80 Refractor

Rank 14

4.1

The Infinity 80 is essentially an improved PowerSeeker 80AZS with a more versatile mount and vastly superior included accessories. While being a poor performer on high-magnification targets and offering less light gathering capability than its larger sister scopes, the Infinity 80’s super-wide field of view makes it easy to find and frame the largest targets.

Check Amazon Price

Item discontinued. Last stocks left.

Sky-Watcher Evostar-90 (EQ2) Refractor

Rank 15

4.1

£229 at WexPhoto

Orion Starmax 90mm Mak

Rank 16

The StarMax 90’s Maksutov-Cassegrain design makes for an ultra-portable planetary scope with great performance and a convenience factor that can’t be matched, but offers lackluster views of deep-sky objects and the simple mounting may frustrate some users.

£184 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Meade Polaris 90 Refractor

Rank 17

The Polaris 90 is a capable telescope, but lacks the aperture of our other recommendations in its price range, and the ergonomics of a long equatorial refractor on a mediocre equatorial mount are less-than-satisfactory.

Check Amazon Price

Item discontinued. Last stocks left.

Sky-Watcher Explorer-130P (EQ2) Reflector

Rank 18

£279 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Evostar-90 (AZ3) Refractor

Rank 19

£219 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Startravel 80 (AZ3) Refractor

Rank 20

Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher StarQuest-130P Reflector

Rank 21

£239 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Meade Polaris 114 EQ Reflector

Rank 22

The Polaris 114EQ’s long focal ratio of f/8 makes it much easier to collimate and get sharp images compared to Zhumell Z114/Orion Starblast 4.5, but also reduces the scope’s maximum field of view, making finding targets slightly more difficult. Additionally, the scope’s meter-long tube is more likely to suffer from vibrations caused by wind or bumping it than a shorter instrument.

Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher StarQuest-102R Refractor

Rank 23

£289 at WexPhotoVideo

Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor

Rank 24

3.9

The Inspire 100 is very similar to the Meade Infinity 102 in design and functionality, as well as sporting some nice conveniences such as a lens cap doubling as a smartphone adapter and some ergonomic improvements to the accessory tray, but has a significantly inferior mount and an often higher price tag than its competitor.

£199 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 EQ2 Reflector

Rank 25

3.9

£199 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

~£225 range

A budget of $300 or more allows you to get into the full-sized 6” Dobsonians as well as a few computerized offerings. These are the entry-level into “grown-up” telescopes.

Sky-Watcher Skyliner 150P Dobsonian

Rank 3

4.8

£319 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT6 Plus Dobsonian

Rank 4

4.6

£295.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT6 Dobsonian

Rank 5

4.4

£269.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Bresser Messier 6-Inch Dobsonian

Rank 5

Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Explorer-130M EQ2 Reflector

Rank 5

£279 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector

Rank 7

4.2

The SpaceProbe 130ST is just a Z130/Heritage (our $200 picks) 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.

£264.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Dobsonian

Rank 1

4.2

The Orion XT4.5 may have less aperture than some of its cheaper rivals, but has an ultra-smooth true Dobsonian mount with real bearings, high-quality included Sirius Plossl eyepieces, and its long focal ratio makes it significantly easier to collimate. The scope’s long tube also means that it doesn’t necessarily need a full-height table or stool to be at a comfortable height for use - a milk crate or box will probably do.

£251.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 (EQ-2) Mak

Rank 5

£349 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher StarQuest-102MC Mak

Rank 5

£289 at WexPhoto

Orion StarBlast 114mm Reflector

Rank 3

The StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker uses the same mount as the Virtuoso, but sports a 114mm reflector optical tube instead. Although superficially similar to the StarBlast 4.5 and Z114, the AutoTracker 114 is slightly longer in focal length (500mm vs. 450mm) and includes a collimation cap for easier collimation.

£246.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Celestron Omni XLT 130

Rank 5

Check Amazon Price

Celestron Omni XLT 114

Rank 5

Check Amazon Price

Orion AstroView 90mm Refractor

Rank 6

3.9

The AstroView 90’s long f/11 focal ratio makes for a great planetary scope with remarkably little chromatic aberration, and the included Sirius Plossl eyepieces provide crisp and sharp views. The scope’s EQ-2 mounting is also rock solid. However, the AstroView 90’s small aperture means it simply cannot compete in light grasp nor resolution with larger 114mm and 130mm reflectors, and it is outclassed in convenience by the 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrains at and below its price range.

£268.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

~£350 range

In this budget, you can get an 8″ Dobsonian which is the best balance of aperture, portability, affordability, and simplicity for a beginner. Below 8″, you start to lose enough light-gathering ability to resolve much (though 6″ isn’t a horrible start, if that’s all you can do, the 8″ is definitely a better way to go). Most of the scopes we recommend in this category are well made enough to last you a lifetime, such as the 8” Dobsonians and various 5” and 6” tripod-mounted reflectors. 8″ Dobsonians are usually the most recommended in astronomy forums for beginners and hobbyists.

Bresser Messier 8" Dobsonian

Rank 1

4.8

£433.00 at 365Astronomy Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian

Rank 2

4.7

£419 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT8 (08945e) Dobsonian

Rank 3

4.6

£351.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion Starblast 6 Tabletop Dobsonian

Rank 4

4.4

With its f/5 focal ratio, the StarBlast 6 provides a wider field of view and lower magnifications with a given eyepiece than the 6” f/8 Dobsonians listed above, but requires a rock-solid tabletop for use and has more stringent collimation requirements. At f/5, coma is noticeable, especially in wide-angle eyepieces, but it's not horrible for the price and portability.

£360.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Celestron Astro Fi 130 Reflector GoTo

Rank 5

4.3

The Astro-Fi 130 is optically identical to the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST and Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P, 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.

£419 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher SkyHawk-1145PS AZ-GTe GoTo

Rank 6

4.2

£375 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 AZ-Gti Mak GoTo

Rank 7

4.2

£479 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher StarTravel 102 AZ-GTe Refractor GoTo

Rank 8

4.1

£425 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Explorer-150P EQ3-2 Reflector

Rank 9

4.1

£468 at WexPhoto

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Reflector

Rank 10

The StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ uses the same optical tube as the Astro-Fi 130 and other 130mm f/5 telescopes, but is mounted atop Celestron’s StarSense Explorer mount which assists in locating targets with your smartphone. However, the Astro-Fi 130 is similar in price and offers full tracking and GoTo, which is vastly preferable to the simple Push-To system of the DX 130AZ.

£379 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Refractor

Rank 11

Like the DX130AZ, the StarSense Explorer DX102AZ has a smartphone-aided PushTo system that allows you to easily locate almost any object in the sky. However, with a relatively small aperture and a price tag big enough to obtain a larger and/or fully computerized instrument, it is not the most economically justifiable scope.

£349 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Explorer-150PL EQ3-2

Rank 12

£478 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skyhawk-1145P AZ SynScan Reflector

Rank 13

£379 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 (AZ) SynScan Mak

Rank 14

£429 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 AZ SynScan GoTo Mak

Rank 15

£529 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Evostar-120 (EQ3-2) Refractor

Rank 16

£519 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 130SLT Reflector GoTo

Rank 17

3.9

The NexStar 130SLT is a decent telescope, but its tripod legs are not the best, and for less money you could get the Astro-Fi 130 which has the same views but is more stable and easier to align and control.

£449 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron Astro Fi 102 Mak GoTo

Rank 18

3.8

The Astro-Fi 102’s Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design makes for a compact package, but the scope’s long focal length and rather small aperture prevent the GoTo technology from being of much use, as the 102 is limited to only the Moon, planets, and the brightest deep-sky targets which are relatively easy to locate manually.

£379 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron Astro Fi 90 Refractor GoTo

Rank 19

3.8

Like the other Astro-Fi telescopes, the Astro-Fi 90 is able to be completely controlled by your phone or smart device. The Astro-Fi 90 is lower on our list due to its small aperture and long focal length, which limits its target options to the point that the computerized mounting is of questionable usefulness, to begin with.

£379 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Cosmos 90 GT

Rank 20

3.8

Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Startravel-102 (AZ) SynScan Refractor

Rank 21

3.8

£429 at WexPhoto

Sky-Watcher Startravel-120 (AZ3) Refractor

Rank 22

3.7

£389 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 90SLT Mak GoTo

Rank 23

3.7

The NexStar 90SLT is not a bad scope and features an acceptable mount and accessories along with great optics, but setting up and aligning the mount is time-consuming and quite frankly overkill for a small instrument that’s almost exclusively useful for the Moon and planets.

£372 at PicStop Check Amazon Price

Meade ETX80 Observer Refractor GoTo

Rank 24

3.7

The ETX-80 is extremely portable, lightweight, and offers full GoTo and a super-wide field of view, but with a cheapened build and diminutive aperture it offers the worst value of anything in its price range.

Check Amazon Price

Item discontinued. Last stocks left

Sky-Watcher Star Discovery P150i

Rank 25

3.7

£529 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

~£400 - £600 range

In this budget, you can get 10″ Dobsonians which gathers 56% more light compared to 8″ Dobsonians. It’s totally worth it if you don’t mind the weight and bulk. If you are going to be able to put the 10″ into your car and move it around to darker skies, get the 10″.

Sky-Watcher Skyliner-250PX FlexTube

Rank 1

4.8

£719 at WexPhoto

Sky-Watcher Skyliner-250PX

Rank 2

4.7

£619 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Bresser Messier 10" Dobsonian Telescope

Rank 3

4.6

£433 at 365Astronomy Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT10 (08946e) Dobsonian

Rank 4

4.4

£588.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT8 Plus Dobsonian

Rank 5

4.4

£542.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion StarBlast 6i Dobsonian PushTo

Rank 6

4.2

While lesser in aperture than similarly-priced offerings, the StarBlast 6i’s tremendously wide field of view and its IntelliScope PushTo system makes locating deep-sky objects an absolute breeze, and the included accessories are decent too.

£477.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 AZ-Gti Mak

Rank 7

4.2

£599 at WexPhoto

Sky-Watcher Explorer-200P EQ5 Reflector

Rank 8

4.2

£659 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron Astro Fi 127mm (5") Maksutov

Rank 9

4.2

Check Amazon Price

Celestron Astro Fi 125mm (5") Schmidt-Cassegrain

Rank 10

4.1

Check Amazon Price

Celestron Omni XLT 120 Refractor

Rank 11

4.1

The Omni XLT 120 provides great lunar, planetary, and deep-sky views with all the elegance of a large equatorially-mounted refractor, and can be upgraded to motorized tracking later on. However, its chromatic aberration, complicated setup, and small aperture might make it a less-than-ideal choice for those looking for a simple beginner scope with bright views.

Check Amazon Price

Sky-Watcher Explorer-150P EQ3 PRO SynScan Reflector GoTo

Rank 12

4.1

£798 at WexPhoto

Orion AstroView 6 Reflector

Rank 13

£451 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 130mm Reflector GoTo

Rank 14

The StarSeeker IV 130mm features full GoTo, but unlike most computerized telescopes it can be pushed around manually without ruining the GoTo alignment - a huge plus. It can also be controlled via SkySafari just like the Celestron Astro-Fi telescopes. However, the included accessories are rather sub-par and the price is very steep for what you’re getting.

£482.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 102mm Mak GoTo

Rank 15

Apart from the dual optical encoders, the 102mm StarSeeker has no real advantages over the Celestron Astro-Fi 102, which is significantly cheaper and provides near-identical views and functionality.

£523.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 5 SLT GoTo

Rank 16

£552 at 365Astronomy

Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 (EQ3-2) Mak

Rank 17

£569 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Orion AstroView 120ST EQ Refractor

Rank 18

The AstroView 120ST’s large unobstructed aperture offers decent and high-contrast views of deep-sky objects. However, its fast focal ratio of f/5 combined with its 120mm aperture means it has absolutely massive amounts of chromatic aberration, making the scope borderline unusable for lunar/planetary and other high-magnification viewing.

£552.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 127SLT Mak GoTo

Rank 19

The 127SLT has sharp optics and enough aperture to show you some faint fuzzies, but the mount is undersized and the field of view of the telescope is quite narrow thanks to its long focal ratio.

£599 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 4SE Mak GoTo

Rank 20

3.9

The NexStar 4SE is optically identical to the other Celestron and Orion 4” Maksutovs on our list, but has a built-in flip mirror and comes with the well-made NexStar SE mount. While the higher-quality gearing in the SE mount is nice, the main advertised features of the 4SE such as the flip mirror and built-in wedge are basically useless gimmicks, and you’d be better off with a larger computerized scope or with the Astro-Fi 102.

£499 at WexPhoto Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 114mm Reflector GoTo

Rank 21

3.9

The 114mm StarSeeker IV offers the same flexibility in its mount control options as the 130mm StarSeeker IV, but the significant aperture reduction warrants question as to how worthwhile the GoTo system really is.

£438.99 at Orion Check Amazon Price