Ranking 46 Computerized Telescopes (GoTos and PushTos)

Our team of experts has reviewed, rated, and ranked around 58 computerized (GoTo & PushTo) telescopes they have either owned or used at least once. Price classification is based on the average cost at the time of publishing. The current rate might be slightly different from the price groups in which the scope is in.

$500

$600

$900

$1000

$1300

$1500

$1700

$2000

~$500 range

Being the starting point for computerized scopes, almost all of the telescopes in this price category have such small apertures that they tend to be severely limited in target options to the point that the computerized mounting is of questionable usefulness to begin with. The views you get would be similar to the ones provided by manual scopes in the $100-$200 price range and are constrained to the Moon, planets, and the brightest deep-sky targets – all of which are relatively easy to locate manually.

Best GoTo

Celestron Astro Fi 102 Mak GoTo

Rank 1

3.8

The Astro-Fi 102’s Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design makes for a compact package, and delivers a decent amount of performance. However, 102mm of aperture with an f/13 focal ratio means you’ll struggle to see much of anything that makes the GoTo technology worthwhile. Astro-Fi is cheaper because it doesn't need a keypad unlike Nexstar, and is controlled via a smartphone or tablet,

$529 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 90SLT Mak GoTo

Rank 2

3.7

The NexStar 90SLT is not a bad scope and features an acceptable mount and accessories along with great optics, but simply can’t show you many targets that the electronics are actually necessary to locate for you.

$539.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Celestron Astro Fi 90 Refractor GoTo

Rank 3

3.7

The Astro-Fi 90 has relatively modest aperture and is not a great match for its rather lightweight GoTo mount. It also suffers from a fair amount of chromatic aberration due to being an inexpensive achromatic refractor.

$509.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Celestron 80 LCM GoTo Refractor

Rank 4

3.2

The Celestron 80 LCM has decent optics, but its small aperture doesn’t deliver much with regards to deep-space views, and the mount is rather poorly constructed.

Not Recommended

Celestron 114 LCM GoTo Reflector

Rank 5

The Celestron 114 LCM’s Bird-Jones optical design and lousy mounting make it a spectacularly bad choice for beginners and experienced users alike, delivering mushy views on a wobbly and easily-broken computerized mount with poor accuracy.

Not Recommended

~$600 range

The computerized telescopes in the $500 price range tend to be well-made, but have apertures of between 4 and 6 inches, making the usefulness of a computerized system still questionable, if at least somewhat useful.

Best GoTo

Celestron Astro Fi 130 Reflector GoTo

Rank 1

4.2

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.

$559.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 130mm Reflector GoTo

Rank 2

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.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron Nexstar 127SLT Mak GoTo

Rank 3

The NexStar 127SLT’s long focal ratio and limited aperture (120mm as measured by our experts; a bit less than the claimed 127mm) makes it less-than-ideal for viewing deep-sky objects, but it’s a great performer on the Moon and planets.

$699.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 150mm Reflector GoTo

Rank 4

3.9

The StarSeeker IV 150mm Reflector has a fair amount of aperture and an advanced mount, but falls short of providing user-friendliness with its lack of collimation ability.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron Nexstar 130SLT Reflector GoTo

Rank 5

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.

$599.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Celestron Nexstar 4SE Mak GoTo

Rank 6

3.9

The NexStar 4SE is sturdy, well-mounted and features great optics. However, Celestron severely overpromises on its astrophotography capabilities, and the 4SE’s mere 102mm of aperture combined with its long focal ratio of f/13 makes it a poor choice for viewing deep-sky objects, which is primarily what the GoTo mount is useful for.

$679 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 114mm Reflector GoTo

Rank 7

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.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron Nexstar 102SLT Refractor GoTo

Rank 8

3.7

The NexStar 102SLT suffers from a lot of chromatic aberration thanks to being a short refractor, and is on a less-than-sturdy mount for its size. However, it does deliver pleasing wide-field deep-sky views at low magnifications.

Not Recommended

PushTo

Best PushTo

Orion StarBlast 6i Dobsonian PushTo

4.4

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.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Reflector

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.

$479.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Refractor

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.

$469.95 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

~$900 range

The 5-8” scopes in this price range are able to show you a wealth of deep-sky objects, and make excellent choices for a beginner or for an experienced user looking for a smaller and more convenient or portable instrument.

Celestron Nexstar 5SE Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo

Rank 1

4.1

The NexStar 5SE is significantly more capable than its smaller counterpart the 4SE, with 5 inches of aperture and a more reasonable focal ratio of f/10. However, it is still limited by its rather small objective along with its cumbersome mounting and relative lack of accessories.

$939 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 127mm Mak GoTo

Rank 2

The StarSeeker IV 127mm performs similarly to the NexStar 127SLT, but its mounting is more stable and capable of manual movement as well as being controlled via your phone, tablet, or other smart device. Whether that’s worth the significant price hike is up to you.

Permanently Discontinued

Orion StarSeeker IV 102mm Mak GoTo

Rank 3

The StarSeeker IV 102mm is functionally identical to the Astro-Fi 102 apart from its dual encoder system that allows the telescope to be moved manually. We’d recommend getting one of the larger reflectors or the 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain instead of this one, though the 102 isn’t necessarily a bad telescope - just a bit expensive for what it offers.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron SkyProdigy 130 Reflector GoTo

Rank 4

3.6

The SkyProdigy 130 is functionally identical to the NexStar 130SLT, but features Celestron’s StarSense auto-aligning technology built into the mount. However, not only is the StarSense wholly unnecessary and responsible for raising the price of the telescope significantly, but it is prone to malfunctions and rarely operates as desired.

Not Recommended

PushTos

Best PushTo

Orion SkyQuest XT8i Dobsonian PushTo

4.4

The XT8i’s Intelliscope system allows for easy, seamless location of deep-sky objects - though it doesn’t automatically slew the telescope to them nor track for you. If you’re feeling adventurous, the scope can just be used manually like any other Dob.

Permanently Discontinued

~$1000 range

Best GoTo

Celestron Nexstar 6SE Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo

4.2

The NexStar 6SE has enough aperture that it really begins to be able to take advantage of all that the computerized GoTo technology has to offer. It’s also remarkably compact.

$1099 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

~$1300 range

The 610” scopes in this price range are quite capable and well-made, with few compromises in their build or image quality. You’ll be quite satisfied with any of these options.

GoTos

Celestron Advanced VX Series 6" Newtonian

Rank 1

4.1

While a little cumbersome and complicated to set up for visual use, the Advanced VX 6” Newtonian makes for a quality plug-and-play deep-sky astrophotography telescope (albeit less capable than an a-la-carte rig with a better mount such as the Sky-Watcher HEQ5), and offers decent lunar, planetary, and deep-sky views with its 6 inches of aperture.

$1329 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Orion StarSeeker IV 150mm Mak GoTo

Rank 2

3.8

The 150mm Maksutov optical tube is getting a little big for the rather light-duty StarSeeker IV mount and offers a narrower field of view than a 6” Schmidt-Cassegrain at a higher price,

Not Recommended

Celestron SkyProdigy 6 SCT GoTo

Rank 3

3.7

The Celestron SkyProdigy 6 has great optics, sporting the same C6 optical tube as the NexStar Evolution and SE 6” models, but is inadequately mounted - furthermore, the built-in StarSense technology is buggy and hardly ever works as advertised.

Not Recommended

PushTos

Best PushTo

Orion SkyQuest XT10i Dobsonian PushTo

4.6

Like the other XTi scopes, the XT10i’s Intelliscope system aids in aiming the scope to thousands of deep-sky targets. The XT10i’s large cutouts in the base also greatly aid in overall portability and reduce the weight of the scope, making it an improvement over regular 10” Dobs even if you don’t plan on utilizing the Intelliscope system particularly often.

Permanently Discontinued

~$1500 range

At $1000 or above, you’re essentially making no sacrifices in aperture by purchasing a computerized telescope, as most tend to be 8” or larger.

GoTos

Best GoTo

Sky-Watcher 8" Flextube SynScan Collapsible Dobsonian GoTo

Rank 1

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.

$1450 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Orion SkyQuest XT8g Dobsonian GoTo

Rank 2

4.5

The XT8g features full GoTo and also has the same dual-speed focuser as the higher-end 8” manual Dobsonians on our list. The XT8g is more or less a regular XT8 with the same SynScan system as the Skywatcher 8" Collapsible GoTo, but with the XT8g’s dual-speed focuser.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo

Rank 3

4.1

The NexStar 8SE is a little undermounted, but provides great views of the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects. If portability is not a concern, however, we’d recommend going with the easier-to-use and more stable GoTo 8” Dobsonians or a larger manual or computer-assisted Dobsonian on our list.

$1599 at HighPoint Check Amazon Price

Celestron Advanced VX Series 8" Newtonian

Rank 4

4.1

The 8” Advanced VX Newtonian is pushing the mount’s capabilities to deliver good tracking for long exposures, but still works acceptably for astrophotography - though the 6” model, or alternatively an HEQ5, Atlas, or Sirius mount would probably be a better choice. As with the 6”, the scope can be used for visual astronomy with an eyepiece but is rather cumbersome for the job.

Check Amazon Price

$1629 at AgenaAstro Buy from HighPoint

~$1700 range

GoTos

Best Dob GoTo

Sky-Watcher 10" Collapsible Dobsonian GoTo

Rank 1

4.6

Featuring full GoTo and a collapsible tube, the 10” Collapsible is a great option for beginners and experienced users alike. Like most GoTo Dobsonians, the 10” Collapsible can be operated completely manually should you not want to use the GoTo system, and it can be adjusted manually without upsetting the GoTo alignment.

Check Amazon Price

$1715 at HighPoint

Orion SkyQuest XT10g Dobsonain GoTo

Rank 2

4.6

The XT10G is basically identical in operation to the 10” Collapsible GoTo, but of course lacks the collapsible tube - and features a dual-speed focuser, unlike the Collapsible.

Permanently Discontinued

Best Compact GoTo

Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo

Rank 3

4.3

The NexStar Evolution 6 is jam-packed with features, including a built-in WiFi control module for operation via a smartphone or tablet, a built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery.

Check Amazon Price

$1679 at HighPoint

Celestron Advanced VX Series 6" Refractor GoTo

Rank 4

The 6” Advanced VX Refractor suffers from some chromatic aberration, and is certainly not the astrophotography-ready platform that marketing material might suggest. It’s a great choice for those who want a big refractor, though you might want to ponder what it is that’s so appealing about such a rig before purchasing.

Check Amazon Price

$1899 at HighPoint

PushTos

Orion SkyQuest XT12i Dobsonian PushTo

4.6

While possessing the same massive size as the AD12 and its rebranded variants, the XT12i features Orion’s Intelliscope system like its smaller brethren, and comes with cutouts in the base which greatly enhance portability.

Check Amazon Price

Permanently Discontinued

~$2000 range

GoTos

Best Dob GoTo

Celestron 8" NexStar Evolution Schmidt Cassegrain GoTo

Rank 1

4.5

The 8” Evolution has the same bells and whistles as the 6”, but with more aperture - and is a substantially steadier and more well-made scope than its cheaper cousin, the NexStar 8SE.

Check Amazon Price

$2199 at HighPoint

Celestron Advanced VX Series 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain GoTo

Rank 2

4.3

The 8” Advanced VX Schmidt-Cassegrain makes for a surprisingly portable setup, and is especially good for planetary imaging. However, the Advanced VX is simply not up to the task of supporting the 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube for deep-sky astrophotography - nor is a C8 an ideal first astrophotography scope.

Check Amazon Price

$2299 at HighPoint

Orion Sirius ED80 EQ-G Refractor GoTo

Rank 3

4.2

The Sirius ED80 is a great scope for astrophotography - though you could probably assemble a better rig if you shop a la carte. However, its extremely cumbersome mount and small aperture make it nearly useless for visual astronomy.

Check Amazon Price

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron CPC 800 GPS SCT GoTo

Rank 4

4.1

The CPC 800 is a little less fancy than the 8” NexStar Evolution, but comes on a beefier mount and can be used for astrophotography on an equatorial wedge (sold separately).

Check Amazon Price

$2599 at HighPoint

PushTos

Orion SkyQuest XX12i Dobsonian

4.6

The XX12i functions similarly to the Meade Lightbridge 12 but features Orion’s Intelliscope Push-To system like the smaller XTi scopes in Orion’s catalog.

Check Amazon Price

$1999.99 at Orion Buy from HighPoint

$2500 range

Orion SkyQuest XX12g Dobsonian GoTo

Rank 1

4.6

The XX12g is identical to the XX12i, but with full GoTo as opposed to the Intelliscope system. It’s probably the most rewarding scope to use of all the ones we recommend on our list. Larger and more expensive GoTo Dobsonians exist, but we’d recommend sticking with a 12” or smaller scope to start with.

Check Amazon Price

Permanently Discontinued

Sky-Watcher 12" Flextube Dobsonian GoTo

Rank 2

4.6

The 12” Flextube is a little more cumbersome than the XX12g, but considerably simpler to set up for each use - it’s best if you have a minivan or truck to transport it, however - or if you can store and roll it out of a garage.

Check Amazon Price

$2560 at HighPoint

Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo 180mm Maksutov GoTo

Rank 3

4.3

7” Maksutovs are a bit of a specialty project - mainly useful for lunar and planetary viewing - but the Sirius 180mm is a great pick - not only does it have great optics, but the Sirius EQ-G mount is great for astrophotography with a smaller and shorter telescope later on.

Permanently Discontinued

Celestron Advanced VX 700 Mak GoTo

Rank 4

4.2

The Advanced VX 700 is identical optically to the Sirius 180mm, but the mount is a little more beefy - at the expense of being slightly less well-suited for astrophotography with another telescope.

Check Amazon Price

$2599 at HighPoint

Celestron 9.25" NexStar Evolution Schmidt Cassegrain GoTo

Rank 5

The 9.25” NexStar Evolution is an extremely massive setup - as bulky as the 12” Dobsonians on our list. However, it’s got all of the same features as the Evolution 8 with just a bit more aperture - all perched atop a super-heavy-duty tripod.

Check Amazon Price

$2849 at HighPoint

Orion SkyView Pro 180 EQ Mak GoTo

Rank 6

3.7

Not Recommended

Permanently Discontinued