Best Budget Telescopes (January 2026)
Starting a journey into astronomy doesn’t require breaking the bank. Today’s budget telescope market offers incredible value, with quality instruments available for under $500 that would have cost thousands just a decade ago. Whether you’re a complete beginner taking your first look at the Moon’s craters or a curious observer ready to explore Saturn’s rings and distant nebulae, there’s a budget-friendly telescope that matches your needs and aspirations.
When shopping for a budget telescope, the most important factor is aperture—the diameter of the telescope’s main lens or mirror. Larger apertures gather more light, revealing fainter objects and finer details. You’ll also want to consider the telescope type: refractors use lenses and require minimal maintenance, reflectors use mirrors and offer the most aperture per dollar, and compact designs like tabletop Dobsonians provide exceptional portability. Modern innovations like smartphone integration have made sky navigation easier than ever, while traditional manual telescopes still offer the purest, most affordable entry into the hobby. This guide covers everything from ultra-budget options under $100 to premium budget choices approaching $500, ensuring there’s a perfect telescope for every aspiring astronomer.
Celestron FirstScope
At under $50, the Celestron FirstScope represents the most affordable entry point into serious astronomy. This compact tabletop Dobsonian delivers surprising views of the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn despite its small 76mm aperture. It’s perfect for children or adults who want to test the waters of astronomy without financial commitment, though you’ll want to upgrade to a larger telescope once you’re hooked on the hobby.
Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ
The PowerSeeker 50AZ offers an ultra-affordable refractor design with minimal maintenance requirements. While its 50mm aperture limits deep-sky viewing, this telescope excels at lunar observation and serves as an excellent gift for younger astronomers. The simple alt-azimuth mount makes it incredibly easy to set up and use right out of the box.
Explore Scientific FirstLight 90mm Doublet with AZ Mount
This is where budget telescopes start getting serious. At just $60, the FirstLight 90mm delivers exceptional value with quality optics in a 90mm refractor design. The included alt-azimuth mount provides stable viewing, while the doublet lens design offers sharp, color-corrected views of the Moon and planets. This telescope punches well above its price point and represents one of the best values in entry-level astronomy.
Explore Scientific FirstLight 114mm Newtonian with Twilight Nano Mount
For under $100, you’re getting 114mm of aperture in a Newtonian reflector design—the most light-gathering power per dollar you can find. This telescope opens up deep-sky observing, allowing you to explore the Orion Nebula, star clusters, and other celestial wonders beyond the solar system. The Twilight Nano mount keeps everything compact and portable, making it ideal for balcony or backyard observing.
Orion Observer 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope Kit
The Orion Observer 90mm combines quality refractor optics with an equatorial mount that helps you track celestial objects as they move across the sky. At $125, this complete kit includes everything needed to start observing, with the equatorial mount providing a solid foundation for learning celestial mechanics. It’s an excellent choice for those who want room to grow their skills without immediately upgrading equipment.
Explore Scientific FirstLight 80mm with Twilight Nano Mount
The FirstLight 80mm strikes a perfect balance between portability and performance. This compact refractor is light enough to grab for impromptu observing sessions but powerful enough to deliver satisfying views of planets and the Moon. The Twilight Nano mount provides surprisingly stable support for such an affordable package, making this an excellent choice for apartment dwellers or travelers.
Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ
Celestron’s AstroMaster LT line delivers reliable performance at entry-level prices. The 70mm aperture and sturdy alt-azimuth mount make this refractor perfect for terrestrial and celestial viewing alike. It’s a dependable choice for families wanting a telescope that can handle both daytime nature watching and nighttime astronomy without complications.
Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ
Stepping up to an equatorial mount, the PowerSeeker 70EQ introduces beginners to the mount style used by serious astronomers. The 70mm refractor provides clear views of lunar craters and planetary features, while the equatorial mount teaches tracking skills that will transfer to any future telescope upgrades. This represents excellent value for those committed to developing their astronomy skills.
Celestron AstroMaster 70EQ
The AstroMaster 70EQ offers refined optics and build quality compared to the PowerSeeker line. This 70mm refractor on an equatorial mount provides sharp, high-contrast views that reveal the Moon’s terrain in stunning detail. The included accessories and sturdy construction make this a telescope that can serve faithfully for years as you develop your observing skills.
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ
If you prefer the simplicity of an alt-azimuth mount, the AstroMaster 70AZ delivers the same quality optics as the EQ model with point-and-view ease. This is perfect for casual observers who want to spend more time looking through the eyepiece and less time fiddling with mount adjustments. The 70mm aperture provides satisfying views of bright celestial objects.
Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ
With 80mm of aperture, the PowerSeeker 80EQ crosses the threshold where deep-sky objects start becoming interesting targets. This refractor reveals more detail in planets and can show brighter galaxies and nebulae as fuzzy patches of light. The equatorial mount supports the larger optical tube while providing smooth tracking motion.
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ
This 127mm reflector represents exceptional value, offering substantial aperture at an affordable price point. The large mirror gathers enough light to show detail in the Orion Nebula, resolve the Cassini Division in Saturn’s rings, and reveal hundreds of star clusters. While the equatorial mount requires some learning, this telescope rewards patience with impressive views that rival instruments costing twice as much.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ
Welcome to modern astronomy. The StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ uses your smartphone as a sophisticated sky guide, showing you exactly where to point the telescope to find celestial objects. This innovative system makes navigation effortless even in light-polluted urban areas. The 80mm refractor delivers quality views while the smartphone integration eliminates the frustration of getting lost in the night sky—perfect for beginners who want to spend more time observing and less time searching.
Explore Scientific FirstLight 100mm Mak-Cassegrain with EQ3 Mount
The Maksutov-Cassegrain design delivers long focal length in a compact tube, making this telescope exceptional for planetary observation and lunar exploration. At $220, you’re getting a sophisticated optical design with minimal maintenance requirements, mounted on a capable EQ3 equatorial mount. The high magnification potential reveals intricate details on Mars, Jupiter’s cloud bands, and Saturn’s rings with impressive clarity.
Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P Tabletop Dobsonian
Here’s where budget telescopes truly shine. The Heritage 130P is consistently rated among the best telescopes under $300, period. Its 130mm aperture and collapsible design provide serious light-gathering power in a package you can carry with one hand. The Dobsonian mount offers silky-smooth motion, while the FlexTube design collapses for storage. This telescope delivers views that compete with instruments costing significantly more, revealing deep-sky objects with remarkable detail.
Celestron AstroMaster 90AZ
The AstroMaster 90AZ represents a significant step up in aperture for a refractor, with 90mm of light-gathering power providing bright, high-contrast views. The alt-azimuth mount keeps operation simple while the quality optics reveal subtle planetary details and dozens of deep-sky objects. This is an excellent choice for serious beginners who want refractor simplicity with meaningful observing capability.
Sky-Watcher Heritage 150P Tabletop Dobsonian
The Heritage 150P takes everything great about the 130P model and amplifies it with 150mm of aperture. This is serious deep-sky performance in a tabletop package, revealing galaxy structure, nebula detail, and hundreds of star clusters. The collapsible FlexTube design maintains portability while delivering views that will keep you engaged for years. At this price point, you’re getting performance that challenges telescopes costing twice as much.
Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ
The AstroMaster 102AZ delivers over 4 inches of refractor aperture with the maintenance-free simplicity that makes refractors so appealing. This telescope provides stunning high-contrast views of planets and the Moon, with enough aperture to show detail in brighter deep-sky objects. The alt-azimuth mount supports the larger optical tube while maintaining ease of use.
Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ Refractor
Combining 90mm of aperture with an equatorial mount, this refractor provides both observing capability and room to grow your skills. The equatorial mount enables precise tracking of celestial objects, while the refractor optics deliver sharp, color-corrected views. This represents an excellent platform for developing serious observing techniques while maintaining the simplicity of a refractor design.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
The AstroMaster 130EQ offers 130mm of reflector aperture at an attractive price point. This telescope reveals impressive detail in planets and opens up the deep-sky universe, showing structure in galaxies and nebulae. The equatorial mount provides a stable platform that grows with your skills, making this an excellent choice for committed beginners planning to explore astronomy seriously.
Conclusion
The budget telescope market has never been better for aspiring astronomers. From the ultra-affordable Celestron FirstScope at under $50 to sophisticated instruments like the Sky-Watcher Heritage 150P approaching $300, there’s truly a telescope for every budget and interest level.
If you’re just starting out and unsure about the commitment, the Celestron FirstScope or Explore Scientific FirstLight models under $100 provide legitimate astronomical capability without financial risk. For those ready to dive deeper, the Sky-Watcher Heritage line offers exceptional value with serious observing power in compact packages. If smartphone integration appeals to you, the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ makes navigation effortless. And for maximum aperture on a budget, the reflector models from Celestron and Explore Scientific deliver impressive light-gathering power that reveals the universe in remarkable detail. The key is matching your budget and observing goals—any of these telescopes can ignite a lifelong passion for exploring the cosmos.