10 Best Telescopes of 2020

With everything you'll need to gaze at the glory that is the universe, the Meade 8in LX70 8in Reflector Telescope with German EQ Mount is perfect for observers of all shapes and sizes. The Meade LX70 German EQ mount includes enhanced features including brass worm-gear drives on both axes for smooth tracking performance, aluminum setting circles and built-in leveling bubble. The large knob slow-motion control cables make it easy to track objects on those frigid nights when wearing gloves is a necessity. The mount includes a vixen-style dovetail for mounting third party optical tubes up to 20 lbs and accepts any vixen-style dovetail. The heavy-duty tripod is equipped with full size accessory tray and holders for both 1.25" and 2" eyepieces. When aligning on the celestial poles, precision push-pull adjustments in both azimuth and elevation make it a breeze. The elevations built-in micrometer scale will help you dial in your site latitude quickly every time. With Meade's optional 670010 polar scope, finding the celestial poles with high accuracy is easy. Combined with Meade's optional 670011 dual axis motor drives, the LX70 German Equatorial mount becomes an imaging platform ideal for high-performance observing or astrophotography. The Meade LX70 mount is designed to keep you looking up for many years to come. The Meade LX70 8" Newtonian Reflector Telescope is equipped with a high-quality f/5 parabolic primary mirror. This fast f/5 optical system provides spectacular wide-field images for the discriminating deep-sky observer and astro-photographer. Its 8" aperture allows it to resolve details down to 0.57 arc-seconds across and can be viewed using the two included 1.25" Plossl eyepieces (9mm & 26mm). With its 2" rack and pinion focuser it is equipped to handle wide-field 2" eyepieces out of the box. The 8x50 optical viewfinder with cross-hair reticle makes locating faint object quickly and easily. Product carries full one year Meade factory limited warranty. For an outstanding way to be sure you are looking through one of the best telescopes the observation industry has to offer, choose the Meade Newtonian Reflector LX70 Telescope w/ German EQ Mount.

Specifications for Meade 8in Reflector Telescope - LX70:

Features of Meade LX70 Telescope w/ German EQ Mount:

• 200mm (8") f/5 Newtonian Reflector - 1000mm focal length
• Fast F/5 parabolic primary mirror
• Two 1.25" Plossl eyepieces (9mm & 26mm)
• Rack and pinion focuser
• 8x50 Viewfinder

The TeleVue-76 Telescope is today's premier birding/astronomy crossover telescope. The TeleVue-76 Telescope combines the now discontinued Televue Pronto compact size with the APO optical performance of the larger Televue-85. Use the TeleVue-76 Telescope on the shorebird mudflats by day or under the night sky to resolve fine planetary detail with the assurance that no other spotting scope or telescope its size can surpass it for resolution and contrast. The TeleVue-76 Telescope combines a huge 5.5 degree maximum field and a Nagler-designed, multi-coated, 2-element objective to provide bright, high-contrast views even at the highest useful magnifications.

The TeleVue-76 package includes the TeleVue-76 OTA with screw-on lens cover, sliding dew shield and 2" focuser. You also get a custom soft case with room for accessories, ring mount for standard photo tripods or Televue mounts, TeleVue 20mm Plossl eyepiece and a TeleVue 2" Everbrite diagonal with TeleVue 1 1/4" adapter.

For day use in the field with the TeleVue-76 Telescope, we especially recommend one of the Bogen Tripods or Swarovski Tripods or the TeleVue Tele-Pod Mount. For astronomy, TeleVue Tripods such as the TeleVue Panoramic mount are excellent.

Specifications for TeleVue-76 Telescope:

Objective:		76mm APO multi-coated doublet
Magnification:		24x with supplied Plossl eyepiece, but can use any 1 1/4" or 2" eyepiece
Focal length:		480mm
Focal ratio:		f/6.3
Maximum visual field:		5.5 degrees
Weight:		7.0 pounds with diagonal and mount ring
Length:		17.4" with diagonal

Package Contents:

• TeleVue-76 OTA
• Black carry bag
• TeleVue 2" Everbrite Diagonal
• 1 1/4" Adapter
• Ring Mount
• TeleVue Plossl 20 Eyepiece

Stellarvue APO 145mm Telescope SVA145 is designed to meet or exceed all other telescopes in the same aperture range for overall optical correction. Even under less than ideal conditions, these Stellarvue telescopes can reveal moments of extreme clarity where the image snaps into sharp focus revealing a wealth of fine, high contrast detail. Resolution, contrast and image brightness is stunning. Stellarvue can modify the basic design as needed to make this telescope perfect for your needs. Since they assemble these here using the best LZOS telescope lenses, they can make your new telescope exactly as you want it and provide you with all of the accessories you need to provide you with a experience that is without compromise. For a complete selection of Stellarvue telescopes, please visit our Stellarvue Telescopes and Accessories page. For more brand name Telescopes please visit our Telescopes store section. To see our complete line of refracting telesscopes and reflecting telescopes visit our Telescopes page

Specifications for Stellarvue 145 mm Telescope SVA145:

Features of Stellarvue SVA145 APO Telescope:

• New lens design using a more advanced third element
• Polished by master opticians in Russia
• Lenses are edge blackened and coated to a high optical spec
• Lens cell is push pull design, weatherized to eliminate corrosion

OpticsPlanet is now offering the new Barska 36x80 Anchormaster Telescope AE10824. The Barska Anchormaster Telescopes are a classric and elegant series with precision handcrafted brass scopes that sweeps you back to the days of tall ships and pirates. The Barska 36x900mm Anchormaster Telescope AE10824 is a 100% polished brass Telescopes features fully coated achromatic lenses for brilliant images, structured in a refractor design with helical focusing ring. Mounted on majestic mahogany tripods, Barska 36x900mm Anchor Master Telescope AE10824 is pure sophistication. At an amazing value, this Barska Anchormaster Telescope will take your breath away!

Specifications for Barska 36x900mm Anchormaster Telescope AE10824:

Features of Barska 36x900mm Anchormaster Telescope AE10824:

• Fully coated achromatic lenses for brilliant images
• Structured in a refractor design
• High quality Plössl interchangeable eyepieces with a rack and pinion focuser (Only one eyepiece included)
• Equipped with 45° erecting diagonal for correct image of land viewing
• Brass cradle mounts allows the scope to move smoothly in all directions
• Handcrafted Mahogany tripods with extendable legs and polished brass stabilizing chain
• Ideal for terrestrial viewing of planets or celestial viewing of the beautiful skyline

Package Contents:

• Barska 36x900mm Anchormaster Telescope AE10824

Features of Barska 36x80mm Anchormaster Telescope, Sky & Land Brass Scope w/ Mahogany tripod AE10824:

• Optical System Refractor
• Max Power 36x
• Objective Lens 80mm
• Optical Coating Fully Coated
• Eye Piece 25mm Piossl
• Eye Piece Size 1.25mm
• Diagonal 45
• Tripod Handcrafted Mahogany with extendable legs and polished brass stabilizing chain
• Product Weight 40 lb
• Finish Polished Brass

Konus Konusky-200 200mm (7.8") Newtonian Reflector Telescope is one of the best values in the Telescopes industry and the most affordable way to start stargazing. High-quality, feature-packed Konus telescopes from OpticsPlanet.com offer the amateur astronomer bright, clear & crisp night sky images in an easy-to-use, easy-to-own Telescopes. As all Konus products on our site, Konusky-200 200mm (7.8") Newtonian Reflector Telescope are covered by full Konus telescope warranty - OpticsPlanet is an Authorized US Konus dealer.

Specifications for Konus Konusky-200 200mm (7.8") Newtonian Reflector Telescope:

Features of Konus Konusky-200 200mm (7.8") Newtonian Reflector Telescope:

• Multicoated optics

Package Contents:

• Konus Konusky-200 200mm (7.8") Newtonian Reflector Telescope #1793
• Two Plossl eyepieces: 25mm (40x) and 10mm (100x)
• Moon filter

Celestron is proud to introduce  StarHopper series of Dobsonian Telescopes available in 6", 8", 10" and 12" apertures. Dobsonian telescopes are recognized within the astronomy hobby as an excellent value for the aperture size, and Celestron StarHopper line is as rich in features as it is in value.

The optical system features a large primary mirror at the bottom of the tube which collects light and concentrates it onto a small secondary mirror, which reflects the light out the side of the tube and into the eyepiece. Best of all, Celestron StarHopper8 Dobsonians Telescope 10800 and othrer StarHopper series telescopes are easy to observe with - the user navigates through the night sky by simply moving the tube up or down, and left or right, by hand.

All StarHoppers use optical quality BK-7 glass, this is the same high-quality glass used in most binocular prisms and refractor telescope lenses. All Celestron StarHoppers use a roller track bearing on the azimuth surface providing dozens of support points for smooth swivel motion. They also use a variable tension clutch system for proper balance and control in both altitude and azimuth.The 8 " StarHopper, 10" & 12" models come standard with 2" focuser and 1.25" adapter.

Specifications for Celestron StarHopper-8 Dobsonians Telescopes:

Aperture:		8"
Focal Length:		48" (1219mm)
Focal Ratio:		f/6
Eyepieces:		25mm - 1.25"
Magnification:		49x
Secondary Size:		1.95"
Obstruction:		24% by diameter 5.9% by area
Primary Mirror:		BK7
Mirror Cell:		3-point
Azimuth Bearing:		Roller track
Altitude Bearing:		Nylon Bearing
Tension System:		Variable friction clutch
Highest useful power:		480x
Lowest useful power:		29x
Resolution: Rayleigh Criterion Dawes Criterion:		.68 arcsec .57 arcsec
Field of view with standard eyepiece:		1.03°
Exit pupil with standard eyepiece:		4.2mm
Light gathering power (times the unaided eye):		843
Limiting visual magnitude:		14
Optical tube length:		45"

Features of Celestron Star Hopper8 Dobsonians Telescope-10800:

• BK7 Optical Quality glass
• Roller Track Bearing on Azimuth Surface provides dozens of support points for smooth swivel motion
• Variable Tension Clutch System for proper balance and smooth control in both altitude and azimuth
• 2-years warranty

Package Contents:

• Celestron Star Hopper 8" Dobsonians Telescope (#10800)
• 25mm Plössl eyepiece and 9 x 50 finder scope
• 2" focuser and 1.25" adapter
• Plastic screw head caps

Meade LT 8" ACF (f/10) Advanced Coma-Free Telescope w/UHTC 0810-04-10 sets a new high-performance standard for an incredible value. The Meade LT-8 ACF telescope is built with precision worm gear drives, sturdy die-cast aluminum mount and robust steel tripod. Meade offers an incredible level of optics for an outstanding visual experience. The LT 8 ACF telescope 0810 04 10 is ideal for astronomers looking for unbelievable optical performance and advanced object spotting with the computer telescope functionality. Check out the full line of Meade telescopes for some of the finest telescope offerings on the market.

The Meade LT-8 Advanced Coma Free telescope includes the AudioStar computer controller, which can guide the telescope to any of the 30,000 objects in the library. The Audio Star has a built in "Tonight's Best" tour which will automatically show the most visible objects in the sky, taking into account position and time, and it will play audio clips that provide detailed information about the objects. The telescope 's computer can be updated from the Meade web site.

Specifications for Meade LT 8 ACF 0810 04 10:

Features of Meade LT8 Advanced Coma Free Telescope with UHTC:

• Meade Premium Optics: The heart of any telescope is its optics. Our advanced, proprietary processes, combined with the best materials, deliver the highest quality professional grade optics available.
• Easy Align: LTs are smart scopes that know the night sky right out of the box. Just enter your site information, find level and North, and Easy Align picks two alignment stars for you and places them right in your viewfinder. Center them to fine tune your alignment and the wonders of the universe are at your fingertips.
• AudioStar Computer Controller: The AudioStar computer controller helps you quickly find and GoTo over 30,000 objects in the night sky. View planets, stars galaxies, nebulae, comets and more - all at the push of a button.
• • Contains hours of audio descriptions of planets, stars, constellations, clusters, nebula, galaxies and more
  • Audio Star with Astronomer Inside takes you on a guided tour of the best objects in the night sky from your location at that time, playing audio descriptions of the objections and their details
  • AudioStar controls the telescope to track over 30,000 objects automatically
  • Meade Audio Star provides detailed knowledge of the cosmos on par with a professional astronomer

The Celestron Ambassador 50mm 15-45x Brass/Mahogany Telescope harkens back to the days of Copernicus and Galileo with its classic brass design but will allow you to see all the advances in space knowledge we have made since then with its all-glass precision optics. These Telescopes by Celestron swivel easily in a cradle altazimuth mount so you can smoothly point your telescope skyward in any direction. The Celestron Ambassador 50mm 15-45x Fixed Eyepiece Brass/Mahogany Telescope comes with a sturdy adjustable mahogany tripod and brass accessory tray so you know your telescope has a sturdy backbone holding it up (and looking great doing so). If you want the perfect blend of aesthetic attraction and clear functionality in a telescope, the Celestron Ambassador 50mm 15-45x Brass Telescope w/ Mahogany Tripod may be written in the stars for your destiny.

Specifications for Celestron Ambassador 50mm 15-45x Fixed Eyepiece Brass/Mahogany Telescope:

Features of Celestron Ambassador 50mm 15-45x Brass Telescope w/ Mahogany Tripod:

• Brass and mahogany finish exemplify style
• Mahogany tripod offers rigid support
• 15-45x zoom fixed brass eyepiece allows you to go from low to high power with a twist

Get the best of both terrestrial and celestial viewing with the Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Telescope w/ Motor Drive. These entry level Telescopes engineered by the specialists at Celestron will carry you far beyond the entry point by producing bright, clear images of the moon and planets as well as brighter deep space objects such as galaxies and nebulae. The Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Telescope comes with a motor drive that tracks with the Earth's rotation so you can keep your subject in view all night long. With a quick and easy no-tool setup, and available exclusively from OpticsPlanet.com, the Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope is an ideal telescope for the young and the young at heart.

Specifications for Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Telescope w/ Built-on StarPointer:

Features of Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope:

• Permanently mounted StarPointer finderscope
• CG-2 German Equatorial mount with Setting circles - to accurately locate and track sky objects
• Erect image optics - Ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use
• Quick release dovetail attachment - easy, no tool setup
• Rugged pre-assembled tripod with 1.25in. steel tube legs - Provides a rigid and stable platform
• All coated glass optics for clear, crisp images
• Camera adaptable with Piggyback Adapter Screw
• Deluxe accessory tray for convenient storage of accessories
• TheSkyX - First Light Edition astronomy software with a 10,000 object database, printable sky maps and 75 enhanced images
• Two year warranty on telescope

• OpticsPlanet Exclusives

Perfect for the on-the-go astronomer the Celestron EclipSmart Telescope is the latest and greatest in solar technology. These Telescopes by Celestron feature a 20 mm Kellner eyepiece for optimal viewing and a wider field-of-view when sungazing. With full aperture ISO compliant glass solar filters the Celestron 50 mm Telescope are a permanent safety feature perfect for any time stargazing. Share in the fun with friends and family with the Celestron Travel Solar Telescope.

Specifications for Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Telescope 50:

Celestron EclipSmart Telescope, CI-TS-ESST50

• 50 mm fully coated glass optics give a nice crisp focus to see sunspot groups
• Full aperture ISO compliant glass solar filters our permanently mounted glass filters have been independently tested to meet ISO standards for safe direct viewing of the sun. The filters are permanently attached and cannot be accidentally removed while observing
• Solar safe finderscope allows you to easily align the solar scope to the sun without directly viewing the sun. Just line up the shadow of the pointer with the center of the target reticle and the sun should appear in your eyepiece
• Photo-style alt-azimuth mount and tripod allows easy adjust and aiming of the telescope while offering great stability. The solar scope can point straight overhead without interference
• 20 mm Kellner (1.25in) eyepiece offers 18x magnification for a good image scale while offering a wide field if view to make it easier to track the sun's apparent motion
• Includes lightweight and convenient backpack holds and protects your travel solar scope, tripod and all of the accessories, making it easy to carry to remote observing sites