Telescope deals: Top picks from Celestron, Sky-Watcher and others

There are loads of telescope deals out there in the universe and sifting through them can be a bit of an ordeal. But fear not, we’ve scoped out the very best discounts and put them in this handy guide for you to check out. To make navigation easier, we’ve split these telescope deals into categories for US and UK buyers.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned stargazer or brand new to astronomy, there’s a deal to suit every level of astronomer and every budget. What’s more is that some of the best telescopes out there are on sale and because we keep this page updated all year-round, it’s always worth checking back. We’ve only listed models from trusted brands being sold from reputable retailers so quality is assured.

If you have a preference of brand then you can always check out our Celestron telescope deals , Sky-Watcher telescope deals , Meade telescope deals and Orion telescope deals guides. There’s a range of refractor, reflector and catadioptric telescopes in the guide below but it’s also worth remembering that if you’re unsure about getting a telescope, some of the best binoculars offer stunning night sky views. There’s plenty of great binoculars deals too, but for the best telescope deals, read on below.

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ: $611. 95 $429. 95 at Adorama (opens in new tab) Save $182 on this refractor scope, which is another model from Celestron that works in tandem with the helpful StarSense app.

Prices on this model have actually been a lot higher in months gone by so this reflects a really good deal. You can also check out our review (opens in new tab) of the telescope before buying. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130A: $479.

95 $449. 00 at Adorama (opens in new tab) There’s $30. 95 off this excellent reflector model from Celestron, which we were really impressed with when we tried it out in October 2021 (opens in new tab) .

It offers clear, crisp views and is excellent for spotting galaxies, nebulas, planets and star clusters. This is another model that has seen huge price hikes in the past, retailing for above $700, so this is a decent price for a popular unit. Note: While it doesn’t seem like a huge saving, the mark down price has been a lot higher in recent times.

The price you pay has stayed the same though, and it’s a good price for this telescope. Celestron Inspire 70AZ: $267. 95 $189.

95 at Adorama (opens in new tab) Skywatchers can save $78 on this great beginner’s telescope. Supplied with a full range of accessories, including a smartphone adapter for basic astrophotography, accessory tray and eyepieces. Celestron Travel Scope DX 70: $119.

95 $98. 95 at Amazon (opens in new tab) Save 18% on the Celestron Travel Scope DX 70 at Amazon. Complete with two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), 2x Barlow lens, star diagonal, backpack, finder scope, moon filter, tripod and smartphone adapter, this grab-and-go telescope offers a fully equipped option for beginners and kids.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ $312. 95 now $239. 95 at Adorama (opens in new tab) .

This is another quality Newtonian reflector telescope and another one from Celestron that works with the StarSense app. You can now save $73 on this telescope that is perfect for beginners and novices due to its user-friendly design with the help of your smartphone. This telescope has received great reviews and is very similar to the Celestron StarSense Explorer 114, which has been featured in this guide before and is available at Best Buy (opens in new tab) .

Barska Starwatcher 700mm Altazimuth Telescope: $129. 99 $104. 99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Get $25 off something for newcomers and kids who are looking to kick off their stargazing careers, this high-power reflector telescope is an ideal entry-level model.

Sky-Watcher Heritage-130P FlexTube (UK): £175 £165 at Wex Photo Video (opens in new tab) Save £10 on this simple, beginner-friendly scope from Sky-Watcher. It offers up to 406x magnification and has a decent 130mm aperture. What’s more, it has a foldable design that means you can pack it away for family camping trips and more.

Note: Although this doesn’t seem like much of a deal, this is the lowest price we’ve seen for a while on this model. Sky-Watcher Explorer-130 EQ2 (UK): £225 £204 at Wex Photo Video (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) Save £21 on Sky-watcher’s excellent Explorer telescope, which features an equatorial mount and 130mm aperture. The reflector telescope is perfect for new astronomers who are interested in spotting deep-sky targets, along with the moon and planets.

Sky-Watcher Skyliner-200P (UK): £419 £389 at Wex Photo Video (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) You can save £30 on this grab-and-go style scope, which requires minimum set-up from users. It has an aperture of slightly over 200mm, so this represents fantastic value in terms of how much light you can gather with this little telescope. One major factor you will need to consider when deciding which telescope deal to go for is how you’ll want to use it.

Are you wanting stunning views of the moon and other planets or are you trying to take a closer look at fainter deep-sky targets like nebulas or the Milky Way? If it’s something a little closer to home like the moon, stars and other planets, you’ll want something with a longer focal point. Something around 80 inches (2000 millimeters) is a good marker for this. If you want a better view of deep-sky targets then something with a shorter focal length (around 20 inches or 500 millimeters) will see you right.

Shorter focal lengths mean a wider field of view whereas longer ones offer a narrower one. The focal length is normally decided by the length of the scope itself. There are three different types of telescope and you’ll also need to decide why type will be best suited for you.

The main types are: refractor, reflector and catadioptric and we’ve explained each of these types of telescope below. Refractor telescopes are great for beginners, as they’re easy to assemble and operate. They’re also usually relatively cheap to manufacture, which is reflected in their final price.

They are best suited to viewing things like planets and moons, thanks to their typically long focal length, but unfortunately, they do have a tendency to suffer from chromatic aberration. Reflector telescopes are well-loved by amateur astronomers and better suited to low-magnification targets, such as galaxies and nebulas. These telescopes can be divided into two different types: Newtonians and Dobsonians.

Newtonian reflectors are quite versatile and well-suited to astrophotography, but they require quite a lot of upkeep. Dobsonians might be more tempting to amateurs, as they tend to be simpler to maintain. Finally, there are the slightly pricier catadioptric telescopes, which were created to tackle some of the problems found in the standard refractor and reflector design.

Here, we’ve divided them into two categories: the Maksutov-Cassegrain and the Schmidt-Cassegrain. The former model is great for correcting issues such as the “coma” distortion effect and the aforementioned chromatic aberration. The latter is a very versatile model, also boasting reduced chromatic aberration, which typically comes equipped with a GoTo system.

This software allows you to automatically point your scope at particular astronomical objects, which is great for beginners. Newtonian telescopes are popular with amateur astronomers because they allow users to focus on a really wide range of night sky objects. They’re complicated bits of kits that require a fair bit of maintenance, so if you are going to buy one of these models then make sure you pick one that has mirrors with a protective coating, as it will last longer.

Below, you’ll find deals on a couple of our favorite models, depending on availability in your local area: the Meade StarNavigator NG 114 and the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ (opens in new tab) . Both models are great for beginners and – crucially – very reasonably priced. Dobsonian telescopes are another kind of reflector telescope.

They’re a lot easier to maintain and operate than their Newtonian counterparts, but they’re still great for spotting a wide range of astronomical objects. In the deals box below, you’ll find the latest prices for the Orion SkyScanner 100 Reflector, the Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P and the Sky-Watcher Flextube 300 SynScan Dobsonian. The former two models are reasonably priced and ideal for beginners, while the latter model is a slightly pricier option, with a huge aperture that allows you to see deeper into space.

Refractor telescopes are intuitive to use and easy to set up, so they are popular with novice astronomers. They are also relatively cheap to manufacture, which means that you can get a refractor telescope with a decent size aperture for a very good price. The only drawback here is that the telescopes can suffer from chromatic aberration, where colors and images can seem a bit fuzzy.

Here, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite refractors: the Orion Observer II 70 Refractor, the Meade Instruments Infinity 102 AZ, the Celestron Inspire 100AZ and the Celestron Omni XLT 120 (opens in new tab) . The first three are brilliant for beginners who want to get clear views of planets, while the Celestron Omni XLT 120 is perfect for intermediate astronomers who value high-quality optics and want to spend a little more. Put simply, Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes correct problems you might find in a reflector telescope, such as the ‘coma’ effect, where images appear blurred.

They have sealed optics, so you don’t have to worry about maintenance, and they also tend to come with a go-to system, making it easy to navigate the stars. Some of the best beginner telescopes (opens in new tab) can be found in this category, although they can also be a little bit pricey. Just below, you’ll find deals on some of our favorite models when they’re available.

These are the Meade ETX90 Observer, the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 PRO and the Celestron Astro Fi 102. The Celestron Astro Fi 102 is actually fairly well-priced — and a great option for beginners — while the other two are a little more expensive, but still easy to set up and intuitive to use. The Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes we’ve included below are high-end models, with high-quality optics to match.

They all boast decent apertures and can be used to get excellent views of planets and moons. Be warned, they’re not always great for astrophotography because of their curved focal plane, but for stargazing purposes they’re excellent. When they’re available, you’ll find deals below for the Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.

25 (which boasts one of the best optical systems we’ve ever tried), the Celestron NexStar 6SE, the Celestron NexStar 8SE, and the Celestron Advanced VX 9. 25 EdgeHD, which is a rare example of a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that can be used by astrophotographers. When you’re choosing the best telescope for your kids , you want something robust, compact and — ideally — less than $100.

Here, we’ve rounded up refractor and reflector telescopes that fit the bill. These instruments will give youngsters clear views of the moon, along with some of our closest planets and stars. These telescopes offer the perfect introduction to astronomy, but for youngsters who prefer looking through two eyes, you might want to pick up some of the best binoculars for kids instead.

Below, you’ll see deals on our top picks for youngsters: the Celestron FirstScope 76 Tabletop, the Meade Instruments StarPro 102, the Orion SpaceProbe II 76, the Celestron Astro Fi 90, the Orion StarBlast 4. 5 Astro Reflector and the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ. .