Skip to content
Price match 30-day returns* Talk to an astronomer before you buy

Beginner Telescopes

The best first telescope is the one you take outside often. That usually means something that sets up in a few minutes, is easy to aim and shows you Saturn's rings and the craters of the Moon on the first night. This collection gathers the models we recommend to new observers, from Celestron AstroMaster and StarSense Explorer kits to Sky-Watcher Heritage tabletop Dobsonians, Explore Scientific FirstLight and Sidara, and smart telescopes from Seestar, Vaonis and DwarfLab.

Big magnification numbers on a box mean very little. Aperture, a steady mount and good eyepieces are what make the difference. If you tell us who will use the telescope and where, we will help you pick one that fits.

Filters

CA$667.00 - CA$667.00
CA$667.00
CA$667.00 - CA$667.00
CA$667.00

Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope

114mm (4.49") Newtonian Reflector optics 1000mm focal length (f/8.77) Fully computerized Alt-Azimuth mount NexStar+ database with 40,000 celestial...

View full details
CA$667.00 - CA$667.00
CA$667.00
CA$667.00 - CA$667.00
CA$667.00
CA$806.00 - CA$806.00
CA$806.00
CA$806.00 - CA$806.00
CA$806.00

Celestron Astro Fi 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope

102mm (4.02") Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Tube 1325mm Focal Length and f/13 Focal Ratio Integrated WiFi for full control via smartphone or tablet ...

View full details
CA$806.00 - CA$806.00
CA$806.00
CA$806.00 - CA$806.00
CA$806.00
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00

Celestron Astro Fi 130mm Newtonian Telescope

130mm (5.19") Newtonian Reflector 650mm Focal Length, f/5 Focal Ratio Integrated WiFi for Smartphone/Tablet Control SkyAlign Technology for Fast, ...

View full details
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00

Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ Telescope

102mm (4") refractor optical tube 660mm focal length at f/6.5 Manual alt-azimuth mount with pan handle Includes 33x and 66x magnification eyepiece...

View full details
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00

Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Telescope

114mm (4.48") Newtonian Reflector Telescope 1000mm Focal Length (f/8.77) Manual CG-2 Equatorial Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Includes 20mm (50x...

View full details
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope

130mm (5.11") Newtonian Reflector Optics 650mm Focal Length, f/5 Focal Ratio CG-3 Manual German Equatorial Mount 345x Light Gathering Power Includ...

View full details
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$542.00 - CA$542.00
CA$542.00
CA$542.00 - CA$542.00
CA$542.00

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ-MD (Motor Drive) Telescope

130mm (5.11") Newtonian Reflector 650mm Focal Length, f/5 Focal Ratio CG-3 Equatorial Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Included RA Motor Drive for ...

View full details
CA$542.00 - CA$542.00
CA$542.00
CA$542.00 - CA$542.00
CA$542.00
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00

Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope

70mm (2.76") Refractor Telescope 900mm Focal Length, f/13 Focal Ratio Manual Alt-Azimuth Mount with Pan Handle Control Adjustable Steel Tripod wit...

View full details
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00

Celestron AstroMaster 90AZ Telescope

90mm (3.54") Refractor Optical Design 1000mm Focal Length (f/11) Manual Alt-Azimuth Mount with Pan Handle 1.25" Adjustable Steel Tripod Includes 2...

View full details
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00
CA$459.00 - CA$459.00
CA$459.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00

Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ Telescope

90mm (3.54") Refractor Optical Tube 1000mm Focal Length (f/11) CG-3 Equatorial Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Includes 20mm (50x) and 10mm (100x)...

View full details
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$500.00 - CA$500.00
CA$500.00
CA$236.00 - CA$236.00
CA$236.00
CA$236.00 - CA$236.00
CA$236.00

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ Telescope

70mm (2.76") refractor optical design 700mm focal length at an f/10 focal ratio Includes 35x and 70x magnification eyepieces Lightweight manual al...

View full details
CA$236.00 - CA$236.00
CA$236.00
CA$236.00 - CA$236.00
CA$236.00
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00

Celestron ExploraScope 114AZ Telescope

114mm (4.5") Newtonian Reflector 1000mm Focal Length (f/9) 265x Light Gathering Power Manual Alt-Azimuth Mount with Clutch Total Kit Weight of 6.7...

View full details
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00
CA$104.00 - CA$104.00
CA$104.00
CA$104.00 - CA$104.00
CA$104.00

Celestron FirstScope Signature Series Moon by Robert Reeves Telescope

76mm (2.99") Newtonian Reflector Fast f/3.95 Focal Ratio for Wide Views Includes 15x and 75x Eyepieces Ultra-Portable 4.3 lb Tabletop Dobsonian Mo...

View full details
CA$104.00 - CA$104.00
CA$104.00
CA$104.00 - CA$104.00
CA$104.00
CA$528.00 - CA$528.00
CA$528.00
CA$528.00 - CA$528.00
CA$528.00

Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor Telescope

100mm (3.94") refractor optical tube 660mm focal length at a f/6.5 focal ratio Lightweight manual Alt-Azimuth mount StarPointer™ Pro red dot finde...

View full details
CA$528.00 - CA$528.00
CA$528.00
CA$528.00 - CA$528.00
CA$528.00
CA$1,042.00 - CA$1,042.00
CA$1,042.00
CA$1,042.00 - CA$1,042.00
CA$1,042.00

Celestron NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope

127mm (5") Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Design 1500mm Focal Length (f/12) Computerized GoTo Mount with 40,000+ Object Database Celestron SkyAlign T...

View full details
CA$1,042.00 - CA$1,042.00
CA$1,042.00
CA$1,042.00 - CA$1,042.00
CA$1,042.00
CA$973.00 - CA$973.00
CA$973.00
CA$973.00 - CA$973.00
CA$973.00

Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope

130mm (5.12") Newtonian Reflector with Parabolic Primary Mirror 650mm Focal Length, f/5 Focal Ratio Computerized GoTo Mount with 40,000 Object Dat...

View full details
CA$973.00 - CA$973.00
CA$973.00
CA$973.00 - CA$973.00
CA$973.00
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00

Celestron NexStar 90SLT Computerized Telescope

90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Tube 1250mm Focal Length at f/14 Fully Computerized GoTo Altazimuth Mount NexStar+ Database with 40,000 Celestial...

View full details
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00
CA$834.00 - CA$834.00
CA$834.00
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope

114mm (4.49") Newtonian Reflector 900mm Focal Length (f/7.89) Manual German Equatorial Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Gathers 265x More Light Tha...

View full details
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00
CA$278.00 - CA$278.00
CA$278.00
CA$320.00 - CA$320.00
CA$320.00
CA$320.00 - CA$320.00
CA$320.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope

127mm (5") Newtonian Reflector 1000mm Focal Length (f/7.87) Manual German Equatorial Mount Light Gathering Power: 329x Human Eye Highest Useful Ma...

View full details
CA$320.00 - CA$320.00
CA$320.00
CA$320.00 - CA$320.00
CA$320.00
CA$90.00 - CA$90.00
CA$90.00
CA$90.00 - CA$90.00
CA$90.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope

50mm refractor with fully coated glass optics 600mm focal length and f/12 focal ratio Manual alt-azimuth mount and adjustable steel tripod Include...

View full details
CA$90.00 - CA$90.00
CA$90.00
CA$90.00 - CA$90.00
CA$90.00
CA$139.00 - CA$139.00
CA$139.00
CA$139.00 - CA$139.00
CA$139.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ Telescope

60mm (2.36") refractor optical tube 700mm focal length with an f/12 focal ratio Manual alt-azimuth mount with altitude slow motion rod Full-height...

View full details
CA$139.00 - CA$139.00
CA$139.00
CA$139.00 - CA$139.00
CA$139.00
CA$185.00 - CA$185.00
CA$185.00
CA$185.00 - CA$185.00
CA$185.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 60EQ Telescope

60mm (2.36") Refractor Telescope 900mm Focal Length, f/15 Focal Ratio Manual German Equatorial Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Highest Useful Magn...

View full details
CA$185.00 - CA$185.00
CA$185.00
CA$185.00 - CA$185.00
CA$185.00
CA$264.00 - CA$264.00
CA$264.00
CA$264.00 - CA$264.00
CA$264.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS Telescope

80mm (3.15") Refractor Optical Design 400mm Focal Length (f/5) Manual Alt-Azimuth Mount Total Kit Weight: 5.9 lbs (2.68 kg) Includes 20mm & 4m...

View full details
CA$264.00 - CA$264.00
CA$264.00
CA$264.00 - CA$264.00
CA$264.00
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00

Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Telescope

80mm (3.15") Refractor Optical Tube 900mm Focal Length at f/11 Focal Ratio Manual German Equatorial Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Includes 20mm ...

View full details
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00
CA$292.00 - CA$292.00
CA$292.00

What Kind of First Telescope?

  • Tabletop Dobsonians: Sky-Watcher Heritage and Celestron StarSense tabletop models. Lots of aperture, very simple to aim, set up on a picnic table or a sturdy stool.
  • Refractors on alt-az mounts: Grab-and-go, no collimation, fine for kids. Best for the Moon, planets and bright clusters.
  • App-guided telescopes: Celestron StarSense Explorer uses your phone to show you where to push the telescope. A big help for finding things in your first year.
  • GoTo telescopes: NexStar SLT, Astro Fi and Virtuoso GTi point themselves after a short alignment. See our GoTo telescope collection for more.
  • Smart telescopes: Smart telescopes take colour images of galaxies and nebulae on your phone. Different experience from looking through an eyepiece, and great from the city.

Setting Realistic Expectations

Through any telescope, galaxies and nebulae look like soft grey glows to the eye. The Moon, planets, double stars and star clusters are where a first telescope shines. Darker skies make a bigger difference than a bigger telescope, so a 30-minute drive out of town is worth more than you might think.

What We Ask New Observers

  • Who will use it: A ten-year-old needs a telescope they can lift and aim alone. An adult who wants to learn the sky can handle more aperture.
  • Where it will live: Stairs, a small apartment or a car trunk change the answer. A telescope that is hard to move gets used less.
  • Your sky: From a bright city, the Moon, planets and double stars are the main targets, and a smart telescope can be the better tool for galaxies.
  • Eyepieces included: Kit eyepieces are often basic. One good 2x Barlow or a quality mid-power eyepiece is often the best first upgrade.

Beginner Telescopes: Frequently Asked Questions

What can I see with a beginner telescope?

Craters and mountains on the Moon, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's cloud belts and moons, the phases of Venus, star clusters and the brightest nebulae and galaxies.

What is a good first telescope for a child?

Something light they can carry and aim themselves, like a small tabletop Dobsonian or a short refractor. Avoid wobbly tripods: they cause more frustration than anything else.

Should a beginner buy a GoTo telescope?

If you have little time or a bright city sky, GoTo or app guidance helps a lot. If you enjoy learning the sky, a manual Dobsonian gives more aperture for the same price.

Can I take photos with a beginner telescope?

You can photograph the Moon and planets by holding a phone to the eyepiece or using a smartphone adapter. Deep-sky imaging needs a tracking mount or a smart telescope.

Buying a first telescope?

Tell us your budget, where you live and who will use it. We will answer like a friend who has done this before.