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IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.

Telescopes

There is no best telescope, only the telescope that matches your sky, your targets and how much you are willing to carry. A fast apochromatic refractor and a large Dobsonian are both excellent instruments and almost nothing alike in use. David Astro stocks telescopes in Canada — refractors, reflectors, Dobsonians, Schmidt-Cassegrains, Maksutovs and dedicated astrographs — shipping from Canadian inventory.

Our team observes and images with these instruments under Canadian conditions, and we will tell you honestly when a smaller scope you will actually set up beats a larger one that stays in the closet.

Filters

$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00

Daystar Scout 80mm Solar Telescope Prominence

DAY-SS80P

The DayStar Solar Scout is a dedicated Hydrogen Alpha solar telescope, with an aperture of 80mm.INCLUDES:Quality Achromat Doublet 80mm refractorCar...

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$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
Sold out
$3.00 - $3.00
$3.00
$3.00 - $3.00
$3.00

Daystar Solar Eclipse Glasses - ISO & CE Certified

DAY-GLASSES

If you can come pick them up, please come pick them up! Experience the awe of solar eclipses safely with the Daystar Solar Eclipse Glasses. Confor...

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$3.00 - $3.00
$3.00
$3.00 - $3.00
$3.00
Sold out
$15,990.00 - $35,990.00
$15,990.00 - $35,990.00
$15,990.00 - $35,990.00
$15,990.00

Daystar SR 127mm Solar Telescope - 0.3-0.7Å PE Grade

Options available

Complete, 127mm aperture fully integrated Solar Telescope.Prominence Model. FWHM 0.6Å - 0.9Å NEW lightweight, Short tube with retractable dew shie...

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$15,990.00 - $35,990.00
$15,990.00 - $35,990.00
$15,990.00 - $35,990.00
$15,990.00
$9,995.00 - $9,995.00
$9,995.00
$9,995.00 - $9,995.00
$9,995.00

Daystar SR 127mm Solar Telescope Chromosphere - SE Grade

DAY-SR127QTC

Complete, 127mm aperture fully integrated Solar Telescope.Chromosphere Model. FWHM 0.3Å - 0.5Å NEW lightweight, Short tube with retractable dew sh...

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$9,995.00 - $9,995.00
$9,995.00
$9,995.00 - $9,995.00
$9,995.00
$7,995.00 - $7,995.00
$7,995.00
$7,995.00 - $7,995.00
$7,995.00

Daystar SR 127mm Solar Telescope Prominence - SE Grade

DAY-SR127QTP

Complete, 127mm aperture fully integrated Solar Telescope.Prominence Model. FWHM 0.6Å - 0.9Å NEW lightweight, Short tube with retractable dew shie...

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$7,995.00 - $7,995.00
$7,995.00
$7,995.00 - $7,995.00
$7,995.00
$492.40 - $492.40
$492.40
$492.40 - $492.40
$492.40

DwarfLab DWARF 3 Smart Telescope

DWA-DWARF3
2 in stock

$492.40 - $492.40
$492.40
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$492.40
$429.00 - $429.00
$429.00
$429.00 - $429.00
$429.00

DwarfLab DWARF Mini Smart Telescope

DWA-DWARF-MINI
5 in stock

$429.00 - $429.00
$429.00
$429.00 - $429.00
$429.00
$199.99 - $199.99
$199.99
$199.99 - $199.99
$199.99

Explore One Aurora II Flat Black 114mm Slow Motion AZ Mount Telescope

ES-88-20114

This Explore One Aurora II reflector has a generous 114mm aperture that swallows up lots of light to showcase deep sky beauties like galaxies, neb...

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$199.99 - $199.99
$199.99
$199.99 - $199.99
$199.99
$1,089.99 - $1,089.99
$1,089.99
$1,089.99 - $1,089.99
$1,089.99

Explore Scientific - Generation II - 10" Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope

ES-DOB1045-00

This is a Generation II telescope. All updates have been performed on this telescope. No telescope type has changed the hobby quite as much as the ...

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$1,089.99 - $1,089.99
$1,089.99
$1,089.99 - $1,089.99
$1,089.99
$1,999.99 - $1,999.99
$1,999.99
$1,999.99 - $1,999.99
$1,999.99

Explore Scientific - Generation II - 12" Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope

ES-DOB1245-00

This is a Generation II telescope. All updates have been performed on this telescope. No telescope type has changed the hobby quite as much as the ...

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$1,999.99 - $1,999.99
$1,999.99
$1,999.99 - $1,999.99
$1,999.99
$3,599.99 - $3,599.99
$3,599.99
$3,599.99 - $3,599.99
$3,599.99

Explore Scientific - Generation II - 16" Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope

ES-DOB1645-00

This is a Generation II telescope. All updates have been performed on this telescope. No telescope type has changed the hobby quite as much as the ...

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$3,599.99 - $3,599.99
$3,599.99
$3,599.99 - $3,599.99
$3,599.99
$10,700.00 - $10,700.00
$10,700.00
$10,700.00 - $10,700.00
$10,700.00

Explore Scientific - Generation II - 20" Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope

ES-DOB12036-00

The ideal workhorse for the deep sky observers, the Explore Scientific 20-inch f/3.6 Truss-Tube Dobsonian is our largest aperture telescope. The 50...

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$10,700.00 - $10,700.00
$10,700.00
$10,700.00 - $10,700.00
$10,700.00
$899.99 - $899.99
$899.99
$899.99 - $899.99
$899.99

Explore Scientific 10-inch Dobsonian Reflector Telescope

ES-ON25447

Designed for serious stargazers, this powerful 10-inch Newtonian Reflector Telescope features a massive 254mm primary mirror that gathers an excep...

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$899.99 - $899.99
$899.99
$899.99 - $899.99
$899.99
$614.23 - $614.23
$614.23
$614.23 - $614.23
$614.23

Explore Scientific 8-inch Dobsonian Reflector Telescope

ES-ON20859
2 in stock

The 8-inch Newtonian Reflector Telescope is a powerhouse for deep-sky exploration and astrophotography. With a large 208mm primary mirror and a fas...

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$614.23 - $614.23
$614.23
$614.23 - $614.23
$614.23
$1,499.99 - $1,499.99
$1,499.99
$1,499.99 - $1,499.99
$1,499.99

Explore Scientific AR102 Doublet Go-To Combo

ES-DAR102-PMC8-CMBO

The Explore Scientific AR Air-Spaced Doublet Series telescopes are classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic f/6.5 refractors with a ...

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$1,499.99 - $1,499.99
$1,499.99
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$1,499.99
$449.99 - $449.99
$449.99
$449.99 - $449.99
$449.99

Explore Scientific AR102 Doublet Refractor

ES-DAR102065-02

The Explore Scientific AR Air-Spaced Doublet Series telescopes are classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic f/6.5 refractors with a ...

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$449.99 - $449.99
$449.99
$449.99 - $449.99
$449.99
$749.99 - $749.99
$749.99
$749.99 - $749.99
$749.99

Explore Scientific AR127 Doublet Refractor

ES-DAR127065-02

The Explore Scientific AR127 Air-Spaced Doublet is a classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic refractor, reborn with the aim to prod...

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$749.99 - $749.99
$749.99
$749.99 - $749.99
$749.99
$779.99 - $779.99
$779.99
$779.99 - $779.99
$779.99

Explore Scientific AR127mm Refractor with Twilight I Package Deal

ES-DAR127065-MAZ-01

The Explore Scientific AR Series telescopes are classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic f/6.5 refractors with a superior-class opti...

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$779.99 - $779.99
$779.99
$779.99 - $779.99
$779.99
$849.99 - $849.99
$849.99
$849.99 - $849.99
$849.99

Explore Scientific AR152 Doublet Refractor

ES-DAR152065-02

The Explore Scientific AR152 Air-Spaced Doublet, is a classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint doublet achromatic refractor, and at 152mm (6-inches) of ...

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$849.99 - $849.99
$849.99
$849.99 - $849.99
$849.99
$999.99 - $999.99
$999.99
$999.99 - $999.99
$999.99

Explore Scientific ED102 Essential Series Triplet APO Refractor

ES-ED10207-02

The Explore Scientific ED102 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refractor Telescope is a true apochromat refractor that reveals our Moon’s sta...

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$999.99 - $999.99
$999.99
$999.99 - $999.99
$999.99
$2,099.99 - $2,099.99
$2,099.99
$2,099.99 - $2,099.99
$2,099.99

Explore Scientific ED102 Triplet APO Go-To Combo

ES-ED102-PMC8-CMBO

The Explore Scientific ED102 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refractor Telescope is a true apochromat refractor that reveals our Moon’s sta...

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$2,099.99 - $2,099.99
$2,099.99
$2,099.99 - $2,099.99
$2,099.99
$1,699.99 - $1,699.99
$1,699.99
$1,699.99 - $1,699.99
$1,699.99

Explore Scientific ED102-FCD100 Series Triplet APO Refractor

ES-FCD100-10207-02

Reveal celestial wonders like the desolate beauty of the lunar terrain, the serene structure of Saturn’s rings or the brightest deep sky treasures ...

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$1,699.99 - $1,699.99
$1,699.99
$1,699.99 - $1,699.99
$1,699.99
$1,899.99 - $1,899.99
$1,899.99
$1,899.99 - $1,899.99
$1,899.99

Explore Scientific ED102-FCD100 Series Triplet Telescope - Carbon Fiber

ES-FCD100-10207-CF-01
1 in stock

The Explore Scientific ED102-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Telescope in Carbon Fiber, has the advantages for astrophotographers and visual astro...

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$1,899.99 - $1,899.99
$1,899.99
$1,899.99 - $1,899.99
$1,899.99
$3,499.99 - $3,499.99
$3,499.99
$3,499.99 - $3,499.99
$3,499.99

Explore Scientific ED115 FPL53 f/5.5 Triplet APO Refractor - Carbon Fiber with 3" HEX Focuser

ES-FPL53-115CF-01

Reveal celestial wonders like the desolate beauty of the lunar terrain, the serene structure of Saturn’s rings or the brightest deep sky treasures ...

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$3,499.99 - $3,499.99
$3,499.99
$3,499.99 - $3,499.99
$3,499.99

Telescope Designs and What Each Does Best

Aperture gathers light, focal length sets image scale, and focal ratio determines how fast you collect photons. The optical design determines how those three behave in practice.

  • Refractors: Sealed lens systems with high contrast and no central obstruction. Apochromatic triplets and doublets with ED glass are the workhorse choice for wide-field deep-sky imaging.
  • Newtonian reflectors: The most aperture for the money. Fast Newtonians and imaging astrographs deliver bright, wide fields; they need periodic collimation and a coma corrector.
  • Dobsonians: A Newtonian on a simple alt-azimuth base — the most practical route to large aperture for visual deep-sky observing.
  • Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutovs: Long focal length folded into a short tube, ideal for planetary, lunar and small galaxy work where image scale matters more than field width.
  • Solar telescopes: Dedicated hydrogen-alpha instruments for prominences and surface detail, usable in daylight.
  • Astrographs: Optics designed only for imaging, with flat, well-corrected fields across large sensors and no visual compromise.

Why Choose David Astro for Telescopes

A telescope is a system purchase. What goes on the mount, behind the focuser and in front of the sensor matters as much as the tube.

  • Matched to your sky: We ask about your light pollution, your typical seeing and where you observe before recommending an aperture and focal ratio.
  • Complete system quoting: We specify the mount, diagonal, eyepieces or imaging train alongside the tube, so the telescope arrives usable rather than half-usable.
  • Authorized dealer: Full manufacturer warranty, verified authenticity, and warranty service handled inside Canada.
  • Canadian stock and safe shipping: Telescopes ship from our Canadian warehouse, avoiding duties, brokerage fees and extra cross-border handling.
  • Collimation and setup support: In-house help with first light, collimation and troubleshooting after the sale.

Telescopes in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good first telescope?
For visual observing, a 6 or 8 inch Dobsonian gives the most aperture for the money and needs no electronics. For imaging, a short apochromatic refractor on a solid equatorial mount is far more forgiving than a large tube.
Can one telescope do both visual and imaging?
Yes, but with compromises. A fast refractor around f/6 handles both reasonably. Long, slow Schmidt-Cassegrains are superb visually and demanding to image with; large Dobsonians are visual instruments.
How much aperture do I need for galaxies?
Visually, dark skies matter more than aperture, though 8 inches and up makes structure visible. For imaging, integration time substitutes for aperture — a small refractor with many hours will out-resolve a large scope with few.
Do telescopes ship safely within Canada?
Yes. Everything in stock ships from our Canadian warehouse, which removes a border crossing and the handling that goes with it, and Canadian buyers pay no duties or brokerage.

Choosing your next telescope?

Tell us your sky, your targets and your budget, and we will recommend a complete working setup. Canadian stock, worldwide shipping.