The brand has made countless breakthroughs in the world of consumer astronomy. Many would argue that Celestron played a big part in making this hobby accessible to the masses. The best Celestron telescopes are well-built and come in a range of designs. More importantly, they offer impeccable performance to put you closer to the cosmos than ever before.
You can’t go wrong with a Celestron telescope! Whether you’re looking for a beginner’s telescope model, one that doesn’t break the bank, or an advanced computerized system, Celestron has it all. With the sizable collection that this brand offers, finding a model that’s right for you is no easy task. Luckily, we’re here to help.
Here are some of the very best Celestron telescopes that you can get today!
Best Celestron Telescopes Reviewed
Celestron – 70mm Travel Scope
This refracting Celestron travel scope is perfect for amateur astronomy. It’s easy to set up and is surprisingly portable. When fully assembled, the telescope only weighs about 4.2 ounces. Thanks to the included tripod and carrying case, you can easily lug it to your favorite stargazing spot.
Just because it’s a good beginner telescope doesn’t mean that it disappoints when it comes to performance. This unit has a large aperture to let light in. Not only that, but the optics inside are fully coated to improve light transmission. This ensures that you’re getting a clear view.
Key Features:
- 70mm aperture
- Up to 165X magnification
- Coated optics
- Travel scope
- Two eyepieces
- Steel tripod and case
Celestron – NexStar 6SE Telescope
Check out this beauty! You don’t have to be an astronomy master to take full advantage of what this model has to offer. It’s a computerized telescope with a smart mount and database.
Once you set it up, you can use the database to find over 40,000 different celestial objects! It’s a high-magnification telescope that can help you find a wide range of targets. Whether you want to see Jupiter, distant nebulas, or other deep-sky objects, this is one of the best telescopes to do it!
Key Features:
- 6-inch aperture
- Fully automated
- Red dot finder
- Easy to use remote
- Comes with astronomy software
Celestron – PowerSeeker 114EQ Telescope
The Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ is a good telescope for novices. But, it has some high-quality features that can serve seasoned stargazers well, too. For one, it’s sporting an ultra-wide aperture that lets light flood in.
Secondly, the lengthy optical tube creates a good focal length for high-powered magnification. As if that weren’t enough, Celestron includes a 3X Barlow lens to magnify the image even more.
This unit also comes with an equatorial mount. It uses a counterweight for easy positioning as you track your target!
Key Features:
- 114mm aperture
- 900mm focal length
- Equatorial mount
- Two eyepieces and finderscope
- 3X Barlow lens
Celestron – NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope
Here’s another Celestron NexStar model worth checking out. Like the previous computerized unit, this telescope is equipped with Celestron’s GoTo mount. It’s fully automated and comes with a database of thousands of targets to view. You can even set it to show you a tour of the night sky.
This is a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope. Despite its compact design, the mirrors inside bounce light effectively to increase the focal length. The final result is impressive magnification power and good image clarity.
Key Features:
- 127mm aperture
- Computerized mount
- Large database of targets
- Portable design
- StarPointer finderscope
- Two eyepieces
Celestron – PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope
This telescope has all the capabilities you need to truly appreciate the mysteries of our solar system. A good entry-level model, this unit is quite easy to set up. It’s relatively portable, tipping the scales at roughly 21 pounds. Thanks to the included tripod, you can get set up and going in minutes.
Use the integrated finderscope to line your target up! The German equatorial mount accounts for the Earth’s rotation. Plus, it has slow controls to help you make fine-tuned movements while you track.
Key Features:
- 127mm aperture
- Equatorial mount
- Slow-motion controls
- Two eyepieces
- 3X Barlow lens
- Up to 250X magnification
- Portable design
Celestron – StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Telescope
Tech-lovers rejoice! The StarSense Explorer telescope lets you harness the power of your smartphone to view the stars. The telescope works with Celestron’s app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices.
The app analyzes the stars above you to figure out where some of the best targets are. Then, it can guide you in the right direction. Just mount your phone on the telescope and follow the directions to point your telescope to a target! The app can find specific star clusters, constellations, and even planets like Jupiter or Saturn.
Key Features:
- 120mm aperture
- Works with smartphone
- Red dot finderscope
- Two eyepieces
- Smooth altazimuth mount
- Built-in smartphone dock
Celestron – AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Telescope
Tipping the scales at only 17 pounds, this is a great option is portability is a priority. It’s a Newtonian reflector that you can easily assemble on-site. The unit comes with durable mounting rings and an adjustable tripod. It also comes with a manual equatorial mount for greater precision.
The optical tube is relatively short. However, it’s sporting a 114mm aperture to let as much light in as possible. The optics within the telescope are coated multiple times. This helps to improve light transmission.
Key Features:
- 114mm aperture
- Up to 269X magnification
- Equatorial mount
- Strong mounting rings
- Coated optics
- StarPointer scope
- Height-adjustable tripod
- Lightweight
Celestron – AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is as traditional as it gets! This model is a refracting telescope with a lengthy optical tube assembly. Because it uses traditional lenses to provide magnification, Celestron had to lengthen the tube to create the 900mm focal length.
Don’t let the size of the tube fool you. It’s plenty portable. Fully assembled, the telescope only weighs 11 pounds! The equipment is not difficult to set up at all. Thanks to the erect prism, you can look through the eyepiece from above for better comfort.
Key Features:
- 70mm aperture
- Up to 165X magnification
- Erect prism
- Two eyepieces
- Red dot finderscope
- Comes with Starry Night software
- Very lightweight
Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ
Sky-watchers of any skill level will love this telescope! It’s another option in Celestron’s StarSense Explorer line. The optical device includes smartphone connectivity features and compatibility with the StarSense app! As long as you have access to Wi-Fi or cell signal, you can use the app to find a myriad of targets in the sky.
The smartphone mount on this model is located on the top of the optical tube for easy viewing. Inside, the telescope is sporting coated optics. Celestron uses high-reflection coatings to maximize light-gathering and produce a crystal-clear image.
Key Features:
- 114mm aperture
- High-reflection coatings
- Up to 189X magnification
- Works with smartphone
- Integrated smartphone mount
- 2X Barlow lens
Celestron – PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope
Looking for a versatile telescope that comes with all the accessories you need? Check out this PowerSeeker model. It’s a refractor telescope that’s equipped with a 50mm aperture and a 600mm focal length.
The standout feature of this model is its eyepieces. You’re getting four separate eyepieces to achieve the magnification and field of view you want. It also comes with a 1.5X and 3X Barlow lens. To make stargazing a bit more comfortable, you’re also getting an erect prism and a sliding focuser system.
Key Features:
- 50mm aperture
- Four eyepieces
- Erect prism
- Two separate Barlow lenses
- Finderscope
- Up to 118X magnification
- Smooth focuser
- Convenient tripod
Celestron – 114LCM Computerized Newtonian Telescope
This computerized telescope has everything a sky-watcher needs to enjoy the cosmos. You don’t have to have a ton of astronomy experience to enjoy the view. The lightweight mounting system is fully automated. The included remote has a database of over 4,000 objects. Just dial your target in and let the mount do all of the work!
Despite all of the advanced tech in this telescope, it’s very lightweight. At just over 13 pounds, the unit is light enough to take to a tall hilltop or dark field.
Key Features:
- 114mm aperture
- GoTo motorized mount
- Two eyepieces
- StarPointer finderscope
- Weighs 13.2 pounds
- Easy setup
- Full-height tripod
Celestron Signature Series Moon
Here’s a telescope you’ll want to put on full display. It’s part of Celestron’s FirstScope line. The Dobsonian telescope can sit on top of a table for comfortable viewing. It features a wide aperture and a side-mounted eyepiece assembly.
The outside of the optical tube is beautifully designed. It’s clad in all black and has a large graphic of the moon. On the base, you’ll find a list of features you can find on the moon. Look through the telescope to appreciate them for yourself!
Key Features:
- 76mm aperture
- Tabletop design
- Moon graphic
- Smooth altazimuth mount
- Compact footprint
- Two eyepieces
- Lightweight build
Why Choose Celestron?
Celestron is just one of many heavy-hitters in the astronomy world. So, why choose it over competitors like Meade or Orion?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an amateur astronomer or you have tons of experience with optical gear, Celestron has a lot to offer. The brand has everything from entry-level gear to tech-heavy telescopes that can track the night sky above.
Celestron was officially founded in 1964. But, the company’s roots date back even further. The founder of the company, Tom Johnson, owned a business that produced electronics and military components. He used his experience in those fields to create a reflecting telescope that would go on to become Celestron’s first product.
That penchant for innovation continued for years. Celestron developed a unique manufacturing process early on to pump out a high volume of telescopes for the educational and consumer optics market. Despite the push for more product, Celestron managed to create high-quality products without cutting any corners.
Even today, the brand is known for creating quality optics that last. When you buy a Celestron telescope, you’re getting solid materials, clear optics, and innovative design with plenty of capabilities.
As the market evolved, so did Celestron. The company was the first to produce Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on a commercial scale. It even introduced one of the first computerized telescopes in the 80s!
Today, Celestron has several product lines to meet your needs. Check out our top picks and find one that works for you!
Celestron Telescope Buying Guide
Even with a brand as good as Celestron, you need to do some homework before you put your money down for a telescope. They might look simple, but astronomy telescopes are complex devices.
To make an investment you’re comfortable with, you need to understand what the telescope’s specifications mean and how they affect performance. Here are some important factors to keep in mind as you choose a companion for your future stargazing adventures.
Types of Telescopes Available
The first decision you’re going to need to make is what type of telescope you want. Telescopes have come a long way in the last several centuries. While they used to be a series of simple lenses, now they’re filled with carefully engineered mirrors and prisms.
Celestron offers several types of telescopes.
Refractor Telescopes
Refractors utilize lenses to magnify the image. They’re pretty rugged and less-prone to alignment issues. Generally, refracting models are considered a good beginner telescopes. They can suffer from image distortion issues, but they will still serve you well as you view star clusters and other celestial bodies.
Reflector Telescopes
A reflecting telescope is one that uses mirrors to manipulate the light and magnify an image. These telescopes offer great clarity. Though, you may have to do some tweaking if the mirrors come out of place.
Celestron offers traditional Newtonian reflectors as well as table-ready Dobsonian telescopes.
Cassegrain Telescopes
Cassegrains are Celestron’s bread and butter. You can find Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, which utilize concave and convex mirrors. Celestron also has Maksutov-Cassegrains that use spherical mirrors. Either way, both provide exceptional clarity and some impressive magnification power.
These are carefully engineered optical devices. They often cost more than traditional refractors, but the payoff is well worth the investment.
Performance Specs
The next thing to look into is the telescope’s capabilities. We won’t get too deep into the technical weeds here. To keep things simple, you can make your selection based on two of the most important specifications. These include the aperture and focal length.
The aperture is the diameter of the objective lens. The objective lens is the outermost lens that light hits first as it enters the telescope. The wider the lens, the better. A wider aperture lets more light in, which can make the image you see much brighter.
The focal length is the distance between the objective lens and the focal plane where the image is formed. For simple refractors, the focal length is usually equivalent to the length of the optical tube. But, refractors and more advanced models will bounce the light around several times to increase focal length.
A longer focal length is going to provide you with more magnification power. But, it will also reduce the field of view. The aperture and focal length are calculated to determine the focal ratio.
The right focal ratio for you will depend on your priorities. If you want the highest magnification power possible, a higher focal ratio is best. But if you want a wide field of you and better clarity, a lower focal ratio is the way to go.
Mounting System
You’re going to need to set your telescope up on something stable! Most Celestron models come with a tripod. That’s not what we’re talking about when we refer to the mounting system. The mount is how the telescope attaches to the tripod.
A basic altazimuth mount is the most common one you’ll encounter. These mounts glide smoothly to let you move the telescope both horizontally and vertically.
For more precise stargazing, you can get an equatorial mount. These mounts are heftier, but they account for the Earth’s rotation. They work wonders with astrophotography or whenever you want to track an object over time.
Finally, there are computerized mounts. Computerized telescopes have some advanced sensors to track the sky and figure out where celestial objects are. Celestron has a robust computerized system with large databases to go through. Just tell the system what you want to see and it’ll do all the work to find it!
Size, Weight, and Portability
Do you have a permanent place to set up your telescope? Or, do you want a model that you can take to a viewing spot that’s away from light pollution?
The overall portability of the telescope is going to determine where you can use it. Some models feature short optical tube assemblies that you can pack up for stargazing on the go. Others will require more than one person to lift!
Scopes and Eyepieces
Before you can start enjoying an up-close-and-personal view of the stars, you’ll need to line the telescope up. That’s where your scope comes in. Many Celestron units come with attachable finderscopes. They feature lower magnification to help you point the telescope in the right general direction.
More premium models might come with a red dot finder. These finderscopes have treated glass and no magnification. You can use the dot to line up the telescope.
The eyepiece you use will help you get a bit more magnification and just the right amount of clarity. Celestron usually includes a couple of different eyepieces with its telescopes. You may even get a Barlow lens, which increases the magnification power by a specific level.
Conclusion
We’re just a tiny speck in the endless expanse of space. Nothing helps you appreciate the magic of the universe quite like a high-quality telescope.
As one of the leading astronomy brands in the world, Celestron has the equipment you need to get personal with the stars. We hope that one of the telescopes we went over aids you with your stargazing endeavors!