10 Best Telescopes For Beginners 2025 in the United States

The Gskyer Telescope is an appealing choice for beginners looking to explore the night sky. With a 70mm aperture and a 400mm focal length, it offers good light-gathering ability, allowing for clearer views of celestial objects such as the moon and stars. The telescope's fully coated optics enhance image quality and make stargazing enjoyable without straining your eyes. One of its strengths includes a 3x Barlow lens, which significantly increases the magnification, giving users more versatility with the two included eyepieces.

This telescope is designed with portability in mind, featuring an adjustable aluminum alloy tripod and a convenient carry bag, making it easy to transport for outdoor stargazing sessions. The inclusion of a smartphone adapter and a wireless remote is a fantastic bonus, allowing users to capture images of what they're observing and share their experiences easily.

There are a few considerations to keep in mind. The manual focus may require a bit of patience and practice for beginners who are unfamiliar with focusing telescopes. Additionally, while the finderscope is helpful for locating objects, those more interested in deeper space observations might find the telescope's limitations as they begin to explore more complex celestial targets.

As a beginner’s telescope, the Gskyer Telescope stands out with its user-friendly features and solid performance for casual astronomers. It is well-suited for kids and novice enthusiasts, providing an engaging way to start exploring the wonders of the universe.

The HEXEUM AZ80600 telescope is well-suited for beginners in astronomy due to its user-friendly setup and portability. The 80mm aperture and 600mm focal length allow for brighter and clearer images, making it easier for novices to observe celestial objects. The fully multi-coated lenses enhance image quality while the included eyepieces (25mm and 10mm) and a 3x Barlow lens offer a range of magnifications to explore the night sky in detail.

The 5x24 finderscope aids in locating objects, which is crucial for beginners. The altazimuth mount provides simple up-and-down, left-and-right movement, optimal for novice users who may find equatorial mounts complex. The telescope's lightweight design and carrying bag make it easy to transport, and the inclusion of a phone adapter and wireless remote control adds convenience for capturing images.

However, while the manual focus and reflex finderscope are beneficial for learning, they may require some practice to use effectively. Also, the build quality, while adequate, may not be as robust as higher-end models. Despite these minor drawbacks, the HEXEUM AZ80600 is a strong choice for those new to stargazing, offering a good balance of quality and ease of use.

The Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope is designed to cater to both beginners and experienced stargazers, making it a solid choice in the beginner telescope category. Its standout feature is the 8-inch aperture, which allows for excellent light gathering, providing clear views of celestial objects like planets and galaxies. This makes it suitable for those serious about exploring the night sky without compromising on portability due to its compact design.

The fully automated GoTo mount is another significant advantage, as it simplifies the stargazing experience by automatically locating and tracking over 40,000 celestial objects. This is great for beginners who may struggle with manual tracking. Additionally, the SkyAlign technology allows users to set up and align the telescope quickly, which is a plus for those new to astronomy.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. While the telescope is easy to transport, the assembly process may be slightly cumbersome for complete novices, as it involves multiple components. Furthermore, the manual focus might take some getting used to, especially for users expecting a more automated experience. The relatively high price point could also deter some beginners who are just starting and may not want to invest heavily right away.