Deep sky astronomy is a passion for many people. When it comes to Deep-sky viewing telescopes, aperture wins. Greater aperture helps in collecting more light and this and turn means that you can see fainter objects. Most people have the misconception that buying the biggest telescope from the market will help them fulfill their goals. However, this is complete you will have to follow a number of significant things in order to buy the best telescope. Hence, we have come up with a detailed guide of buying telescopes and gears for deep-sky viewing.
Telescope & Gears – Buying Guide
A lot of factors have to be considered before buying a telescope from the market straight away. As mentioned earlier, purchasing the most expensive and the biggest telescope will not help you. Rather, you will have to check out a number of parameters and then decide which one is suitable for you. Below awesome parameters which will help you in choosing the best telescope & gears for deep-sky viewing.
Portability
Portability is a big concern when it comes to telescopes for deep-sky viewing. There are plenty of options available from small to big. Most people purchase big telescopes which are of very difficult to transport from one place to another. The length and the weight of the glass are quite significant and you would require a large vehicle in order to carry it back to your home. A 20-inches long telescope often weighs more than a hundred pounds. Hence, the best telescope is that which you can easily carry around with yourself and use without any trouble. Select the telescope when you are comfortable in assembling, disassembling and carrying it from one place to another.
Optical Design
You might consider Newtonian reflect term if you have a passion for deep-sky viewing. It will be much more valuable and you will get much more aperture per dollar if you go by this method. Big aperture, long Newtonian focal length would require a ladder to reach the optimum point. The eyepiece is considered to be the optimum point where you have to reach in order to view. Multiple scopes are required along with additional accessories in order to remove the comas. A lot of things also depends upon your viewing style as well. Hence, you must go through the design of each telescope in order to understand the one which suits your viewing angle.
Mount Design
Mount design is something that depends upon personal preference. It may vary significantly from person to person. However, most people choosing the Newtonian aperture prefer the Dobsonian design. This design helps you to get more value for money. This means you get the more appropriate focal length for every dollar that you spend. These mounts do not track the sky. However, things are changing and the new technology allows not only to track the sky but also GOTO functions. You can also ask the staff about the mounts and how they are different from one another.
Best Telescopes Of 2019 Comparison Table
| Rank | Telescopes | Product Dimensions | Product Weight | Customer Rating | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celestron NexStar 127SLT | 40 × 19 × 11 inches | 20 pounds |  (4.7 / 5) |  |
| 2 | Orion 8945 SkyQuest Xt8 Classic Dobsonian | 15.2 × 17.5 × 15.5 inches | 29 pounds |  (4.9 / 5) | |
| 3 | Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope | 18 × 7 × 14 inches | 3.3 pounds |  (4.5 / 5) | |
| 4 | Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ | 38 × 13 × 10 inches | 5.8-lbs |  (4.3 / 5) | |
| 5 | Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian | 41 × 38 × 13.8 inches | 20 pounds |  (4.8 / 5) | |
| 6 | Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker | 83.8 × 43.2 × 27.9 cm | 20 pounds |  (4.6 / 5) | |
Best Featured Telescopes Reviews 2019
Celestron NexStar 127SLT Telescope – Best Beginner Telescope
NexStar 127SLT Telescope seems to offer a good number of things at a reasonable price. Good optics, sensible focal length, and mount look perfect. But is it a good choice as a telescope? There a lot of things that you must keep in mind while choosing the device.
There are several aspects including optics, focal length, aperture and a lot more. It can be a good telescope option and you can find it out by reading out the features and details of the device. We have also given an overview of this telescope. It is for people who love deep-sky viewing.
Features
- The telescope has a high quality 127 mm (5 inches) Maksutov Cassegrain
- It is very easy to set up the device because of the quick tools. Quick-release fork arm mount, accessory tray, and optical mount. This makes it very easy to quickly set up the entire telescope and utilize it for viewing.
- special concession and features for locating and aligning objects. Starfinder and finderscope are available for accurately locating a particular object in the space.
- An additional axillary port is provided for adding other accessories like GPS
- TheSkyX planetarium future is included in the best telescope.
- It requires 8AA batteries. However, the batteries are not included in the box.
- the telescope includes fully height Steel tripod along with accessory tray in order to provide stability in the observation field. It is necessary to provide the necessary tray for accommodating additional items if required in the field.
- 2 eyepieces are also included in the box along with the typically mentioned Red Dot and star locator.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 40 × 19 × 11 inches
- Item weight: 20 pounds
- Rough shipping weight: 30.6 pounds
- Manufacturer: Celestron
- Warranty: No
- Aperture: 127 mm
- Eyepiece Magnification: 60x
- Mount: Fork arm
- Focal Ratio: 12
- Optical Design: Matsutov Massegrain
- Focal length: 1500 mm
Celestron NexStar 127SLT Telescope Review
The telescope seems to be perfect on paper but in practicality, the primary mirror seems to be slightly undersized. This stops Seth down to about 120 mm in the aperture. It isn’t significant but it makes the scope slower. Additionally, the moving focus mirror system indicates that the focal length will not be exactly around 1500 mm. It meditates as much as 100 mm on either side. It actually depends upon the length of the plane of the eyepiece or camera. However, it is not a significant problem as such.
NexStar 127SLT Telescope has no dew shield or anything other than a small protrusion in front of the corrector lens. It is advised to have a small plastic in front of the corrector lens in order to protect it from dewdrops and strong sun rays.
The telescope has 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces for medium to high power. It is fine as a beginner and we can’t expect more from this telescope keeping in mind the price tag. You can later upgrade at depending on your choice. Most entry-level scopes have a cheap diagonal. However, the NexStar 127SLT Telescope has a prism diagonal which is certainly great.
The 12.5 focal ratio of this telescope makes it a bit more suitable for deep-sky viewing than most GoTo Maksutovs, but it still limits what you see. The 120 mm aperture means that the observer cannot really resolve any globular clusters except for some outer members of M13. The lightweight Mount and 12.5 focal ratio means that you cannot capture deep-sky images but you can surely capture moon and planets.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The telescope is lightweight and portable
- Good optics
- Decent aperture
- Great for Astral photography and lunar photography
Cons
- Less aperture for the given price
- Not a budget-friendly option compared to a scope.
- Long focal length means that the target is limited
Orion 8945 SkyQuest Xt8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope – Best Rated Telescope
Orion 8945 SkyQuest Xt8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope is one name which you would have heard multiple times in your life. If you are relatively new to the field of astrology, you might have got several recommendations for this popular. There two variants of this telescope. One is XT8 I am the other one is XT8 Plus. 
Orion also sells the limited edition sometimes. It is nothing but the same XT8 with a 38mm Deepview eyepiece. Go choda specification and other features of the telescope and understand if it is for you or not.
Features
- The product might be shipped in separate boxes. Therefore, don’t get confused if you receive more than one box at the time of delivery
- It is basically a large aperture classic Dobsonian Telescope at an affordable price tag
- The 8-inches diameter reflector allows you to easily observe the moon and the planets in the solar system. The light grasp allows the observer to view faint nebulas, galaxies and star clusters.
- A perfect Dobsonian telescope which can last for a lifetime
- The reflector optical tube is perfectly balanced for point and view use. This is because of the ultra-stable Dobsonian base.
- It includes a 2-inches Crayford focuser which accepts 1.5-inches and 2-inches telescope eyepiece, starry night software and more.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 15.2 × 17.5 × 15.5 inches
- Item weight: 29 pounds
- Shipping weight: 40 pounds
- Manufacturer: Orion
- Tube: 46-inches still coveted
- Spring: CorrecTension springs
- Primary mirror: 8″
- Focal Ratio: 5.9
- Focal Length: 1200 mm
Orion 8945 SkyQuest Xt8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Review
The Orion XT8 Dobsonian Telescope has a very simple design. The front reflectors are made up of pyrex, which means that it gets cooled off faster than the standard glasses. Plus boats having high reflectivity. However, it doesn’t seem to have much difference in practicality. Xt8 comes with a standard 25 mm eyepiece. However, Crayford supports eyepiece having a wider angle. Hence, it is always advisable to use the secondary eyepiece instead of the standard one which comes inside the box.
Having a large primary mirror, the telescope allows the observers to observe moon and galaxies in the space. Moon features like returns can also be observed using this mirror. The telescope has 1200 mm focal length and optimum focal ratio which makes it suitable for observing a number of features in the space on a clear night. However, it depends on the type of magnifier that is being used. Some downside of the telescope includes heavyweight and lack of easy portability. Hence, it is not very suitable for the people who frequently carry the telescope from one place to another.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low aperture for a decent price
- Good mechanics and optics
- Excellent single-speed Crayford Focuser
- Portable
- Great balancing because of the spring tension system
Cons
- The telescope requires additional eyepieces in order to reach its maximum capability
- Limited utility of red dot
- Less number of accessories compared to other 8-inches Dobsonian at the same price range.
FAQs
Q: what scope is required for viewing the flag or rover on moon?
A: there is no telescope on earth which can resolve the sites on the moon.
Q: which eyepiece to buy? I wear glasses
A: Given the fact that the eyepieces have an adjustable focus, there is no need to buy an additional eyepiece. You can adjust them according to your eyesight.
Q: Does the telescope have computer tracking feature?
A: No, the telescope doesn’t come with a computer. You must go with a classic one in case you need that feature.
Q: Can I see galaxies using this telescope?
A: Yes, it is possible to observe galaxies if you have a fairly dark area.
Q: Does it have the sky tracking feature?
A: Yes, the telescope comes preloaded with the sky tracking feature.
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope Telescope – Best Travel Telescope
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is another smart device from the company. Celestron is a reputed brand name in the market with some really good marketing skills. These skills are used to use the brand name and sell anything and everything that might not be very good for the user. 
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is one such telescope or device from the company, which is not at all suitable for the users. It is sold as both Astral and terrestrial observation scope. However, the scope is a failure in both aspects. Therefore, go through this entire post before you draw any conclusion.
Features
- Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope has a high-quality glass coated optics, potent objective lens and a lot of features which makes it very easy to use.
- Good quality eyepiece makes viewing ability great. The combination of high power and low power eyepiece helps in altering the viewing angle and clearly observe the Astral bodies as well as terrestrial objects.
- As the name suggests, it is a perfect telescope for travelers. The extremely lightweight and plastic body of the telescope makes it highly portable. It includes a full-sized tripod as well. The device has a backpack styled shape, which helps in carrying the device from one place to another easily.
- Starry night astronomy software package is an included bonus
- Get 2 years warranty and lifetime customer service in the United States.
Specifications
- Type: Achromatic refractor
- Dimension: 18 × 7 × 14 inches
- Aperture: 70mm
- Focal length: 400mm
- Focal ratio: 5.71
- Eyepiece: 20mm and 10mm
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope Review
This travel scope has 5.7 focal ratios which are considered very low. This low ratio is the reason why the telescope shows false colors while observing a bright object. Additionally, the objective lens is not standard and is basically a poor glass. This makes the zooming power miserable. It fails to deliver sharp images because of the poor 40x magnification capacity. The build quality of the device is not regarded as standard because there is plastic everywhere. Even the tripods are made up of low quality plastic which makes it extremely light. Overall, it is a good bargain for beginners. But not suitable for professionals.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The lightweight body makes it easily portable.
- Budget-friendly
- Widefield view
- A padded backpack-like case
- Good quality eyepiece
- Sky X software included
Cons
- Below average optics
- Made up of plastic. There is plastic each and everywhere.
- No good value for money.
FAQs
Q: Can my son watch and observe different objects in this night sky?
A: Yes of course. This is particularly a great scope or telescope for a beginner or a child. He/she can observe different objects in the night sky as well as on the terrestrial and.
Q: Is it portable and easy to use?
A: Celestron 21035 70mm Travel scope is one of the most lightweight scopes that you will find in the market. Moreover, it is extremely easy to set up because all the items and accessories are included in the box itself. There are not a lot of accessories which will cause difficulty while setting the scope up.
Q: Can the scope be used for observing birds?
A: As mentioned above, it is a perfect device for terrestrial observations as well. Hence, you can set it to zero and enjoy observing birds and other land animals or creatures.
Q: Are the planets visible clearly after doing proper settings?
A: You can clearly observe all the big planets after having done proper settings. However, at times it might feel a bit blurry. This is particularly the case with small planets like Mars and mercury. Generally, there is no problem as such.
Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope – Best Budget Telescope
Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope The most budget-friendly and cost-effective telescope available in the market currently. It is a great telescope for the beginners as they don’t have to pay a lot of money. It is a perfect telescope if you are passionate about space and this passion can turn into a career. 
Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ is a relatively inexpensive telescope which is best for children and families. The device is capable of viewing the celestial bodies like the moon and planets clearly, even after the low cost. We have mentioned the specification and overview of this telescope, which will help you to choose it or reject it.
Features
- The two standard eyepieces offer great magnification. One of them provides 35 X magnification while the other one provides 175 X magnification. The combination is quite good.
- The presence of 3.0 Barlow lens Max magnification is even more powerful.
- Mounts are strong and sturdy making the device suitable for night field observation.
- It comes with Sky X planetarium software. It will give you complete details about the Astral body is and the solar system.
- The lightweight of the telescope makes 8 highly portable.
- There is no need to attach unnecessary accessories and this is the reason why it is very easy to set up and use on the field.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 38 × 13 × 10 inches
- Type: Refractor
- Aperture: 70 mm
- Focal Ratio: 10
- Focal length: 700mm
- Maximum magnification: 60x
- Eyepiece: 20 mm and 4 mm
- Weight: 5.8-lbs
Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ Telescope Review
Celestron PowerSeaker 70AZ Telescope is one of the most inexpensive and budget-friendly telescopes. Being a low-cost telescope, it is worth less than $100. However, there is no compromise on features. You can still view all the planets in details. The magnification power of the telescope is also good as the eyepieces included are standard and of good quality. Another great feature of this device is that it is very easy to setup. All you need to do is a park and set up the device because no additional accessories are required.
One downside of this telescope is its mount. As mentioned earlier, it has an AZ mount instead of EQ. Hence, it is not possible to track the moving objects in the night sky automatically. This might be a disappointment for intermediate users. However, beginners and children won’t mind this issue. You will get a free Sky X package in the form of a CD. It can be inserted in a computer and it will give you quick information about the objects that you will find in the space.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Clear and sharp visuals
- Value for money
- Sky X software included
- Great magnification capability
- Extremely affordable
Cons
- Less aperture compared to price range
- The focal length is quite high. It makes the device capacity limited.
- features are not sufficient for professionals.
FAQs
Q: Which one among 50az, 60az and 70az is better?
A: More aperture means more light and this and shows more clear images of the Astral bodies. 70Az is precisely a better choice because of the greater Aperture. If budget is not a problem, you must buy a 70 AZ telescope.
Q: Can I see the moon and other space objects clearly?
A: The cheap price of this telescope Sparks this question among most users
Q: is it portable? Can I carry it easily or is it heavy?
A: The telescope is highly portable and you will not find any difficulty in carrying out from one place to another for observing different objects.
Q: Are the planets clearly visible?
A: Yes, all the planets are clearly visible used in this powerful telescope. Planets like Saturn and Jupiter are absolutely clear in vision wild smaller ones like Mars seems to be a bit blurry.
Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope – Most Valued
Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian is an All-in-One solution for people who are passionate about space. It is easy to use and compact telescope with all essential features. This is a great telescope which is going to fulfill your dream of observing all celestial bodies like the moon, galaxies, and planets. 
It has good magnification capability which will allow you to observe each and every detail of the celestial bodies. Even after having this many features, it is available at an affordable price. The complete details about this telescope have been given below and you can go through them in order to make your decision.
Features
- It is a perfect Dobsonian telescope for carrying from one place to another. It is easy to set up and can be carried from one field to another without any hassle.
- The 4.5 inches aperture and 900 mm focal length gives a perfect view of the lunar craters and other service details of the moon as well as other celestial bodies. The rings of Saturn are visible as well
- Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian telescope collects whooping to 60% more light compared to a classical 60 mm telescope. Hence, it simply means that you can observe much more things using this telescope
- Contains two eyepieces – 10mm and 25mm.
- Starry night astronomy software included in the box along with eye rack and many other tools.
Specifications
- Dimension: 41 × 38 × 13.8 inches
- Brand: Orion
- Design: Dobsonian
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Aperture: 4.5-inches
- Focal length: 900 mm
- Eyepiece: 25 mm and 10 mm
Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Review
This telescope has Newtonian 4.5-inches diameter aperture. Having to search a big diameter allows the telescope to capture more light and give more details about the surface of the celestial bodies to the observer. As mentioned earlier, it is capable of collecting to 260% more light compared to any standard telescope in this range. Hence, all the necessary details about the moon and other celestial bodies are observed. It is very easy to use and setup and also highly portable. These great features make the device suitable for beginners as well as intermediate users. Besides, the device has a bearing pad at the bottom which prevents it from getting displaced. In short, Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian is complete value for money. Overall, it is a great device for beginners and intermediate users.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great optical and mechanical performance
- all necessary tools and equipment are added in the accessory kit
- Great value for money
Cons
- The height of eyepiece is short
- The focuser is made up of plastic
- Aperture is quite small for a Dobsonian telescope
FAQs
Q: Can I use more powerful lenses in this telescope?
A: Yes, you can apply external lenses of greater power for better focus. However, you will have to purchase at externally from the market. Users can even add Barlow to this telescope.
Q: Can we see the celestial bodies in details?
A: Orion 10014 SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian allows you to observe the celestial bodies incomplete details. You can observe different surfaces of the moon and rings of Saturn as well. Hence, all the details are quite clear.
Q: How to take a photograph using this telescope?
A: It does not have an external mount for photography and this makes it difficult to capture long-exposure images. It is not possible to capture such images using this telescope.
Q: Will the Orion accessory kit items work with this product?
A: Being an Orion product, the accessory kit tools of the same company will obviously work fine.
Q: Is it a good choice for intermediate users?
A: Given the great build quality and accessories, it is a perfect choice for intermediate users as well.
Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope – Best Telescope Under $200
Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope is your perfect example of why you must go through the complete review of any product that you buy online. This is one of the most recommended telescopes that you will find on any website. However, you will be shocked to know that this is possibly the worst telescope that you would have ever bought. 
Customers must understand that not every device with a good specification is Good in real life. Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope has great specifications but it is completely an of no use in practical life. It seems to be a toy. Read the complete details given below and then make your decision.
Features
- The best feature of this telescope is that it is extremely easy to set up and use. There is no need for additional accessories for setting up this device. Hence, beginners can also get used to it very quickly.
- Availability of flow control feature for optimized viewing without any trouble.
- The images formed at the focal point is correct. Erect images are ideal for terrestrial and Astral observations.
- 100% quoted glass optics. The coating age of high quality ensuring optimum brightness and smooth transmission of light through it.
- 5 × 24 finderscope
- tripod and accessory stands come pre-loaded in the box.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Celestron
- Dimension: 83.8 × 43.2 × 27.9 cm
- Aperture: 5-inches
- Finderscope: 5 × 12
- Mount: Equatorial
- Optical design: Birds-Jones Newtonian
- Focal length: 1000mm
- Eyepiece: 20mm and 4mm
Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope Review
Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker is a 5-inches Newtonian telescope with focal length 1000 mm. There is something odd that you will find immediately. The length of the tube is just 20 inches and it is quite logical that a Newtonian optical system cannot fit into such a small space. Hence, this is not a Newtonian telescope at all. It has a bird-jones design. Classically the corrector is placed in front of the primary mirror. However, this is not the case with this telescope. The corrector is placed on the focuser.
Moreover, the primary mirror is not even in the shape of a sphere. It is some unusual shape. Overall, the build quality of the telescope is also very bad and it is plastic everywhere. These qualities make it the best possible telescope. The only good thing about this telescope is that it is easy to setup.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good on-page specifications
Cons
- Cheap quality plastic used for building the stand and accessory tray
- The optical lens is of no use at all
- Difficult to collimate
- No value for money
FAQs
Q: Are the planets clearly visible using this telescope?
A: The company claims that you can watch all the planets including Neptune. However, in practical life, most images that you see are blurry because of the additional magnification that is provided.
Q: Does this product has a warranty?
A: Yes, Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope comes with 2 years manufacturers warranty.
Q: Is it possible to connect an external DSLR to the telescope?
A: Connecting a DSLR to a telescope is generally of no use but you can still do it with the help of additional accessories which do not come in the box. Hence, you will have to purchase the accessories separately.
Q: Is it a good option for children?
A: Yes, it is a great device if you are looking from a children’s point of view. However, it fails to impress intermediate users. Hence, you cancel play purchase this device for your child who is new to sky viewing.
Q: Is the tripod stand included in the box? If yes, what is the length?
A: Yes, a tripod stand is a must and you will get it with any telescope that you buy. The maximum height is 4.5 feet.
Verdict
We have put forth all the necessary things that you must keep in mind while purchasing telescopes for deep-sky viewing. In our opinion, a Dobsonian telescope is sufficient to keep you in a happy zone under the dark sky. We also suggest you get the biggest scope and device which fits in your car and is easy to port from one place to another. Also, keep in mind that too large scopes are not often useful. Hence, you must select the length and the design for best viewing angles. There is nothing beautiful than a night under dark skies with a big aperture telescope.
(5 / 5)
(4 / 5)
