Telescopes For Beginners

This portable telescope features fully coated glass optical elements for clear, crisp images and an erect image diagonal for correctly oriented viewing. The backpack lets you take your telescope on the go.

Observe the sky with this National Geographic 80-20114 carbon fiber wrap reflector telescope. The 500mm focal length and 114mm aperture provide an excellent definition of deep-sky photography, while the interchangeable Plossl eyepieces and a 2x Barlow lens deliver enhanced magnification. This National Geographic carbon fiber wrap reflector telescope has an adjustable tripod with an accessory tray for convenient stability and storage.

Embark on a fascinating adventure through our solar system and beyond with National Geographic’s StarApp70mm 80-30070 telescope. This refractor is great for lunar, planetary and deep sky observing and has a special mount that allows users to attach their smart phone to the telescope and use the ARTelescope App to locate and learn about constellations and planets. As observers move the telescope across the night sky, they will hear facts about the constellations and planets in the app’s database as they come into view. The telescope comes with two interchangeable eyepieces and a 2x Barlow lens to provide a versatile range of magnifications.

This Celestron NexStar 5SE 11036 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope features NexStar computer control and SkyAlign alignment technologies that allow you to easily view up to 40,000 celestial objects. The steel tripod with built-in wedge provides stability.

Celestron’s EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 is a dedicated white-light solar telescope for the observer on the go. It’s lightweight, compact, and easy to transport—perfect for viewing the solar photosphere and sunspots. At the heart of this 50mm refractor-style solar scope, you’ll find Celestron’s Solar Safe, full-aperture glass filter material, which ensures safe views of eclipses, transits, sunspots, and any other solar event. The EclipSmart telescope features a dual-lens, non-removable glass solar filter that conforms to the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) standard. The EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 offers much higher magnifications for viewing sunspots or planetary transits than you would get using solar eclipse glasses or binoculars. The telescope comes complete with everything you need and makes it easy to share the Sun as well as partial and total solar eclipses with the whole family. Solar Safe Technology EclipSmart solar products feature Solar Safe filter technology—the ultimate protection from harmful solar radiation, including IR and UV light, plus 99.999% of visible light. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is safe for direct observation of the Sun. Solar Safe products conform to and meet the transmission requirements of ISO 12312-2:2015(E), Filters for Direct Observation of the Sun, EN 1836:2005 + A1:2007 (E) for an E15 Filter for the Direct Observation of the Sun and AS/NZS 1338.1:2012, Filters for Eye Protectors. Important safety note: inspect your filter before every use. Do not use and discard if damaged, scratched, or separated from the frame in any way. Manual Alt-Azimuth telescope Navigate the sky with a pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing. Move the clutch in an up/down, left/right fashion to track the Sun in the eyepiece as it appears to drift across the daytime sky. Accessories Included The EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 comes with one eyepiece (20mm), a hybrid star diagonal for a more comfortable viewing angle, a permanently attached solar finderscope, and a travel backpack. Solar Finderscope – The EclipSmart telescope comes with a safe solar finderscope that allows you to align your telescope without looking directly at the Sun. The finderscope comes pre-installed and ready for use. Simply center the projection arm’s shadow on the bull’s eye, and the Sun will be positioned within the field of view of your telescope’s eyepiece. Travel Backpack – A custom backpack comes with your telescope so you can store your optical tube, tripod, eyepieces, and accessories. Traveling with your EclipSmart scope is a breeze; all the components fit comfortably inside the backpack. Upcoming Eclipses 2023 - On October 14, 2023, the famed “Ring of Fire” will encircle a darkened Moon during a spectacular annular eclipse.  This phenomenon occurs when the Moon is too far from Earth to cover the Sun completely. The Sun's corona is not visible during an annular eclipse. 2024 - On April 8, 2024, the Moon will completely cover the Sun during an awe-inspiring Total Solar Eclipse. Observers within the path of totality will witness the sun’s dazzling corona, the “diamond ring” effect, and day turn to night.

Celestron has reinvented the manual telescope with StarSense Explorer—the first telescope that uses your smartphone to analyze the night sky and calculate its position in real time. StarSense Explorer is ideal for beginners thanks to the app’s user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials. It’s like having your own personal tour guide of the night sky. Dock, Launch, Explore Leave complicated star charts, imprecise planetarium apps, and computerized mounts behind. With StarSense Explorer, locating objects has never been easier, faster, or more accurate. Within minutes of setting up the telescope, you’ll be navigating the sky with confidence. Simply place your phone in the unique StarSense dock and launch the StarSense Explorer app. After aligning your phone to the telescope’s optics (a quick, 2-minute procedure), StarSense Explorer generates a list of celestial objects currently visible. Make your selection and arrows appear onscreen, guiding you as you to move the telescope. When the object is ready to view, the bullseye turns green. Smartphone Compatibility StarSense Explorer works with most modern smartphones, including iPhone 6 and up and most devices running Android 7.1.2 or later manufactured since 2016. For a complete compatibility list, click here. Patent-Pending StarSense Sky Recognition Technology StarSense Explorer uses patent-pending technology and your smartphone to determine exactly where the telescope is pointed in the night sky. A Lost in Space Algorithm (LISA), like the ones satellites use in orbit to correctly reorient themselves, helps the app match star patterns it detects overhead to its internal database. While other astronomy apps may claim that they can help you find objects, they rely exclusively on the phone’s gyros and accelerometers, which aren’t as accurate as LISA technology. No other app can accurately tell you when your target is visible in the eyepiece. Sturdy Altazimuth Mount StarSense Explorer LT’s simple altazimuth mount makes it easy to move the telescope to find your target. An altitude slow motion adjustment with a sliding rod helps you fine tune the telescope’s pointing position and follow targets as they appear to drift across the night sky. It’s all anchored by an adjustable, full-height tripod. Dazzling Views with High Quality Optics With a large 114mm (4.5”) objective lens, this telescope has enough light gathering ability to bring out detail in celestial objects. You can expect sharp, bright views of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, its cloud bands and Great Red Spot, the rings of Saturn, the trapezium in the Orion Nebula, and beautiful Pleaides Open Star Cluster. Perfect for the City or Dark Sky Sites Even if you live in a light polluted city location, StarSense Explorer is advanced enough to be able to pick out Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, the Orion Nebula, double stars, and a few more of the most famous celestial objects. But if you can take the telescope to an even slightly darker location, more objects will become visible. With this 4.5” Newtonian and relatively dark skies, the Andromeda Galaxy, Hercules Open Star Cluster, and so many more are easily within your reach. The entire telescope kit weighs just 10.4 pounds, so it’s perfectly portable and easy to bring on your next camping trip or to a remote observing site. Everything You Need to Observe Immediately When you unbox your new StarSense Explorer LT, you’ll find: 114mm Newtonian reflector optical tube StarSense dock for your smartphone Low powered (25mm) and high powered (10mm) eyepiece 2x Barlow lens to double the power of each eyepiece StarPointer red dot finderscope, perfect for using the telescope during the day or without the StarSense Explorer app Altazimuth mount with slow motion control rod Full-height tripod with an accessory tray to keep you organized

Discover the allure of deep sky observation with this National Geographic series reflector telescope. The 114mm aperture and 500mm focal length ensure excellent light-gathering quality, letting you enjoy a high-detail view of distant planets and other celestial objects. This National Geographic series reflector telescope features a full-size tripod with an accessory tray for additional stability and storage, while the included adapter helps you easily capture detailed images.

Observe the wonders of the night sky with this National Geographic StarApp reflector telescope. The built-in mount holds your smartphone securely, letting you locate constellations easily by using the ARTelescope App, while the 114mm aperture lets your view deep sky objects. This National Geographic StarApp reflector telescope features two Plossl eyepieces and a 2x Barlow lens for multiple magnification options.

Get a new perspective on nature and the Universe with the ideal day-to-night telescope, Travel Scope 70 DX. This refractor telescope includes a full height tripod and lots of bonus accessories, include a smartphone adapter so you can capture images and video through the eyepiece. It all packs up into a high-quality custom backpack—ready to go wherever your adventures take you. Whether you take it along on your next camping trip or enjoy an impromptu backyard stargazing session, setting up the telescope is a breeze. Even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes. The adjustable tripod legs allow you to customize the telescope’s height or place it on raised surfaces like a picnic table. By night, Travel Scope 70 DX delivers great views of the planets, the Moon, star clusters and brighter deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. During the day, Travel Scope 70 DX doubles as a spotting scope. Enjoy amazing views of birds, wildlife, boats on the water, migrating whales, and so much more. The entire telescope kit weighs just 3.3 pounds, so you can take it anywhere, hassle-free. Smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release Create your own stunning images and video of celestial or terrestrial objects with the smartphone adapter. With its light, rigid frame, this accessory allows you to connect any smartphone to your Travel Scope’s eyepiece. The additional magnification provided by the eyepiece allows your phone to capture great images of the Moon and planets. This smartphone adapter installs easily by clamping over the top of an eyepiece. The smartphone is held in position with the help of tightening knobs that securely lock your phone in place. To capture the best image, Celestron has also provided a Bluetooth shutter release that allows you to trigger the camera’s shutter on any Android or iOS smartphone remotely, without disturbing the placement of your phone and telescope. NOTE: Some large and/or bulky phone cases (including folio style cases) may need to be removed for the phone to fit in the adapter. Manual Alt-Azimuth telescope Navigate the sky confidently with Travel Scope 70 DX’s intuitive pan handle. The Alt-Az control with clutch allows for smooth tracking and accurate pointing. Like a photographic tripod, you can move the clutch in an up/down, left/right fashion to follow your object in the eyepiece. Deluxe Accessories Included In addition to the smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release, Travel Scope 70 DX includes a full selection of optical accessories, including two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), an erect image diagonal, a finderscope, a 2x Barlow lens, and a 1.25” Moon filter. The two eyepieces offer different magnifications so you can view your subject at low or high power. The erect image diagonal allows for more comfortable viewing and right-side-up images. The permanently mounted finderscope will help you locate objects and quickly center them in your telescope’s eyepiece. Lastly, the Moon filter reduces glare and increases contrast on the surface of the Moon. Travel Backpack Pack up your optical tube, tripod, eyepieces, and accessories safely and securely in the included custom backpack. Starry Night Software Download Celestron’s Starry Night Software and learn about the night sky, celestial objects, and how to plan your next observing session. Celestron Starry Night Software is the premier astronomy software package on the market, providing detailed information, plus tips and tricks for viewing our Solar System and beyond. Downloadable Robert Reeves’ Lunar Landscapes eBook Familiarize yourself with the Moon, our neighboring world, with Robert Reeves’ Lunar Landscapes eBook. This fascinating guide will take you on a tour of the Moon’s top geographical features, from the crater Tycho to the Sea of Tranquility where Apollo 11 astronauts landed.