Best Celestron Telescopes of 2026: 10 Compared

and just 5.7 lb, the Gskyer Telescope tops our list of 10 because it removes the usual barriers to a first session. It's a 70mm aperture, 400mm (f/5.7) refractor with fully coated optics, and it bundles two eyepieces, a 3x Barlow, a phone adapter, and a wireless remote. For kids, beginners, or travel, it's the most approachable pick in the group.

The StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ lands and ranks #2 by leaning hard on Celestron's StarSense app, which uses sky recognition to turn your phone into a celestial navigator. It's a 114mm (4.5-inch) Newtonian reflector on a manual altazimuth mount with altitude slow-motion adjustment. For a beginner who wants help finding targets without a motorized mount, it's the value standout.

The StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ steps the LT formula up to a 5-inch Newtonian and adds dual-axis slow-motion controls. It runs the same StarSense app that recognizes the sky and builds a curated target. The bigger mirror and finer manual control make it a natural pick for someone who liked the LT idea but wants a touch more reach.

The PowerSeeker 127EQ comes in and #4, built around a 127mm aperture and a manual German equatorial mount with a slow-motion altitude rod. At 13 lb it's pitched as compact, lightweight, and portable, and it ships with 20mm and 4mm eyepieces plus a 3x Barlow. It's a budget-friendly way to learn equatorial tracking without going motorized.

Wosports' refractor sits at #5 with a 90mm aperture and 600mm focal length, the only non-Celestron, non-Gskyer scope here. It pairs 25mm and 10mm eyepieces with a 3x Barlow for magnification up to 180X, and adds an adjustable 29-49 inch tripod, a phone adapter, and a carry bag. Quick assembly and a 1-year warranty round out a beginner-friendly package.

The NexStar 8SE is the premium pick, pairing Celestron's signature orange tube with an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain and a fully computerized GoTo mount. Its NexStar+ hand control taps a 40,000+ object database, and SkyAlign gets you observing after centering any three bright stars. At about 23.99 lb it's a commitment, but it's the most capable scope here for serious viewing.

and #7, the NexStar 130SLT is a computerized Newtonian reflector with a database of more than 4,000 stars, galaxies, and nebulae. It's the largest scope in the SLT family yet stays portable at 11.4 lb, which suits weekend camping trips or dark-sky outings. A free download of a top-rated astronomy program adds an interactive sky simulation.

The AstroMaster 130EQ ranks #8, built on a 130mm (5-inch) Newtonian with an aluminized mirror and a stable equatorial mount. Two slow-motion control knobs handle right ascension and declination for precise manual aiming, and assembly takes only a few parts with no tools. It's a straightforward step into deep-sky and planetary viewing for manual beginners.

The NexStar 6SE sits at #9 with the same orange-tube formula as the 8SE, scaled to a 6-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain. It rides a fully computerized GoTo mount, draws on a 40,000+ object database via the NexStar+ hand control, and uses SkyAlign for fast setup. The feed lists no current

The StarSense Explorer 10-inch is a 254mm Dobsonian that runs the same StarSense app as its smaller siblings on an ultra-stable manual altazimuth base. The large mirror and high-reflectivity XLT coatings are built for serious light-gathering. At 54.8 lb it's by far the heaviest scope here, so it rewards a dedicated viewing spot over frequent travel.