Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets in 2026: 10 Picks by Budget and Setup

The best telescope for viewing planets for most buyers is the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5″ SCT, a 125 mm f/10 scope that an app guides to Jupiter and Saturn with no motors. For the most planetary detail per dollar, choose the Sky-Watcher Classic 200P Dobsonian. For GoTo tracking, choose the NexStar 127SLT, or the NexStar 6SE for 150 mm of aperture. For a balcony or a flight, choose the Skymax 102 AZ-GTi. Ten picks follow, with what each shows on Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.

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Answer a few questions to narrow the ten picks, or start with the quick picks table.

What makes a telescope good for viewing planets?

Planets are small and bright. Jupiter spans about 45″ at opposition and Saturn’s rings about 43″, against roughly 1,800″ for the Moon. Detail depends on aperture, focal ratio, optical quality and steady air. Price and brand matter less.

Aperture

Aperture is the diameter of the lens or mirror. It sets resolving power and brightness. The Dawes limit, the smallest gap a telescope can split, is 116 divided by the aperture in mm, in arcseconds: 1.45″ at 80 mm, 0.91″ at 127 mm, 0.77″ at 150 mm and 0.58″ at 200 mm. A 200 mm mirror also gathers four times the light of a 100 mm one. In practice that means belts and festoons on Jupiter, Saturn’s Cassini division and Martian surface markings arrive at 150 mm and up, while 80 mm to 100 mm shows Jupiter’s belts and Saturn’s rings but little finer.

Focal ratio and focal length

The focal ratio is focal length divided by aperture, written f/10 for a 1,250 mm focal length on a 125 mm aperture. Magnification equals the telescope’s focal length divided by the eyepiece’s focal length, so a 1,250 mm scope with a 10 mm eyepiece gives 125x. Long ratios (f/10 and above) reach planetary power with comfortable 10 mm to 12 mm eyepieces and keep colour fringes low in refractors. An f/5 scope such as the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ needs a 5 mm eyepiece or a Barlow lens to reach the same power, and short eyepieces are harder to use. That is why Maksutov, Schmidt-Cassegrain and f/8 Dobsonian designs dominate planet lists.

Maximum useful magnification

The working limit is 2x the aperture in mm, capped near 300x. An 80 mm scope tops out at 160x, a 127 mm scope at 254x and a 150 mm or 200 mm scope at about 300x. Past that limit the image is larger and blurrier, with no extra detail. Most nights the atmosphere holds the view to 150x to 250x whatever the scope. The telescope simulator shows how Jupiter, Saturn and Mars look at each power.

Seeing

Seeing is the steadiness of the air. Turbulence makes a planet shimmer and blur, and it limits detail more often than the telescope does. Planets low over rooftops or chimneys sit in the worst air. Wait until the planet is more than 30° above the horizon, avoid viewing over heated roofs and expect the sharpest views on nights when stars twinkle little.

Cooldown and collimation

A telescope shows its best image once its optics match the outdoor temperature. The Classic 200P tube takes 30 to 45 minutes to cool, and closed Maksutov and Schmidt-Cassegrain tubes need the same wait. Take the scope outside before you plan to look. Newtonians and Dobsonians need collimation, the realignment of the two mirrors, from time to time. Refractors, Maksutovs and Schmidt-Cassegrains need none in normal use.

Which planets can you see, and what do they look like?

Five planets show as discs or phases in a backyard telescope: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. Uranus and Neptune show as tiny coloured dots. The table gives each planet’s size at opposition and its apparent size in the eyepiece as a multiple of the full Moon seen by the naked eye.

Planet	Size	100x	150x	200x
Jupiter	45″	2.5x	3.8x	5x
Saturn rings	43″	2.4x	3.6x	4.8x
Mars	14″ to 25″	0.8x to 1.4x	1.2x to 2.1x	1.6x to 2.8x

At 100x Jupiter looks 2.5 times the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. Mars at its smallest needs about 130x to match the Moon. Planets stay small even at high power, which is why aperture and steady air matter more than magnification.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the easiest target. At 100x two dark equatorial belts and the four Galilean moons show in any eyepiece scope on this list. At 150x to 200x belt structure, the Great Red Spot and moon shadows crossing the disc appear in 125 mm and larger scopes. Jupiter is the planet where aperture pays back fastest.

Saturn

Saturn’s rings show at 50x to 60x. At 100x to 150x the ring gap known as the Cassini division appears in 100 mm scopes on steady nights, and Titan shows as a star-like point beside the disc. Confident detail needs 125 mm or more.

Mars

Mars is the hardest of the three. Between oppositions it is a tiny orange dot. Near opposition at 150x to 200x a 125 mm to 200 mm scope shows the white polar cap and dark surface markings, and a 200 mm scope shows them more clearly. Plan a Mars session around the opposition dates below.

Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Neptune

Venus shows phases from crescent to gibbous. Cloud hides any surface, so the interest is the phase and the brightness. Mercury shows a small phase low in twilight. Uranus appears as a pale blue-green disc at 150x and above and Neptune as a small blue dot, and neither shows detail. Our guide to planets you can see with a telescope covers each planet and when to look.

What type of telescope is best for viewing planets?

Four optical designs fill this list. All four work for planets. They differ in aperture per dollar, upkeep and portability.

Refractors

A refractor uses a lens, so its image has no central obstruction and the tube is sealed. It needs no collimation and cools quickly. The weakness is colour fringing: the achromatic lens in the Inspire 100AZ shows false colour around Jupiter and Venus at high power. A long focal ratio such as the f/11 of the StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ keeps fringing low, but 80 mm of aperture limits detail.

Maksutov-Cassegrain

A Maksutov folds a long focal length into a short sealed tube, which is why the NexStar 127SLT and the Skymax 102 AZ-GTi carry 1,300 mm to 1,500 mm of focal length in a compact body. The long focal ratio gives colour-free images and high power with common eyepieces. The trade-off is aperture, which stops at roughly 127 mm in this guide.

Schmidt-Cassegrain

A Schmidt-Cassegrain folds the light path twice, so a 125 mm or 150 mm aperture fits in a tube that a Dobsonian of the same size cannot match for portability. The StarSense Explorer DX 5″ SCT and the NexStar 6SE both run at f/10. It is the best compromise between aperture and size for a balcony or a small patio.

Dobsonian reflectors

A Dobsonian puts a large mirror on a simple rocker base, so it delivers the most aperture per dollar. The Classic 200P gives 200 mm and the Classic 150P gives 150 mm. The costs are weight (18 kg to 20 kg), no tracking and occasional collimation. A planet drifts across the field of view of a 200x eyepiece in roughly a minute, so you nudge the tube every minute or so.

Manual, app-guided or GoTo

Manual scopes cost least and teach the sky. App-guided scopes (the StarSense Explorer series) use a phone on the tube to show arrows to the target, with no alignment and no power for the scope. GoTo scopes (the NexStar models and the AZ-GTi) point at planets and track them, and need batteries or a 12V supply. Tracking holds a planet centred at high power. Planets are bright and easy to find, so for planets alone an app or a manual finder is enough.

Eyepieces and Barlow lenses for planets

Planetary views run at 100x to 200x. Divide the telescope’s focal length by that power to find the eyepiece: a 1,200 mm Dobsonian needs 12 mm for 100x and 6 mm for 200x, and a 1,500 mm Maksutov needs 15 mm and 7.5 mm. Kit eyepieces of 25 mm and 10 mm cover finding and moderate power. Add a 6 mm to 8 mm eyepiece or a Barlow lens for the top end.

A 2x Barlow lens doubles the power of every eyepiece you own. A 10 mm eyepiece on the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ gives 65x, and 130x with a Barlow. Use one only after the planet is sharp at the lower power. The LT 80AZ ships with a 2x Barlow: its 10 mm gives 90x, or 180x with the Barlow, which is beyond the 160x that 80 mm supports. See our guides to the best telescope eyepiece sets and the best Barlow lenses.

Refractors and Schmidt-Cassegrains also need a star diagonal to put the eyepiece at a comfortable angle. Most kits include one, and our star diagonal guide covers the upgrades. A colour filter set raises contrast on Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, and a Moon filter cuts glare. Both are in the accessories list below.

When to observe planets: opposition

A planet is at opposition when it sits opposite the Sun in the sky. It rises at sunset, crosses the meridian near midnight and is closest to Earth, so it looks largest and brightest. Jupiter and Saturn change modestly in apparent size between oppositions. Mars changes a lot, from 14″ to 25″, so a Mars opposition is the date worth planning for.

Saturn reached opposition on 4 October 2026 and stays well placed in the evening sky through the autumn. Jupiter’s next opposition is in February 2027, and so is Mars’s. Jupiter and Saturn look good for a month either side of opposition. Venus and Mercury never reach opposition. Look for Venus after sunset or before sunrise when it sits farthest from the Sun in the sky.

The best telescopes for viewing planets in 2026

Picks run in ranked order. Each card shows aperture, focal ratio, weight and price tier, plus the maximum useful magnification and how big Jupiter looks at that power.

Best overall for planets: Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5″ SCT

Best overall for planets

Best for: Beginners who want sharp planets and an app to find them

Aperture

125 mm (Schmidt-Cassegrain)

Focal length

1,250 mm (f/10)

Mount

Alt-az

Finding

App-guided

Tracking

No (manual)

Weight

6.4 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony

Shows best

Planets, Moon

Price tier

$500 to $999

Planet power: 250x max useful magnification, f/10. At 250x Jupiter looks about 6.5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• 125 mm at f/10 for planets and the Moon
• App finding, no alignment, no power for the scope
• Short tube on a stable alt-az tripod

Cons

• 6.4 kg with tripod, too heavy for travel
• Narrow field shrinks deep-sky objects
• Needs a charged phone

Ships with 25 mm (50x) and 10 mm (125x) eyepieces. Kit weight 14.2 lb (6.4 kg).

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The StarSense Explorer DX 5″ SCT combines the aperture and focal ratio that planets reward with the simplest way to find them. Dock a phone, pick Jupiter in the app and follow the arrows. There are no motors and no alignment stars. The 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces give 50x and 125x. For 200x add a 6 mm eyepiece or a 2x Barlow on the 10 mm, and stay under the 250x limit.

At 6.4 kg it fits a balcony and a car trunk but not an airline cabin. It has no tracking, so nudge the tube to keep a planet centred. For beginners who want sharp planets, it is the pick to buy.

Best GoTo Maksutov for planets: Celestron NexStar 127SLT

Best GoTo Maksutov for planets

Best for: Planet viewers who want GoTo to find and track every target

Aperture

127 mm (Maksutov-Cassegrain)

Focal length

1,500 mm (f/11.8)

Mount

GoTo alt-az

Finding

GoTo motor

Tracking

Yes (needs power)

Weight

9.1 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony

Shows best

Planets, Moon

Price tier

$500 to $999

Planet power: 254x max useful magnification, f/11.8. At 254x Jupiter looks about 6.5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• 127 mm long-focus Mak for sharp planets
• GoTo finds and tracks after a short alignment
• Compact tube suits a balcony

Cons

• About 9 kg, not a travel scope
• Needs 8 AA batteries or 12V power
• Narrow field, poor for large deep-sky objects

Ships with 25 mm (60x) and 9 mm (167x) eyepieces. Dealer-listed kit weight 9.1 kg (20 lb).

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The NexStar 127SLT is a 127 mm f/11.8 Maksutov with a computerised mount that finds and tracks any planet after a short alignment. The 25 mm and 9 mm eyepieces give 60x and 167x, and the 1,500 mm focal length reaches 250x with a 6 mm eyepiece. Tracking keeps Jupiter centred, so you can watch the Great Red Spot cross the disc without touching the scope.

It weighs about 9 kg and needs 8 AA batteries or a 12V supply, so buy a battery pack. Its narrow field makes it poor for large deep-sky objects. For planets and the Moon it is the easiest scope to use.

Best Dobsonian for planets: Sky-Watcher Classic 200P

Best Dobsonian for planets

Best for: Observers who want the most planet detail per dollar

Aperture

200 mm (Reflector)

Focal length

1,200 mm (f/6)

Mount

Dobsonian

Finding

Manual

Tracking

No (manual)

Weight

20.4 kg

Best used

Backyard

Shows best

Planets, Moon, Deep sky

Price tier

$500 to $999

Planet power: 300x max useful magnification, f/6. At 300x Jupiter looks about 7.5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• 200 mm shows the most planet detail here
• No power, no app, nothing to align
• Also shows many deep-sky objects

Cons

• About 20 kg in two pieces, no balcony or travel
• No tracking, so nudge it to keep the planet in view
• 30 to 45 minute cooldown and occasional collimation

Dealer-listed weight 20.4 kg (45 lb: tube 20 lb, base 25 lb). Focal length about 1200 mm.

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The Classic 200P is an 8-inch Dobsonian at f/6, and 200 mm of aperture shows more on Jupiter, Saturn and Mars than any other pick in this guide. Cloud belts, Saturn’s Cassini division and Mars’s polar cap appear at 150x to 200x. It needs no power, no app and no alignment, and it also shows many deep-sky objects.

The cost is size. It weighs about 20 kg in two pieces, and the tube needs 30 to 45 minutes to cool before the image settles. Plan for a backyard, and collimate the mirrors once in a while. This is the choice for observers who want detail over convenience.

Best SCT for planetary detail: Celestron NexStar 6SE

Best SCT for planetary detail

Best for: Observers who want GoTo and a 6-inch SCT for planetary detail

Aperture

150 mm (Schmidt-Cassegrain)

Focal length

1,500 mm (f/10)

Mount

GoTo alt-az

Finding

GoTo motor

Tracking

Yes (needs power)

Weight

12.7 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony

Shows best

Planets, Moon, Deep sky

Price tier

$1,000 and up

Planet power: 300x max useful magnification, f/10. At 300x Jupiter looks about 7.5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• 150 mm at f/10 for high-power planet views
• GoTo and tracking keep the planet centred
• Short tube for its aperture

Cons

• 12.7 kg, heavy for a carry-on
• Costs over $1,000
• Needs 8 AA batteries or 12V power; one eyepiece included

Kit weight 28 lb (12.7 kg). Ships with one 25 mm eyepiece (60x). The 8SE is the next step up, at about twice the price.

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The NexStar 6SE has a 150 mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain on a computerised fork mount. It offers the aperture of the Classic 150P in a short tube and tracks the planet for you. At 1,500 mm focal length it reaches 300x, the working limit, with a 5 mm eyepiece, though most nights call for 150x to 220x.

It sits in the $1,000 and up tier and ships with one 25 mm eyepiece, so budget for a 10 mm and a 6 mm. The 8SE is the next step up at about twice the price. For the observer who wants GoTo, tracking and 150 mm, this is the scope.

Best app-guided reflector: Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ

Best app-guided reflector

Best for: Teens and beginners who want planets plus deep sky with app finding

Aperture

130 mm (Reflector)

Focal length

650 mm (f/5)

Mount

Alt-az

Finding

App-guided

Tracking

No (manual)

Weight

8.2 kg

Best used

Backyard

Shows best

Planets, Moon, Deep sky

Price tier

$200 to $499

Planet power: 260x max useful magnification, f/5. At 260x Jupiter looks about 6.5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• 130 mm of light for the price
• App finding, no alignment, no power for the scope
• Planets, Moon and brighter deep sky

Cons

• f/5 gives less planet contrast than long-focus scopes
• 8.2 kg, bulky for a balcony or trip
• Mirror needs occasional collimation

Ships with 25 mm (26x) and 10 mm (65x) eyepieces and the StarSense dock. Weight 18 lb (8.16 kg).

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The DX 130AZ is a 130 mm f/5 Newtonian on the StarSense mount. The short focal length gives wide fields of star clusters, the Orion Nebula and bright galaxies, and the 130 mm aperture still shows Jupiter’s belts and Saturn’s rings. At f/5 it gives less planetary contrast than the long-focus picks. Its 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces give 26x and 65x, so add a Barlow for planetary power.

At 8.2 kg it suits a backyard better than a balcony, and the mirror needs occasional collimation. It is the pick for a teen or beginner who wants planets and deep sky from one telescope.

Best 6-inch Dobsonian: Sky-Watcher Classic 150P

Best 6-inch Dobsonian

Best for: Teens and beginners who want a big, simple scope on a budget

Aperture

150 mm (Reflector)

Focal length

1,200 mm (f/8)

Mount

Dobsonian

Finding

Manual

Tracking

No (manual)

Weight

18.1 kg

Best used

Backyard

Shows best

Planets, Moon, Deep sky

Price tier

$200 to $499

Planet power: 300x max useful magnification, f/8. At 300x Jupiter looks about 7.5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• 150 mm at f/8 for sharp planets and a bright Moon
• No power, no app, no alignment
• Often under $500

Cons

• About 18 kg in two pieces, backyard only
• No tracking, so the planet drifts out of view
• Needs collimation from time to time

Dealer-listed weight 18.1 kg (40 lb: tube 15 lb, base 25 lb). Ships with 25 mm (48x) and 10 mm (120x) Plossl eyepieces. Price sits near the $499 tier boundary.

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The Classic 150P is a 6-inch f/8 Dobsonian. The long ratio is easier on eyepieces than the 200P’s, and 150 mm of aperture gives sharp planets and a bright Moon. The 25 mm and 10 mm Plossl eyepieces give 48x and 120x, a good planetary power on its own. A 6 mm eyepiece reaches 200x on steady nights.

It weighs about 18 kg in two pieces and has no tracking, so it stays in the backyard. It sits at the boundary between the $200 to $499 and $500 to $999 tiers depending on the sale. Aperture per dollar beats every refractor in this guide.

Best for kids and families: Celestron Inspire 100AZ

Best for kids and families

Best for: Kids and families who want a sturdy refractor with a phone adapter

Aperture

100 mm (Refractor)

Focal length

660 mm (f/6.6)

Mount

Alt-az

Finding

Manual

Tracking

No (manual)

Weight

5.6 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony, Travel

Shows best

Planets, Moon, Deep sky

Price tier

$200 to $499

Planet power: 200x max useful magnification, f/6.6. At 200x Jupiter looks about 5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• Sturdy and light enough for a child to carry
• Phone adapter for Moon photos
• Maintenance-free refractor

Cons

• Achromat shows false colour at high power
• Basic tripod shakes at high power
• Finding relies on a red-dot finder

Ships with 20 mm (33x) and 10 mm (66x) eyepieces, an erect-image diagonal and a phone adapter. Weight 12.4 lb (5.62 kg).

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The Inspire 100AZ is a 100 mm f/6.6 refractor on a light alt-az tripod, with an erect-image diagonal that corrects the image orientation. A child can carry and aim it. The 20 mm and 10 mm eyepieces give 33x and 66x. Jupiter’s belts and moons and Saturn’s rings show clearly. The phone adapter takes Moon photos.

The achromatic lens shows false colour on Jupiter and Venus at high power, and the tripod shakes when pushed. Finding relies on a red-dot finder. It suits families and younger observers more than serious planet work.

Best beginner scope under $300: Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ

Best beginner scope under $300

Best for: First-time buyers who want the phone to find planets for them

Aperture

80 mm (Refractor)

Focal length

900 mm (f/11.3)

Mount

Alt-az

Finding

App-guided

Tracking

No (manual)

Weight

4.2 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony, Travel

Shows best

Planets, Moon

Price tier

$200 to $499

Planet power: 160x max useful magnification, f/11.3. At 160x Jupiter looks about 4x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• Long ratio gives clean, colour-free planets
• App finds the target with no alignment
• Light and quick to set up

Cons

• 80 mm is small for Saturn and Mars detail
• Tube is about 90 cm long
• Needs a charged phone

Ships with 25 mm (36x) and 10 mm (90x) eyepieces and a 2x Barlow. Kit weight about 9.2 lb (4.17 kg).

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The LT 80AZ is an 80 mm f/11 refractor with a phone dock. The long focal ratio keeps colour out of the image, so the Moon and planets look clean. It shows Jupiter’s belts and moons and Saturn’s rings, but 80 mm is small for Saturn and Mars detail. The 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces give 36x and 90x.

At 4.2 kg it is light and quick to set up. The tube is about 90 cm long, which matters in a small car or flat. It is the lowest-cost entry in this guide, and its limit is aperture.

Best for balconies and travel: Sky-Watcher Skymax 102 AZ-GTi

Best for balconies and travel

Best for: Observers who want planets from a balcony or on a flight

Aperture

102 mm (Maksutov-Cassegrain)

Focal length

1,300 mm (f/12.7)

Mount

GoTo alt-az

Finding

GoTo motor

Tracking

Yes (needs power)

Weight

5.9 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony, Travel

Shows best

Planets, Moon

Price tier

$500 to $999

Planet power: 204x max useful magnification, f/12.7. At 204x Jupiter looks about 5x the size of the full Moon to the naked eye. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• Long-focus Mak for sharp, colour-free planets
• Light enough to fly with
• Wi-Fi GoTo and tracking from a phone

Cons

• 102 mm is the smallest aperture here that resolves planet detail
• Needs 8 AA batteries or 12V power
• Narrow field; app setup takes patience

Ships with 25 mm (52x) and 10 mm (130x) eyepieces. Dealer-listed weight 13 lb (5.9 kg), heaviest piece 6 lb.

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The AZ-GTi with Skymax 102 pairs a 102 mm f/12.7 Maksutov with a Wi-Fi GoTo mount that a phone app controls. The 1,300 mm focal length is colour-free and sharp, and the whole kit weighs 5.9 kg, light enough for a cabin bag. The 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces give 52x and 130x, and 102 mm supports 204x.

A 102 mm aperture is the smallest in this guide that resolves planetary detail. The mount needs 8 AA batteries or a 12V supply, and the app takes patience at first. For planets on a balcony or a trip, it is the best option.

Best smart telescope for the Moon: ZWO Seestar S30 Pro

Best smart telescope for the Moon

Best for: Beginners who want Moon and deep-sky photos, not planet detail

Aperture

30 mm (Smart telescope)

Focal length

160 mm (f/5.3)

Mount

Smart (built in)

Finding

GoTo motor

Tracking

Yes (needs power)

Weight

1.7 kg

Best used

Backyard, Balcony, Travel

Shows best

Moon, Deep sky

Price tier

$500 to $999

Camera view: planets appear small; best for the Moon and deep sky. See it in the telescope simulator

Pros

• Automatic finding, tracking and stacking
• Light enough for any trip
• Strong on the Moon and deep sky

Cons

• Too small for planet detail
• No eyepiece, so the view is on a phone
• Needs battery power and an app

Camera view only. 30 mm aperture, 160 mm focal length. Weight 1.65 kg with the built-in mount; it sits on a tabletop or tripod.

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The Seestar S30 Pro is a 30 mm smart telescope with a camera and no eyepiece. It finds, tracks and stacks images on its own, and a phone shows the result. Planets stay small: Jupiter is a tiny disc with moons and Saturn a small ringed dot. It is the wrong tool if planetary detail is the goal.

Buy it for the Moon and deep-sky objects, and for a scope that fits in a bag at 1.65 kg. For planets, any eyepiece scope above it in this list does better.

Planet telescope comparison

This table sets the ten picks side by side. Scroll sideways on a phone.

Accessories for viewing planets

Four accessories matter for planets: colour filters, a zoom or short eyepiece, a Barlow lens and a power source for GoTo scopes.

Which telescope should you buy for planets?

Match the scope to the way you will use it.

• Most beginners: the StarSense Explorer DX 5″ SCT.
• Most planetary detail for the money: the Classic 200P, or the Classic 150P for less.
• GoTo and tracking: the NexStar 127SLT, or the NexStar 6SE for 150 mm.
• Planets plus deep sky: the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ.
• A child or family: the Inspire 100AZ.
• The lowest cost: the StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ.
• A balcony or a flight: the Skymax 102 AZ-GTi.
• Photos of the Moon and deep sky: the Seestar S30 Pro.

No planet pick costs under $200. For that budget see our budget telescope guide, which suits the Moon and brighter targets. For lighter scopes see the travel and portable telescope guide. For galaxies and nebulae see the best telescope for galaxies. To narrow the choice by who, where and budget, use the Telescope Finder.

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