Are you looking for telescope for beginners under $100? Look no further. We came up with the list of telescopes for beginners that won’t hurt your pocket.
While perhaps not a household name, Celestron is well known for its telescopes. In this article I will cover the top telescopes for beginners by Celestron. These affordable amateur telescopes that often come with GoTo and other built-in technology to make discovering celestial bodies easier than ever.
Celestron beginner telescope
We’ve put together a list of the best telescopes for beginners under $100 to take the guesswork out of this task. We’ve also selected our favorite as well as break down everything you need to know to choose a telescope. Everything on this list provides quality viewing and will make you want to go out and view more often! Take your pick, start stargazing!
A lot of people are excited when they find out that stars and other constellations — as well as even their own moon — can be observed with a small telescope. However, they are not familiar with what exactly they should look for in such a device, or how to go about choosing it. Fortunately, the advice given here will help you do just that!
I’ve been in your shoes. I was a beginner telescope user who didn’t know how to find a quality beginner telescope for an affordable price. Like you, I was frustrated by the lack of information online about this topic. There are tons of astronomical telescopes out there so it can be very intimidating for beginners to navigate this space on their own.
Best telescope for beginners under $100
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Best Telescope Under $100 (Top 5 Low-Priced Options)
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Looking for the best telescope under $100, and not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place! The most important thing to know is that the best telescope for you is the one that you will use and have fun with. The $100 price point is certainly sufficient to try out whether you’re interested in astronomy, enjoy views of the moon and also have an extremely portable option to bird watch or throw in a pack and take camping or hiking. We’re excited you’re getting interested in astronomy and hope this guide helps you get off to a great start.
See also:
The Best Binoculars for Stargazing (Our Top 5 for 2022)
Celestron NexStar 8SE Review: Yes, It’s Worth It! Here’s Why.
Best Orion Telescope for Every Budget, Need and Skill Level
Of course, with telescopes, as with many things, you get what you pay for. Telescopes under $100 are not going to offer top notch images or a lot of room for product differentiation. There are a lot of solid brands, white label products and options in this range, and so we’ve focused our recommendations on the most trusted names (Celestron, Orion and Meade) as a proxy for the highest quality in the category.
We would also recommend checking out our recommendations for the best telescope for kids and for the best telescopes under $200. This will give you a few more options to compare with, in our opinion, the 5 best telescopes under $100 set out below.
(Before we begin, please note that product pricing, price categories and availability are accurate as of the date of this post, but are subject to change. This post includes the author’s opinion, based on research and experience, of the “best” or “top” telescopes in this category; the opinions of others may vary.)
Contents [show]
Our Take on the Best Telescopes Under $100 (Top 5 Recommendations)
Orion 10033 FunScope 76mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope
FunScope 76mm TableTop Reflector Telescope
Image Credit: Orion (Used with Permission)
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If you’re looking for a tabletop telescope to try out astronomy from home, we can recommend the Orion 10033 FunScope. The Orion 10033 FunScope makes a good purchase for kids or family viewing, with a low price and lightweight (only 4 pounds). The scope is sufficiently powerful to see craters on the Moon, bright planets in our solar system, and brighter sparkling star clusters and nebulas. It’s a great beginner telescope option on a very small budget.
The telescope includes a 76mm optic that allows 60% more light than a 60mm aperture. It comes with two Kellner eyepieces as well as the Orion Moon Map 260. The short focal length allows for a very wide field of view, and the moon map will help you find and identify features of the Moon. Keep in mind this is meant for tabletop viewing, so while lightweight, it’s not as flexible as some of the other best telescopes under $100.
Scorecard – Orion 10033 FunScope 76mm Tabletop Reflector Telescope
Category Our Verdict Why?
Skill Level Beginner Easy to get started
Quality 3 out of 5 Good quality build and design for price
Ease of Use 4 out of 5 Simple, and easy to use
Power & Clarity 3 out of 5 Not a high-powered, but good for price point; wide views
Control 3 out of 5 Average, AZ mount
Portability 5 out of 5 Lightweight tabletop design
Accessories 3 out of 5 Comes with Moon Map
Overall Value 4 out of 5 Great option for kids
Why We Like It
The Orion 10033 Funscope is one of the best telescopes under $100, particularly for tabletop viewing and family enjoyment.
The ultra-wide field of view makes it fun, and you can get some good views of constellations and astronomical objects. The trade-off with the wide field is less ability to zoom in on planets and smaller objects of course.
Also, while very light, this tabletop scope is not the most versatile of the bunch. Overall, we can highly recommend this scope, particularly if you are looking to share with family or kids.
Pros
Great tabletop option for introduction to astronomy
Very user / child friendly
Lower price
Cons
Limited astronomical use beyond observing the moon
Orion SpaceProbe II 76mm Alt-Azimuth Reflector Telescope
Orion SpaceProbe II 76mm Altazimuth Reflector Telescope
Image Credit: Orion (Used with Permission)
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This alt-azimuth mounted telescope is an easy way to get started with stargazing. With its 3″ aperture and 700mm focal length, it provides sharp views. You can see not just the moon and planets, but star clusters and nebulae.
The telescope comes with two Kellner eyepieces (25mm and 10mm, for 28x and 70x magnification, respectively), plus a red-dot reflex sight, 1.25″ rack-and-pinion focuser, and Orion’s MoonMap 260.
Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope
Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope
Image Credit: Orion (Used with Permission)
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The Orion GoScope III is all about portability. It offers a lightweight (4.2 lbs) 70mm option that you can grab, pack in the carrying case / backpack (included) and head outdoors with. A couple hours of stargazing or daytime exploration could not be easier. The telescope is great for hiking, camping and easy portability. It comes with a rugged that backpack holds the telescope, tripod and all accessories.
The Orion GoScope III is just as good for daytime birdwatching as observing the moon at night. It includes a 5×24 finder scope for easy aiming and two 1.25″ telescope eyepieces (20mm and 9mm). The standard Orion MoonMap 260 seen with other Orion options also helps you learn the lunar features. The GoScope is definitely one of the contenders for the best telescope under $100 when considering the complete package.
Scorecard – Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope
Category Our Verdict Why?
Skill Level Beginner Easy to get started
Quality 3 out of 5 Decent quality build for price
Ease of Use 3 out of 5 Simple to use
Power & Clarity 3 out of 5 Not a high-powered, but fine for price point
Control 2 out of 5 AZ mount is not the best
Portability 4 out of 5 Lightweight and portable
Accessories 4 out of 5 Comes with lenses, tripod, pack and Moon Map
Overall Value 3 out of 5 Solid option for kid or beginner travel scope
Why We Like It
The Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor is a versatile option, and comes with a good set of accessories. It’s ideal for travelling, hiking and camping given its ultra-lightweight build. It excels at daytime bird watching, studying nature, and long-distance viewing. After the sun goes down, it of course is perfect for nighttime stargazing and Moon-watching.
The scope comes with a 70mm-aperture achromatic lens, finder scope, retractable aluminum tripod, prism diagonal, anti-reflection coated 1.25″ Kellner eyepieces (20mm and 9mm), as well as the standard Orion MoonMap.
Pros
Great option for portability and exploration
Good accessories like the Orion Moon Map and backback
Can be used for bird watching and daytime viewing
Lower price
Cons
Limited astronomical use beyond observing the moon
Not the best mount on the list
Orion Observer 60mm AZ Refractor & Starter Kit
Orion Observer II 60mm AZ Refractor Telescope Starter Kit
Image Credit: Orion (Used with Permission)
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The Orion Observer 60mm AZ refractor telescope comes with a lot of beginner-friendly material to help you get started in the world of astronomy. This includes the standard Orion Moon Map 260 as well as an Exploring the Cosmos book and a Star Target planisphere star chart, which can identify what’s in the sky at any point throughout the calendar year. Reading through the books that Orion provides is a great way to get used to the terminology of space exploration. The telescope itself uses a 60mm refractor with basic 25mm and 10mm eyepieces.
Pros
Lots of fun accessories
Easy to setup and use
Can be used for daytime viewing
Lower price
Cons
Limited astronomical use beyond observing the moon
Meade Instruments Infinity 50mm Refractor Telescope
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The Meade Instruments Inifity 50mm Refractor Telescope offers you a flexible, low priced option in Meade’s great entry-level refracting telescope family. We would encourage you to consider Meade along with Celestron and Orion for quality telescopes in the lowest priced category. The Meade Infinity line, inluding the 50mm option, is a solid choice for someone seeking a single scope to stargaze, bird watch and view other terrestrial objects.
Scorecard – Meade Instruments Infinity 50mm Refractor Telescope
Category Our Verdict Why?
Skill Level Beginner Easy to get started
Quality 3 out of 5 Solid construction for price
Ease of Use 3 out of 5 Simple and easy to use
Power & Clarity 3 out of 5 Not a high-powered, but clear
Control 3 out of 5 Average, AZ mount
Portability 5 out of 5 Ultra-lightweight at under 3 lbs
Accessories 4 out of 5 Good starter set; more lenses than typical
Overall Value 4 out of 5 Solid choice for daytime or nightime viewing
Why We Like It
We encourage beginners to review a variety of telescope brands before making a decision. The Meade Instruments family of Infinity telescopes is a great place to start when looking for the best telescope under $100. We like the flexibility (ultra-portable at less than 3 lbs) and solid optics of the 50mm option. Meade also provides a one-year factory warranty.
The Meade Instruments Inifity 50mm Refractor comes with a great set of starter accessories and features. These include a simple altazimuth mount, dual slow-motion control knobs, three 1.25″ eyepieces (SR 4mm (150X), H 12mm (50X) and H 20mm (30X)), red dot viewfinder, diagonal mirror, full size tripod, 50 mm lens and 600mm focal length, as well as AutoStar Suite PC compatible DVD astronomy software to help map the night sky.
The Meade Instruments Infinity 50mm Refractor is not terribly high-powered, but it has the performance to view the moon and other solar system objects, and double as a daytime scope when you’re hiking or c
amping by using the diagonal mirror. If you need more power, you can always check out one of the slightly higher end models (e.g., 60mm or 70mm models and still fall in the same price ballpark – for example: See it on Amazon.com). Overall, one of the best telescopes under $100 for stargazing at night and exploring / bird watching during the day!
Pros
Good company known for solid products in the Inifity line
Ultra-portable and ultra-lightweight at under 3 lbs.
All the accessories you need
Cons
Not for high-powered viewing
For daytime viewing, it’s recommend to purchase an erecting prism: See it on Amazon.com
Honorable Mention #1 – If Your Budget is More Flexible
Celestron 70mm Portable Refractor Telescope Travel Scope
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In our opinion, the best travel telescope in its price range. You’ll love this ultra-portable telescope that has everything you need for viewing on the go. Celestron’s 70mm travel scope is one of the most popular telescopes on the internet and for good reason. With its all-glass optics and 70mm aperture, it packs plenty of light collection and magnification ability for the beginner, and the refractor design makes it simple and easy to use.
If you have a little more money to spend you might consider the 80mm instead as it’s slightly brighter and includes a smartphone mount – but you really can’t go wrong with the 70mm at its price point!
Scorecard – Celestron 70mm Travel Scope
Category Our Verdict Why?
Skill Level Beginner Easy to get started
Quality 3 out of 5 Designed to be as light and inexpensive as possible
Ease of Use 3 out of 5 Simple, fast, and easy to use
Power & Clarity 2 out of 5 Not a high-powered telescope
Control 3 out of 5 Average, AZ mount
Portability 5 out of 5 Ultra-lightweight and highly portable
Accessories 3 out of 5 Love the travel backpack, but does not come with smartphone mount like the 80mm
Overall Value 3 out of 5 Great value
Why We Like It
The top reason to buy this 70mm Celestron travel telescope is for portability. Weighing in at 3.3 lbs. (seriously!), the telescope and all its accessories (even the tripod) packs easily into a custom canvas backpack so you can take it anywhere. It’s easily one of the most versatile telescopes for traveling, hiking, camping, and many other activities where you need a light, compact, easy-to-setup telescope that you can pack up and and carry just about anywhere.
Additionally, it comes with a good set of starter accessories, including two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), an erect image star diagonal, a finder scope, full-height adjustable tripod, and of course the traveling backpack. Additionally, the mount is Alt-Azimuth, which is ideal for a traveling scope.
It’s not the highest-powered telescope in the world, with magnification of 20x to 40x using the included eyepieces – but that’s plenty for viewing the moon, other solar system objects, planets, and star clusters. Plus, with the star diagonal you can use it as a spotting telescope in the daylight. (So, if you’re hiking, you can use this telescope anytime – you can admire nature and wildlife during the day, then stargaze at night!) The optics are fully-coated glass and the telescope is backed by Celestron’s two-year warranty, so you can buy with confidence in Celestron’s quality and support.
Overall, this is an incredibly popular telescope because it’s hard to beat the value offered at this price point.
Pros
Designed for “on the go” viewing
Ultra-portable and ultra-lightweight at just 3.3 lbs.
All the accessories you need including tripod and travel backpack
Cons
Not for high-powered viewing
Does not include the smartphone mount like the 80mm Celestron travel scope
Honorable Mention #2 – If Your Budget is More Flexible
Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker 60AZ Telescope
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Another great beginner option from Celestron, the 21041 60mm PowerSeeker provides decent power and versatility into a compact package. This makes the Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker one of the more popular telescope lines in this price category.
Celestron intended this telescope to be the perfect introductory scope for the new beginner or youth. They wanted to combine good construction, a variety of features and quality optics into a high value package. In our view, they hit the mark.
Scorecard – Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker 60AZ Telescope
Category Our Verdict Why?
Skill Level Beginner Easy to get started
Quality 3 out of 5 Good quality for price
Ease of Use 4 out of 5 Simple and easy to use
Power & Clarity 3 out of 5 Not a high-powered, but good for price point
Control 3 out of 5 Average, AZ mount
Portability 5 out of 5 Lightweight and portable
Accessories 4 out of 5 Good set of intro accessories
Overall Value 4 out of 5 Good value package
Why We Like It
The Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker 60AZ works great for adults and kids alike. Its compact form factor comes lightweight for high portability. The assembled weight reaches about 7.5 lbs. This is definitely a telescope you could port around camping, hiking and adventuring outdoors. Celestron packed a lot of features in with the PowerSeeker 60AZ. The 60mm lens and 700mm focal length provide good quality images for the price point.
The telescope comes with two eyepieces (20mm and 4mm), an erect image diagonal, an alt-azimuth adjustable mount, and a finderscope. It also comes with an amazing 3x Barlow lens (more than we usually see in this price range), which will triple the magnification power of each eyepiece.
Additionally, Celestron provides a free downloadable version of top-rated astronomy software, and wraps the entire thing in Celestron’s fantastic two-year warranty with unlimited access to technical support. It’s also possible to purchase the Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker 60AZ with a basic smartphone adapter, allowing for some basic astrophotography and added fun.
Like the others in the category of best telescope under $100 (or around that ballpark), the Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker 60AZ is not going to win any power records. That said, considering the features/accessories, quality, versatility and Celestron warranty that come with this package, we believe the Celestron 21041 PowerSeeker 60AZ to be a clear favorite in its price range.
Pros
Good construction and images for the price
Very portable and lightweight at around 7.5 lbs.
Comes with a great barlow lens and other good features
Can be purchased with a smartphone adapter: See it on Amazon.com
Cons
Not for high-powered viewing
Final Thoughts: Best Telescope Under $100
While it’s challenging to find a good telescope in this price range, it’s possible to find one that helps you get started with astronomy. Even on a tight budget, we still recommend you stick with brands like Orion, Celestron, and Meade, like the ones we’ve included in this article.
In general, the size of the aperture, combined with ease of use, are perhaps the most important considerations. 70mm and above will give you brighter images; and an alt-azimuth or tabletop mount will be easiest to work with as you’re getting started. The 50-60mm refractors in this article are decent choices in this price range if you’re primarily interested in lunar and planetary viewing.
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