10 Best Astronomical Telescopes 2025 in the United States

The Gskyer Telescope 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope is a solid choice for adults interested in astronomy. Its key strength lies in its high-quality optics with a 600mm focal length and a 90mm aperture, allowing for clear and detailed images of the night sky. The fully coated optics glass lens enhances image quality and protects your eyes.

The telescope also offers high magnification options with three replaceable eyepieces (24X, 60X, and 120X) and a 3x Barlow lens that triples the magnifying power of each eyepiece, making it suitable for viewing a variety of celestial objects. The adjustable aluminum tripod provides flexibility in viewing positions, with a height range from 31.5 inches to 49 inches. This makes it adaptable for different users and locations.

The telescope is user-friendly, requiring no tools for setup, which is ideal for beginners. However, its weight of 18 pounds might make it less portable compared to smaller models. The altazimuth mount is straightforward to use but may not offer the precision needed for advanced users who require more control over their viewing angles. Included accessories such as the reflex finderscope and manual focus add to the value. The product comes with a 12-month support warranty, which is reassuring for new users. Nonetheless, those seeking more advanced features or greater portability might need to consider other options.

The Gskyer Telescope is designed with beginners and kids in mind, making it a user-friendly option for those new to astronomy. It features a 70mm aperture and a 400mm focal length, providing clear and bright views of the moon and stars. The fully coated optical glass lens ensures high-quality images while protecting the eyes, which is a major plus for young users.

The telescope comes with two eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens, offering versatile magnification options. The 5x24 finder scope helps in locating celestial objects with ease, making it less frustrating for beginners. The included smartphone adapter and wireless remote are excellent additions for those interested in capturing and sharing their astronomical observations.

It also includes an adjustable aluminum tripod and a carry bag, enhancing its portability and convenience for travel. However, the altazimuth mount, while simple to use, may limit precise tracking of celestial objects as compared to equatorial mounts. Weighing just 5.7 pounds, it is fairly lightweight, but some users may find the build quality less robust. In summary, the Gskyer Telescope is a great starting point for young astronomers or casual stargazers who value portability and easy setup, though more serious enthusiasts might eventually look for more advanced features.

The SkyWatcher Flextube 300 SynScan is a large 12-inch aperture Dobsonian telescope, which means it gathers a lot of light for bright and detailed views of planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects. Its 70mm optical tube length and fully multi-coated mirrors help produce sharp images. A standout feature is its collapsible design — the tube can fold down to make it easier to transport without needing to realign the optics frequently, a big plus for those who want portability with a large telescope.

The telescope uses an altazimuth mount with computerized GoTo functionality, allowing you to find and track over 42,000 celestial objects automatically via a smartphone or the included hand controller, which is great for beginners and casual stargazers. The all-metal gearing ensures smooth and precise movement. It comes with two wide-angle eyepieces and a 9x50 finder scope, providing versatile viewing options right out of the box.

While the telescope is relatively lightweight for its size (about 99 pounds fully assembled), it still requires some effort to carry and set up, so it’s best suited for users who don’t mind a bit of physical work. The autofocus feature and built-in WiFi control make it more modern and user-friendly, but the altazimuth mount is not ideal for astrophotography, as it doesn’t track the sky’s rotation perfectly. For those seeking a powerful, easy-to-use telescope with smart technology and good portability given its size, this model is a strong contender.