10 Best Beginner Telescopes 2025 in the United States

The Gskyer Telescope is designed with beginners and kids in mind. It features a 70mm aperture and a 400mm focal length, which are suitable for observing the moon and stars. The fully coated glass optics ensure clear and sharp images while also protecting your eyes. The telescope comes with an Altazimuth (AZ) mount, which is user-friendly and ideal for beginners as it allows smooth horizontal and vertical movements.

It's also portable, weighing just 5.7 pounds and including a carry bag, making it easy to take on trips or store away when not in use. Additionally, the telescope is equipped with two eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens, providing a range of magnification options for different viewing experiences. The 5x24 finderscope helps in locating objects easily, which can be particularly beneficial for new users.

The package also includes a smartphone adapter and a wireless remote, allowing you to capture celestial images conveniently. However, the manual focus might be a bit challenging for some beginners, and the tripod, while adjustable, may not be as stable as more advanced models. This telescope is an excellent choice for beginners who are curious about astronomy and want a user-friendly, portable device to start their stargazing journey.

The Sky-Watcher Flextube 300 SynScan Dobsonian is a strong choice for beginners wanting to explore astronomy. Its impressive 12-inch aperture means you'll enjoy bright and clear views of celestial objects, making it ideal for stargazing. The innovative collapsible design is a standout feature, allowing you to easily transport the telescope without losing alignment, which is particularly useful if you plan on taking it to different locations.

One of its great strengths is the built-in WiFi, enabling control via a smartphone or tablet. This modern touch simplifies navigation and makes it easier to locate over 42,000 objects in the night sky, which can be overwhelming for newcomers but ultimately rewarding.

The telescope comes with two wide-angle eyepieces and a 9x50 finderscope, which are excellent for beginners as they provide a good range of viewing options right out of the box. The weight of 99.2 pounds when fully assembled may be a drawback for some users; while it is sturdy, moving and setting it up can be a challenge without assistance. Additionally, the all-metal gearing and DC servo motors enhance tracking accuracy, but the altazimuth mount may not be as versatile as some equatorial mounts for astrophotography, should you decide to pursue that path in the future.

For beginners, this telescope offers a blend of accessibility, advanced features, and impressive optics, but be prepared for its bulk and weight. If you have the space and assistance for setup, this telescope could be a fantastic choice to ignite your passion for astronomy.

The HUGERSTAR telescope offers a solid entry point for beginners interested in astronomy. Its 90mm aperture and 800mm focal length provide clear and bright views, suitable for observing the moon, stars, and some planets. The fully multi-coated lenses help produce sharper images, enhancing the stargazing experience for new users. It includes two eyepieces (10mm and 25mm) and a 3X Barlow lens, allowing magnification from 32X up to 240X, covering a useful range for beginner observations.

The Altazimuth mount is simple to use and allows smooth up-and-down, left-right movement, ideal for those new to telescopes. The included 5x24 straight-through finderscope assists in locating objects in the sky with ease. Portability is decent with the adjustable stainless steel tripod and a carry bag; although it weighs about 12 pounds, it remains manageable for most users. Additional perks include a phone adapter for capturing images through the telescope and a moon filter that reduces glare for more comfortable lunar viewing. Assembly is quick and tool-free, with clear instructions suitable for beginners.

On the downside, the manual focus and Kellner eyepieces are basic, so image sharpness and ease of focusing may require some patience. The tripod height range might not be comfortable for everyone, especially very tall users, and the telescope’s weight could be a bit heavy for younger children to carry easily. This telescope provides good value for beginner astronomy enthusiasts who want a capable, easy-to-use refractor with decent magnification options and useful extras. It is best suited for adults or teens starting out, looking to explore the night sky without complex setups or heavy gear.