10 Best Celestron Telescopes 2025 in the United States

The Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory is a cutting-edge telescope designed for both stargazing and astrophotography, making it ideal for beginners and enthusiasts alike. With a 6-inch aperture and fast f/2.2 focal ratio, it offers exceptional brightness and clarity, allowing users to capture stunning images of celestial objects with minimal exposure time. One of its standout features is the AI-powered astrophotography capability, which automatically stacks and processes images in real-time, enabling users to enjoy sharp, colorful views of galaxies and nebulae without needing much technical knowledge.

The telescope's automated setup using StarSense technology is another major advantage. It aligns itself after connecting to the user-friendly app, making the entire experience accessible and enjoyable, especially for those who might find traditional telescope setup daunting.

This telescope excels in providing high-quality images and ease of use, making it a great choice for those looking to dive into astronomy without the steep learning curve. Its limitations in portability may not suit everyone, but for many enthusiasts, it represents a fantastic entry point into the world of stargazing and astrophotography.

The Celestron Starsense Explorer 12" Dobsonian is a powerful telescope designed for those who want to see deep-sky objects in great detail. Its large 12-inch aperture with a parabolic mirror and XLT coatings allows it to gather a lot of light, making faint nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters more visible. The manual focus system combined with the Dobsonian altazimuth mount provides smooth and intuitive movement, which is great for beginners and casual observers alike.

One standout feature is the StarSense Explorer technology, which works with a smartphone app to help you quickly find celestial objects without needing to know how to navigate the night sky manually. This makes stargazing more accessible, especially if you’re new to telescopes. However, the telescope is quite heavy and large (over 80 pounds and about 4.5 feet deep), which limits its portability and might require some setup effort or a permanent spot for use. It runs on batteries and uses a reflex finderscope, which is simple but less precise than some other types.

The optical design as a Dobsonian reflector is ideal for deep-sky viewing but less suited for detailed planetary observation compared to some other telescope types. This telescope is well-suited for serious beginners or hobbyists focused on exploring faint objects and learning the sky with tech help, but it may not be the best choice if you need something lightweight or highly portable.

The Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope is a solid choice for both beginners and seasoned stargazers. With a 130mm aperture, it captures a significant amount of light, allowing you to observe details such as Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s cloud bands. The Newtonian reflector design is ideal for clear and bright viewing.

The computerized hand control, featuring SkyAlign technology, simplifies locating and tracking celestial objects from a database of over 4,000 stars, galaxies, and nebulae, making it user-friendly for novices. The telescope's compact and portable build makes it convenient for travel and quick setups at dark sky sites, although users should note that it does require a battery for operation. The manual focus may take some getting used to, but it allows for precise adjustments once mastered.

The Altazimuth mount, while easy to use, might not be as stable as an equatorial mount for long-exposure astrophotography. Bonus Starry Night software provides an excellent interactive experience for learning the night sky. The product is backed by a two-year warranty and strong customer support, making it a reliable investment. Be prepared for the learning curve associated with computerized telescopes and ensure you have a steady power source for optimal use.