10 Best Celestron Telescopes 2026 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 NexStar Evolution 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope is a versatile and user-friendly option for astronomy enthusiasts. One of its key strengths is the ability to control the telescope wirelessly using your smartphone or tablet through the Celestron mobile app. This feature makes it quite accessible even for beginners and adds to the convenience with its easy-to-use planetarium interface and SkyAlign technology for alignment of celestial objects. The telescope offers a substantial aperture of 235mm, enabling clear and bright views of celestial bodies. Its focal length provides good magnification options, which is essential for detailed observations.

The StarBright XLT optical coatings further enhance the image quality by increasing light transmission. The computerized GoTo mount with high-performance worm gears and motors ensures precise tracking and minimal backlash, which is great for smooth and accurate observations. Also, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery supports up to 10 hours of continuous use, allowing for extended stargazing sessions without interruption. On the downside, the telescope is quite heavy, weighing over 21 kilograms (46.9 pounds), which could pose a challenge in terms of portability.

Additionally, while the manual focus and reflex finderscope are good, some users might prefer an automatic focusing system for ease of use. The design is practical with integrated carry handles and accessory trays, but the size might still be cumbersome for some. This telescope is well-suited for serious amateur astronomers who appreciate a blend of modern tech features and robust optical performance, though it may not be the best choice for someone looking for a lightweight, highly portable option.

The Celestron CGEM II 1100 EdgeHD Telescope is a high-quality instrument designed for serious astronomy enthusiasts, especially those interested in astrophotography. It features an 11-inch aperture, which allows it to gather a lot of light for clear views of deep sky objects. The EdgeHD optical design ensures sharp, detailed images with minimal distortion, making it a strong choice for capturing crisp photos of planets, the moon, and distant galaxies. The telescope comes with a manual focus and includes a Barlow lens to boost magnification when needed.

Its equatorial mount (CGEM II) is stable and precise, helping you track celestial objects smoothly as they move across the sky—a key factor for long exposure images. The mirror clutch system reduces image shift, which is helpful for astrophotography by keeping the view steady once focused. Additionally, tube vents help cool the telescope quickly, improving image quality by preventing heat waves. Despite its excellent optics and features, the telescope is relatively heavy and may not be the easiest to transport or set up quickly, so it suits users who have a dedicated observing site or don't mind some setup time.

Its compatibility with Fastar accessories adds versatility for wide-field imaging, appealing to those who want to experiment with different types of astrophotography. This telescope balances strong imaging capability with practical features, making it a solid choice for users looking to deepen their astronomy experience.