10 Best Telescopes 2026 in the United States
#1
Winner
Odyssey PRO - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (with Eyepiece), 85mm f/3.9 (320mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, 5h Battery (Red)
The Unistellar Odyssey PRO is a smart digital telescope designed to make stargazing easy and engaging, especially for beginners and casual astronomers who value convenience and modern tech. Its 85mm aperture and 320mm focal length offer a bright and relatively wide field of view, allowing you to see many celestial objects from city balconies or darker sites.
Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,468
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#2
Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope 2026 Edition Black
The Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope is designed with beginners and casual stargazers in mind, offering an easy and enjoyable way to explore the night sky. Its 30mm aperture and 160mm focal length provide clear views of stars and planets, though the small aperture limits how much faint detail you can see compared to larger telescopes. A major plus is its smart features: it connects to your smartphone through an app, automatically finds and tracks celestial objects, and even lets you capture impressive 4K astrophotography images with just a tap. This makes it especially suitable for those new to astronomy who want to skip complicated setups.
#3
EVSCOPE 2 - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (with Eyepiece), 114mm f/4 (450mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Manual Fine Focus, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, Tripod, 9h Battery
The Unistellar EVScope 2 is a smart telescope designed to make astronomy accessible and enjoyable, especially for beginners and those interested in digital imaging. It features a relatively large 114mm aperture and a 450mm focal length, which allows it to gather good light for viewing planets, the Moon, and even some deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae. Its f/4 ratio means it’s fairly fast, capturing bright images quickly.
Top 10 Best Telescopes 2026 in the United States
#1
Winner
Odyssey PRO - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (with Eyepiece), 85mm f/3.9 (320mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, 5h Battery (Red)
Odyssey PRO - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (with Eyepiece), 85mm f/3.9 (320mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, 5h Battery (Red)
Aperture: 85mm
Focal Length: 320mm
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: 6.5 kg
Eyepieces: Plossl
Chosen by 1468 this week
Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope 2026 Edition Black
Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope 2026 Edition Black
Aperture: 30mm
Focal Length: 160mm
Mount: Alt-Azimuth Mount, Equatorial Mode
Portability: 3.64 pounds, compact design
EVSCOPE 2 - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (with Eyepiece), 114mm f/4 (450mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Manual Fine Focus, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, Tripod, 9h Battery
EVSCOPE 2 - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (with Eyepiece), 114mm f/4 (450mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Manual Fine Focus, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, Tripod, 9h Battery
Aperture: 114 mm
Focal Length: 450 mm
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: 9 kg
Eyepieces: Complex lens with OLED display
Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids Beginners - Travel Telescope with Carry Bag, Phone Adapter and Wireless Remote.
Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids Beginners - Travel Telescope with Carry Bag, Phone Adapter and Wireless Remote.
Aperture: 70mm
Focal Length: 400mm
Magnification: 3x Barlow lens, two eyepieces
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: aluminum tripod, carry bag
Eyepieces: two eyepieces
Gskyer Telescope 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope for Adults Astronomy, German Technology Scope
Gskyer Telescope 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope for Adults Astronomy, German Technology Scope
Aperture: 90mm
Focal Length: 600mm
Magnification: 24X, 60X, 120X; 3x Barlow; 360X
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: 17 lbs, 38 in; car portable
Eyepieces: Three eyepieces and 3x Barlow
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SkyWatcher Flextube 300 SynScan Dobsonian 12-inch Collapsible Computerized GoTo Large Aperture Telescope (S11820)
SkyWatcher Flextube 300 SynScan Dobsonian 12-inch Collapsible Computerized GoTo Large Aperture Telescope (S11820)
Aperture: 12 inches
Mount: Altazimuth
Portability: Collapsible
Eyepieces: Plossl
Odyssey - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (no Eyepiece), 85mm f/3.9 (320mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, Tripod, 5h Battery (Black)
Odyssey - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (no Eyepiece), 85mm f/3.9 (320mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, Tripod, 5h Battery (Black)
Aperture: 85mm
Focal Length: 320mm
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: 6.5 kg
Eyepieces: None, digital via smartphone/tablet
DWARFLAB Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope - Portable Astrophotography Camera, Capture Astronomy/Wildlife/Panorama, AZ/EQ Mode, Built-in Processing, 4K Auto-Tracking, Ultra-Light 3lb, Ideal for All Ages
DWARFLAB Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope - Portable Astrophotography Camera, Capture Astronomy/Wildlife/Panorama, AZ/EQ Mode, Built-in Processing, 4K Auto-Tracking, Ultra-Light 3lb, Ideal for All Ages
Aperture: 35mm
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: Lightweight, 2.28 kg
Eyepieces: without eyepiece lens
Sky-Watcher Skymax 180mm Maksutov-Cassegrain - Large Aperture Compound-Style Reflector Telescope (S11540)
Sky-Watcher Skymax 180mm Maksutov-Cassegrain - Large Aperture Compound-Style Reflector Telescope (S11540)
Aperture: 180mm
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: 19 pounds
Eyepieces: 28mm, 2-inch diagonal
#10
Equinox 2 - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (no Eyepiece), 114mm f/4 (450mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, Manual Fine Focus, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, 11h Battery
Equinox 2 - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (no Eyepiece), 114mm f/4 (450mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, Manual Fine Focus, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, 11h Battery
Aperture: 114mm
Focal Length: 450mm
Magnification: depends on app
Mount: Altazimuth Mount
Portability: 9 kg
Eyepieces: none
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Buying Guide for the Best Telescopes
Choosing the right telescope can be a thrilling yet daunting task, especially if you're new to stargazing. The key to finding the best telescope for you is to understand the different specifications and how they align with your needs and interests. Whether you're interested in observing planets, deep-sky objects, or just want a general-purpose telescope, knowing what to look for will help you make an informed decision.ApertureAperture refers to the diameter of the telescope's main optical component (the lens or mirror). It is one of the most important specs because it determines how much light the telescope can gather. The larger the aperture, the more light it can collect, which means you'll be able to see fainter objects and more detail. Apertures can range from small (around 60mm) to very large (over 200mm). For beginners, an aperture of 70-100mm is usually sufficient for viewing the moon and planets. If you're interested in deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, you might want to consider a larger aperture, around 150mm or more.
Focal LengthThe focal length is the distance between the telescope's main optical component and the point where it forms an image. This spec affects the magnification and field of view of the telescope. A longer focal length provides higher magnification but a narrower field of view, which is great for observing planets and the moon. Shorter focal lengths offer a wider field of view, making them better for deep-sky objects. For general use, a focal length between 700mm and 1000mm is a good starting point.
MagnificationMagnification is how much larger the telescope can make objects appear. It is determined by the focal length of the telescope and the eyepiece being used. While high magnification might seem appealing, it's not always better. Too much magnification can make images blurry and hard to see. A good rule of thumb is to use a magnification of 50x per inch of aperture. For example, a 4-inch telescope should be used at no more than 200x magnification. Beginners should start with lower magnifications (20x to 50x) to get clear and stable images.
MountThe mount is what holds the telescope and allows you to point it at different parts of the sky. There are two main types: altazimuth and equatorial. Altazimuth mounts move up-down and left-right, making them simple and intuitive to use, ideal for beginners. Equatorial mounts are more complex and are designed to follow the rotation of the Earth, which is useful for long-exposure astrophotography. If you're just starting out, an altazimuth mount is usually sufficient. If you plan to get into astrophotography, consider an equatorial mount.
PortabilityPortability refers to how easy it is to transport and set up the telescope. This is important if you plan to take your telescope to different locations or if you have limited storage space. Smaller telescopes are generally more portable and easier to set up, making them a good choice for beginners or those who need to travel with their telescope. Larger telescopes offer better viewing capabilities but can be heavy and cumbersome to move. Consider your living situation and how often you plan to move your telescope when deciding on the right size.
EyepiecesEyepieces are the lenses you look through to see the magnified image. Most telescopes come with one or two eyepieces, but you can purchase additional ones to achieve different magnifications. The focal length of the eyepiece, combined with the telescope's focal length, determines the magnification. It's good to have a range of eyepieces to cover different viewing needs. For example, a 25mm eyepiece for wide-field views and a 10mm eyepiece for higher magnification. Beginners should start with the eyepieces that come with the telescope and gradually expand their collection based on their observing preferences.