There is nothing quite like peering through a telescope and observing the stunning display that is the planets. Whether you’re viewing the brilliant rings of Saturn, the tumultuous storms of Jupiter, or the dusty glow of the our rocky red neighbor, Mars, experiencing the unique worlds that lie just beyond our horizon is nothing short of awe-inspiring. To truly enjoy these surreal sights, you need a telescope that is certain to maximize your planetary viewing experience, which is why our team of gear experts used the following principles to select the telescopes feature in this article:
- A large aperture for ample light collection
- A long focal length for sufficient magnification
- Reliable optical design that provides sharp views, ease of use, and little to no maintenance
Best SCT For Viewing The Planets
Celestron NexStar 8SE —
| Aperture | Focal Length | Optical Design | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 203.2mm (8") | 2032 | SCT | Fully "Go-To" Mount & Tripod |
The first telescope on our list is none other than the far-famed Celestron NexStar 8SE! Featuring a wide 8” of aperture and a long 2032 mm focal length, this premium computerized telescope delivers views of our planetary neighbors in stunning detail. Whether you're an advanced visual observer, night sky enthusiast, or curious beginner looking to be captivated by the wonders of our solar system, the impressive optics and ease of use provided by the Celestron NexStar 8SE have you set for success! To further support your planetary viewing experience, the bundled featured here includes multiple commonly needed accessories, like the Apertura Portable Power Supply which gives you the power to track the planets throughout your entire viewing session!
- Equipped with the patented Starbright XLT coatings from Celestron which significantly reduce stray light and provide sharp, high contrast views!
- SCT optical design means this scope maintains collimation for longer, requiring less frequent adjustments than other reflectors!
- The intuitive and powerful computerized NexStar fork-arm mount, slewing to and tracking the planets is proven effortless!
Check out our collection of videos featuring the Celestron NexStar 8SE, including an in depth setup tutorial, a guide on how to image the planets, as well as a planetary processing walkthrough!
Recommended Accessories
Apertura 2" Twist Lock Carbon Dielectric Mirror Diagonal
When observing the night sky, the addition of a star diagonal greatly improves your nights out under the stars by reducing neck strain and providing a more comfortable viewing experience. Thanks to the excellent craftsmanship from Apertura, this top-notch diagonal provides an incredible 99% reflectivity, while also including a non-marring twist-lock mechanism to securely hold your eyepieces in place.
Apertura 10 mm Panorama 82° 1.25" Eyepiece
This medium-powered 82° Panorama eyepiece is perfect for anyone with their sights set on viewing the planets. The 10 mm eyepiece focal length coupled with the 2032 mm focal length of the 8SE produces a magnification of 203x, making this eyepiece a great option for exploring the dazzling rings of Saturn!
Apertura 13 mm Panorama 82° 1.25" Eyepiece
This medium-powered 82° Panorama eyepiece is an ideal choice for exploring our planetary neighbors in stunning clarity. The 13 mm eyepiece focal length coupled with the 2032 mm focal length of the 8SE produces a magnification of 156x, making this eyepiece a great option for viewing Jupiter and it's four brightest moons!
Best Classic Telescope For Viewing The Planets
Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain Telescope —
| Aperture | Focal Length | Optical Design | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 203.2mm (8") | 2400 | Classical Cassegrain | Fully Corrected Optics (spherical, abberration) |
Our pick for the best Cassegrain Telescope for planetary viewing is the Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain—a modern approach to a timeless design. This telescope bolsters the classical Cassegrain optical structure with cutting-edge enhancements to deliver you with a viewing experience unlike any other. Holding true to the goal of maximizing the full potential of this traditional telescope, the Apertura team crafted the 8" Classical Cassegrain to be a prime choice for exploring our solar system in rich detail!
- A parabolic primary mirror and hyperbolic secondary mirror fully correct for spherical aberration and provide a well illuminated field free of chromatic aberration!
- Knife-edge baffles along the length of the interior reduce stay light and maximize contrast!
- Offers substantial coma correction for astrophotography applications, with most setups not requiring a coma corrector at all!
Apertura 6" Classical Cassegrain Telescope —
Looking for a portable planetary viewing powerhouse? Check out the more compact Apertura 6" Classical Cassegrain! With an impressive 1800 mm focal length, the Apertura 6" Classical Cassegrain can render beautiful details of objects both large and small, allowing you to enjoy vivid views of our planetary neighbors, all while only weighing a mere 12 lbs!
Recommended Accessories
Unlike the Celestron NexStar 8SE, these Apertura Classical Cassegrains are offered as an OTA only, and do not come included with a mount. We recommend pairing these exceptional telescopes with the Celestron AVX Equatorial Mount. This highly capable mount is easy to use, is wonderful for visual observing, and unlocks exciting possibilities for astrophotography!
Apertura 2" Twist Lock Prism Star Diagonal
Observing the night sky through a telescope can have us twisting our necks and backs in awkward, uncomfortable positions, all in hopes of catching a clear view. This strain can cut observing sessions short, leading to a spell of lackluster nights under the stars. The addition of diagonal will alleviate this burden and help you achieve the planetary viewing experience you deserve!
Apertura 10 mm Panorama 82° 1.25" Eyepiece
This medium-powered 82° Panorama eyepiece provides immersive and highly detailed views, especially when used with a long 2400 mm focal length like the Apertura 8" Classical Cassegrain. Together this pairing provides a magnification of 240x, which is a great magnification viewing the mesmerizing rings of Saturn amidst the velvety backdrop of outer space.
Apertura 13 mm Panorama 82° 1.25" Eyepiece
This medium-powered 82° Panorama eyepiece will bring wide views and stunning clarity. The 13 mm eyepiece focal length distributes the long 2400 mm focal length of the 8" Classical Cassegrain, producing a magnification of 185x. This is a great pairing if you are aiming to view the turbulent cloud bands of Jupiter without losing sight of its four famous moons!
Best Refractor For Viewing The Planets
Apertura 102mm FCD-100 Doublet APO Classical Refractor —
| Aperture | Focal Length | Optical Design | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102mm (4.02") | 1122 | Refractor | Apertura 2” Twist-Lock Prism Diagonal Finder Scope |
Proudly holding the title of best refractor for planetary viewing is none other than the Apertura 102mm FCD-100 Doublet APO Classical Refractor! Featuring high quality ED glass, air-spaced lenses, and precision optical design, this exemplary of a classical refractor puts outstanding clarity right at your fingertips. The meticulous aligned lenses of this apochromatic refractor and high focal ratio of f/11 come together to provide peak visual performance, making this scope an ideal choice for anyone hoping to resolve the intricate details of our planetary kin.
- High-end FCD100 ED glass minimizes chromatic aberration and provides stunning color accuracy within your eyepiece!
- Featuring a robust dual-speed focuser, enjoy smooth, responsive movement and find perfect focus with ease!
- Comes with a host of accessories within this package to get you out under the stars in no time!
Recommended Accessories
Unlike the Celestron NexStar 8SE, these Apertura 102EDR is offered as an OTA only, and does not come included with a mount. We recommend pairing these exceptional telescopes with the Celestron AVX Equatorial Mount. This highly capable mount is easy to use, is wonderful for visual observing, and unlocks exciting possibilities for astrophotography!
Apertura 7 mm Panorama 82° 1.25" Eyepiece
This high-powered 7 mm Panorama eyepiece is particularly useful catching up close, high magnification views of the planets. The 13 mm eyepiece focal length works alongside the 1122 mm focal length of the 102EDR to produce a magnification of 160x, which means this pairing is certain to bring you rich contrasty views of Jupiter's swirling cloud bands alongside it's four brightest moons!
Maximize Your Planetary Viewing with These Accessories!
To help you get the most out of your planetary viewing sessions, we have created a list of the best accessories designed to provide enhanced views, remarkable user-experience, and convenience! Designed by Apertura, an industry leader in high quality astronomy innovations, these accessories ensure ultimate performance and reliability. Whether you’re looking to expand your focal power or are in need of reliable collimation tools, these commonly needed accessories from Apertura will have you covered!
Apertura 2x ED Barlow 2" Lens
When it comes to planetary viewing, high magnification is key, which is why we strongly recommend adding the Apertura 2x ED Barlow - 2” to your arsenal of visual accessories! This superior-grade Barlow lens houses two fully-multicoated ED glass elements, providing exceptional color correction and clarity within your eyepiece. Thanks to the excellent design from Apertura, you can enjoy crisp, up-close views of our neighboring planets.
Apertura SCT Collimation Knobs
Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes seldom require collimation thanks to their exceptional stability. Though, if you’re looking to streamline this process, installation of the SCT Collimation Knobs from Apertura are a great solution! These knobs replace the factory-supplied Phillips screws found on your Celestron NexStar 8SE, allowing you to make quick, easy adjustments to your collimation without the need for additional tools.
Apertura Collimation Cap
Another collimation aid, the Apertura Collimation Caps provide a simple, yet highly effective method of aligning your mirrors. This tool sits within your focuser and assists you with determining ideal mirror orientation, and is available in both 1.25” and 2” sizes! Machined from solid 6061 aluminum, these Apertura Collimation Caps are built for long lasting performance.
Apertura 10 x 50 Right Angle Finder Scopes
Designed with a 50 mm aperture, these Apertura Finder Scopes soaks in the light to make it easy to identify stars and star patterns when navigating the night sky. Additionally, the 10x magnification presents a wide field of view for effortless target centering within your telescope. The cross hairs found within the included 20 mm eyepiece help you hone in on your desired object, and the helical focuser delivers precise, sharp focus!
Planetary viewing is without a doubt one of the most awe-inspiring experiences, and having the right telescope for your visual sessions can make all the difference. With either the Celestron NexStar 8SE, Apertura Classical Cassegrain, or the Apertura 102 EDR APO Refractor you’re well equipped for unforgettable nights under the stars. Embark on your planetary viewing journey by ordering yours today!
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VincentClick the arrow above to see MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style citations.
MLA:
High Point Scientific Team. "The Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets," AstronomyHub, High Point Scientific, 6 Dec. 2024, https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/best-telescopes-and-accessories/best-telescope-for-viewing-planets.
APA:
High Point Scientific Team. (2024, December 6). The best telescopes for viewing planets. High Point Scientific. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/best-telescopes-and-accessories/best-telescope-for-viewing-planets
Chicago Manual of Style:
Bibliography:
High Point Scientific Team. "The Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets," AstronomyHub (blog), High Point Scientific, December 6, 2024. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/best-telescopes-and-accessories/best-telescope-for-viewing-planets.
Footnote:
High Point Scientific Team, "The Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets," AstronomyHub, High Point Scientific, December 6, 2024. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/best-telescopes-and-accessories/best-telescope-for-viewing-planets.
This Article was Originally Posted on April 10, 2023
