Best Telescopes Under $100

Orion StarBlast 90 mm AZ Travel Refractor Telescope - $199.99 

A solid pick at its full MSRP, the Orion StarBlast 90mm AZ Travel Refractor Telescope is an excellent option in the $100 and under category on its current dazzling discount. With a 3.5" aperture, this tops our list as the largest refractor you can buy on this budget, giving you more 'reach' compared to a smaller telescope of the same speed or brighter views than a more compact offering with the same focal length. When paired with the included eyepieces, this doublet brings you 25x and 56x magnification for great framing of objects like the Moon, big & bright nebulae like Orion, and more. Views aren't restricted to outer space, with a 'right-side-up' diagonal included that not only makes motion more intuitive, but also allows you to view distant objects and animals through the scope during the day.

Take these easy going yet capable optics and combine them with a grab-and-go friendly pan-tilt mount & tripod (adjustable from 35" to 54.5" in height) and convenient carry case, and this entry comes into focus as a great option for your next adventure or to help spark some in a younger audience!

Orion SkyScanner 102mm Table Top Reflector Telescope - $149.95 

If maximizing your magnification is your goal, then the Orion SkyScanner 102mm Table Top Reflector Telescope is what we recommend! Making this list on its current stellar sale, this compact Dob gives you the largest aperture on this list at 4". This extra aperture helps give you a higher usable magnification and resolve a bit more detail compared to other entries in this list, which Orion has made use of with the included visual accessories. With a 3x magnification multiplier included alongside the two 1.25" eyepieces, this telescope can bring you 26x, 64x, 77x, and 192x magnifications of celestial objects. This wide range gives you the versatility to scan for larger objects like the Pleiades, or begin to approach small bright objects like Jupiter and Saturn.

This capable reflector scope comes with a table top mount, which makes it a great fit for a backyard patio set, camp side table, picnic bench, or just about any other raised platform you can sit the base on. A bit simpler to set up than a tripod, this form factor is a great option to quickly bring curious minds of all ages closer to the skies above!

Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope - $99.99 

Good views, great value, versatility, suitability for most ages, and ultra portability encapsulate the Orion GoScope III 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope experience and earn it its place here on our list! With a 2.8" refractor telescope and two 1.25" eyepieces, this compact kit can bring you 20x and 44x closer to objects in the night sky for enjoyable views of objects like the Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula, and the Moon. This relaxed yet engaging porthole into our universe is made easily accessible, with a 'right side up' diagonal and AltAz mount that make sailing through the sea of stars feel more natural and intuitive. With a tripod with an adjustable height of 17.75" to 43.50", astronomers big and small can chart exciting journeys across the night sky!

The entire kit including the scope, tripod, accessories, and included Moon Map, collapse down into the included backpack for an ultra-portable grab-and-go kit. At just about 4.25 lb. for the entire package, astronomers of just about any age can carry this out to the backyard, field, or vacation spot and start observing in moments!

Orion Funscope 76mm Reflector Telescope - $89.95 

Featuring the easy to use Table Top Dobsonian design made even more approachable with a 'fun-sized' footprint, the Orion Funscope 76mm Reflector Telescope is perfect for budding astronomers of just about any age! At just about 3" of aperture, this telescope is small but still provides a notable increase in light gathering power compared to some other common entry-level telescopes. It sports a fast optical design that brings you bright, wide-field views of the night sky through the low-power eyepiece, with the ability to move in close with the high-power eyepiece and 2x magnification multiplying Barlow lens. This set gives you 15x, 30x, 50x, and 100x to choose from, perfectly positioning a variety of night sky objects like the Moon (which you can explore with the included Moon Map), sparkling Hercules cluster, Andromeda Galaxy, and more!

The table top stand is sturdy and quick to set up, perfect for seizing the moment when a young astronomer's curiosity is sparked or transporting you to the stars at the spur of the moment. This scope might be small, but it has plenty of fun in store!