Telescopes for Camping
Whether you’re an avid astronomy enthusiast or just getting into the hobby, looking at the stars while camping is something everyone can enjoy! Take advantage of dark skies and epic conditions with our list of top telescopes for camping!
While we understand that there are limitations as to what kind of astronomy equipment one can bring camping, we have configured a set of guidelines that help narrow down the options. It’s important to note that nearly all 110 Messier Objects discovered by Charles Messier in the 1700s were found using only a 4” aperture telescope! While the skies were considerably darker back then, a small telescope is still capable of seeing these objects today.
Our telescope recommendations follow these guidelines to give you the ultimate stargazing experience while camping under the stars:
- Must be usable on non-level ground
- Lightweight and portable
- Can fit easily into a 4-door sedan
- Assembly and disassembly quick and easy
- Larger aperture to take advantage of the dark skies
- Limited or no power necessary
Celestron NexStar 6SE
This is our top pick for the best camping telescope for a few different reasons. Mainly due to the best aperture to size ratio, while also being incredibly reliable. With the ability to see plenty of night sky objects as well as having a lower weight, this package offers everything one would want in a computerized telescope for camping under the stars!
- Stable tripod to minimize vibrations
- Provides a great balance between portability and size of mirror
- Can peer into deep space, providing you with great views of brighter galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters
- Fully computerized with 40,000 objects to choose from
- Incredibly reliable and consistently accurate for viewing many objects per viewing session
Recommended accessories
Explore Scientific DAR102 / Twilight I Mount
(OTA) / (Mount)
The Explore Scientific DAR102 + Twilight I package comes in at number two given the unobstructed view that the 102mm glass doublet refractor offers. Yielding rich colors and sharp views of stars and planets, yet enough aperture to see many bright deep sky objects, this telescope will take advantage of the dark sky offered with ease. Pair this with a fully manual alt-az mount and a good star chart or smartphone app, and you'll be spending hours starhopping from one galaxy or star cluster to another!
- Unobstructed lens: No secondary mirror for improved contrast and color on stars and planets
- Large enough to view several deep sky objects
- Fully manual mount provides the freedom to move around the sky with ease
- No power required!
- Really helps you to learn the night sky by forcing you to star-hop using apps or planispheres
Recommended accessories
Celestron NexStar 4SE
Keeping with the reliability of the Celestron NexStar SE series, this fully computerized package offers everything the more expensive models offer, but in a considerably more compact system. The 4" aperture Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design will give you access to nearly everything in the Messier catalog, not to mention planets and the Moon!
- The 4SE is the most portable of the scopes that we recommend for camping
- Maksutov-Cassegrain design really delivers great contrast and color on the planets and stars
- A great value when paired with the versatility and performance of the SE mount
Recommended accessories
Bonus Scope
Celestron NexStar 8SE
While this scope will substantially outperform the other scopes mentioned above, it did not make the list due to its higher price, reduced portability and slight lack of stability. To tackle the stability issue we’d recommend the vibration suppression pads, and if price is not a concern, this powerhouse of a scope will give you more than enough aperture to see planets with plenty of detail and magnification. This telescope’s 8” mirror will also allow you to view fainter deep sky objects that can’t be seen with the other scopes mentioned. Under dark enough skies, the green hues of the Orion Nebula may even be visible!
Recommended accessories
Honorable Mention
Celestron NexStar 130 SLT
While this can be an excellent scope that will provide some rich views of the planets, moon, and deep sky objects, the lack of sturdiness in the tripod leaves a bit to be desired. For highly detailed views of the planets and lunar surface, mirror alignment (collimation) is critical with Newtonians such as the NexStar 130 SLT. Collimation isn't something you want to fiddle with while camping unless you’re rather familiar with the collimation process - this holds true with all Newtonian models.
Recommended accessories
Capture Images Of The Night Sky With Your Cell Phone!
Lastly, if you’re looking to take pictures of the moon or planets with any of these scopes, we recommend the Celestron NexYZ adapter. The adapter clamps to any eyepiece and allows you to attach your smartphone for snapping great pictures with ease! If you are looking to attach a DSLR to any of the above, please reach out to our non-commissioned product advisors and we’ll provide you the correct adapters for your camera.
In this video, Teagan breaks down some of the best telescopes you can bring on your next camping adventure.
This Article was Last Updated on 07/12/2023
