Table of Contents
Here at High Point Scientific, we strive to connect you with the
telescope that will fit your specific needs and provide you memories for
many years to come. Amateur astronomy can get expensive, and our wallets
are not always as big as our dreams of exploring the night sky. But why
let that stop you from navigating the stars? Our team has created a list
of ready to observe out of the box telescope packages specifically for
those who wish to drive into the night sky without breaking the bank.
Here is a list of the best telescopes under $300 and where the telescope
enthusiasts at High Point think they'll shine!
Guided Star Gazing - Celestron StarSense Explorer
When it comes to guided tours across the sprawling sea of stars, Celestron's StarSense system is a standout in the budget bracket. With one of these scopes, the StarSense app, and your phone you'll receive real-time feedback on where you need to move to find your selected night sky object. Combined with a recommendation list tailored to your location, the StarSense telescopes make exploring our universe a smooth and relaxing experience. Both our picks here come with tall, metal tripods, red dot finders to help with rough alignment, accessory trays to stow your observing equipment in the middle of a session, and slow motion controls to make following along with a target once you've found it simple. If you're looking for ultimate convenience, then these are the options for you!
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Reflector Telescope -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 114 mm | 40x | 100x w/ 2x Barlow: 80x | 200x |
f/9 | 1000 mm | AltAz on Tripod |
|---|
Pairing the incredible Celestron StarSense technology with the most magnification on this list is this excellent value package: the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Reflector Telescope! With the two included 10 mm and 25 mm eyepieces and 2x Barlow, you'll have four levels of magnification to choose from: 40x, 80x, 100x, and 200x! This is great for viewing planets like Saturn and Jupiter, admiring the Moon from afar or hovering over its surface, spectating the spirals of galaxies like the Triangulum, and beginning to reveal the wonder of nebulae like the Swan. With the StarSense app at your side and this range of reach, you'll easily find hundreds of things to view!
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor Telescope -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 80 mm | 36x | 90x w/ 2x Barlow: 72x | 180x |
f/11 | 900 mm | AltAz on Tripod |
|---|
Versatile? Check. Easy to use? Check. Great value? Check! With the lowest maintenance telescope design, Celestron StarSense, and a special diagonal, the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Refractor Telescope gives you the most relaxed way to explore the stars and world around you! Where other entries show an upside-down image, you can view wildlife and distant landmarks through this scope with its right-side-up diagonal. This also translates to more natural motion when looking at celestial objects, of which you can see quite a few thanks to the 36x, 72x, 90x, and 180x magnifications provided by the two included eyepieces and 2x Barlow. Though a bit dimmer than our first pick, you can still view stellar targets like the Pleiades, sparkling Hercules star cluster, Moon, Saturn and Jupiter, and much more through the 3.1" multi-coated lens!
Table Top Options
If you're looking for a telescope that is easy to stow, yet ready to use at a moment's notice, then look no further than a table top telescope! Compared to some of the other entries on this list, these options use a small, stout base designed to be sat on something like a table, short retaining wall, picnic bench, etc. This means no tripod to set up or system to assemble, just sit the scope down on whatever is convenient in your backyard or at the campground and go!
Orion SkyScanner 102mm Table Top Reflector Telescope -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 102 mm | 26x | 64x w/ 3x Barlow: 77x | 192x |
f/6.3 | 640 mm | AltAz on Table Top Stand |
|---|
Don't let its compact size fool you! With a 4" aperture and f/6.3 design the Orion SkyScanner 102mm Table Top Reflector Telescope gives you solid reach out of a small form factor. This is great for the table top format, allowing you to pick out the Moon, targets like the Lagoon Nebula, and more when the muse strikes! In addition to the two included eyepieces which bring you 26x and 64x magnification, Orion has packed in a 3x magnification multiplier to push your view to 77x and 192x. This makes for an incredibly versatile option able to reach out to larger deep sky objects and our more immediate neighbors like Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn!
Equatorial Options
Looking for a more advanced option in this value segment? Then check out these equatorial mount options! This style of mount is preferred by astronomers as stars, galaxies, and nebulae appear 'frozen' in place as you jog the scope along in time with them, instead of slowly spinning. While a bit more involved, you'll discover the wonders of the universe and a sense of accomplishment as you master a new skill with these EQ mounts!
Orion Observer 114EQ Reflector Telescope -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 114 mm | 20x | 50x | f/4.4 | 500 mm | EQ on Tripod |
|---|
If you're trying to feed to maximize aperture for the dollar, it is hard to beat a Newtonian scope! Tying for the largest aperture on this list, the Orion Observer 114EQ Reflector Telescope takes a slightly different tack by focusing on image brightness rather than reach. The f/4.4 reflector optics cut color fringing and make finding & observing objects easier, with the additional aperture allowing you to better realize more magnification with other accessories as you grow. Included with the scope are two eyepieces for 20x and 50x windows into the stars, bringing you stellar views of the Beehive Cluster, Orion Nebula, and the Moon. Orion paired these with their EQ-3 class mount, a solid entry option that gives you added image stability compared to some EQ mounts in the budget segment.
Orion Observer 90mm Refractor Telescope with Equatorial Mount -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 90 mm | 36x | 90x | f/10 | 900 mm | EQ on Tripod |
|---|
Looking for an advanced EQ experience ready to reach out to our planetary neighbors? With a 3.5" f/10 refractor, the Orion Observer 90mm Refractor Telescope with Equatorial Mount gives you the most magnification of our EQ picks, capable of reaching 36x and 90x with the two included eyepieces! This is perfect for bringing you in closer to the planets to begin to resolve Jupiter's Red Spot and Saturn's rings, putting the full disc of the Moon front and center, putting the glittering globular cluster M13 right outside your window into the stars, and more. The design also helps control color fringing from the lenses, for clearer views of our universe. This has been paired with a sturdy mount, for a more stable backyard viewing experience, and magnified 6x30 finder scope which is a big help when using the scope at higher magnifications!
Orion Observer 80mm EQ Refractor -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 80 mm | 16x | 40x | f/5 | 400 mm | EQ on Tripod |
|---|
Finishing out our EQ picks and cementing that 'Advanced' doesn't always have to mean 'Expensive' is a stellar value from Orion! With a compact 3.1" telescope and lighter duty EQ-1B mount, the Orion Observer 80mm EQ Refractor is well suited to younger astronomers looking for a challenge without the bulk of a full sized scope or those looking for the EQ experience with enhanced portability. The fast telescope design and gentler magnification provides a brighter view that dovetails these use cases beautifully, making finding objects to observe quicker and easier than slower options. The two included eyepieces give you a 16x and 40x window into the sea of stars above, excellent for framing big objects like the Moon, Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, and more. The Orion Moon Map 260 comes included to help guide explorations of this incredibly easy to find, yet full of detail to explore, celestial companion to further enrich a budding astronomer's first target!
Altitude Azimuth Options
If you're looking for a more relaxed way to explore the universe and want a telescope that can stand on its own, then an Altitude Azimuth mount is a solid choice. Often shortened to just 'AltAz' mounts, these systems have an intuitive 'up-down, left-right' movement that requires minimal adjustment to operate and no alignment to worry about compared to the previous EQ picks. This makes going from set up to star gazing quick and simple like a table top Dobsonian, with an added tripod that gives you more flexibility on where you observe!
Orion StarBlast 90mm AZ Travel Refractor Telescope -
| Aperture | Magnification w/ Included Eyepieces |
Focal Ratio | Focal Length | Mount | 90 mm | 25x | 56x | f/5.6 | 500 mm | AltAz on Tripod |
|---|
Embracing the more relaxed experience an AltAz mount can provide, our pick for an under $300 AltAz all-in-one package is an option that can bring you a bit closer to the sparkling celestial bodies above in a flash! As its name suggests, the Orion StarBlast 90mm AZ Travel Refractor Telescope is built to tag-along, with total weight just shy of 10 lb. and collapsible design that stows in the included carry bag. This carries the included accessories as well, bringing you everything you need for an impromptu viewing session in one convenient place! The included eyepieces bring you a 25x and 56x magnified view, bringing you night sites like the Moon, Orion Nebula, Lagoon Nebula and more, or daytime views such as landmarks and wildlife. This dual functionality is thanks to the special diagonal that turns the traditionally inverted views of your scope right side up, and further cements this scope as a perfect companion for next adventure, whether that be in the driveway or on a trip!
Honorable Mention
Orion E-Series 90AZ Refractor Telescope -
If you're looking for the simplicity of the AltAz mount design and don't have ultra portability at the top of your list, we also recommend the Orion E-Series 90AZ Refractor Telescope. With a similar telescope, set of included eyepieces, and a right-side-up diagonal this telescope is well suited for similar targets as the StarBlast 90 mm Travel Telescope; able to bring you 24x and 60x magnification with those included accessories. While it does not include a carry case making it a bit less suited to grab-and-go use, it is still simple to transport and adds slow motion controls to more precisely track targets for an excellent backyard observing experience!
Daniel
Cierra
Moryah
Vincent
