Humans have always wanted to learn about stars, planets, and galaxies. So they made a tool called a telescope. The telescope captures light, then uses mirrors to make the light clearer. The light travels through the telescope tube to the eyes. An eyepiece makes things look bigger.
It can be confusing to buy a telescope for looking at planets and galaxies. But if you know what you want, it can be easier. Our recommendation for the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies is Zhumell Z12 Dobsonian Deluxe Reflector Telescope.
| Telescope | Aperture | Focal Length | Magnification | Focal ratio | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orion 8945 XT8 SkyQuestClassic Dobsonian Telescope | 200mm | 1200mm | 29x. 300x | f/5.9 | |
| Celestron – NexStar 130SLT SkyAlign Technology Computerized Telescope | 130mm | 650mm | 26x, 72x | f/5 | |
| Orion 09007 SpaceProbe Equatorial 130ST Reflector Telescope | 130mm | 650mm | 26x, 65x | f/5 | |
| Gskyer AZ Space Astronomical 80mm Refractor Telescope | 80mm | 400mm | Max. 240x | f/5 | |
| Twin Star AstroVenture 4.5-Inch Reflector Telescope | 115mm | 500mm | 30x, 75x | f/5 | |
| Celestron – NexStar Computerized 5SE Telescope | 125mm | 1250mm | 18x, 295x | f/10 | |
| Zhumell Z12 DobsonianDeluxe Reflector Telescope | 305mm | 1500mm | 43x,600x | f/4.95 |
Top 7 Best Telescope For Viewing Planets And Galaxies (2025)
1. Zhumell Z12 Dobsonian Deluxe Reflector Telescope – Top Pick
The Zhumell Z12 Dobsonian Deluxe Reflector Telescope is our top choice for looking at galaxies and planets. This is because it has a special mirror that makes everything look clear. It comes with two big eyepieces that let you see a lot of stuff, and a smaller one for zooming in. The 12-inch mirror is really good at capturing light, so the pictures you see are very bright and don’t have any weird shapes. Plus, it’s easy to carry if you like to go hiking or climbing.
Furthermore, this planetary telescope has the mirror cooling fan, which brings it to thermal equilibrium very fast so that you can enjoy a long session of view without delay. Even more, the dual-speed Crayford focuser is used to bring the razor-sharp focus into the center of the target by pushing the scope to the desired object. The adjustable bearing system is used to facilitate smooth tracking of the objects even when the object starts to drift in the sky. Equally, it has an adjustable balance, which makes it effective when you are focusing on the object, which is a very far distance.
Additionally, it has a sturdy and durable construction, which makes this telescope to have strong support when you are using it in the camping trips and public star parties for many years. The assembling process is very easy because it does not have many disjoint accessories that need to be assembled. Also, it comes with a cooling fan, which is used to regulate heat in the camera to avoid overheating where there is extreme heat in the surrounding.
- Has adjustable balancing
- Easy to adjust
- It is portable
- Has a cooling fan
- Easy to assemble
- Doesn’t come with a base
2. Celestron – NexStar Computerized 5SE Telescope
Are you looking for a great telescope under $1000? This telescope is perfect for beginners and experienced users. It has an orange tube and updated technology for amazing stargazing. With a 5-inch aperture, it’s great for observing galaxies. The GoTo mount helps you track and locate celestial objects. The tripod and fork arm design makes it easy to assemble and transport.
SkyAlign technology helps align the telescope quickly. It has good optics and is easy to use, making it great for beginners. It works with high-tech accessories and is loved by many. Even if you don’t know much about the night sky, you can easily align the telescope. It also has GPS coordinates for automatic alignment and StarSense AutoAlign.
Besides, there is a free bonus starry night software, which is the top-rated consumer astronomy software that is used for the interactive sky simulation. It comes with a two-year warranty, which creates confidence when you are buying this product and also when you are using it because you are assured of replacing it if there is any defection. Also, there is unlimited access to the technical support who compost of the US-based experts who are ready to answer any technical question relating to this product.
- Light and portable
- Excellent optics
- Computerized GoTo tracking
- Made of good quality material
- Easy to use
- Short battery life
3. Celestron – NexStar 130SLT SkyAlign Technology Computerized Telescope
This Celestron NexStar 130SLT gain its popularity because of coming up with this new telescope, which is computerized and which offers a database of over 40,000 galaxies. As an illustration, it fits 2-inch eyepieces, which make it easy to locate and track the object with high and pinpoint accuracy. In the same way, this telescope is portable, making it ideal for use with adults and kids on weekend excursions or camping trips to view the planets and galaxies in the dark sky. Its compactness eases the process of transporting and assembling it, for you can do this anywhere by yourself.
Moreover, it has 130mm aperture, which gathers substantial light that can be used to view the planets and other things like the rings of planet Saturn and the cloud bands of planet Jupiter. Also, the Newtonian design of reflector optical makes it possible to view the brilliant detail of the moon. There is the SkyAlign procedure that gives you the room to observe the objects within minutes. This is done by placing any 3 bright objects at the center of the eyepiece and NexStar being aligned to a night sky, prepared to trace thousands of objects.
Besides, this Celestron NexStar 130SLT comes with a free bonus starry night software, which makes it free when you want to download any top-rated consumer astronomy software program which ensures interactive sky simulation. What is more, it comes with a two-year warranty that makes one confident when buying one for you are sure of its function within those two years. There is computerized hand control, which gives you automatically slew ability to more than 4,000 objects, including 300 clusters, over 600 galaxies, and many beautiful binary stars. Equally, there is customer support who deals with technical issues from a US-based expert team that can help you to answer any technical question.
- Computerized go-to tracking
- Wide-field of views
- Light and portable
- It is easy to setup
- Has good optics
- great Goto accuracy
- Sensitive to vibration
- Short battery life
4. Orion 8945 XT8 SkyQuest Classic Dobsonian Telescope
When you want the best telescope to view planets and galaxies under $600, then you can go for the product of Orion. In particular, Orion 8945 XT8 has 8 inches diameter reflector optics, which allow you to view the planets in close up details. There is enough light grasp used to pull in the pleasing views, even faint galaxies. Also, this telescope has a long life where it can be used by astronomy enthusiasts’ beginners and also their whole family. There is an ultra-stable Dobsonian base that perfectly keeps a reflector optical tube balanced for ease of use during point-and-view.
Furthermore, it comes with a large aperture just like our top pick Zhumell Z12, which gives a wide field of view when locating planets and galaxies that are very far away. What is more, it comes in different boxes, which make it easy to ship and arrive safely. The assembling of this product is very easy, for it comes with a manual that gives you all that you need to do. Likewise, it has a sturdy mount, which creates a smooth focusing motion to the planets and galaxies, which are very far away.
Similarly, this planetary telescope comes with a 2-inch Crayford focuser, which gives room for accepting 1.25-inch to 2-inch telescope eyepieces. In addition to this, it can accept EZ II Finder reflex sight, 2.5cm Sirius Plossl eyepiece, Starry Night software, and collimation cap, among others. When there is a need to adjust the length of the stand, it is easy because it has an adjustable stand that can fit anyone irrespective of the height. Also, it comes with a fantastic light-gathering capability where even in a dark sky, you can view the planets and galaxies.
- Easy to assemble
- Smooth focusing motion
- Easy to collimate
- Easy to adjust
- Fantastic light-gathering capability
- The scope is heavy to move
5. Orion 09007 SpaceProbe Equatorial 130ST Reflector Telescope
This Orion 09007 telescope is also good for viewing planets and galaxies as it comes with a 5.1-inch aperture reflector that gathers enough amount of light to view planets and brighter galaxies. Notably, it has a 24-inch optical tube that facilitates fast focal ratio and easy portability for pleasing a wide-field performance. It has an adjustable tripod and sturdy EQ-2 equatorial mount, which allows manual slow-motion when tracking celestial objects as they are migrating across the sky at night. In a like manner, it comes with a counterweight bar that has a length of 8 inches that facilitate easy tracking.
Additionally, this telescope comes with a complete assembled telescope that about 27 lbs, which makes it convenient when you are traveling around hence making it best for imaging-planetary and lunar. More importantly, it has a 6×30 finder scope, two Sirius Plossl eyepieces with 1.25 inch each, pinion focuser, and 1.25inch rack. Also, it comes with a software of Starry Night astronomy and collimation cap, which facilitate a good field of view when locating the planets and galaxies. The focal length is 130mm, and a primary mirror has 650mm, which yields a large view and also brighter images for a particular eyepiece of the telescope.
Similarly, this best planetary telescope has the focal length of 130mm, which is primarily the diffraction-limited parabolic mirror similar to the one that uses larger reflector though it is costly. There is the presence of the parabolic mirror, which is used to focus the incoming light to the point and also to deliver detailed and sharp images. Above all, there is a center-marked primary mirror and collimation cap which facilitate easy optical alignment. This telescope comes with an advanced holder that holds the secondary mirror because it has thin metal vanes of 0.5mm to reduce light loss and diffraction spikes.
- Easy to assemble
- It is incredibly clear
- Huge chick magnet
- Excellent build quality
- Easy to use
- It’s very bulky
- Not very mobile
6. Gskyer AZ Space Astronomical 80mm Refractor Telescope
This planetary telescope from Gskyer is in our list because it is designed to view near-space objects during the night. It comes with an 80 mm aperture and 400mm focal length to capture an extra light picture and also optical glass coat, which enhances image brightness that is fit to the eyes. More importantly, it has three replaceable eyepieces, 6 by 30 finder scope with a mounting bracket, 3X Barlow lens, and erect-image diagonal, which make objects location more easily. The adjustable tripod allows the telescope to have many viewing positions in different directions.
Besides, it comes with different eyepieces and a set of a stainless steel tripod, which gives different magnification levels hence make viewing easy and simple. Setting up this telescope is easy and quick even for a novice, and this encourages children to learn it when they are learning the heavenly bodies. Also, it comes with high-quality accessories like lenses coated with the multilayer film, which makes shooting clear with crisp images. The advantage of using this telescope is that it is lightweight and portable, which means you can transport it anywhere you want with a lot of ease.
Subsequently, it has sturdy metal, which makes it possible to view the objects with ease without the interference of falling or swinging around. Not to mention this, it has no chromatic aberration when you are using it, which makes it suitable even to beginners. There is friendly customer service who are standby 24 hours to answer any question that you may want to know. Likewise, it has a one-year warranty making it safe for anyone who is buying in case a problem develops within that period.
- It is lightweight
- Easy to use
- It is portable
- It’s very affordable
- Easy to assemble
- Has sturdy metal
- Lenses are misaligned and soiled
7. Twin Star AstroVenture 4.5-Inch Reflector Telescope
This product from Twin Star will astonish and amaze you with outstanding features that enhance you to view the rings of the planet Saturn, moon, and other heavenly bodies. First of all, it comes with Twinstar optical instrument, which makes the telescope to be powerful and easy to view deep-space objects like Orion Nebulae, binary star systems, and Beehive star clusters. The design of the Twinstar series gives a first-time telescope user a right combination of value, power, quality, and features. In the same way, it is portable and compact, which makes it suitable to carry it during the campsite to observe the heavenly bodies in the dark sky.
Furthermore, the sturdy mount and a large slow-motion control knob help you to track the objects smoothly when they are moving across the dark sky without any interference. When you want to set, it is very easy because there are not tools that are required, like many other telescopes. A set of two Plossl eyepieces 1.25 inch-diameter and 2x Barlow lens boast magnifications by 30x and 75x with the help of two eyepieces. Further, it has an f/5.0 of the focal ratio, which picks a wide range of astronomical observations and superior light gathering. Also, you will get a sharper view of the deep space objects such as galaxies. Other details like moons of Jupiter, multi-layered rings of planet Saturn, and the surface of planet Mars can be located.
Moreover, this top telescope for planetary viewing has a Universal Smartphone Camera adapter which works with almost all smartphone worldwide with a low-cost entry point to the astrophotography. The adapter can fit many phones that include Samsung Galaxy, iPhone, and Google Pixel, among others, which make it easy to share photos with your friends and family members instantly. It is durable and easy to carry outside, which means you can carry it if you love mountain climbing, outdoor sports, hiking, or just plain sports. The moon filter is a remarkable add-on feature which reduces moon glare and makes the surface details to be clear. There is the dust-free cleaning cloth, which is used to clean the telescope.
- It is lightweight
- Made of sturdy material
- It is adjustable
- Easy to set up
- It increases the magnification
- Poor quality mount
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Telescope To View Planets And Galaxies
Aperture
Buying the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies can be fun, and you need to understand the aperture. The aperture represents the lens’ diameter or the scope in the mirror. This factor is crucial, wherein any situation, the bigger aperture is preferable. With the large aperture telescope, more light enters the eyepiece and more light results in better and quality image for unclear objects. If you are on a tight budget, always go for the biggest aperture possible as this makes a significant difference in the quality of the image.
Focal length
Another factor to consider when buying the telescope is the focal length. This is the total distance between the focal point of the telescope and the lens or the mirror which require total attention when buying the telescope. When the focal length is bigger, the objects will appear bigger than can be with the shorter one. It is always best to search for the product with a bigger focal length. However, if you choose this feature, pick a scope with the biggest aperture.
Electronic control
Not so long ago, where all telescopes had to be manually operated and could not be automatically assigned to specific constellations, today you will find different types of telescopes. Using the built-in computer, these telescopes automatically find particular objects in a night sky. Typically, the average person does not require this feature. However, if you want Astrophotography or a way to track moving objects, the electronic telescope is paramount.
Mount
When you talk about the bracket, you talk about the base of a telescope. This helps to keep it firm and stable and reduces the need for manual intervention. Therefore, it is essential to choose a high-quality mount. Different modern telescopes are being sold in complete systems and which come with the mount. Nevertheless, depending on a product, you need to have the best mount. Some consumers simply buy an optical tube and then try mounting it to the standard camera tripod. While this may seem like the best idea, many telescope mounts are not sturdy enough to support the telescope. With the best mount, you can rotate the telescope in all direction. As soon as the mount attaches to the lens, the mount holds the optical tube entirely in place.
Eyepieces
When you want to buy the telescope to view planets and galaxies you need to consider the eyepieces, which is very crucial. There are eyepieces which have tiny glass pieces which are worse, and with tiny sizes, they are challenging to see through. The low-quality eyepiece keeps you squinted, and you may not see what you are looking for. When buying the eyepieces, there are different options to consider, and the right product is enjoyable to look at.
Setting
The setting of the telescope is crucial, which include where to place the telescope and record the extent of a night sky. Generally, if you want to use the telescope on the shared terrace and decide to lower and raise it, you need a better compact telescope. On the other hand, if conditions permit the larger telescope that does not need to move as often, a bigger one will be better.
FAQ’s
What features should I look for in a telescope for viewing planets and galaxies?
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- Look for telescopes with a large aperture, as it determines the amount of light the telescope can gather. Additionally, telescopes with high magnification capabilities, stable mounts, and quality optics are ideal for observing planets and galaxies.
Is computerized or manual telescope control better for planetary and galactic observation?
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- Both manual and computerized telescopes can be used for planetary and galactic observation. However, computerized telescopes with GoTo functionality can make it easier for beginners to locate celestial objects quickly, while manual telescopes offer a more hands-on and traditional experience.
What is the significance of aperture size in a telescope for planetary observation?
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- Aperture size is crucial for gathering light and resolving details on celestial objects. A larger aperture allows for better resolution, making it easier to observe fine details on planets and galaxies. Look for telescopes with a minimum aperture of 4 inches (100mm) or larger for satisfactory views.
Can I use a telescope for both planetary and deep-sky observation, or do I need different telescopes for each?
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- Some telescopes are versatile enough to handle both planetary and deep-sky observation. Refractors and compound telescopes (Schmidt-Cassegrain, Maksutov-Cassegrain) are examples of designs that can provide satisfying views of both planets and galaxies. However, dedicated deep-sky observers may prefer larger aperture reflectors.
What are the best eyepieces for planetary and galactic observation?
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- Eyepieces with moderate to high magnification are suitable for planetary observation to bring out details, while wide-field eyepieces are preferable for observing galaxies. Consider eyepieces with long eye relief and multi-coated optics for enhanced comfort and clarity.
Do I need a specific mount for planetary and galactic observation?
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- A stable and sturdy mount is crucial for any telescope, especially for planetary and galactic observation where precise tracking is essential. Equatorial mounts are often preferred for this purpose, as they can easily follow the apparent motion of celestial objects across the night sky.
Can I use a telescope in light-polluted areas for planetary and galactic viewing?
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- While light pollution affects deep-sky observation, planets are relatively bright and can be observed from light-polluted areas. However, for optimal deep-sky observation, it’s advisable to travel to darker skies. Consider using light pollution filters for better contrast when observing planets and galaxies from urban locations.
Conclusion
The telescope is crucial when you want to view the planets and galaxies. The above descriptions give you the right products to go about when you want to buy one. You need to consider the right on which will fit your budget. It is essential to carefully review every specification and identify all the pros and cons. Telescopes are an excellent investment which you can use for several years. Therefore, it is essential to make an informed decision instead of jumping to conclusions.
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