4 Best Telescope to See Planets Clearly – Reviews & Buyer Guide [2020]

Searching for the best telescope to see planets clearly? Get in! I have found for you the 4 top models that are best for planetary observations and your budget as well. So hold light! 

What so special about this telescopes is that they aren’t just best for planetary observations but most of these are also good for nebulas, stars, and galaxies.

I would strongly suggest Celestron 130AZ [or low budget Speciality tabletop ] telescope for those who are in a hurry.

So let’s get it started with a quick comparison below

COMPARISON: 4 best telescopes to see planets clearly

REVIEWS: 4 best telescope to see planets clearly

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4. Celestron Tabletop 76mm Reflector Telescope

No one wants to buy a stupidly expensive telescope when they’re just starting out. The Celestron’s tabletop is one of the cheapest telescopes by price for planetary observation.

Specification

Design: Newtonian Reflector
Aperture: 76mm / 3 inch
Max Mag: 150x
Focal Length: 300mm
Mount Type: Dobsonion
Finderscope: No!
Included: Two Eyepieces with 15x & 75x Magnification

Its the simplest but a highly powerful instrument with over 3 inches of reflecting aperture which makes it a perfect partner for beginner astronomers.

The telescope has 300mm of focal length and maximum useful magnification of up to 150x. You get two eyepieces included: 10mm with 15x and 20mm 75x magnification for free. So whether you’re dreaming of the moon or the entire solar system, the Cele’s budget Tabletop has got you covered.

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• Large Aperture
• Newtonian design for better light gathering
• Smooth Dobsonian Mount
• Ideal for Beginners
• Good for Planets
• Budget-Friendly

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• Not for Professionals

• Provided eyepieces don’t provide enough magnification

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Suggested Add-ons

The tabletop eyepiece kit is a must to see planets clearly.

Final Verdict

It’s a compact telescope, very easy to use, nice size of the aperture, and incredibly affordable price which makes it a win-win deal for beginners. If you are keen to know more about our solar system, the Jupiter & Saturn things, then it still the show. To get a special feeling of space, consider an add-on of either a Firstscope accessory kit or a Barlow lens which worth the in long term!

3. Meade Tabletop 82mm Reflector Telescope

Known for the world-class optics quality, Meade is probably a leader in the field of Astro-optics.

Specification

Design: Newtonian Reflector
Aperture: 82mm / 3.2 inch
Max Mag: up to 180x
Focal Length: 300mm
Mount Type: Dobsonion
Included: Two Eyepieces – 26mm and 9mm eyepieces for a low and high mag.
+ 2x Barlow lens to double the magnifying power of your eyepieces

The Meade Tabletop is an 82mm aperture and 300mm lengthening powerful saga instrument. It features a Newtonian style with premium coatings on both sides that delivers stunning distant views.

The Meade telescope comes with some of the must-buy expensive accessories like the Barlow lens set. As a result, Meade is one of my favorites on this list.

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• Larger 3.2” Newtonian Aperture
• Strong Built-in
• Easy Dobsonian Mount
• Perfect for Beginner planets observer
• No tool setup-up need
• Includes eyepieces & Barlow lens

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• Not for the professional astronomer
• Slightly overpriced

• The mount is tricky to operate for beginners.

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Final Verdict:

Yupp, Meade is a kind of a big deal because not a lot of telescopes dare to match the features as it does. The 82mm tabletop is just the right telescope to see planets. The accessories kits, provided for free, will aid you great power-ups. Hence what you only have to do now is to grab it, do some practice, and there you go, you little planetsBUSTER

2. Astromaster AZ Reflector Telescope

Big telescope for serious astronomers. The Celestron AstroMaster 130 AZ offers an exceptional value for money deal which is ideal for both beginners and experienced observers alike.

Specification

Design: Newtonian Reflector
Aperture: 130mm / 5.1 inch
Max Mag: 307x
Focal Length: 610mm
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Finderscope: Built-on StarPointer
Value for Money: 100%

Its 5-inch large aperture produces bright, crisp – clear images for the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and the sufficiently large 650mm focal length help you with just enough magnification for a closer look at all those celestial bodies.

And as a bonus, you can also spot the brighter deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae but, only if you know how to find them.

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• Giant 5.1” Newtonian Aperture for crispy clear images
• Best return on investment
• Highly recommended for planetary observation
• Up to 307x of highest useful magnification
• Suitable for beginners and intermediates alike

• Useful for astrophotography

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• Little unstable AZ mount
• Provided eyepiece doesn’t provide enough mag

• Not so portable

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Final Verdict

Go steal it now! If space is your obsession and everything you want to do is to go deep sky. It is the right thing & time for you. This 130mm telescope is all you need to spot the moon, planets, star systems, and more. Yeah, altazimuth is indeed a little problem, but I’m here to help you fix that out (ask in the comment!). And do get a Barlow lens to enjoy your scope’s ability to the fullest. Trust me, it really worths it!

1. Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope

Heres the most high-tech computerized telescope in the planetary telescope segment.

Specification

Design: Newtonian Reflector
Aperture: 130mm / 5.1 inch
Max Mag: 307x
Focal Length: 650mm
Mount Type: Motorized Altz
Included: 9mm (62x) & 25mm (26x) Eyepieces

The Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is perfect for anyone looking for the easiest to use and convenient instrument. It’s also highly useful for family trips to help your loved ones enjoy the wonders of skies.

It’s a lightweight & durable telescope that is easy to align. In fact, you don’t need many tools to set it up and takes less than 5 minutes to start observations. The premium optics (mirror) of Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT captures light more efficiently and delivers brighter and high-contrast images.  There are over 4000 sky objects in its database so all it takes it to feed one of your choices and the telescope will do all the work.

If you want the joy of seeing stunning cosmic objects like Saturn, Uranus, etc, without the hassle and cost of a “professional-grade” telescope, the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is a great choice!

Highlights

• Computerized telescope
• More than 4000 trackable space objects in the computer
• SkyAlign technology allows you to align with any 3 bright objects in the night sky
• Motorized altazimuth mount for ease in navigation

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• Premium quality built-in
• Larger 5.1-inch aperture
• Accurate alignment
• Hazel-free automatic computerized objects targeting
• Best for Astrophotography
• Made for beginners and professionals alike

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• Expensive
• Can be tricky to handle for beginners

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Final Verdict:

The Celestron Nexstar SLT is a premium computerized series by Celestron. Meaning it has an inbuilt computer to automate the object finding that save your energy in finding them manually. So all you need to do is feed the target and you’re ready to go on that distant journey in no time.

Want even better? Try this big 6-inch telescope for deep space

Planetary telescope FAQs

Let’s try and some high-frequency questions of you here

What kind of telescope should I buy to see planets?

It’s pretty simple. Just make sure the telescope you’re buying matches all these specifications: (1) 3-inch reflecting aperture, at least. (2) magnification of 100x. Also, a (3) equatorial mount is the best suited.

How big of a telescope do I need to see the rings of Saturn?

A 5-inch or more Newtonian reflector telescope will be the best choice for Starun’s ring. And remember you will also want high magnification eyepieces and/or Barlow lens with it.

Can we see planets with the naked eye?

Off-course you can! We have been observing skies even before the age of telescopes. It won’t be as good as through a good telescope nor will you be able to see Saturn’s ring, but it is worth the try for starters. Just be at a dark location. I have a complete naked eye stargazing guide for you here.

Final Word

Let me some this all up for you. Planets are so peculiar and every one of them in our system has got its own mystery to reveal. And these very 4 telescopes are ready to be your best eyes. So if you are on a very strict budget then it’s better to go off with Celestron tabletop or Meade tabletop. And for more professional experience, nourish yourself with an Astromaster or a luxurious SLT that you won’t regret choosing.

Drop the comment below for any questions!