8 Best Telescope in India for Beginners – Buying Guide in 2019

There’s a lot of great telescopes out there but you’re confused to choose one!

Its one of the most popular problem with beginner stargazers. And it’s completely reasonable. The number of telescopes out there in the market are baffling and can confuse anyone.

So here’s the solution for this. You either become knowledgeable about it or just seek help from the one who is expert in this. The telescope buying guide is here. In this post, we will cover the second option (helping hand).

I have tried to make your job simple. So now you don’t need to learn and do a lot of research for your first telescope. Everything you ever need is covered here.

Below are the 8 best-handpicked telescope models for every budget. So just scroll below and get yours one right now (and this time with confidence). (y)

[Desclaimer: If you make a purchase using one of the links below, I will earn a small fee, without any extra cost to you]

So this telescope list is for…

Beginner space enthusiasts and stargazers with no minimal knowledge about telescopes ( like I once didn’t). So you can keep your money from buying some useless bulky crap.

So let’s buy better today and pick yours from the best telescope in India.

[Quick Suggestion – Grab a stargazing binoculars first if you’re purely new to the skies.]

The top 8 best telescope in India right now in 2018:

Picture	Name	Terrestrial	Sky	Rating	Price
	L&S 90x Astronomical Refractor	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 1km	Moon Poor planets	7/10	Check Price
	Celestron 40mm Refractor	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 1km	Moon, Poor Planets	6/10	Check Price
	GosFrid 50mm Monocular	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 1km	Moon, Poor Planets	7.2/10	Check Price
	Celestron 50mm Refractor	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 2km	Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter	9/10	Check Price
	Speciality Firstscope 76mm Reflector My Favorite	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 2.5km	Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter	7.9/10	Check Price
	Powerseeker 70mm EQ Refractor	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 3km	Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter	7/10	Check Price
	Specialty Travelscope 70mm Az	Birds Mountains Buildings Upto 3km	Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter	8/10	Check Price
	Astromaster 130Az Reflector	Birds Mountains Buildings upto 5-7km	Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter Nebulae & more	8.6/10	Check Price

This collection is unbiased. No paid promotion! And every one of this model is personally handpicked.

Here start our telescope reviews

TIP: For ease of navigation, I have divided the whole list into four budget sections; 5,000, 10,000, 15,000 & 20,000 with low to high-end models.

• Best telescope under 5000 rupees

GosFrid 50mm Astronomical Telescope

Specifications:
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 50 mm (1.97 in)
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Max Magnification: 60x
Focal Length: 360 mm (24 in)
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 95%

Gosfrid is a bestselling astronomical telescope under 5000 on Amazon. The specifications of GosFrid are almost identical to the Land & Sky telescope. Some of the features include 50mm of objective diameter (aperture), 360mm of focal length max magnification of 90x. It features erected eyepieces for stable landviewing.
The resolving ability of the scope is obviously not so outstanding though.

In reality, it’s a generic telescope, useful for regular observations like moon watching and nature viewing. Planets and galaxies? I think it will be difficult to see them. But you can get a blurred glimpse of Mars & Jupiter if you know how and where to spot it. GosFrid is a starters level telescope suitable for school kids that like nature and sky.

Things I liked

GosFrid is a lightweight easy to use telescope ideal beginners. The 50mm telescope is an impressive cheap. They also offer two eyepieces for free. You can use it for the variety of things like sky, birds, mountains, buildings and more. It’s a doable telescope with a lot of fun opportunities.

Things I didn’t like

The aperture/lens quality is standard and thus not so much useful for distant space observation (obvious at the price this point). Not for intermediates or professional observer and you will have a hard time spotting planets and other distant things. The tripod is not so stable.

Final verdict

It is an Amazon bestseller for a reason so finding a deal to match this one is gonna be tough. The telescope is more focused for people on a strict budget and those wanna learn skywatching. And if you are interested in the deeper sky then you need to scale-up your budget. Otherwise, it’s a good starter and perfect item to give your kids, trust me he is gonna love it.

Celestron 40mm Refractor Telescope

Specifications:
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 40 mm (1.75 in)
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Max Magnification: 64x
Focal Length:500 mm (24 in)
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 95%

Let’s start with the affordable telescopes first. The Celestron’s 40mm refractor is one of the most economical telescopes that you can find in India. This model features a 40mm introductory lens aperture with up to 64x of useful magnification. You get two eyepieces each of 20mm (with 25x Mag.) and 8mm (with 64x Mag.) for that. This gives you enough room for proper viewing of distant as well as nearby objects.

And BTW it’s a multipurpose device that can be used for both; sky and terrestrial viewing. That means you can see space objects like the moon, some planets as well as earthly objects including mountains & birds etc. One of the best this I like about this telescope is, its quite of inexpensive. You probably don’t expect brands like Celestron to be this affordable. The last time I saw, it was priced as much as 3,400 rupees. Yeah off-course it’s not a groundbreaking telescope though, not a deep sky thing, but it’s definitely a good starter for those kids and teens interested in space.

Here’s what a verified user said, “It’s a good for land and moon. Very clear image. Also, see bright stars. Nice but not see planets clearly. But good”

Things I liked:

The Celestron 40mm telescope is perfect for beginner kids & teens as its simple to use. Its cheaper in price considering the fact that it’s Celestron. So it’s a good gift. The telescope is useful for the sky as well as terrestrial viewing. And because its lightweight and not so bulky, that makes it a lot compact.

Things I didn’t like

It is a refractor telescope and thus not so good for deep sky objects like star clusters, galaxies etc. This telescope is thus not for professional or serious stargazers. And I hope you understand its obvious.

Final verdicts

There’s no such a thing like perfect on the face of the earth. This 40mm model by Celestron is meant for new guys, for kids & teens to have some fun time. It’s not for those experienced people.

Land & Sky 90x Refractor Telescope

Specifications:
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 50 mm (1.97 in)
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Max Magnification: 60x
Focal Length: 360 mm (24 in)
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 97%

This one is more of an India product. Its made to fulfill budget friendly needs of Indian enthusiasts. The Land & Sky scope is mold in a strong, built to last metal body. Some of the declared technical feature includes a 50mm aperture, 360mm of focal length and four different magnification values including 18x, 27x, 60x & 90x. Two eyepieces of different size including 6mm and 20mm are provided for ease in navigation.

Now about performance. Considering all the visible facts, the land & sky telescope is more for a casual use. It’s a deserving choice for kids and teens with curiosity to know it all. The scope is useful to resolve the moon with nice details and for sure some nice nature & birdwatching. It can be possible to see some blurred nearby planets like Mars – but that’s all! Things are complicated when you go beyond the moon. But you know, I think it’s completely negotiable when the telescope is priced at less than 2k (when I last checked).

This telescope has over 52 reviews on Amazon with an average of 3/5.

Things I liked

You get a decent telescope at such a low price. This scope has a metallic body which makes it durable. You can use it for the sky as well as terrestrial viewing. And because the telescope is pre-mounted to tripod it’s a lot convenient for beginners. You get two eyepieces for free.
You can turn it into an affordable yet unforgettable gift.

Things I didn’t like

The lens quality is not great and thus not so effective for deep sky. The telescope is not for professional observers.

Final verdict

I think it’s a great deal here. Especially if you are looking to have some fun time on a strict budget. Yeah, it’s not that great for astronomy but I think it’s unfair to expect those things at this price range.

PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope – *Best Seller*

Specifications:
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 50 mm (1.97 in)
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Max Magnification: 118x
Focal Length: 600 mm
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 93%

So my first telescope was a local 60mm one. And recently I was lucky enough to take it 1-on-1 with my friend’s power seeker 50az. To my surprise, he’s 50mm little did beat mine. As I could see the craters of the moon better through his scope.
I soon learned from my experience that quality matters more than quantity. The telescope I owned had larger but low-grade optics made by a local manufacturer.

His scope was of great quality, made by Celestron.

This model features a multi-coated refractive lens of 50mm. It has 600mm of focal length that allocates 118x of maximum useful magnification. You get 2x Barlow lenses to doubles the magnification of your eyepiece. One of the best things about this telescope is in its weight which is the only 2.5kg, making it ideal when you want to take it to another location.

Not over-praising but the performance of this telescope is also impressive. You can definitely see detailed craters of the moon with it. See some pics by users here. Deep sky things are not that great (probably aperture size still matters) with this model, however. Some planets are observable (including Mars, Jupiter etc) but the details won’t be that great. And because it’s a refractor, you can use it for bird watching, nature viewing too.

So it’s a good budget beginners telescope.

Things I like

The Power seekers 50mm, in my opinion, is a value for money telescope. They’re offering high-quality optics essential for skywatching. 2x Barlow lenses that double the magnification of your eyepiece is a steal deal. It is a “no-setup required” instrument which is great for beginner users to avoid a headache. The multi-purpose telescope can be used for both sky and land.

Things I didn’t like

First of all, it is not for deeper sky objects. You won’t get a lot of details of distant planets! And Altazimuth mount is weak and shakes the system sometimes. It’s a big issue when you’re doing cosmic observations. [Here’re the tips to fix telescope shaking issue].

Final Verdict

Powerseeker 50az is a legitimate deal. Buy it if you are a beginner and want a dual-purpose scope to see the moon’s craters, some blur planets, nebulas and nature/bird watching etc. But if you are interested in galaxies and nebulas then you need a budget of more than 15000. It’s near to impossible to find deep space telescope under 5000.

• Best telescope under 10000 rupees

Celestron FirstScope 76mm Telescope

Specifications:
Type: Reflector
Aperture: 76 mm (3 inches)
Mount Type: Dobsonian
Max Magnification: 180x
Focal Length: 300 mm (24 in)
Value for Money: 99%

Please do stop me if I am being biased but Celestron’s Firstscope is one of my favorite telescope in this list. The simple basic reason for that is because it has the highest value for money ratio. So, technically speaking, it’s a reflector type telescope with 76mm of aperture (which is amazing at this price point). And it has a smooth tabletop Dobsonian mount which is usually found in premium ones. It supports large 180x of maximum useful magnification (you may need to buy addition eyepiece for that).

Reflector telescopes are perfect for deep sky hunters. And this scope has it all, making it ideal for the beginner space enthusiast within a strict budget.

Firstscope’s compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry it to those dark locations so you can stargaze better. As far as performance is concerned, the moon looks astonishing through it. Planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Orion’s nebulas are also detectable. But here’s a thing, you might be able to identify those planets (eg. glimpse of Jupiter’s ring) but the details won’t be great. You shouldn’t even expect that at this price either. And just so you know, there’s a lot of factors that affect planet hunting, like time of the year and the location you’re at. Spotting them takes an equal dose of practice and patience.

Things I liked

One of the best thing about Celestron FirstScope is that its very value for money product. Trust me, there’s no other reflector at this price range. You are never gonna see 76mm aperture at this budget and of quality like it offers. I am trying not to be biased but it also has an easy to navigate Dobsonian mount. So it’s the best telescope under 10000 rupee for beginners & intermediate observer.

Things I didn’t like

Although Dobsonian’s is one of the top mounts, I heard some people complaining that the tube tilts a little in the horizontal direction when you lock the knob (not a big concern). There’s not a lot of things to hate about Celestron FirstScope though.

Final Verdict

Firstscope is undoubtedly one of my favorite scopes. It offers a great return on investment. I will say one next sentence to help you decide. The telescope is for beginners/intermediates with interest in the solar system, nebulas and with a budget of less than ten thousand.  Amazon | Flipkart

• Best telescope under 15000 rupees

Astromaster 70mm EQ Refractor Telescope

Specifications:

Type: Refractor
Aperture: 70mm (Approx. 2.75 inches)
Mount Type: Equatorial
Max Magnification: 165x
Finderscope: Yes, 5×24
Focal Length: 700 mm (28 in)
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 80%

Here’s another beloved model from Celestron for beginners. The 70EQ is one of the best all-rounders out there. The model has a 70mm refractive aperture fixed on a 700mm of focal length. This gives the device magnification boost of up to 165x. You are also provided with a 3x Barlow lens for free.

Speaking of performance, the 70mm model can do all the things that all the above telescopes can.

And are you thinking of seeing things like planets/galaxies through this model? There’s something to tell you first. As far as planets are concerned, like Jupiter and its moons, yeah, you can see them. Orion nebulas & some star system as well are enjoyable! But things aren’t clear beyond that. That’s all a Celestron 70mm telescope is capable of.

It has received over 21+ reviews on Amazon with average ratings of 3.8/5. Read more review here.

Things I like

As far as specification and performance are concerned, this 70mm guy is nice. Best in class! You can use it for the moon, some planets, nebulas, and land viewing as well. It is roughly 1.5Kg so it’s quite portable to carry.

Things I didn’t like

The thing that hit me hard is its price. It’s unfair to price a 70mm at 15k+ rupee (at the time of writing). This same model is priced less than 7k in Amazon US. It will be a great buy if they priced it somewhere near 10k.

Final Verdict

Except for the price, this telescope is pretty good. It’s useful for a beginner looking for some planets like Jupiter, Mars. Can be also used for the land purpose. It is lightweight & easy to carry. German equatorial mount has an awesome slow-motion tracking. Its reasonable at this price. Or you should just invest a few thousand more and get a better, reflector one, with 2x larger aperture than this.

Series Travel Scope 70 Telescope

Specifications:
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 70 mm (2.76 inches)
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Max Magnification: 165x
Finderscope: 5×24
Focal Length: 400 mm (16 inches)
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 89%

Made from high-quality material, the Celestron’s traveler telescope is one of the most travel-friendly instrument right now. Here’s the reason why…

It has a very compact, lightweight and durable body. So you can easily and safely carry it in your (provided) backpack.

Concerned about the specifications? Travel scope is almost identical to other 70mm ones. Along with 70mm of the objective lens, it features 400mm of focal length. The model supports up to 140x of large magnification. You get two, 10mm and 20mm eyepieces. This travelscope has a standard alt-azimuth mount.

Now here’s the interesting part, the performance! The 70mm model delivers some of the most amazing visuals at your disposal. It’s best for the moon and terrestrial viewing. But for planets and all those things, you will need a Barlow lens (cost a few thousand more).

Things I like

Things I like about it include good quality, portable size, and lightweight built-in. Great for casual land and sky things. A Barlow lens Add-on can greatly complement the performance for deep sky. It is best suited for people that are also travelers.

Things I didn’t like

The other part of the story; Travelscope is a little overpriced in my opinion. The provided eyepieces don’t give enough magnification for planet viewing. So you need Barlow for that. It has an underperforming mount (can’t blame at this price).

Final Verdict

Celestron’s Travelscope is a starter, versatile model. There’s no better telescope in India at this price. Planets are not so impressive without a Barlow.
So buy it if you’re looking for a scope for casual observation. The moon, birds, and land viewing on a limited budget. But do NOT buy it, if you are passionate about deep space with little more money to spare – because there’s a better one then! More on that below…

See what People are saying about it here

• Best telescope under 20000 rupees

Celestron 130AZ Reflector Telescope

[Deep sky, highly recommended]

Specifications:
Type: Newtonian Reflector
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Aperture: 130 mm (Approx 5.11”)
Max Magnification: 307x
Finderscope: Built-on StarPointer
Tripod: 1.25-inch steel tube legs
Optical Tube Length: 610 mm
Value for Money: 100%

I’m having a crush on it, yup, you heard me right! For stargazers, there’s simply nothing better than being able to open up to the wonders of the universe. With the Celestron’s 130mm astromaster telescope, that’s made possible, as this series of high-performance telescopes from Celestron is designed to give first-time telescope users an amazing combination of quality, features, price value and unmatching performance.

The easy to use, no tool setup features gets you started for a session within a minute. Celestron’s whopping 130mm reflecting aperture, and useful magnification of over 364x promises to jot-in those million-mile objects closer like never before in your sight.

There’s a load of observable objects possible with this big thing. For instance, you can clearly see those viral planets, their moons, nebulae and star systems etc. It’s good for terrestrial use as well – thanks to the erect image optics. Get yourself Celestron’s planetarium software for free – so you can learn to stargaze easily. Astromaster 130 EQ vs 130 AZ reviewed here

Things I like

The price makes it one of the best Return on Investment product on the list. Celestron 130mm telescope is perfect for deep sky observers. You can enjoy detailed planets, some galaxies, nebulae and star systems. And it’s super-duper easy to use.

Things I didn’t like

Pretty much of nothing to list here! There are just two minor issues. Its altazimuth mount is little unstable (I will happily help you fix that, ask me in comment). You need to buy a Barlow lens to enjoy deep sky observation.

Final Verdict

Go bring it up! 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 me in the comment!). And do get a Barlow lens to enjoy your scope’s ability to it’s fullest. Trust me, it really worths it!

What to look for in a beginner telescope?

Don’t get trapped by those sayings like “150x Magnification” or something! A telescope is not just about that. The more important is “aperture” or “objective lens“.  The larger it is, the larger the amount of light it captures.

RELATED: Best telescopes to see planets clearly

That means clearer & brighter view for you. The scope’s mount is also essential. The one like equatorial (expensive) gives you (the required) best slow-motion tracking of moving objects. Altazimuth affordable mount for beginners.

Remember- practice is the key! The magnification of scope is done via eyepiece which is universal. You can always buy those with higher power later.

Essential Specifications:

Priority 1. Aperture- Larger, better. More than 3” is best for deeper space.
Priority 2. Mount- Equatorial & Altazimuth are both good. Dobsonian is macho
Priority 3. Magnification- Not very important. Its done via eyepiece which is universal. Larger aperture, larger supported magnification.

Why buy telescopes online in India?

You see, a local store in your city can trap you easily with their words if you’re a nerd. They also charge a high fee for it. They may not even accept returns if you’re unsatisfied. Online shopping is revolutionary! You get high discounts when shopping online due to competition among sellers. So a telescope can be cheaper online! Most importantly, they may also accept the return (T&C may apply. check with product page!).

Whats the telescope price in India?

So the telescope market is not as huge as of US. But, it’s still a big one. There a lot of top manufacturers including Celestron, Meade, and Orion that offers their top pieces. So, on the rough scale; the telescope price range in India starts from as little as Rs 2,000 for L&S 50mm telescope to 25,000 for 150mm and beyond. That means there’s plenty of variety of telescopes available in India.

Conclusion: Buying a telescope is a great decision. But please don’t buy some TRASHscope as other nerds do. So here are my few personal tips to ease your selection process. (1.)Aperture is the most important & then comes (2.) mount. Cause larger, quality aperture gives better experience & good mount help scopes movement. Remember, high magnification is not what makes a telescope powerful but the bingo aperture does. I personally recommend Celestron AM 130AZ.
And keep in mind, searching for planets and stars with a telescope is way more challenging than you may be thinking of. So just practice.

Still facing the problems? Just comment below so I can help you out!