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7 Best Telescope in India for Beginners – A Buyers Guide in 2019

Telescopes

Looking for the best telescope in India that is perfect for a beginner? Well, I want to tell you something, you’re in the right place! 🙂

First, there are a lot of different one’s options right now in the market and online. So it makes choosing the right one’s a headache.

And that’s why, to simplify your choice, I have picked top beginner telescopes in each budget segment. So just scroll below and choose one from your desired budget and according to your needs.

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

Quick comparison

Model	Design	Aperture (mm)	Max Mag.	Best for	Quality	Price
7. Land & Sky Telescope	Refractor	50	90x	Terrestrial The Moon	3.5/5	Check here
6. Powerseeker Telescope	Refractor	40	63x	Terrestrial The Moon	4/5	Check here
5. Celestron Telescope	Refractor	50	118x	Terrestrial The Moon Mars	4.5/5	Check here
4. Speciality Firstscope Telescope	REFLECTOR	76	180x	Terrestrial The Moon Planets	4.7/5	Check here
3. Powerseeker EQ Telescope	Refractor	70	165x	Terrestrial The Moon Planets	4.6/5	Check here
2. Specialty Travelscope	Refractor	70	165x	Terrestrial The Moon Planets	3.9/5	Check here
1. Astromaster TelescopeAz	REFLECTOR	130	307x	Terrestrial The Moon Planets Stars Nearby Galaxies	4.6/5	Check here

I want to assure you, all of these 7 reviews are genuine & unbiased. And every one of this model is personally handpicked.

Reviewed: the 7 best telescopes in India

[Desclaimer: Just want to tell you upfront. If you make a purchase using one of the links below, AlienPanda will earn a small fee with no extra cost to you!] 

>> Best telescopes under 5000 rupees

7. L&S 90x Zoom Astronomical Telescope

Specifications:
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 50 mm (1.97 in)
Mount Type: Altazimuth
Max Magnification: 90x
Focal Length: 360 mm (24 in)
Tripod: Aluminium
Value for Money: 95%

L&S is an Amazon’s choice astronomical telescope under 5000 rupees. In fact, you can buy it for less than 2,000 bucks. This telescope made it to this list of best telescopes India because, in my opinion, it offers the unique price to features ratio.

Some of the most talked about features of L&S includes the 50mm amateur refractive lens. It bags about 360mm of focal length that boasts about 90x of magnification power. Another eye-catchy feature includes erected eyepieces to help stabilize land-viewing.

The resolving ability of the scope, however, is just average.

L&S is a casual telescope and perhaps a monocular. So if you’re just starting out and want to look around then it’s surely a good expense. You can enjoy things like the moon, birds and other earthly stuff. It will be difficult to see space bodies like planets and galaxies. Not impossible to get a blurred glimpse of Mars & Jupiter, but only if you know how and where to spot it. L&S is a starter level telescope suitable for nerds that like outdoor things.

Final verdict

L&S is an Amazon choice telescope, which pretty much tells how value for money this product is. On the user side, its best suited for those just starting out, want to learn about near local celestial bodies and have a small budget. It also makes an amazing gift for your science-loving people. It’s not so useful for deep-sky objects.

6. 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 this starts telescopes first. Celestron 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, it’s quite 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 good for land and moon. Very clear image. Also, see bright stars. Nice but not see planets clearly. But good”

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.

5. 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.

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 telescopes under 10000 rupees

4. 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.

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 telescopes under 15000 rupees

3. 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.

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.

2. 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 travel scope 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).

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 telescopes under 20000 rupees

1. 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

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.

The 3 top telescopes within each price segment

Telescope	Apperture	Best for	Price
Land & Sky Telescope	50mm	Terrestrial Birdwatching	Check here
Speciality Firstscope Telescope	76mm	All above+ Moon Jupiter Mars	Check here
Astromaster Telescope Az	130mm	All above+ Solar System Nebulas	Check here

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!