9 Best Telescopes In India For Beginners – A Review & Buying Guide

best telescope in india

Looking for the best telescope in India? I have got you covered.

Stargazing evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity about the mysteries of the universe. For astronomy enthusiasts, owning a telescope opens up boundless opportunities to explore cosmic objects like nebulae, galaxies, planets, and more. 

With the right telescope, you can embark on an exciting journey to observe the craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn, brilliant star clusters, and even glimpse into the depths of space.

But with so many telescopes available today, choosing the ideal one for your needs can be challenging. In this blog, we simplify telescope terminology, review the top 9 telescopes in India, and provide a handy buying guide to help you make an informed purchase. 

Whether you’re a beginner eager to spot celestial objects or a seasoned astronomer seeking advanced capabilities, there’s a telescope out there perfectly suited for your astronomical pursuits.

Understanding Telescopes: A Beginner’s Guide

Before reviewing specific products, let’s demystify some key telescope specifications:

  • Aperture – The diameter of the primary lens or mirror. A larger aperture means better light-gathering capability.
  • Focal Length – The distance between the primary lens/mirror and the point where light comes into focus. Longer length increases magnification.
  • Focal Ratio – The focal length divided by the aperture. Lower ratios offer a wider field of view.
  • Refractor Telescope – Uses lenses to collect and focus light. Excellent for lunar, planetary, and binary star observing.
  • Reflector Telescope – Uses mirrors to collect and focus light. Well-suited for deep-space objects.
  • Equatorial Mount – Counteracts Earth’s rotation allowing smooth tracking of celestial objects.
  • Alt-Azimuth Mount – A simple adjustable mount ideal for terrestrial and low-magnification viewing.

Choosing the right telescope depends on your experience level, portability needs, and main astronomical interests. Reflectors with large apertures excel at faint deep space viewing whereas compact refractors are great for lunar and planetary observing. 

Equatorial mounts provide smooth object tracking but add weight and require alignment. For many beginners, a portable Alt-Azimuth reflector is a great starting point.

Now let’s review the top telescopes available in India today:

Top 9 Telescopes in India for Stargazing Enthusiasts

1. Celestron PowerSeeker 50 AZ Telescope

Celestron PowerSeeker 50 AZ

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The Celestron PowerSeeker 50 AZ is an excellent starter telescope for aspiring stargazers. With its 50mm aperture and 600mm focal length, it offers ample light-gathering capability for observing celestial highlights like the craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn, and bright star clusters. The fully coated glass optics and prism star diagonal produce upright images making it suitable for terrestrial viewing too. Its manual Alt-Azimuth mount is intuitively smooth to operate. The adjustable-height aluminum tripod provides stability, allowing you to precisely track cosmic objects. The accessory kit includes useful eyepieces like 20mm for low magnification sweeps and a 4mm for detailed lunar and planetary views. With its quality optics in a portable and easy-to-use package, the PowerSeeker 50AZ is perfect for kids and adults who want an affordable and versatile introduction to amateur astronomy.

Pros:

  • Versatile for terrestrial and celestial viewing
  • An erect image star diagonal allows daytime spotting
  • Quick setup with adjustable tripod legs

Cons:

  • Limited aperture for faint deep space objects

2. Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ Telescope

celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ

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The Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ is a great telescope for beginners looking to explore the night sky on a budget. It features a 60mm primary aperture that collects sufficient light to reveal brighter details on the moon, planets, and popular star clusters. The 700mm focal length offers ample magnification power. Celestron fully coats the optical components to maximize light transmission and image clarity. The included accessories like a 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, 3x Barlow lens, and 5×24 finderscope allow you to customize your cosmic views. The manual Alt-Azimuth mount has a smooth pan and tilt mechanism for easy object tracking. At just 10 lbs, it’s lightweight and portable. The adjustable height aluminum tripod provides stability for clear telescopic views. While the 60mm aperture limits observation of fainter nebulae and galaxies, the PowerSeeker 60AZ is an outstanding starter telescope to kindle your passion for astronomy.

Pros:

  • Fully coated glass optics for sharp images
  • Lightweight and easy to use
  • Additional eyepieces and Barlow lens

Cons:

  • Limited aperture for faint celestial objects

3. Celestron Speciality Series Travel Scope 70

Celestron Speciality Series Travel Scope 70

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The Celestron Travel Scope 70 lives up to its name with a highly portable design perfect for amateur astronomers and travelers. Weighing just 3.3 lbs, this refractor telescope’s 70mm objective lens gathers ample light for detailed observation of the moon, bright planets, and double stars. The focal length of 400mm offers a wide field of view. The quality of fully coated optics reduces chromatic and spherical aberration. One of the scope’s best features is the dovetail smartphone adapter which allows you to easily capture and share your cosmic views. The tabletop design means no unwieldy tripod, just attach the scope to any sturdy photo tripod. It comes with custom backpack storage so you can take it anywhere. The compact Travel Scope 70 is great for anyone wanting terrific optics in an ultraportable package perfect for backpackers, road trippers, and world travelers who also have a passion for astronomy.

Pros:

  • Portable design great for travelers
  • Smartphone adapter for capturing images
  • Custom backpack for easy storage

Cons:

  • Some chromatic aberration due to a short focal ratio

4. SSEA Telescope – Mod 70076

SSEA Telescope - Mod 70076

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With its 76mm aperture, the SSEA Mod 70076 is a capable beginner telescope that inspires backyard astronomical adventures for the whole family. The fully coated optical components made from Lynx BK7 glass ensure sharp, detailed images with high contrast and color correction. The 700mm focal length offers medium-high magnification perfect for studying craters on the moon or the swirling bands of Jupiter. The dual-arm Alt-Azimuth mount moves smoothly for easy object tracking. Setting up the telescope takes just minutes, allowing you to quickly start your night sky viewing session. The accessory kit provides three quality eyepieces (6mm, 12mm, 20mm) so you can customize magnification based on what you’re observing. For its very budget-friendly price, the SSEA 70076 provides solid optics and accessories in a highly usable package ideal for parents looking to introduce their kids to the wonders of astronomy.

Pros:

  • High magnification eyepieces for detailed views
  • Hassle-free assembly and portability
  • Ideal gift for beginners and kids

Cons:

  • Limited aperture for faint deep space objects

5. Celestron 114mm Equatorial EQ Telescope

Celestron 114mm Equatorial EQ

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Serious hobbyists looking to advance their astronomical observations would do well to consider the Celestron 114mm Equatorial EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope. With its substantial 114mm parabolic mirror, this telescope gathers over 57% more light than a 90mm reflector. This expanded light-capturing power reveals finer details when studying nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. The 900mm focal length offers medium-high magnification views. The included accessories like a 20mm eyepiece, 3x Barlow lens, and 5×24 finderscope allow you to customize your experience. One of the most notable features is the German equatorial mount. This motorized mount with slow-motion controls enables smooth, effortless tracking of celestial objects – an absolute necessity for astrophotography. While the larger size does impact portability, the enhanced optics and tracking precision make this telescope a solid intermediate-level instrument.

Pros:

  • Substantial aperture for detailed celestial observations
  • Equatorial mount for accurate object tracking

Cons:

  • Larger size may limit portability

6. Meade LightBridge Mini 114 Telescope

6. Meade LightBridge Mini 114 Telescope

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The Meade LightBridge Mini 114 lives up to its compact, portable design while still delivering impressive astronomical performance. The 114mm parabolic primary mirror gathers ample light, revealing details on the moon and planets with sparkling clarity. Nebulae and galaxies also come into clear focus compared to smaller 70-80mm scopes. The short 450mm focal length provides a wide field of view ideal for sweeping star clusters and large deep space objects. The focal ratio of f/3.95 minimizes chromatic aberration. The smooth 360-degree swivel Alt-Azimuth mount is a breeze to manually orient. At just 5.4 lbs, it’s easy to move and set up in moments. While it doesn’t include a full array of accessories, the LightBridge Mini 114’s convenient tabletop design is perfect for impromptu observation on patios, balconies, and camping trips. The high-quality optics in a super compact package make this tiny Newtonian reflector a winner.

Pros:

  • Parabolic design enhances image quality
  • Compact and portable for on-the-go use

Cons:

  • Limited accessories included

7. Meade 216005 Polaris 127 EQ Reflector Telescope

Meade 216005 Polaris 127 EQ Reflector

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With its 127mm aperture parabolic mirror, the Meade Polaris 127 EQ reflector provides impactful light-gathering power while remaining portable and user-friendly for astronomy beginners. The 1000mm focal length coupled with quality optics renders bright, detailed images of the moon’s craters and Jupiter’s cloud bands. The included 26mm, 9mm, and 6.3mm eyepieces provide low to medium magnification options. The reliable German equatorial mount includes slow-motion controls for ultra-smooth tracking – a boon for observational astronomy and astrophotography. The steel tripod with adjustable height and accessory tray offers a stable platform. While best suited for intermediate users given the need to align and balance the mount, the Polaris 127EQ is an excellent example of a mid-size Newtonian reflector with robust accessories catering to lunar, planetary, and deep space observation.

Pros:

  • Stable equatorial mount for precise tracking
  • Includes multiple eyepieces and accessories

Cons:

  • Limited to beginner and intermediate users

8. Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope

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A superb all-around Newtonian reflector, the Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ brings 127mm of light-gathering power in a thoughtfully designed package perfect for amateur astronomers. The ample aperture provides breathtaking views of faint nebulae and galaxies. The included 20mm eyepiece yields low magnification for scanning star fields while a 4mm piece zooms in on lunar and planetary details. One handy feature is the smartphone adapter which allows you to document and share your celestial sightings. The German equatorial mount yields smooth, accurate tracking, opening up astrophotography possibilities. While requiring careful alignment, the mount is stable and smooth in operation. The steel tripod provides a sturdy base for observation. For both visual astronomy and imaging on an amateur level, the PowerSeeker 127EQ is a standout telescope that will reward users with fantastic views across our solar system and beyond.

Pros:

  • Suitable for both terrestrial and celestial viewing
  • Equipped with a smartphone adapter
  • Slow-motion controls for smooth tracking

Cons:

  • Requires proper setup and alignment

9. Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Telescope

Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Telescope

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Featuring a 130mm aperture primary mirror, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ reflector telescope excels as a powerful instrument for deep space observation. The expanded light-gathering capability reveals nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters in vibrant clarity compared to smaller aperture scopes. The fast focal ratio of f/5 coupled with a wide 65mm dual-purpose eyepiece provides bright, wide-field views ideal for celestial sightseeing. The included Barlow lens effectively doubles magnification for examining lunar and planetary details. While some optical aberration is expected from its spherical mirror, the views remain impressive for a beginner-friendly telescope. The stainless steel tripod and equatorial mount offer smooth tracking. Just be aware that a reflector of this size requires collimation and alignment to realize its full potential. Overall, the AstroMaster 130EQ hits a sweet spot between light-gathering power, quality optics, and ease of use.

Pros:

  • A larger aperture is great for deep-space observation
  • Cost-effective for the aperture size

Cons:

  • The spherical mirror may cause some distortion

You can alternatively go with the best binoculars for stargazing on a more affordable budget.

Buying Guide: Factors to Consider

Aperture – For observing faint celestial objects, aperture is the most important factor. A minimum of 90mm is recommended for deep-space viewing. Larger 150mm+ scopes provide more dramatic views.

Focal Length & Ratio – Longer focal lengths offer higher magnification for lunar and planetary details. Fast focal ratios (f/4 – f/5) offer a wide field of view ideal for nebulae and galaxies.

Mount Type – Equatorial mounts allow smooth tracking of sky objects but add weight. Alt-Azimuth mounts are simpler and portable but require manual adjustment.

Age Group – Compact 50-70mm scopes are great for kids. Intermediates will appreciate 90-114mm aperture models. Expert astronomers opt for 150-203mm+ professional-level scopes.

Main Interest – Lunar & planetary observers should consider apochromatic refractors with stable mounts. For deep space and astrophotography, reflectors with large apertures are recommended.

FAQs About Telescopes

How should I maintain my telescope?

Avoid touching glass surfaces and clean only with soft brushed and lens tissue. Store telescopes in a clean, dry place. Check optical alignments periodically.

What if I struggle with telescope setup and alignment?

First attempts can be frustrating. Take time to familiarize yourself with the mount and refer manual. Seek help from experienced users. Apps like SkySafari help with alignment.

Any tips for improving the viewing experience?

Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for 30 mins before observing. Use averted vision and slowly scan the sky. Start with low-power eyepieces. Ensure proper collimation and focus.

How can I take pictures through my telescope?

You’ll need a smartphone adapter and steady mount. Short-exposure planetary images are easy. Long-exposure deep space photos require an equatorial tracking mount, remote shutter trigger, and experience.

Over to you!

From compact beginner models to heavy-duty stargazing instruments, today’s telescopes offer outstanding cosmic views at every price point. Determine your experience level, portability needs and main astronomical interests. For many starting out, a portable Alt-Azimuth reflector with a 90-114mm aperture provides the ideal blend of performance and ease of use. Equatorial mounts add stability for tracking celestial objects, opening up astrophotography possibilities.

Remember – the best telescope is the one you’ll actually use. So choose wisely and let your journey unfolding the mysteries of the universe begin! Clear skies!

116 Comments

  1. Hello Mr. Ingle,

    I am interested in buying anyone of the above mentioned telescopes. But this being my first, I had few questions to be answered, and yes, I expect you to answer them. Please…

    My daughter, 12 yrs, and me, both are interested in watching the skies. So what I am looking for is :
    1. Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn
    2. Some other stars…

    Some part of my questions would remind you that I am a novice 😉

    Waiting for your reply..

    Regards
    Anand

    1. I would love to help you Anand. It’s awesome to buy a telescope.
      But if you’ve never used scopes before, then I would recommend you to grab an nice pair of astronomy binocular instead.
      It will help you avoid any hazel!
      This is powerful & easy to use. It can show you planets (including your mentions) & Galaxies etc.

      [You are welcome to checkout list of binoculars which includes my personal favorites.]

      Once you gain experience in skywatching, grab a telescope!

      Finally, if you want the best one for the beginner, go for 130EQ as it won’t disappoint you. I promise! If you’re on budget 70Az 21036 Telescope is also nice!

      Please dont hesitate to ask further! 😉

      1. Hi,

        Hope you are doing well.
        I am in urge of purchasing a telescope. I have upcoming trip to himachal. I have no bit idea of telescope would you please suggest a good budget telescope for seeing milky-way n planets.

        Thanks in advance
        VJ

        1. Hey Vj, would love to help you man.

          From what you saying, it seems like u never used any telescope before. Then I would suggest you to try a binoculars instead.

          Yeah, there are some good binocular for space. And you’ll surely enjoy great space time in Himalaya with those.

          The reason i am suggesting u binos is because they are much easier and convenient than telescope. And its best for every space enthusiasts to start with bino.
          Checkout this Nikon binoculars to get a headstart!

          If you still want to stick with telescope option, then go for 70mm or higher telescope from above.

          Hope I could be of help!

      2. hi
        i want to buy a telescope for my kid of 10 years. he never used telescope early. let me know best one for affordable price.

        1. Try Celestron 50mm ortabletop scope. both should be affordable and are good for kids. Let him play with it for a few years and as he gain interest and experience in observation-upgrade. Just make sure he doesn’t look at sun through it.

          1. Hello, Hope all is well, your suggestions are not available out of stock now, Can you recommend something available . Planning to buy a beginner telescope for my 12 year old. Budget can be around 10K .
            Thanks for your time.

          2. sorry to hear that but these covid times are hard.

      3. Hi Ingle I would like to buy Eq130 price in amazon is approx 19 k is it ok for that money
        I already have Meade Infiniti 60, is it good go or anything good in Meade

        1. Thanks for asking Anbarasan. The 19k is a reasonable price for EQ 130. But yeah, the pricing changes quite frequently on Amazon. If you add and leave the telescope in the cart for a day or two, chances are you may get a discount (though no guarantee). Also, you will later also require addons like the Barlow lens for the best results with distant objects.

          On the Meade side, I didn’t found any good option at a competitive price right now.

      4. Hiii..i want to gift telescope to a friend..my budget is not that high.plz can you recommend me a better one to gift for a beginner

        1. Okay. I think you should go forCelestron 50mm which is the cheapest yet a decent option.

  2. Hey Nice review here….but wondering which one would be better for me with 9k?
    For your information, Im all nerd!

  3. Thanks bro for more informations provided. But now I want astromaster 130AZ. Is this a good telescope. Can I see stars nebulae and naked planets well. Because I also have 50AZ and 70EQ Telescopes, but I want more big. Tell me more about Celestron 130AZ Sir.

  4. Tell me more about Celestron 130AZ Sir. I am going to buy this telescope. I already have celestron 50AZ and 70eq. So tell me more information of 130AZ thanks

    1. Celestron 130 is quite good. Its mid-end scope as you know.
      Its twise as powerful as you already own.
      Since you are more interest in deep sky, I think it would be best buy for you.
      There are two variety az and eq. Az is much cheaper than eq.
      I would recommend az cause its best for your money.
      Hope it helped!
      Ask if you are still confused

      1. Thanks bro. But is this better for star watching and clusters

        1. I am pretty darn sure its good for stars and cluster! But at the end…no matter how expensive telescope you buy, you will always need to practice to see those distant things…

      2. Astromaster 130AZ and 130EQ both are same. Without Mounts?

        1. Yupp, except mount… Everything is exactly same like aperture, magnification etc

          1. Hey bro, i can’t see well with astromaster 130az. I have 20mm and 10mm eyepiece. I think they need lens kit for perfect views.

          2. You can use a barlow lens to double the magnification of your current eyepiece if you are not satisfied with current power.

            Or consider acelestrons accessories kit. It has two 1.25 inch eyepieces and pair of barlows as well. You could go for single eyepiece but kit goes cheaper. And its just everything you should need for your 130az.

            And you know size of the sky. So give it some time before you start to see result. Go to darker locations if possible. Also use sky charts for ease.
            Hope it helped!

          3. Hi,I am already using a Celestron Astromaster 70 EQ telescope since last 5yrs… Now want to upgrade to atleast 5inch or plus aperture telescope with goto mount,please suggest some and where to buy in India with all accessories… (I am wary of Newtonian or Dobsonian scopes,as they need frequent collimation…which most reviews states is painful..) I am intereste in mostly Visual for DSO but also for some astrophotography too.
            I have reviewed a lots of online sites from UK,US, Germany and even Indian..Tejraj… My take is that any decent Telescope/accessory is atleast double the cost in India when compared to western world,even after including courier charges,and that too,most top end scopes are not available in India…
            If one orders from abroad,inspite of paying courier,taxes…the goods are held at local post office and they demand exorbitant money as customs charges,at their will..
            So please guide.
            Thanks.

          4. Hi Mohit,

            I understand your problem. Upgrading telescope sometimes can be little tedious. But anyways. I think Astromaster 130EQ is the right choice for you. I know you might have heard of it before but I still suggest. It meets all your needs. 5+ inch aperture, newton design, suitable for astrophotography and the best thing is that it is available in India. So no huge import fees.

            And there’s a dedicated Accessories Kit for ultimate astronomy experience as well.

      3. My kid is 7 year old and l am planning to buy a telescope for him as he is very fascinated with space related stuff. So, please suggest which telescope to buy as he wants to see moon, stars and different planets

  5. It’s okay bro thanks.i used only refractor before this. Now i first time used newtonian reflector. Today i saw everything with smooth focusing. I saw jupiter and moons, saturn rings, star clusters and bright stars, so today i feel this is very good telescope. But after lenses kit & barlow, i see more useful magnification. Everything is good. Thanks alot bro.

  6. Now i note that the problem is in AZ tripod. It’s too difficult, not a smooth tracking. But fine with lots of practice. Otherwise EQ is best. Very Smoothly rotating in every angle. So finally Thanks bro.

    1. Yes Vikas, eq is better but as you know, its overly priced.

      Do check the div improvements and see if it can be of your help.

      And if possible, do share your findings on our FB page so others enthusiasts can enjoy it.
      And glad to help you!

  7. Thanks for the explanation, I just wanted to tell you that this is going to be the first time that I am using an telescope but you already have mentioned that for the beginners it is better to watch the sky from the binoculars. So I just wanted to know that which binocular will be best suited for watching moon as well as other planets from my home. My next question is that why I can’t see the stars and planets from the telescope instead of binoculars.

    1. Hi Ashutosh and thanks for your comment!

      The best binocular for your need will be celestron 20×70 and find more like it here.

      And yes you can see planets and stars with telescope. For beginners, its only little hard to find those objects due to narrow field of view. So it only take little practice!

  8. Nice review. I just wanted to understand that which telescope is better to watch the moon and other planets from my home as I have heard people saying that you can not watch other planets from city because of “light pollution”, you have to go to a remote place which is away from the city where light is not present, so that’s what I am asking that whether I can watch the sky from my home when the sky is clear and if so which telescope will be best suited for the beginners.

    1. Is it heavily pollution at your place? Do you see only those 10-20 brightest stars? Are there street lights? If so then it won’t give you best view.

      The best scope for planets include: astromaster 130. Choose max aperture telescope at your budget.
      Here are 4 planet exclusive telescopes.

      1. Hey Bro @INgle i want to sale my New Astromaster 130AZ Telescope Its 2 Months Old Newly Condition without scratches and full packing please contact me on +918196849610 or [email protected] thanks Any Friend who Want This @t 13000

  9. Thanks for a very useful article.

    Regarding difficulty of finding particular stars for a first-time telescope user, is there a particular trick to it? So far I have been using (field) binoculars, now I want to buy a telescope which is user-friendly, so am considering the Celestron 130. Will the EQ assist me better than the AZ in this issue?

    Also, after cataract surgery, I need glasses for near vision (reading books, my cellphone, computer) but I have excellent distance vision. Would I need to wear my glasses to look into the eyepiece? Are these adjustable for focusing better, like in binoculars and cameras?

    1. Hi Indrani!

      I feel your concern regarding finding objects in the sky – that’s normal with beginners!

      The best option to find things easily is by using a computerised telescope. You only have to input the object of your choice and it will locate it for you automatically. Only thing. It can be little expensive.

      And here’s my personal trick to help you find objects easily. Install a StarTracker app on your phone so you get a rough idea of the location of your desired object and then point your telescope in that direction. BAAM, You found it!

      Now heres the big one. You asked for which is better 130 EQ or AZ? I would say 130 EQ is definitely better than 130 AZ as the former is smoother to navigate. There’s also an M.D. version to consider. The only cause I didn’t mention it in this list is coz it’s a little overpriced. But you can buy it if money is not a problem for you. Its premium experience.

      Coming to the last question you asked. As you mentioned – you seem to have near vision problem. So although the objects you see through the telescope are far away but the image is created in the eyepiece which is much closer to your eye. Conclusion: You will need eyeglasses.

      Hope I could be of help!

  10. Thanks Ingle, yes, you answered all my questions.
    Now a few more if you dont mind:
    – what is the approx. cost of the Barlow lens?
    – What does the accessory kit contain, do I need those accessories in the beginning, and how much does that cost?
    – I do have an app installed on my phone called StarWalk 2 which I find very useful and interesting. Do you know it? Is Star Tracker better?

    1. The price for a Barlow lens will depend on the power you choose and also the maker. For eg., the one by Celestron is very expensive as its brand thing. But you can save money by going for other good makers.

      A good 5x barlow lense will 5x the magnifing power of your eyepiece which is suggest for 130mm reflector and will cost around 2.5k.

      Coming to your second query, accessory kit by Celestron includes two 1.25 inch Plossl eyepieces, a 2x Barlow lens and three filters for better view.

      The kit is not required as you just starting out. You can spend some time with your new telescope & get better at it first – you will always have room for upgrade. BTW, an accessory kit will be required when you are ready to take on deep space bodies like planets. The Best kit for astromaster is the one we talked about earlier.
      And as you may have checked up with Amazon it costs around 6k.

      I haven’t used StarWalk2 so can’t tell you about that but what I can tell you about is the one I have personally used, Startracker – a good app.
      Choose the one you are comfortable with! 🙂

      Hope I helped and yes I don’t mind to be useful to you! :p

      Note – I will earn a small fee if you make a purchase using one of the links here at no extra cost for you! 🙂

  11. Hey!

    Are there better options if I choose to buy from the US?

    1. Are you buying from usa in India? If thats so, then you better not. The cost will be more than double for the same product you buy here.

      But its upto you what you prefer. BTW can you be specific about product? What are u looking for

  12. Hi Ingle,
    I want to know which Celestron scope you will recommend–AstroMaster 130 EQ Motor Drive Telescope; OR
    Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Telescope..
    Looking for your valuable suggestion.

    1. hey. both are exactly identical except for the motor feature. That one is thus more advanced but also will have higher maintenance. I will personally prefer non-motor one.

  13. Hi Ingle

    Thanks for such a nice and detailed blog. I want to but my 6 year old son a great telescope and want to explore the sky with him. I am going to use telescope for the first time but ready to invest time and money in it. With the details given above I am inclined towards Astromaster 130 EQ, however unable to understand the use of Barlow lens and which one to buy or I can buy a telescope kit of Celestron. I am ready to go for even higher budget but want a very good telescope.

    Please suggest

    Thanks

    Sameer

    1. Hi Sameer, Wellcome to AlienPanda !

      So I understand that you are a beginner just starting out with astronomy with your kid which sounds awesome.

      And yes, astromaster 130EQ is a good telescope. You can go for addons like Barlow lens(BL) or preferably the kit to make the most of your scope. It’s up to you!

      BTW, the BL is very useful to double the magnification power(of the eyepiece). You can learn more about eyepiece and Barlow lens here

      Beware though. No matter how expensive your telescope is, the result will never be instantaneous and probably won’t see results like shown in NASA photos. You may not see much in the first few days or weeks. As you said, be ready to invest some time, learn best telescope use practice, how to observe the sky, where to find objects, and much more. Spend more time useing the instrument. I promise the journey is gonna be so much fun and exciting for both of you.

      So yes, Go for Astromaster 130EQ, its dependable scope for starters. And we are here to help you in your stargazing journey.

      Glad to help! 🙂

      1. Hi Ingle

        Thanks for your help, now I own a Astromaster 130, however I am unable to buy a 5x Barlow Lens online, please help me find 1. If u could provide a link.

        Thanks
        Sameer

  14. Hello Mr Ingle,
    I want to buy a good scope for my 8 yr kid.. So I just want to know about 114mm celestron eq…. As how much is different from 130mm eq
    Pls guide

    1. Hi Reena,
      The difference in both of them is of the aperture, which FYI is the core of telescope. It makes the difference in your ability to see distant objects. 114EQ has 114mm aperture and the other has 130mm. So if I had to choose one, it would be 130EQ. Checkout my telescope guide if needed.

  15. Hey, I am 13 years old and I love the sky and the stars and almost every thing I can see in the sky. Me and my mother are both interested in bird watching and sky watching but still I am a beginner I wanted a telescope that could help me see mars, venus, Saturn and some other stars really clearly and also the MOON!! The craters..andd which would also be great for bird watching, but the telescope should not also be too expensive and it would be great if I can get one under 15 thousand.
    Please guide!

    1. First, don’t expect the “NASA perfect” images. Sure you can still get a decent and exciting glimpse. Now coming to your question, for your desired results you need telescope + eyepiece accessories which should cost prox 21k. But since you are a beginner and the budget is low, I suggest to get yourself a 20×80 binoculars and a tripod. You will have a much better experience and enjoy most of the things you mentioned as you gain experience. Best of luck! (y)

  16. Hi ingle

    I need to buy a telescope which will show the moon and other plants very close , so for that what telescope is best to buy … pls suggest me to buy bro..

    1. Bro, buy yourself Astromaster 130EQ + eyepiece kit for the best experience. As a beginner, it will be difficult for you to use at first, but you will soon start to enjoy as you get familiar with the scope & sky. If you have low budget, I suggest a good astronomy binoculars – cheaper and easy to use.

      1. Thanks bro i will buy eyepiece kit. Bro i have one doubt, by using this , can we see satellites..??
        And do u have any photos which took by that telescope.???

        1. U mean our artificial satellites.? No chance, none of personal telescope can. They are super tiny for distance and most are always in motion. U need to be very experienced and luck to catch ISS.

  17. Hi Ingle
    What is your view on StarTracker 130/650 EQ by tejraj? Comparing to celestron 130eq. They are giving a free kit with it at 16500+18%gst. Your opinion is highly anticipated.

    1. Thanks for writing Birinchi! As I can see from here, theoretically, both the models have pretty much the same characteristics. However, the Astromaster 130EQ has shown proven results, but I have not tried any Star tracker instrument yet and so can’t say much about its quality/performance. The Free kit is the PLUS POINT for Tracker. So yeah ST looks decent, see if it gets you ahead, just make sure return policy is smooth with Tejraj in case you hit a bump. Happy to help!

      1. Thank you Ingle for your input. I think i will go with AstroMaster now.

  18. Hi….great to read your reviews…I barely have any knowledge about it…wanted to gift a telescope to my fiance…..if my budget is around 50k which one would be the best telescope available in india to observe planets and some constellations may be …your suggestions and guidance would be much appreciated

  19. One of the best and most informative blog! Thank you for the info.

  20. Can i see Jupiter, Saturn’s ring, mars,nabula clearly with it or do i have to purchase the Barlow lens ?

    1. You will need a Barlow lens for that.

  21. I want to. Purchase a telescope for myself. Haven’t used it in past. I also have 2 kids 16 yrs and 8 yrs respectively whom I would want to give then an experience.

    I want to go for the best one, pricing is not a bar coz I want best. Can go upto 1.5 lacs.
    Well if you suggest if it is not worth investing for a beginner than pls suggest accordingly.

    1. Hi there, Thanks for asking! Look, a stargazer doesn’t own a single instrument. The thing goes like this – You start with basic, go through the learning curve, and upgrades accordingly with better instruments. It is the best approach to follow IMO even if you have a big budget. So my recommendation to you would be Astromaster 130EQ and acomplimentary kit. You will be able to enjoy planets and nebulas with it. Upgrade ones you gain expertise in finding planets. The rest is up to you.

  22. Superb post and tx for your effort Small querry what would be the barlow lens specs for celestron firstscope telescope Tx for ur time Rgds

    1. It depends on your eyepiece. Go for a 1.25mm Barlow lens if your telescope supports 1.25mm eyepiece. Here’s one of these with 2x mag that will double up mag of your eyepiece.

  23. Hi Ingle

    With the help of your advice , I purchased Astromaster 130 eq in the month of May, and after initial efforts, I was able to clearly see Jupiter, saturn (with its rings) and their moons. I also purchased 5 x Barlo lense, however its dosen’t improve any magnification over my 10 mm eyepiece. Since these planets are visible like more of big dots, can 4 mm eyepiece will help me see their finer details? Or only a bigger telescope is the option? Further, please suggest more accessories and their importance which will help in utilizing me my current telescope as presently I have seen only 3 things i.e. Moon, jupiter and saturn.

    Thanks

    Sameer

    1. Hi Sameer!
      It’s great to see you following up on your hobby.

      With a 5x Barlow lens and 10mm eyepiece, you are getting approx 305x magnification on your 130mm telescope. So you pretty much have reached the 307x limit of the telescope. Using 4mm (762x) will further worsen picture quality. So what you do now?

      There are a lot of factors. The planet looks clearer when it is nearer to earth. Ideal location to see planets is where you can’t see streetlights and thousands of stars are visible. Let the telescope settle in your observation location for half an hour so it comes in the same temp. level as the surrounding. And ensure the quality of your Barlow lens.

  24. Hi Ingle, I have an antique brass telescope for sale that is made by E.G.Wood, 74, Cheapside, London (inscribed on the eyepiece tube) and probably dates back to the late 18th century. However, the second eyepiece lens is broken. Could you tell me what price it would sell at and are there any such antique buyers online.

  25. Your link takes me to AstroMaster 70EQ instead of 130EQ. Is that the same?

    1. Sorry about that. And NO. they are different.

      I just checked and it seems like all high-end telescopes are out of stock in India. Not found on Amazon/Flipkart/Paytm/Tataclq etc. 🙁

      So I advise you to wait for few days or buy one of the excellent astronomy binoculars from here.

    1. Just another guy who enjoys looking up! 😉

  26. Hi,

    I am using Nikon Binoculars with 10x zoom since more than a decade for bird watching, eclipse watching and casual star gazing. Although its very difficult, but I can still make out 4 of the largest moons of jupiter with it.

    To understand the viewing capabilities of this telescope, can you tell me how many moons of Jupiter can be seen using Astromaster 130EQ?

    1. Hi Nijay! That’s an interesting question.

      You are currently using a decent binocular but its a casual one. You probably are able to see those moons as bright dots only.

      The130EQ telescope is more of a deep space focused that should deliver at least 2-3X better results than your binocular. As for the moons, you will get better contrast and color shades than just bright dots. Just geta 5x Barlow lens along with it.

  27. Hi,

    Thanks for answering. You said it should give 2-3X better results. Shouldn’t a 130mm telescope with 307X mag be much more better than a 50mm Binoculars with just 10x magnification?

    I understand that aperture is important but is the magnification factor simply irrelevant here? So is it just 130/50 instead of 307/10, which comes to around 30 times better?

    1. Good observation NJay! Yeah, magnification is an important factor. But as you know, mag just zooms-in on the picture. Over-mag breaks image and details are ruined. What I am talking about here is of better details & contrast which depends on your aperture. Your aperture produces an image which you then can magnify.

      So yeah, you will have 30x better zoom than your binoculars but details will be 2-3x better which is decent. (BTW: The telescope is unavailable right now in India. Stick around so I can notify you when available.)

  28. Hi,
    I wanted to by astromaster 130eq. But it is not available anywhere in India. Which other telescope would you suggest instead of this?
    Thanks in advance

    1. Yeah, I know. 🙁 The only next best telescope right now appears to beCelestron 76mm which is a value for money telescope. All the rest are either cheap quality or stupidely expensive. So go for it if you want one!

  29. Hey Ingle, hope you are doing well. I needed your help in finding a good telescope. This is my first telescope that I will be buying, and my budget is around 50k. I would prefer computerized ones too, if not I’m fine with any of the reflector telescope. In case I get any of these will I be able to see nebulas, planets like Jupiter, Saturn and few other planets precisely. Should I invest only on the telescopes or should I get other lens in order to see all those mentioned. Could you mention any of the links other than Amazon. I’m fine either with celestron,orion or Meade.
    Thank you

    1. Hi Ruthvik, thanks for asking!

      Celestron, Orion, and Meade all are good but sometimes I find Orion more expensive for what they offer. My personal favorite is Celestron. A 130EQ model is ideal for beginners buts it appears to be stupidly expensive on Amazon right now. Buy it when it comes under 20k. Till then you can also try a good astronomy binocular like Celestron 15×70. It’s a good alternative to a 100mm scope. If you are in hurry to buy one then I think you should go forNextstar but yeah it’s little more expensive.

  30. i do have a Orion Apex 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope for sale if you need

  31. Friends,

    I have a Orion Apex 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope for sale. Very sparingly used, may be once or twice.

    Have a 10mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece.
    Orion Paragon-Plus XHD Extra Heavy-Duty Tripod.

    The telescope has a sturdy bag.

    I bought it in US and had to move back to US in a very short time. So left it in India.

    I would like to sell it in india. I can give you the contact if you are interested.

  32. Hi Ingle,

    I wanted to buy a computerized go-to mount Telescope we are in City to lot of background lighting. Can you suggest an ideal model in 20 – 25 K Please? Also if I have to add any thing to it ?

    1. Not just budget but most telescope renders better results when used in dark/low city light areas. Anyways, for your budget, I think the 130EQ will be the best option. You can also use filters for better results. There’s no computerized option at this price.

  33. Hi,
    From all what I have read here, 130 Az seems to be a good choice for beginners, my question how & where can I learn to operate it smoothly ?

  34. The 130 is not available but the 114 is. Should we wait for the 130 or is the 114 close in comparison?

    1. worth to wait for a few days for such beast

  35. Hi Ingle,
    Celestron ExploraScope 22100 60AZ Refractor? Is this a good buy for beginner?
    Thanks for the time

  36. Hi, I want to see nebulas, planets, near space objects clearly. Kindly suggest me best telescope for this under 10k rs. Please suggest me. I want deep sky viewing.
    Thanks

    1. Sorry but there isn’t a good telescope at that budget for your said needs. I advice to buy a bincualrs instead. Try Celestron 71009. More options here. And do go through my guide section for better results.

  37. Sir, I am Vinay Patil from Goa.
    I want to buy a reflector type telescope.
    Is it easy to handle. I have not used telescopes that much.
    Which one you will recommend ?

    1. Look, if you want a good result ie. a good view and have plans to invest time and energy in stargazing then I would advise a reflector telescope. The EQ130 model. But if you don’t have any such intention and want to do some time pass for a while then go with one of the refractors above. happy to help! 🙂

      1. Thanks for your kind reply.
        I was also looking for a telescope binocular my son. He is 8 yrs old.
        Nikon seems comparatively expensive, should I go for Celesrton ?
        If yes, for him which model is recommended ?
        If want to buy online, which provider is trustable ?

        1. Yeah, Celestron is a good alternative. Its affordable and most important its a astronomy brand. If the binoculars is for your 8YO kid then go for Celestron Upclose G2. Its a good starting point. And make sure you won’t let him look at Sun with it.

          1. Thanks. Noted.
            With Celestron Upclose G2 will he able to identify moon and any other planet ?
            With ordinary binoculars my son constantly looks at the moon and gets disappointed as he expects to have closer view of the moon. He wishes to at least identify planets like mars.
            With the mentioned binocular, whether his wish will come to reality ?
            Also please intimate, through which online buyer it is to be bought .
            Amazon or any other (there is one Galileo telescope makers from Mumbai, are they authentic?)

          2. If you want to see mars then you can go with 12×60 or 15×70. But both are little heavy so note that.
            Also locating/finding mars is not easy it will take practice and patience.
            You can buy from Amazon and I have mentioned the links there already. I have no experience with Galileo so can’t say about that.

  38. Hey! Thanks for the detailed blog. I am very much interested in buying the Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ Telescope. But I do not understand 2 key characteristic features here. It says that the telescope has A) a star pointer and B) TheSkyX – First Light Edition astronomy software with a 10,000 object database, printable sky maps and 75 enhanced images. What do these mean? Does it mean that the telescope is connected to the software and it will automatically focus once we select the planetary object? Or do they simply exist as our reference to the night sky so that we could look at them and point the telescope ourselves in the direction it says?

    1. The second one. The maps simply exist as references to the night sky.

  39. Thank You!
    That was quite a detail. Still need some help pls. My daughter 8 yrs old is always interested in knowing about space. She is keen to have a telescope. Pls advise telescope / binoculars advisable for her age and on minimal budget so that she can gaze up in the sky.

    1. Start with a basic telescope. The Celestron 50mm is available now and is a good option for her age.

  40. Dear, I’m planning to buy 130EQ. Suggest me it’s good or not . My 13 years son is a beginner, also suggest me best binocular in budget range. I want to buy binocular before purchase telescope. If any other telescope is best suggest me..
    Regards.

    1. Start with Celestron 20×60 binoculars. Its best for beginners to start with. After a 6-12 month of experience upgrade to a decent telescope.

  41. Nice Article. How do you compare 60700 vs 70400 scopes. Which one would be better for beginner to explore planets..

    1. Offcourse 70400 is a better option here.

        1. First with high f or focul lenght you will also need to buy high power eyepieces. And the telescopes you mentioned are not for serious stargazing they are for part timers as the telescopes are not very decent. I would rather suggest the Celestron 50mm. At least its of decent built quality. And you can see mars and on right location and time jupiter also. They will look blurry but identifiable. For better view you need high end scopes.

          1. I am okay for budget till 7k. Which of the below one do you suggest. Not sure of the difference of the one you suggested and the 2nd in below list. Pls suggest the best one for this budget. This would be my first scope. Had an old Tento 20 60 binoculus at home and started using in after recent interest. But not able to use for long as its heavy and not able to focus. Awaiting to get hands over the new scope. Thanks a lot for all your time and support..

            1) 50360 Celestron Travel
            2) 50600 Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ
            3) 60700 PROTOS
            4) 70400 AOMEKIE Aomekie

          2. Out of all the options, 70400 AOMEKIE seems better.

  42. ..Hellow Mr. Ingle !
    ..Hope you’re fine……..I’m into much more serious kind of deep space viewing & for that I have a plan buying a very powerful telescope…It should be much powerful than the Celestron/ AstroMaster 130EQ or 130AZ….If I say I have a budget around 5Ok to 1lac for a telescope, how powerful one I can have within these price range??….I hope you’ll take my queries with seriousness as it’s one of my childhood hobbies…I know it’s a bit expensive hobby but I want buy a telescope for a lifetime & it should worth the cost….
    ..One more relevant question I really wanna ask you is, do you remember that black colored telescope which was installed at the late actor SSR’s apartment (Mount Blank) [sorry, I had no other reference as I do not know the brand name so had to mention his]…?
    ..I just want to know more about it like, what brand it belongs to, how powerful it it. .means what’re the things in space it’s able to see etc. I’ve heard that he imported that telescope from a company based in California & it costs around INR.55lakh…Please brother if you have any correct info about this telescope then let me know & provide knowledge related to my first query as well….Thank you.

    1. Hi
      Thanks for asking. Right now there are no decent telescope available right now due to this pandemic. Prices of existing telescopes have skyrocketed. So I advice you to buy a decent binocular for now since you are a beginner. Once you gain some stargazing experience and lockdown and things are over I will suggest you a good one accordingly. Till then use binoculars.

      Coming to next question. The telescope that SSR used is from Celestron it cost about 8-9 lakhs if I am not wrong. It is a 16 inch telescope. That too is unavailable rignt now.

  43. ..Hello Mr. Ingle !
    ..Hope you’re fine……..I’m into much more serious kind of deep space viewing & for that I have a plan buying a very powerful telescope…It should be much powerful than the Celestron/ AstroMaster 130EQ or 130AZ….If I say I have a budget around 5Ok to 1lac for a telescope, how powerful one I can have within these price range??….I hope you’ll take my queries with seriousness as it’s one of my childhood hobbies…I know it’s a bit expensive hobby but I want to buy a telescope for a lifetime & it should worth the cost….
    ..One more relevant question I really wanna ask you is, do you remember that black colored telescope which was installed at the late actor SSR’s apartment (Mount Blank) [sorry, I had no other references as I do not know the exact brand name so had to mention his]…?
    ..I just want to know more about it like, what brand it belongs to, how powerful it it. .means what’re the things in space it’s able to see etc. I’ve heard that he had imported that telescope from a company based in California & it costs around INR.55lakh…Please brother if you have any correct info about this telescope then let me know & provide knowledge related to my first query as well….Thank you.

  44. Hi…I want to gift a telescope to my friend..can you plz suggest which one will be better among below:

    1.DROZIP Land and Sky 1000X Zoom Astronomical Moon Refractor Fully Multi-Coated Optics Glass Telescope for Kids Beginners Metal Tube with Tripod – White it has 70mm aperture.

    2.JUKKRE Telescope for Kids& Beginners, 70mm Aperture 300mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope, Tripod& Finder Scope- Portable Travel Telescope with Smartphone Adapter

    3.JUKKRE Telescopes for Kids Beginners Space Astronomic Telescope 70mm Portable Astronomical Telescope with star finder Tripod Mobile Phone Holder and Backpack Perfect for Kids / Children / Teens

    I was thinking to buy celestron 50az but aperture is 50mm, whereas above one’s have 70mm.

    I dont have any knowledge about telescope.. It will be great if u can guide.

    Thanks

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