picking out the best telescopes on Amazon can be challenging at times, given the sheer volume of models available on the site. That's why we've scoped out the very best there is on offer so you can discover the right telescope and deal for you.
If you are looking for the best telescopes on Amazon the good news is that the retailer is home to some top telescope deals and some of the best telescopes on the market too. There's something to suit every level of astronomer and every budget on Amazon and that's the case in this guide too. Although, we do recommend you understand what you're buying before you do as often a deal that can seem too good to be true, is and we can't vouch for names we haven't heard of. All of this rings true as there are some fantastic budget telescopes under $500 if you're unwilling to break the bank and we want you to get the best deal possible.
Underneath the deals you see, we decided to include some buying advice so you know what to look out for. If you're looking to try your hand at astronomy or inspire a budding astronomer, you can take a look at the buying advice and/or check out the best telescopes for beginners. It's worth remembering Amazon Prime Day is around the corner, so you could see some of the best telescopes on Amazon discounted.
However, if you do know what you like or there's a specific manufacturer you trust, then you should check out our guides for Celestron telescope deals, Sky-Watcher telescope deals, Meade telescope deals, Orion telescope deals. You'll find that some of these deals are also for the best telescopes on Amazon. With that in mind, for the best telescopes on Amazon, read on below.
Telescopes on Amazon: Today's best deals
Buying advice
When purchasing one of the telescopes on Amazon, or any telescope for that matter, you need to consider your budget and what you want to achieve from your stargazing experience. Amazon Prime Day is around the corner, so it might be worth waiting for the annual sales event, to see if there are any great deals available. Otherwise, there are three main types of telescope and each have different advantages, so we've explained each one below - so you know what to look out for in your next scope. Alternatively, you can check out our best telescopes guide for more information.
Refractors
These telescopes are usually best for providing high-magnification views of targets like planets and the moon. They're also very easy to set up and maintain. Combine this with the fact that they usually retail for a lower price point and you can see why this is a popular option with beginners. They do tend to suffer from a visual problem called ‘chromatic aberration’, where bright objects in the sky appear to be surrounded by a halo. However, this shouldn’t dampen the experience for any viewers.
Reflectors
With wider apertures, these types of telescopes are able to take in more light and therefore better suited for spotting fainter objects. They tend to be useful for views of low-magnification targets like galaxies and nebulas. Unfortunately, these types of telescopes can suffer from something called the ‘coma’ effect, where objects appear elongated instead of spherical/ circular. Again, though, this is a minor issue - and probably something you can get used to at this low price point.
Catadioptric
There are two main catadioptric designs: the Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain. Both types often come with a computerized GoTo system, which can work out your position and location - and align with night sky targets that you program into the device. They also usually fix the problems mentioned above (coma and chromatic aberration.) As such, they're also usually more expensive. Typically, you'll find that the Schmidt-Cassegrain designs have bigger apertures, and the Maksutov-Cassegrain sport smaller apertures, so the former is better for fainter deep sky targets and the latter will offer high magnification views.
Deals you missed
When a deal has expired, we'll move it below. That way, you can compare current prices to those in the past. You'll also get a sense of what to look for when you're seeking out telescopes on Amazon.
