Any telescope contains the key to unlocking the marvels of space for your own eyes, and with these few pieces of advice, you may be ready for a lifetime of stargazing! Check our list of Best Telescopes Under $500.
Telescopes are perfect for observing night sky objects and can help you identify celestial bodies. Cheap telescopes are generally made from lower-quality materials, which can lead to them breaking more easily. However, high-end telescopes can also be more difficult to use because of their high-quality construction. It is important that you get the best telescope for your situation, continue reading for our best advice…
Best Telescopes Under $500
| Product | Features | User Feedback | Price Level | Our Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5″ Refractor Astrophotography Bundle | 90 mm Refracting Astrophotography Telescope with objective lens; easy-to-use digital eyepiece – 1.3 MP digital eyepiece camera compatible with all Win/MAC OS; perfect for beginners | Good | Within price Range | 3.9 / 5 |
| Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope (Black) | 5.1” aperture reflector telescope with short 24” optical tube design for portability; fast f/5 focal ratio + Durable EQ-2 equatorial telescope mount with adjustable tripod; weighs 27 lbs. | Very Good | Within price Range | 4.2 / 5 |
| Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope Reflector Telescope | 6″ aperture optics with 750mm focal length (f/5.0); compact design great for both amateurs & professional users | Excellent | Within price Range | 4.6 / 5 |
| Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope | Uses 90mm (3.5″) aperture and 910mm focal length with EQ-2 adjustable tripod & equatorial mount; includes 2 Sirius Plossl 1.25″ eyepieces | Very Good | Within price Range | 4.3 / 5 |
| Orion 8945 SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope | Large aperture Classic Dobsonian reflector telescope with 8″ diameter reflector optics; ultra-stable Dobsonian base for balanced point-and-view; easy-to-use & can last a lifetime | Very Good | Within price Range | 4.5 / 5 |
3.5″ Refractor Astrophotography Bundle – 90 mm Refracting Telescope, Eyepiece Camera & Amazing Kit of Accessories
Our compact, performance-packed Orion StarBlast 4.5 EQ Reflector telescope is a favorite of both novice and expert stargazers. It combines the well-known Orion StarBlast 4.5-Inch wide-field (f/4.0) spherical reflector optics with our durable EQ-1 central following mount and versatile stature tripod.
The short middle length of the 4.5-inch gap reflector telescope gives up a generous chunk of sky in the eyepiece, making it easier for beginners to locate wonderful stuff to focus on. Because we’ve updated the telescope eyepieces to incorporate two from the Orion Expanse arrangement – a 15mm and 6mm – with a vast 66-degree clear field of perspective, this tripod-mounted variant of the StarBlast 4.5 reflector offers a significantly more purported wide-field survey experience than its tabletop partner.
Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope (Black)
Our greatest shortcoming The SpaceProbe reflector telescope is the most attractive Newtonian reflector on a tropical mount we’ve seen in a long time. The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope is a step up from the normal SpaceProbe 130 EQ for the more serious beginning or intermediate stargazer who needs greater performance, particularly to target deep-sky objects.
What makes the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope so clever? The best way to describe the response is clear. First and foremost, the brief. This ST, or Short Tube, version of the SpaceProbe 130 reflector is unquestionably more compact than the normal type. The optical tube of the 130ST reflector telescope is 24 creeps long, as opposed to 33 inches on the normal 130.
The ST’s 130mm (5.1inch) basic mirror has a central length of 650mm (f/5), resulting in a wider field of view and brighter images for a given telescope eyepiece central length. That brings us to sweet.
Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope Reflector Telescope
Our most popular StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope has now become a lot smarter! This handy 6′′ f/5.0 reflector is now prepared for use with Orion’s selected automated article area framework, allowing night sky novices to identify hundreds, if not thousands, of cosmic things without lifting a finger.
With the addition of Orion’s critically praised IntelliScope innovation, the StarBlast 6i becomes the most compact and updated 6′′ reflector telescope available. With the simple-to-use finder, even amateurs can quickly locate any of the 14,000+ heavenly demonstrations.
You’ll witness more heavenly delights in one night than you ever imagined! The StarBlast 6i is 40% smaller than our almost identical SkyQuest XT6 IntelliScope, yet it comes with a fully assembled base and weighs just 23.5 lbs. The telescope’s small, lightweight design allows it to be used on a sturdy table, the bonnet of a car, the landing of an open-air staircase, or any other appropriate level surface.
The StarBlast 6i’s robust development, which includes Teflon direction and flexible height pressure on the base, ensures smooth movement. The StarBlast 6i IntelliScope Astro Telescope is an innovative telescope with a low-tech, non-scaring feel. It is superbly made for steady execution and easy point-and-view mobility. You’ll have a fantastic time with it!
Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope
You may now enjoy the temperances of refractor-sharp photographs without breaking your piggy bank. Our notable AstroView 90 provides excellent results for a little investment! This is a powerful refractor with a multi-covered 90mm target lens with a center length of 910mm (f/10) contained in an enameled aluminum tube.
You won’t have any trouble gathering enough light for stunning, new views on deep sky topics, the Moon, and planets. Better still, we’ve upgraded the AstroView 90 package to include two Sirius Plossl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm)! The AstroView 90 has a 630 discoverer, a 90â° star corner to-corner, a moveable aluminum tripod with an additional plate, and an EQ-2 central mount with moderate movement controls for manual following.
Orion 8945 SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
The Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian telescope is one of our most well-known reflectors due to its superb blend of precision optics, mechanical ease, and rock-solid security. The magnificent, clear views of the night sky provided by the XT8 Classic will be appreciated by you and your whole family.
The Moon and planets from our solar system, such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, shine vividly in the SkyQuest XT8 Classic, allowing you to examine them in detail. The XT8’s 8-inch gap is also large enough to gather a lot of light from more inaccessible celestial items for exceptional viewpoints of dazzling star clusters, dark clouds, and distant cosmic systems.
The XT8 Classic Dob is a fantastic buy for the high-quality views it provides on such a diverse range of lovely goods. The Dobsonian outline’s point-and-view ease is not as complicated as a central (EQ) mount and tripod, so with a little practice, your complete family can filter the sky simply like expert professionals. The XT8 Classic Dob is ideal for any cosmologist seeking an authentic experience.
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