The Best Beginner Telescopes under $300: Tips and Recommendations

Choosing the right telescope can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. In the past, there were several decent options available under $300. However, as of a year or two ago, the options started to dwindle, and now, finding a telescope that provides a satisfying astronomical experience within this budget can be challenging. This article aims to guide you through the best choices and what to avoid when looking for a telescope for beginners or even adults under $300.

What Not to Get

First, let’s discuss what you should avoid:

Refractors

In this budget range, refractors are nearly universally lousy. These telescopes use lenses but no mirrors and come with flimsy, shaky, and low-quality mounts. They also suffer from chromatic aberration, which can cause a fuzzy or blurry fringe on the edges of objects with a purple-ish color. Even high-end achromatic doublets (lenses made up of two lenses) tend to be poor performers. To greatly reduce chromatic aberration, higher-cost apochromatic scopes use three, four, or more lenses but come with a higher price tag.

Telescopes on Lightweight Tri-pods

Stay away from any telescope mounted on a lightweight tripod, especially the Celestron PowerSeeker. These are often sub-par and are associated with a dedicated subreddit for the reasons why they are considered junk. Celestron, Synta, and SkyWatcher are all owned by the same company and produce similar scopes. Despite some improvements, these products are still to be avoided. Meade, now owned by Orion, also offers similar products, and it’s wise to avoid anything resembling them.

What to Buy

Given the criteria, you’ll face challenges finding a high-quality telescope with an aperture of 5 inches or more under $300. However, there are a few options worth considering:

Zumell Z130

The Zumell Z130 is a viable option, priced close to $300. These telescopes are manufactured by GSO, a competitor to Synta and generally of at least as good, possibly better quality. While the scope may be branded under different names, ensure you’re getting the right one. Orion, which currently uses GSO as its main supplier, may offer a similar model in the near future. Their current best option in this price range is the StarBlast 4.5. Although smaller in aperture, the StarBlast features a similar simple mount that does not require a tripod but instead uses an altitude-azimuth tabletop base. This makes it more stable and provides better views compared to the tripod-mounted types.

Important Considerations

Optical Design and Length

Be wary of any Newtonian-style telescope with a tube length that is about 1/2 of the focal length. The focal length is crucial because it indicates the distance from the main optical element (the mirror) to the point where light comes to a focus. In a true Newtonian telescope, this should be close to the full length of the tube. For instance, the Zhumell Z130 has a focal length of 650mm, and its tube length closely matches this. In contrast, the Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ has a focal length of 1000mm but a tube length of about 508mm (20 inches), roughly 1/2 the focal length.

Collimation and Maintenance

Avoid telescopes that require precise collimation, especially if you are a beginner. Proper collimation involves aligning the mirrors accurately, and if this process is off, the view will suffer. lenses or mirrors mounted inside the focuser tube to reduce spherical aberration, making the views acceptable if properly collimated but making proper alignment much harder for beginners.

Final Thoughts

For budget-conscious beginners, the Zumell Z130 or the Orion StarBlast 4.5 are decent options. Keep in mind that while these scopes provide a good starting point, they are not the ideal telescopes for serious astronomical studies or advanced astrophotography. However, they offer a satisfactory view of celestial objects and are an excellent choice for beginners until you can save up for something better, like an 8-inch full-size Dobsonian mount.

Good luck, and clear skies!

Celestron PowerSeeker

The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is a model often cited as an example of sub-par telescopes with a focus on lightweight tripod mount and a tube length that is about 1/2 of the focal length, making it not a true Newtonian. It uses a built-in Barlow lens to reduce spherical aberration but collimation is extremely challenging, making it a poor choice for beginners.

Zumell Z130

The Zhumell Z130 offers a simpler tabletop mount, providing better stability and a clearer view. Manufactured by GSO, it is a more reliable option than many other scopes in its price range.

Orion StarBlast 4.5

The Orion StarBlast 4.5 features a simple, altitude-azimuth design, making it more stable than tripod-mounted options. This design provides better views and is easier for beginners to use, especially for finding objects in the night sky.