Best Telescopes for Stunning Astrophotography: Astrophotography is an exciting field for photographers and astronomy enthusiasts alike.☑
But without a good telescope, capturing breathtaking images of celestial objects may be difficult or even impossible.
The market is saturated with a variety of telescopes, each with different features and capabilities. Determining the most suitable option for your photography requirements is often a challenging task. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 telescopes that will take your astrophotography game to the next level. From portable and budget friendly to professional grade, this list has something for everyone.✔
So, let’s dive in and discover the 10 best telescopes for stunning astrophotography.✅
Sky-Watcher EvoStar 120
The Sky-Watcher EvoStar 120 is a great option for those looking to take their astrophotography to the next level.✔
This refractor telescope features expertly matched glass, including one synthetic fluorite element, which provides exceptional color correction for visual and photographic uses.
The EvoStar series also features proprietary Metallic High-Transmission Coatings (MHTC), producing tack sharp images with accurate color and minimal aberrations.
What sets the EvoStar apart from other telescopes is its ability to evolve with your skill set.
Whether you’re a seasoned astrophotographer or a budding novice, this refractor is versatile enough to use as your primary optical tube as your skills improve.
And with a 10:1 dual-speed Crayford-style focuser, finding focus is easy, no matter the eyepiece or camera.
When you purchase the EvoStar 120, you’ll also receive a foam-lined aluminum hard case, an 8×50 Right Angle Correct Image (RACI) Finderscope, a 2” Dielectric Diagonal, 5mm and 25mm LET Eyepiece, a 1.25” Adapter, Mounting Rings, and a V-Style Dovetail.
If you’re looking for a telescope that produces stunning astrophotography results and evolves with your skills, the Sky-Watcher EvoStar 120 is definitely worth considering.
Celestron Inspire 100AZ
The Celestron Inspire 100AZ is a popular choice for those who want an easy setup and bold design for astrophotography.
The folding accessory tray allows for quick and easy setup while the fully integrated smartphone adapter built into the main telescope lens cap makes it a perfect choice for those who want to get started with astrophotography.✔
In addition, the asymmetrical mount design offers light weight and incredible stability, making it perfect for those who want to set up their telescope in different locations.
The erect image optics also allow for a fully correct image for easy viewing day or night, making it ideal for both terrestrial and astronomical viewing.✅
The Celestron Inspire 100AZ also comes with a red LED flashlight that is stowed in the center of the mount head.
This can be used to gently illuminate the accessory tray or can be removed for use as a spotlight when needed.✔
One of the standout features of the Celestron Inspire 100AZ is the focus micrometer which allows for a quick return to a specific focus point for specific targets such as bird nests or infinity focus.
All of these features make the Celestron Inspire 100AZ a top choice for those who want stunning astrophotography results without a complicated setup process.✅
StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ
Don’t miss out on the beauty of the night sky just because you’re inexperienced in stargazing and astrophotography.↩
The StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ telescope from Celestron makes it easy to start your stargazing journey without any prior telescope experience.
This telescope utilizes your smartphone and the StarSense Explorer app to provide guided tours of the night sky. Simply follow the arrows on your phone screen to locate stars, planets and more.↩
Thanks to patented StarSense sky recognition technology, the app analyzes star patterns and calculates the telescope’s position in real time. It then generates a list of the best objects to view based on your exact time and location.↩
The high-quality 130mm Newtonian reflector with a 5″ primary mirror is perfect for viewing craters on the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, and Pleiades Open Star Cluster.↩
With highly reflective coatings, this telescope gathers enough light to provide jaw-dropping astrophotography results.
This telescope is incredibly easy to set up and use with its manual altazimuth mount and smooth, dual axis slow motion controls.↩
Follow the on-screen arrows to your desired target, and when the bullseye turns green, it’s ready to view in the telescope’s eyepiece.↩
Overall, the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get started with stargazing and astrophotography.
Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope
The Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope is an iconic orange tube telescope that packs 5 inches of Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, making it a favorite among beginners and experienced observers.☑
With its updated technology and latest features, it delivers an amazing stargazing experience.
This 5 inch aperture Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope provides impressive views of the Moon, planets, and deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, while maintaining a compact form factor.☑
The NexStar SE’s fully-automated GoTo mount is pre-loaded with a database of 40,000 plus celestial objects, making it easier to locate and track objects for observation.
The NexStar SE is also compatible with StarSense and SkyPortal WiFi, adding to its versatility and ease of use.☑
Setting up the Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope takes just a few minutes, and it comes with built-in SkyAlign technology to help you align the telescope quickly. And when you’re done observing, it breaks down into small components for easy storage.☑
Overall, the Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope is a must-have for anyone looking to explore the wonders of the universe through astrophotography. Its impressive optics, automated features and ease of use make it a top contender for stunning astrophotography results.☑
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope
If you’re a beginner in the field of astrophotography and looking for a powerful telescope to capture jaw-dropping images, then the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian reflector is the ideal choice for you.⬇
This telescope comes with fully-coated glass optics, a full-height tripod, 2 eyepieces, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope. The Newtonian reflector optical design allows the telescope to gather enough light to see our Solar System and beyond.
You can view Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s Galilean moons, the Moon’s craters and much more with this telescope.⬇
The AstroMaster 130EQ is easy to set up and use, making it an excellent option for kids and adults to use together.
The telescope features a manual German Equatorial mount for smooth and accurate pointing, and no tools are required for its setup.⬇
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ comes with 2 eyepieces, a full height tripod, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope. You’ll also receive a FREE download of one of the top-rated astronomy software programs.⬇
In summary, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian reflector is a great entry-level telescope that is powerful, easy to set up and use, and comes with a range of accessories and unbeatable warranty and support. It’s an excellent investment for anyone who is serious about astrophotography.⬇
Unistellar eVscope eQuinox
Are you looking for a telescope that provides jaw-dropping results for your astrophotography endeavors? The Unistellar eVscope eQuinox should be on your radar. This digital telescope offers enhanced vision, making it 100x more powerful than regular telescopes.✔
It’s equipped with technology that allows you to observe even the faintest of objects with live accumulation of light received from them.
One of the standout features of the Unistellar eVscope eQuinox is its autonomous field detection system. This system instantly recognizes the objects in its field of view by comparing what it sees with a coordinates database of tens of millions of stars.
It’s the perfect feature for astrophotography enthusiasts who want to capture the most spectacular images of deep space.✔
But the Unistellar eVscope eQuinox isn’t just about astrophotography. It’s also designed for citizen science.
The Unistellar Network is the first global community of citizen astronomers, boasting a membership of over 5,000 individuals. You can conduct hands-on science and protect the planet against near-earth asteroids using the eQuinox.
And with a dedicated app, the Unistellar eVscope eQuinox is incredibly easy to use. With just the push of a button and a tap of the app, you can recommend the most spectacular targets and launch into deep-space observations in minutes.✔
If you’re looking for a telescope that can offer enhanced vision, autonomous field detection, and easy use, then the Unistellar eVscope eQuinox is definitely a top contender.
Explore Scientific ED80
If you are looking for a refractor telescope that can capture stunning astrophotography, the Explore Scientific ED80 is a fantastic option to consider.
This true apochromatic Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope boasts an 85mm diameter objective lens and a focal ratio of f/6. With a limiting magnitude of 12 and a resolution of 1.45 arcsec, you can be sure that you will get incredibly detailed images.
At 5.95 lb or 2.7 kg, this telescope is relatively lightweight, making it easy to transport to different locations for stargazing and astrophotography sessions.☑
It comes with a Plossl eyepiece lens and a hybrid 2in1 finder scope base for easy alignment.
Additionally, the Explore Scientific ED80 features multi coated lenses to ensure excellent image quality.
After purchasing this telescope, you can rest assured that you will receive exceptional support from Explore Scientific.
Overall, the Explore Scientific ED80 is a fantastic telescope for astrophotography enthusiasts who want to capture stunning images of the cosmos. With its impressive specifications and excellent support, this telescope is definitely worth considering.
CGEM DX 1400 HD Computerized Telescope
If you’re serious about astrophotography and have the budget for it, the CGEM DX 1400 HD Computerized Telescope by Celestron is a top-of-the-line option that delivers stunning results. The 14″ EdgeHD optics and StarBright XLT coatings ensure sharp and bright images of celestial objects.
The computerized equatorial mount allows for accurate tracking and alignment, and the included 9×50 finderscope helps locate objects quickly. The ultra-sturdy steel tripod with an accessory tray provides a stable base for the heavy telescope, weighing 160 pounds.↕
This telescope also comes with a Plossl eyepiece lens and reflex finderscope for added convenience. The manual focus feature allows for precise adjustments and the 23mm focal length ensures a wide field of view.
Overall, the CGEM DX 1400 HD is an exceptional choice for serious astrophotographers who want the best equipment for their craft. However, it may not be suitable for beginners or those on a tight budget.↕
Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST
The Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST is another impressive reflector telescope that you need to consider if you’re looking for a powerful telescope for your astrophotography needs.
This telescope is incredibly versatile for astrophotography, thanks to its fast f/5 focal ratio. It offers exceptional wide field performance for amazing sky gazing experiences, which makes it an ideal option for any family looking to explore the wonders of the universe together.⬇
One of the most impressive features of the SpaceProbe 130ST EQ is its compact optical tube design that makes it easy to transport and use.
With a fast f/5 focal ratio, this telescope provides excellent wide-field performance, making it very versatile for astrophotography. It’s a great option that the whole family can enjoy.⬇
Another great feature of the SpaceProbe 130ST EQ is its sturdy equatorial telescope mount and adjustable tripod. This allows for manual slow-motion tracking of celestial objects as they migrate across the night sky. You’ll be able to capture stunning images of objects in the sky with the help of this telescope.⬇
What’s more, the completely assembled telescope only weighs 28 lbs, making it easy to transport and set up wherever you go. It also comes with two 1.25″ Plossl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a smartphone camera adapter, DeepMap 600, MoonMap 260, collimation cap, and more!
Overall, the Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST is a great option for anyone looking for a powerful and versatile telescope for their astrophotography needs.⬇
Sky Watcher EvoGuide 50DX
The Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50DX is the perfect choice for those looking for a small, lightweight telescope for astrophotography.
This 50mm f/4.8 Apochromatic Doublet refractor is expertly matched with ED glass, delivering dramatic, coal black skies and contrast rich views.
With a focal length of 242mm, f/4.8, 1.25” helical focuser, finder stalk, and Vixen-style mounting plate, the EvoGuide 50 DX can be mounted anywhere.✔
In fact, this telescope includes two mounting adapters: a machined aluminum finder stalk compatible with all Sky-Watcher finder brackets, and a V-style mounting rail.
Additionally, the EvoGuide 50 DX comes with built-in T-threads. By using an optional adapter (not included), the EvoGuide 50 DX will turn into a fast, low focal-length astrograph, allowing for stunning images of deep-sky objects.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced astrophotographer, the Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50DX is an excellent choice for capturing stunning images of the universe.✔
Its expertly matched glass, convenient mounting options, and built-in T-threads make it a versatile and valuable addition to any astrophotographer’s gear.
FAQs
Which is better for astrophotography – a refractor or reflector telescope?
When it comes to astrophotography, refractor and reflector telescopes can both serve a purpose.✅
Refractors offer less chromatic aberration and are ideal for capturing planetary and lunar images. On the other hand reflectors are better suited for deep sky imaging thanks to their impressive aperture size.✅
What is the difference between a GoTo and a manual telescope mount?
With GoTo telescope mount, you can enjoy the luxury of motorized tracking and computerized controls for automatic finding and tracking of celestial objects. However, when using a manual telescope mount, you’re required to locate and track celestial objects manually.✔
Final Words
For those searching for a remarkable telescope that has the potential to capture breathtaking images of the universe, this list provides an excellent selection. They also include essential features that allow you to capture stunning Astro images while providing overall great value for your investment.