10 Best telescopes under $300

It is the core of human nature, the need to explore everything, especially the cosmos. If you are new to the world of astronomy and are not sure if the interest is a fleeting hobby, then you might need to weigh your options before buying a telescope also, if you are an avid astronomer with a tight budget. Then this is just the post for you, here we have discussed the best telescopes under $300. We review some most economical, affordable and the best types of equipment for star-gazing. The telescopes are practicable and allow the equatorial mount to be established form the ground position. These range from being for amateurs and professionals. Choose your pick wisely. Note: As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualifying purchases.

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1. Celestron Astro (Best telescope under $300) 

This telescope allows for a wide, 130mm aperture in order to let the brightness be at maximum extent. An equatorial mount allows the earth’s rotation to be compensated for. The short focal length allows for objects to be clear and be in central view. It also offers easy use and control movement. Skills wise the telescope is the best fit for intermediate and beginners. However, it can be fit for experienced astronomers as well. It weighs 26.5 pounds so the portability can be a bit of an issue. Two slow-motion control knobs allow making precision adjustments quickly. There are no tools required for setup; it is quick and easy. A telescope under $300 that is perfect for gazing the celestial objects.

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2. Orion 8944 Sky Quest Classic Dobsonian Telescope

It is highly affordable and easy to use. Equipped with a 150mm reflector allowing for a clearer view. The Dobsonian from Orion is a well-fit for beginners. The mount is not only easy but also intuitive to use. It allows for simple navigation with no pre-requisite of polar alignment. In order to have a good view, it also accommodates a 6″ diameter f/8 parabolic mirror. The light grasp allows easy viewing of nebulas and clusters. The base is stable, allowing for distortion-free imagery when viewed with high power lens. It can easily fit in the backseat of a car. The Dobsonian has fully assembled already. It does weigh a little with 34.4 lbs, but still, portable and will accommodate. It is ranked as second-best on our list of the “best telescopes under $300.

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3. Orion 9024 Astro View 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope

It is a highly powerful refractor telescope in a very affordable price range. There is a wide aperture of 90mm (3.5″) for a clearer view. The 910mm focal length allows for a crisp view of deep-sky objects, the moon and planets. It is equipped with an EQ-2 adjustable tripod for stability. However, it is not the ideal candidate for travelling purposes. The equatorial mount allows for easy tracking of the stars with the adjustable axis feature. The Sirius Plossl 1.25″ eyepieces (25mm and 10mm) makes room for magnification. Additionally a smooth-adjusting 1.25″ rack & pinion focuser along with 90-degree mirror diagonal makes the nighttime performance of this telescope exceptional. The orion is one of the best telescopes under $300.

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4. Meade Instruments – Portable Telescope under $300

Equipped with a wide aperture 102mm (4″) allowing for ample amount of light to penetrate through. The focal length is 600mm allowing for a more explicit focus on objects. The slow-motion controls and Altazimuth mount with panhandle allows for precision tracking. Various options for magnification are available, which include a low (26mm), medium (9mm), and high (6.3mm) value. The 2x Barlow lens doubles the magnifying power of each eyepiece. The red dot viewfinder allows accurate pointing of the telescope in the direction of the celestial object. The telescope is not very stable. It produces super sharp images, though and is quite affordable. Also, it has eased for setup and use. The meade instrument is certainly one of the top on in our “best telescopes under $300” list.

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5. Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Tabletop Reflector Telescope

The aperture is 4.5 inches wide and equipped with a fast f/4 focal ratio; this allows the view of celestial objects like moon and planets to be clearer. It is already pre-assembled so no wasting time. It is made up of glass material that is low thermal expansion credited to the borosilicate. The altazimuth motion is smoothly credited to the stable tabletop base allowing for manual tracking of objects. It is an ideal fit for kids up to 13 years of age. Equipped with two Explorer II 1.25 inch Kellner telescope eyepieces (17mm and 6mm) making magnification easier and more feasible. The magnification, however, is not very explicit. It is lightweight and portable.

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6.Celestron – AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope – Refractor Telescope

The telescope is exceptionally powerful and user-friendly. The glass optics are fully coated with 70mm objective lens. The image optics are erect, allowing observation of celestial objects during night time and wildlife, landscapes during day-time. The Celestron is sturdy and light-weight. The precise pointing of the telescope in the direction of celestial objects is credited to the panning handle equipped with Alt-Az control. The setup is extremely easy and quick, with no tools being acquired. The balancing can be a bit difficult, but the tripod is a great help.

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7. Gskyer – Telescope under $300

It is perfect for kids with a love of exploration. The fully coated optical glass protects their eyes. The aperture is wide with 70mm size, allowing a vast amount of light to penetrate through. Additionally, the 400mm(f/5.7) focal length allows vivid imagery of celestial objects. The telescope is equipped with two replaceable eyepieces. The3x Barlow lens amplifies the magnification of eyepieces. Gsyker telescope may require a little balancing. The precision of object location is made more feasible with features like 5×24 finder scope with mounting bracket. A wireless camera remote is complimentary, which allows taking images of the celestial wildlife. The setup is simple and easy.

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8. Celestron Power Seeker 127EQ Telescope

It is an easy-to-use, powerful telescope for beginners. The equatorial mount allows easy navigation of the sky. The slow-motion altitude rod allowed for smooth and accurate pointing in the direction of celestial objects. It is compact and lightweight, allowing for feasible portableness. The optical coating is done with aluminum to add esthetics and aid vision. The two eyepieces (20mm and 4mm) allow for extensive magnification and a clearer view. A 3x Barlow lens allows ample magnification, but it is not needed since the maximum magnification is 300X. It makes the images blurry. The collimation is a bit difficult for this telescope. It is quite light on the pocket.

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9. Orion 10014 Sky Quest- telescope under $300

For the purpose of traveling, this telescope is lightweight and portable. It is compact in size so that the fitting is not an issue. The view of nebulas and galaxies is made more vivid with the 4.5″ aperture and 900mm focal length. The Dobsonian base is quite sturdy and supportive. The reflector optical tube is efficiently maneuvered with the handy navigation knob the Orion is equipped with. The Resolving power of 1.02arc*sec provides the best resolution of images. The refractor telescope is at level 60mm allowing for more visibility in the night sky. It may be a bit hard to set up, but it is available at very affordable rates.

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10. Celestron – 114LCM Computerized Newtonian Telescope 

The telescope is quite advanced, with the probability of it locating up to 4,000 celestial objects with the GoTo mount and hand control feature. The sky tour feature allows you to view all the celestial objects currently available to be seen in the night sky. The adjustable aluminum tripod provides support for the telescope. The two high-quality eyepieces (25mm & 9mm) allow for better and clearer vision. The Star Pointer red dot finder scope allows marking accurately in the direction of the celestial object easier. The color distortion in this telescope is minimal. The lenses are quite large, so the imagery is perfect. The battery, however, drains very quickly. This telescope is available at an affordable range and is one of the best telescopes under $300.

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Why buy these best telescopes under $300?

The world of astronomy has always been captivating for humans. If the nebulas, stars, and galaxies call out to you, and you have a hard time deciding, then these telescopes will help you through. Not only are these the best in what they do, but these are also some of the least expensive in the market today. S, whether you’re an amateur or a professional star-gazer, these telescopes are the best choice to make today.

Conclusion

In order to find the best telescope for yourself, put your focus on what you truly need. First, you’ll have to determine what celestial object you are most interested in having a look at. From the aforementioned list, all you need to do is pick the telescope that best fits your need. The point to speculate is whether you want these telescopes for just photography and whether or not a computerized system is manageable for you. These telescopes provide the best, clear vision with exceptional magnifying abilities. All of these are best telescopes under $300.  Choose your accessory today, and enjoy a stellar night. Happy stargazing!

 

Topic: Best telescopes under $300