Best Reflector Telescopes

Excellent Starter

An excellent beginner's reflector telescope capable of resolving Saturn's rings or Jupiter's cloud bands.

Features a 114 mm fully-coated primary mirror and 1000 mm focal length. Two 1.25-inch eyepieces of 20 and 10 mm each provide 50x to 100x magnification. Manual equatorial mount comes with slow adjustment knobs to keep up with the earth's rotation. Lightweight at 17 pounds.

StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope

Some have issues with the included viewfinder. May be too lightweight for good balance.

Best Bang for the Buck

Orion

Portable Convenience

This telescope offers a super convenient size and design.

The objective lens has a 114-millimeter diameter. Comes with 2 Plössl eyepieces and an equatorial mount so you can follow objects in the sky. An aluminum and silicon dioxide coating keeps the lens safe. Can be easily set up anywhere. Comes with MoonMap 260.

SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope

Requires batteries.

Orion

Best for Experts

Dedicated stargazers will appreciate the crystal-clear views from this sturdy, portable, top-quality design.

Especially precise. Easy to adjust and track objects. Relatively lightweight. Simple to assemble. Durable mount. Wide field of view. Bright yet detail-rich views. Includes 2 eyepieces.

SkyScanner TableTop Reflector Telescope

Novice star watchers may be intimidated by this professional-grade model.

Orion

Bargain Pick

This tabletop reflector is an affordable and compact choice.

Solid entry-level reflector telescope. The 100-millimeter parabolic primary mirror is good for wide-angle gazing. Works well in cities. Tabletop design is quick to set up anywhere and easy to store. Comes with 2 eyepieces, a star-finder, and a link to the popular Starry Night software.

AstroMaster 130EQ-MD Newtonian Telescope

Requires batteries. Mostly for beginners.

Celestron

Motorized Mount

A wider mirror and a battery-powered motor mount are welcome touches to this reflector telescope.

Boasts a 130 mm fully-coated mirror and 650 mm focal length. Includes a battery-powered motor to keep up with the earth's rotation during viewing. Two 1.25-inch eyepieces of 20 and 10 mm each provide 33x to 65x magnification. Comes with rugged pre-assembled tripod.