Telescopes are one of the most important pieces of equipment for amateur astronomers. They allow us to see objects in the sky that are otherwise too faint or too small to be seen with the naked eye. In this article, Besttechsmart will introduce some of the best telescopes under $300 that are available on the market today.
When choosing a telescope, there are a few factors that you need to consider. The first is the size of the telescope. This will determine the amount of detail that you will be able to see. The second is the type of telescope. There are three main types of telescopes – reflectors, refractors, and compound telescopes. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Finally, you need to decide on the aperture of the telescope. This is the diameter of the telescope’s main lens or mirror. The larger the aperture, the more light the telescope will collect, and the better the image will be.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best telescopes under $300 that are available on the market today.
1. AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian reflector telescope is a great choice for beginners. It has fullycoated glass optics, an adjustableheight tripod, and a bonus astronomy software package.
The Newtonian reflector optical design of the AstroMaster 130EQ allows it to gather a lot of light, making it great for viewing Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s Galilean moons, the Moon’s craters, and more.
Setup is quick and easy with no tools required. The included accessories are 2 eyepieces, a fullheight tripod, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope. You’ll also receive a FREE download of one of the top-rated astronomy software programs.
Purchasing from an Authorized Dealer on Amazon gives you a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.
- POWERFUL TELESCOPE FOR ASTRONOMY BEGINNERS: The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian reflector is ideal the telescope for beginners. It features fully-coated glass optics, a full-height tripod, 2 eyepieces, and a StarPointer red dot finderscope.
- NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR OPTICAL DESIGN: With a large, 130mm aperture, the AstroMaster 130EQ can gather enough light to see our Solar System and beyond. View Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s Galilean moons, the Moon's craters, and more.
- EASY TO SET UP AND USE: This is a great telescope for kids and adults to use together. It features a manual German Equatorial mount for smooth and accurate pointing. Setup is quick and easy, with no tools required.
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: We’ve included 2 eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), 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.
- UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in California since 1960. Purchasing from an Authorized Dealer on Amazon gives you a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.
2. 80×100 Monocular-Telescope High Powered
The 80×100 Monocular Telescope is a high powered monocular that is perfect for adults. With a 100 mm object diameter and an 80100 HD magnification, this telescope provides clear and bright images. It is also equipped with a quick positioning smartphone bracket and a tripod, making it compatible with various models of mobile phones. The built-in lowlightlevel night vision allows you to see things in low light, while the adjustable eye cup allows you to twist up and down easily and rapidly for optimal viewing.
- 【80×100 HD Magnification】80 times magnification, 100 mm object diameter monocular. Using optical technology, this monocular uses a fully coated lens to ensure excellent light transmittance and image brightness, so that your field of vision is brighter, the image is clearer and sharp, and there are no black stripes.
- 【Compact Monocular】Compact and light monocular brings you the distant scenery by adjusting the eye cup and focusing wheel. This single eyepiece is small and light. It can be used with one hand and is easy to carry out.
- 【Compatible With Any Smartphone】It is equipped with a quick positioning smartphone bracket and a tripod. It can be matched with various models of mobile phones. It is easy to install, remotely control the monocular, and provide high-definition images to share with friends.
- 【High Contrast and Resolution Images】The zoom telescope is equipped with BAK-4 prism and fully multi-coated lens, guaranteeing superior light transmission and brightness. The light transmission reaches up to 99.5% visibility. The built-in low-light-level night vision helps you see things in low light. An adjustable eye cup also allows you to twist up and down easily and rapidly for optimal viewing even while wearing glasses.
- 【Wide Applicability】This 80×100 monocular is suitable for adults and kids. It provides clear and bright images and vision, it is also suitable for hunting, mountaineering, hiking, animal observation, camping, tourism, concerts, ball games, viewing, driving, outdoor exploration and other activities. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery in the distance.
3. Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope
When it comes to telescopes, there are a few different designs that are popular among amateur astronomers. The refractor telescope is one option, as is the Newtonian telescope. However, there is another design that is growing in popularity, and that is the MaksutovCassegrain telescope. This telescope is much more powerful than it looks, thanks to its MaksutovCassegrain design.
High-precision, fully multicoated optical glass lens is used in the MaksutovCassegrain telescope. This helps to minimize spherical and chromatic aberrations. Not only does this deliver vivid, high-contrast images for daytime viewing, such as birds and wildlife, but it also enables astronomical exploration, including Saturn, Jupiter, and craters on the Moon, etc.
The ingenious design of the detachable lid reveals the internal construction of the telescope and helps you understand how it works. This can make the telescope an appealing educational kit for the young minds, but it is important to keep in mind not to touch the mirrors with your fingers and to avoid making it dusty.
The MaksutovCassegrain telescope is compact and portable, thanks to its unique design. With a long focal length of 750mm, the tube length is only 200mm. This makes it easy to pack and go on a adventure anytime.
The included high-quality 20mm eyepiece brings 375X magnification, providing high-power, sharp views on distant objects. You can see any targets more than 8 meters away. Accessories also include a phone adapter, a tabletop tripod, and an erect-image diagonal.
The Mak telescope that combines power and simplicity requires no tools and is super easy to set up. It is the perfect gift for kids or adults who are astronomy beginners. You will also receive one-year hassle-free warranty and 24-hour friendly customer service.
- 【Sharp Crystal-clear Views】This beginner telescope is much more powerful than it looks! Thanks to its Maksutov-Cassegrain design, high-precision fully multi-coated optical glass lens, both spherical and chromatic abberrations are minimized. It not only delivers vivid high-contrast images for daytime viewing such as birds and wildlife, but also enables astronomical exploration including Saturn, Jupiter, craters on the Moon, etc.
- 【See How It Works Inside】The ingenious design of the detachable lid reveals the internal construction of the telescope and helps you understand how it works. Make it an appealing educational kit for the young minds. But keep in mind not to touch the mirrors with your fingers and avoid making it dusty.
- 【Compact and Portable】Maksutov-Cassegrain mechanism makes this telescope much more compact than a equivalent refractor or Newtonian. With a long focal length of 750mm, the tube length is only 200mm. Easy to pack and go on a adventure anytime.
- 【Superior Eyepiece】The included high-quality 20mm eyepiece brings 37.5X magnification, providing high-power sharp views on distant objects. You can see any targets more than 8 meters away. Accessories also include a phone adapter, a tabletop tripod and an erect-image diagonal.
- 【Satisfaction】This Mak telescope that combines power and simplicity requires no-tool super easy setup. It's a perfect gift for kids or adults astronomy beginners. You will also receive one-year hassel-free warranty and 24-hour friendly customer service.
4. 70mm Aperture 500mm Telescopes
Telescope 70mm Aperture 500mm Telescopes for Adults Astronomy Kids Beginners Fully MultiCoated Travel Refractor Telescopes with Phone Adapter Wireless Control Astronomy Gift for Kids
The upgraded Honslis astronomical telescope has a 70MM largediameter objective with a focal length of 500MM which can capture 2 million lightyears of extraneous nebulae with a larger and clearer imaging range than other ordinary telescopes. The larger the aperture the more light can be collected and the farther and fainter stars can be seen.
Using MultiLayer High Transmittance Coating
The lens group of our astronomical refractor telescope for kids 812 adopts multilayer high transmittance coating high light transmission and low image loss so that the observed objects are clear day and night. Comes with 2 interchangeable eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens 3x Balot lens triples the magnification of each eyepiece up to a maximum magnification of 150x.
Hardened Aluminum Alloy Tripod
The telescopes for adults astronomy have been improved on the basis of the previous ordinary tripod and lens barrel. It is extended from 20 inches to 48 inches which is more stable not easy to shake higher in height larger adjustable range suitable for different heights.
With Wireless Camera Remote
The telescope for kids kit includes a smartphone adapter and a wireless camera remote control to observe and record stars through the phone screen. You can take some wonderful photos to share with your friends multifunctional head multidirectional 360degree rotation adjustment more accurate star chasing.
Best Gift Choice
The portable telescope is a great Christmas or birthday gift for kids or beginner astronomers. It helps them build interest in astronomy and science explore the unknown enjoy nature and stay away from video games. If you encounter any problems please contact us and you will be covered by a lifetime aftersales guarantee moneyback guarantee and worldclass customer service.
- 【Upgraded 70mm Large-Aperture Objective】The upgraded Honslis astronomical telescope has a 70MM large-diameter objective with a focal length of 500MM, which can capture 2 million light-years of extraneous nebulae, with a larger and clearer imaging range than other ordinary telescopes. The larger the aperture, the more light can be collected, and the farther and fainter stars can be seen
- 【Using Multi-Layer High Transmittance Coating】The lens group of our astronomical refractor telescope for kids 8-12 adopts multi-layer high transmittance coating, high light transmission, and low image loss so that the observed objects are clear day and night. Comes with 2 interchangeable eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens. 3x Balot lens triples the magnification of each eyepiece up to a maximum magnification of 150x
- 【Hardened Aluminum Alloy Tripod】The telescopes for adults astronomy have been improved on the basis of the previous ordinary tripod and lens barrel. It is extended from 20 inches to 48 inches, which is more stable, not easy to shake, higher in height, larger adjustable range, suitable for different heights
- 【With Wireless Camera Remote】The telescope for kids kit includes a smartphone adapter and a wireless camera remote control to observe and record stars through the phone screen. You can take some wonderful photos to share with your friends, multi-functional head, multi-directional 360-degree rotation adjustment, more accurate star chasing
- 【Best Gift Choice】The portable telescope is a great Christmas or birthday gift for kids or beginner astronomers. It helps them build interest in astronomy and science, explore the unknown, enjoy nature and stay away from video games. If you encounter any problems, please contact us and you will be covered by a lifetime after-sales guarantee, money-back guarantee, and world-class customer service
FAQs
There are a lot of telescopes on the market, and it can be tough to figure out which one is the best for you. If you’re looking for a telescope under 300, here are five of the most frequently asked questions about them.
1. What are the benefits of a telescope under $300?
Telescopes under $300 offer a number of benefits, including:
-Affordable prices
-Great quality for the price
-Variety of options
-Easy to use
If you’re looking for an affordable telescope that still offers great quality, a telescope under 300 is a great option. There are a variety of options available, and they are all easy to use.
2. What are the different types of telescopes under 300?
There are a number of different types of telescopes under 300, including:
-Refractors
-Reflectors
-Catadioptrics
Each type of telescope has its own benefits and drawbacks. It’s important to choose the type of telescope that best meets your needs.
3. What are the most important features to look for in a telescope under 300?
When choosing a telescope under 300, there are a few important features to look for:
-The aperture size
-The focal length
-The mount
The aperture size is important because it determines the amount of light the telescope can collect. The focal length is important because it determines the magnification of the telescope. The mount is important because it determines how stable the telescope will be.
4. What are the most common mistakes people make when choosing a telescope?
The most common mistakes people make when choosing a telescope are:
-Choosing the wrong type of telescope
-Choosing a telescope that is too large or too small
-Not considering the aperture size
-Not considering the focal length
It is important to choose the right type of telescope and to consider the aperture size and focal length. If you choose a telescope that is too large or too small, you will not be able to get the most out of it.
5. What are the best telescopes under 300?
There are a number of great telescopes under 300, including:
-The Orion SpaceProbe 3
-The Celestron Astromaster 130EQ
-The Meade ETX-60AT
Each of these telescopes has its own benefits and drawbacks. It is important to choose the telescope that best meets your needs.
