Whether kids desire to become astronauts or not, knowing about stars, planets, and all about space objects is always fascinating and joyful to them. The telescope is a must to know and study space and planets more closely.
If you have kids and they want to start star-gazing, you are in the right place. In this article, you will know about the best telescope for kids, including their in-depth reviews and buyer guide.
In addition, we make our list regarding the features and accessibility of the product. It will help you make your decision to buy your telescope.
If you are in a hurry, you can first look at our short review section to choose a quality telescope. So let’s jump into detail.
Quick Summary On Top 10 Best Telescopes For Kids:
| Brand name | Short description |
| Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ | The five-inch mirror with 127mm aperture helps to enjoy sky sights properly. Its high quality, powerful eyepieces, fantastic design, and features make it a good choice for teenagers. |
| Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity 102mm AZ Refractor Telescope | Different ranges of eyepieces, Altazimuth Mount, 2x Barlow lens, and multiple accessories are great enough to choose it. |
| Educational Insights 5351 Nancy Moonscape | It comes with decent quality and is designed for 8-11 years old kids with all necessary features. |
| Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope | It is compact, portable, smart, easy to use, and lightweight. That means it has all the unique features and will be a great choice and combo package to explore the sky. |
| Celestron 80mm Travel Scope | Its built material, glass-coated optics, and easy accessibility are always great additions to make the telescope more comfortable for kids. |
| Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Telescope | It is designed and built for early kids to enhance their interest in science and technology. So you can choose it by considering it as the best telescope for 5 year old. |
| Orion Starblast 10015 Astro Reflector | Its pre-assembled mount, user-friendly features, and lightweight design make it more usable for kids. |
| Orion StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope | The slow motion control knobs, adjustable tripod, and double lens eyepieces are great to view the planet with ease. |
| Celestron Kids 50TT Telescope | Its excellent quality, smooth functioning, and easy to handle features are the top reasons to choose it. |
| TwinStar AstroMark 50mm 75x Power Refractor Telescope | It is great to choose and use for its decent quality, affordable price, and satisfying performance. |
Top 10 Best Telescopes for Kids
The following are simple to use, dependable, three cost-effective, and versatile telescopes perfect for introducing a young child to the marvels of the nighttime skies.
1. Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ – Best For Overall
When it’s about a compact telescope for school-going kids and teenagers interested in astronomy, Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ will be a good choice for its affordable price. This Newtonian Reflector Telescope’s features and premium design attract both kids and adults.
It comes with a 5″ Barlow lens with a 127mm aperture. You’ll get a better night vision of the sky with its 1000mm focal length. The manual equatorial mount provides hassle-free use of the telescope for professional research on astronomy and space activity.
However, a teenager can easily adjust the rob by tightening the knob. On-top notch, the easy accessibility, and lightweight are very convenient to carry and use for the kids.
Even the kids can do deep research on space on a computer with its Starry Night Astronomy Software Package. This is excellent support for teenagers who have just started exploring this sector.
This software works as a space education system for kids. Besides, its two years of warranty service makes you believe the product. So around $200, the Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is the best telescope for teenagers and beginners.
What Do We Like About It?
This fantastic featured telescope is a masterpiece for school-going kids on an affordable budget. It is also easy to move anywhere.
What Don’t We Like?
It is not a telescope under 5 years old because its design and features are more premium and advanced than a kid’s telescope.
2. Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity 102mm AZ Refractor Telescope – Best For Value
In a better price range, another better option that comes from Meade is the Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity. It is a Refractor type Telescope, and this model has 4 inches of 2x Barlow lens with 102mm aperture. We include it on our list because of its value for money. Its Altazimuth Mount helps the beginner to adjust and use it comfortably.
However, its design is not for very early childhood to play. For kids and adults who want to learn about space, planets, and so on, it provides more by their STEM activities. Its lightweight and easy accessibility are other vital factors to help kids and teenagers carry and use it everywhere. And its software basis study is highly appreciable.
It comes with astronomical software that includes studying more on the computer. Besides it also comes with one year of warranty service. So there is no reason to ignore this discovery kids telescope to begin the astronomy journey.
What Do We Like About It?
The main thing we like about this telescope is the three eyepieces for three particular ranges of view. And its Red Dot Viewfinder helps a lot in pointing to the objects, which is very helpful for kids.
What Don’t We Like?
It is not in-box ready to play telescope. First, you have to help your kid to adjust and set it. Although it is too easy for a school-going child, it seems complex for an early child. Otherwise, for a kid, it is good to start.
3. Educational Insights 5351– Best For Budget
We choose the Educational Insights merchandise to anticipate fascinating and fun learning. Because kids love to learn and play. Even imagination and ingenuity are essential to sharpen up their brain and thinking capacity. The child can create unique, lively learning experiences with this telescope that inspire them to learn.
As young as 8 years old, your child can now appreciate star-gazing and the moon together with the Science Club Moonscope of the Educational Insights 5351 Nancy B. With this particular award-winning toy, your child can see planets, stars, and the moon. For lessons as well as pleasure activities, your child has his own Twenty-page Sky-Gazer’s Journal.
Lead him to practice drawing his observations, writing down, and monitoring the moon, stars, and heavenly bodies. This educational merchandise is ideal for helping kids learn to manipulate the telescope by themselves and track their particular work through journaling.
The product is best for beginner astronomers 8-11 years old who’ll find this product user-friendly. Children between 3 to 8 years old may likewise use the product under the supervision of an adult.
Support your kids by providing more ways to learn about the world around them to create a love for science and beyond. This early interest in science paves the way to excel at science in school and continue learning after that. You might be nurturing a budding scientist!
What Do We Like About It?
It is super lightweight, and easy to use. Its 20mm and 4mm and all-glass eyepieces with 90x and 18x magnifications help to clearly view the galaxy.
What Don’t We Like About It?
It is not good for kids under 3 years old and from 3-8 years old kids need adult supervision to use.
4. Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope – Best For Computerized
Are you looking for a more advanced and computerized telescope for your child to study more details about space science? If yes, then Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope is a good option for you.
This model from Celestron is more digitized and modern in the reflector telescopes list. It provides many things to learn and explore in space science for kids and teenagers. It is a computerized SLT (Start Locating Telescope) with 2 inches of the eyepiece of 130mm aperture. It also offers you a database of 40000 stars, galaxies, nebulae, and so on.
It comes with many premium features like Solar Power systems, 8AA batteries, and a download key for Celestron Astronomical Software. This telescope’s computerized star locating system will provide absolute accuracy to pinpoint any objects in space correctly.
What Do We Like About It?
Its lightweight and portable design and easy using system make it a masterpiece as a premium telescope from Celestron.
What Don’t We Like?
Although it provides so many things, it is a little bit pricey. Otherwise, this model is great to start.
5. Celestron 80mm Travel Scope – Best For Accessibility
The Celestron 80mm Travel Telescope is a good fit for those kids who love traveling, camping, hiking, as well as star-gazing. You can gift it to your kids as a travel telescope for both a schooling instrument and as camping gear. Your school-going child or teenager can effortlessly use it for easy accessibility.
However, the kid can easily carry it with the tripod and other accessories anywhere in the included scope backpack. This travel scope comes with an 80mm aperture with two eyepieces, among other features. For that, your kid can enjoy the celestial objects more clearly at night and the terrestrial things in the daytime.
In addition, you will have the backpack, tripod, smartphone adapter, and the Celestron astronomical software key. So the teenagers and kids who love traveling and hiking love it more than any other gift.
What do We like About It?
This telescope is an excellent deal at a very affordable price under $150. Whether for school presentations or camping outside, for its easy accessibility, this travel scope is excellent. Besides, all its features are promising and price-worthy.
What Don’t We Like?
Its design is not eye-catching enough to attack the kids. Otherwise, it is suitable for outside movement and camping.
6. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Telescope – Best For Early Kid
Are you looking for a children’s toy telescope? If yes, Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Telescope will be the best choice for your kid.
Of course, a kid under five years old can’t play with the heavy and so featuring scopes. They are even such kids who can learn from fun facts and activities. And this Geosafari Jr talking telescope will make learning about space and astronomy fun and educational.
Unlike other premium telescopes, this toy telescope has 24 NASA space images inbuilt. It features the voice learning technology of Emily Calandrelli to make it more funny and enjoyable. The central perspective of this toy telescope is to prepare your child for schooling.
What Do We Like About It?
It provides a kid’s learning program for parents with image and voice. Before touching the books and school, a kid can learn about space and astronomical objects at home with this telescope. So children can play with it themselves. In addition, it will increase the interest in space science of your child.
What Don’t We Like?
This model is a telescope for a 5 years old kid. In this kid telescope, you can’t access direct visuals of space. So this is a limited-time toy for a kid.
7. Orion Starblast 10015 Astro Reflector – Best For Beginners
Our next choice is the Orion Starblast 10015 Astro Reflector Telescope for your school-going child. It comes with basic beginner features and is specially designed for school-going children aged under 13.
Your kid can enjoy a better visualization of the nighttime sky with the 114 mm aperture and 450 mm focal length. However, it also includes two 1.25 inch Kellner eyepieces, which are also good at this price point.
Plus, this Astro Reflector is lightweight, and its pre-assembled mount makes it more easily accessible for a child. Other mentionable accessories are two eyepieces, Starry Night Astronomy Software, which makes it more efficient for a child. So if you consider your child’s educational purpose, this telescope will be a good and affordable deal for you.
What Do We Like About It?
This telescope is an excellent optical instrument for study purposes. The children can interact outside with it and learn about the sky, its stars, and the galaxy.
What Don’t We Like?
This is not for your child if they wish to use it for professional use or deep research. But for fun and entertainment, it’s good to go.
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8. Orion StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope – Best For Teenagers
If you are a teenager or your child is a teenager, find interest in space research and study astronomy. Orion StarBlast || 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope will be a good choice. It is a functional feature model for teenagers and beginners but not for an early kid telescope.
It is one of the best Reflectors with Equatorial mount in the optical instruments market. Its lens of 114mm aperture with 25mm and 10mm Sirius Plossl eyepieces provides a better view of the moon, planets, and other objects.
Its design and easy operation are also a plus to grab your attention. As teenagers demand a basic telescope with good functionality and affordable prices, the Orion StarBlast II here makes a good deal for you.
What Do We Like About It?
The aperture is decent, the lens is good, the setup is easy enough, and the price is affordable. So overall, this is good.
What Don’t We Like?
This telescope is not for an early kid because its equatorial mount requires quite an adjustment to use it. However, for teenagers, this is good to start. The better visual experience will push your child to use it again.
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9. Best For Entry-Level Kids: Celestron Kids 50TT Telescope
The Celestron Kids 50TT Telescope includes a durable storage and transportation case. therefore, it is the ideal option for the brave family of stargazers who would like to head into the area for an astronomy expedition package along for a holiday
Sky telescope and the Celestron Land is an ideal entry-level telescope that’s perfect for landscape photography during the day or star gazing in the nighttime skies. This device is very portable and simple to transport around.
Your kids can enjoy fantastic fun with all the family when they have it. Great price point with excellent quality. So you can choose it for your kids to see your kids smiling face and enhance their curiosity about the galaxy.
What Do We Like About It?
You’ll love its nice focusing system to correctly viewing the planet. You can trust it and choose for your 8+ years kid to explore the sky.
What Don’t We Like About It?
It doesn’t have any backpack to carry the entire telescope when traveling. So you have to manage a heavy-duty backpack if you want to carry it. Otherwise, no more drawbacks.
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10. TwinStar AstroMark 50mm 75x Power Refractor Telescope
You are buying an excellent scope for starting star-gazing, and in case your son or daughter is interested in astronomy, you may need to have a look at the TwinStar AstroMark 50mm 75x Power Refractor Telescope.
It comes with both a 30x and a full-sized tripod and 48x magnification. Twin Star calls this their “greatest value” scope, mentioning its 50-millimeter objective lens and 600 millimeters focal length. City and birdwatching gazing are other activities children can appreciate with this particular scope.
The TwinStar AstroMark 50mm Power Refractor telescope is an excellent option for recreational adults or young astronomers. Although its price tag is not astronomical, it is a vital instrument that will show many puzzles of the nighttime skies.
What Do We Like About It?
First of all, you’ll like its objective lenses and powerful eyepieces and aperture for close-up view of the planets. It is only 4.29 pounds, so easy to handle and carry.
What Don’t We Like About It?
Barlow lenses should be more durable and the company should take care of it.
Best Kids Telescope – What To Look For
Whether you buy online or offline, you always have to consider some factors before buying the best telescope for kids. In this regard, you may also explore the market to find the best one. But there is a probability for sellers to become biased regarding their products.
So here, we recommend some features that you should keep in mind before you buy your best telescope.
Factor 1 – Types of Telescope
Kids Telescope: Children’s toy telescopes, star projectors, space binoculars, etc. these scopes are for those kids who are at the early age of around 5-6.
Beginner Telescope: Refractor, Reflector, Achromatic, Apochromatic, Superachromat, Galileoscope, Keplerian, Newtonian Reflector, Cassegrain Reflector, Catadioptric, Infrared Telescopes. These telescopes are for school-going children, teenagers, and beginners, who are about to step into space science learning.
Scientific Telescope: Ultraviolet, Liquid Mirror, Three-Mirror Anastigmat, X-Ray, Lensless Schmidt Telescopes. These telescopes are for professionals who do deep research on astronomy.
Factor 2 – Aperture Size
Another essential factor for the telescope is the aperture size. The diameter of the lens or mirror of the telescope is called the aperture size. Here’s the aperture size formula
Large Aperture = Better Resolution
So, before buying your telescope, you must ensure it has a large aperture.
Factor 3 – Price
Whatever you buy, price is always a fundamental factor. Having a good deal in a better price segment is the buyer’s need. However, the product doesn’t need to be as premium or exclusive for kids. The fact is, it depends on you and the features that you want in the product. Obviously, you don’t need a $1000 telescope for a kid. So if the feature you want fits any, get that one.
Factor 4 – Mount
The telescope mount is another factor for your kid in the learning stage. It helps a lot to watch the space object through the scope without any disturbance.
We suggest the Altazimuth mount between the Equatorial and Altazimuth mount for entry-level. However, Equatorial mount is a better option for a teenager who wants to study more about space science.
Factor 5 – Design
When you buy a telescope for a kid, its design is the main thing that attracts a kid to play with it. However, functionality is more important for a teenager and student than outlook. Hence, a premium design is always appreciated to choose.
Factor 6 – Portability
Try to find a lightweight and portable telescope for your child. A heavy-weight telescope is hardly accessible for kids, teenagers, and beginners who lose their interest in using it over time. But it is easy for teenagers, school-going kids, and beginners to carry it anywhere easily.
Factor 7 – Easy Assembly
Kids need to assemble the telescope themselves quickly. They need to know how to assemble it and how to use it. If its assembly becomes tough, your child will lose interest in it soon.
Factor 8 – Essential Accessories
Some telescopes offer a variety of accessories, which could be essential regarding your use. A backpack, if anyone provided, will be a good choice for you to carry in hiking and camping. Again if any DVD or software is provided, it is also an excellent accessory for teenagers and beginners.
Factor 9 – Warranty Service
Warranty service plays a vital role, especially when purchasing kids’ items. So check the warranty service before you buy a telescope for a child.
FAQs
What is the best telescope for a 10 year old?
There are three basic types of telescopes. They are Refractors, Reflectors, and Schmidt-Cassegrains. Now it depends on for which purpose you need this.
If the portability and digitization of the scope is the main factor for you, then the Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope will be good.
Again if you are interested in faint diffuse objects like galaxies and nebulae, then a Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ will be your best choice.
On the other hand, if you find interest in planets, then the Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity 102mm AZ Refractor Telescope or a long focal length refractor will be best for you.
What are the refractor telescope accessories?
An assortment of eyepieces is mandatory. Another essential accessory is an adjustable viewfinder, which should have an aperture of at least 30mm. The viewfinder should also be adaptable to align with the main telescope precisely. Other accessories, like a mounting tripod and battery, are also essential.
How much should you spend buying a telescope?
Spending money on buying a telescope depends on your interest and needs—different telescopes at separate pricing from $100 to $1000 or more.
If your kid is now learning to talk at home, a toy telescope under $50 is good enough to start learning. But, again, for a school-going child, there you need to invest some money to buy a telescope around $200-$500. And if you want to study astronomy and space objects more closely, you may invest as much as you want.
Conclusion
A basic telescope for kids or teenagers is good enough to start the exploration of space. So before you directly interact with the seller, you need to know which telescope for whom?
And in this article, best telescope for kids, we cover those scopes which provide all those facilities for kids and teenagers in the running year.
Conclusion
We worked hard to discover the very best telescopes for kids, and we trust you find one which works for the young astronomer in your lifetime.
I’m Ali. BestTelescopeReview.com is my little place on the web to express what I’ve learned first-hand, specially about the telescope part. I am writing these articles to share my love for astronomy with you.
