I love astronomy, so I’m going to share a list of some of the best travel telescopes. However, if you have experience using a telescope, you know that you have to get out of your light pollution city to see the dark objects. Additionally, the national parks have some of the darkest skies in the US so they are great to also bring a telescope. Below I’ll share some different options depending on what you are hoping to see.
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*Last updated 12/9/2023
Best Travel Telescopes
I own the Celestron Starsense DX 130 AZ, which is a 5″ Newtonian and I really enjoy this telescope. However, while not perfect, I do think that the StarSense line of telescopes offer a good introduction to astronomy. I also own the 10″ Apertura AD10 (which is the same as the Zhumell Z10) and while it is not small or light, there is no substitute for a larger aperture telescope at a dark sight away from light pollution.
Best Travel Telescopes (push-to for Beginners)
1. Celestron StarSense DX 102 AZ
Type: Refractor
Pros: Light weight and doesn’t require collimation. Can be used as a spotting scope during the day.
Cons: Lower aperture than others on this list for deep space objects. Chromatic aberration. Mount can be shaky at high magnification.
Price: $399
Weight: 14.2 lbs (6.44 kg)
2. Celestron StarSense DX 130 AZ
Type: Newtonian Reflector
Pros: Decent starting aperture with a relatively light weight.
Cons: Pushing the weight on the tripod/mount. Mount can be shaky at high magnification.
Price: $399
Weight: 18.0 lbs (8.16 kg)
3. Celestron StarSense 130mm Tabletop Dob
Type: Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Stable. Packs up relatively small.
Cons: Need a table or something to set on. About $200 more to get StarSense vs Other Brands.
Price: $439
Weight: 19.2 lbs = 11.0 lb base + 8.2 lb optical tube
4. Celestron StarSense 150mm Tabletop Dob
Type: Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Stable. Medium aperture range.
Cons: Need a table or something to set on.
Price: $549
Weight: 25.0 lbs = 16.0 lb base + 9.0 lb optical tube
5. Celestron StarSense DX5 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain Catadioptric
Pros: Lightweight.
Cons: Narrow field of view with a Schmidt-Cassegrain style telescope.
Price: $599
Weight: 14.6 lbs (6.62 kg)
6. Celestron StarSense 8 in Dobsonian
Type: Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Stable. An 8″ is the most recommended telescope for beginners due to aperture to weight ratio.
Cons: Still quite a bit heavier than the lighter tripod mounts.
Price: $799
Weight: 43.4 lbs (10.34 kg) = 22.8 lb base + 20.6 optical tube
7. Celestron StarSense 10 in Dobsonian
Type: Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Largest aperture on this list = most light gathering for faint deep sky objects.
Cons: Largest and heaviest telescope on the list.
Price: $1099
Weight: 54.8 lbs (24.86 kg) = 25.6 lb base + 29.2 lb optical tube
Best Travel Telescopes (for go-to / guided)
1. Celestron NexStar 4SE
Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain Catadioptric
Pros: Relatively inexpensive, lightweight, go-to guiding.
Cons: Lower aperture than others on this list for deep space objects.
Price: $579
Weight: 23.0 lbs (10.4 kg)
2. Celestron NexStar 5SE
Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain Catadioptric
Pros: Lightweight, go-to guiding.
Cons: Lower aperture than others on this list for deep space objects.
Price: $799
Weight: 23.0 lbs (10.4 kg)
3. Celestron NexStar 6SE
Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain Catadioptric
Pros: Relatively lightweight. Good price to value ratio.
Cons: Narrow field of view with a Schmidt-Cassegrain style telescope.
Price: $899
Weight: 28.0 lbs (12.7 kg)
4. Celestron NexStar 8SE
Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain Catadioptric
Pros: Relatively lightweight. Moderate aperture = good light gathering for deep sky objects.
Cons: Expensive. Narrow field of view with a Schmidt-Cassegrain style telescope.
Price: $1289
Weight: 32.0 lbs (14.5 kg)
Best Travel Telescopes (For small size)
1. Sky Watcher Heritage 130mm
Type: Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Affordable. Collapses to pack fairly small. Stable. Decent aperture for small size.
Cons: Must set it on some sort of base.
Price: $235
Weight: 20.0 lbs = 13.5 lb base + 6.5 optical tube
2. Zhumell Z130 Tabletop Dobsonian
Type: Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Affordable. Packs fairly small. Stable. Decent aperture for small size.
Cons: Must set it on some sort of base.
Price: $349
Weight: 21.0 lbs (9.53 kg)
Best Travel Telescopes (on a budget)
1. Sky Watcher Heritage 130mm
Type: Tabletop Dobsonian Reflector
Pros: Affordable. Packs fairly small. Stable. Decent aperture for small size.
Cons: Must set it on some sort of base.
Price: $235
Weight: 20.0 lbs = 13.5 lb base + 6.5 optical tube
Best telescopes to Avoid (do not buy)
1. Celestron Astromaster 114EQ
Type: Bird-Jones Newtonian
Pros: Inexpensive.
Cons: Bird-Jones telescope designs are widely recognized for their poor optics. Add in the Equatorial mount, which can be confusing for beginners and you will realize why they refer to these telescopes as “hobby killers”.
Price: $320
Weight: 13.3 lbs
2. Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
Type: Bird-Jones Newtonian
Pros: Inexpensive.
Cons: Bird-Jones telescope designs are widely recognized for their poor optics. Add in the Equatorial mount, which can be confusing for beginners and you will realize why they refer to these telescopes as “hobby killers”.
Price: $220
Weight: 13.0 lbs
3. Celestron Starsense LT 114AZ
Type: Bird-Jones Newtonian
Pros: Inexpensive.
Cons: Bird-Jones telescope designs are widely recognized for their poor optics.
Price: $240
Weight: 10.4 lbs
4. Celestron Starsense LT 127AZ
Type: Bird-Jones Newtonian
Pros: Inexpensive.
Cons: Bird-Jones telescope designs are widely recognized for their poor optics.
Price: $300
Weight: 11.4 lbs