Telescopes
Best Telescopes of 2026: Top Visual, Smart, Astrophotography, and Solar Picks
A category-by-category guide to the standout telescopes of 2026, from beginner tabletop Dobsonians to fast astrographs and a dedicated solar scope.
Independent reviews
Product Reviews and Buying Guides – 38 / 944
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Telescopes
Best Telescopes by Category: From Smart Scopes to Classic Dobsonians
A category-by-category guide to six telescopes that genuinely serve beginners and growing amateur astronomers, from interactive push-to scopes to a fully manual light bucket.
Telescopes
Best Telescopes for Kids: 3 Beginner Picks That Actually Work
Three beginner telescopes that pass five practical requirements for young stargazers, plus family stargazing tips that make the hobby stick.
Astrophotography
Best Wide-Angle f/1.4 Lenses for Milky Way Photography: Seven Lenses Compared
Seven bright wide-angle primes tested under the same night sky, including Sigma's redesigned mirrorless DG DN Art lenses and their DSLR-era rivals.
Astronomy Equipment
Blue Fireball Tri-Pier Review: Stable Pier Height for Larger Imaging Rigs
A portable aluminum pier with 39 inches of height and a 220 lb capacity, built to give go-to mounts the clearance and stability that standard tripods lack.
Astrophotography
A Budget Deep-Sky Astrophotography Kit That Delivers: 5 Pieces Worth a Look
Five affordable pieces of gear that together form a complete deep-sky astrophotography rig capable of impressive nebula images from a light-polluted backyard.
Astrophotography
A Budget Deep Sky Astrophotography Rig: 7 Pieces of Gear That Work Together
A capable backyard deep sky setup built around affordable, proven gear, from the mount and telescope to the camera, guiding, and filters.
Astrophotography
Budget Astrophotography Telescopes: Refractor vs Reflector at Around $300
A budget-focused comparison of two deep sky astrophotography telescopes, plus the coma correctors and upgrade options that make a real difference.
Astrophotography
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L vs Askar ACL 200 f/4: Which 200mm Lens Is Better for Astrophotography?
Two 200mm lenses for deep sky imaging compared on star quality, chromatic aberration, build, and accessories, with clear buying advice for both astronomers and daytime shooters.
Telescopes
Celestron 80mm FirstScope: A Vintage Japanese Refractor That Still Delivers
An early 1980s Celestron 80mm refractor, made in Japan, with sharp optics and a rock-solid focuser decades later.
Telescope Mounts
Celestron Advanced VX Review: A Practical First Step Into Astrophotography Mounts
A 30-pound payload, familiar NexStar-style hand control, and free computer control software make the Advanced VX an approachable upgrade for visual astronomers moving into imaging.
Telescopes
Celestron AstroMaster 114 EQ Review: A Friendly First Telescope for the Night Sky
A capable beginner Newtonian with high magnification and corrected-image eyepieces, with a few trade-offs worth knowing before you buy.
Telescopes
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ vs Inspire 100AZ: Which Beginner Telescope Makes More Sense?
A closer look at two entry-level Celestron refractors, including how a smaller aperture can sometimes outperform a bigger one on the planets.
Telescopes
Celestron C-62 Cometron Review: A Charming 1980s Moon Scope
A compact Vixen-made Japanese refractor from the Halley's Comet era, with sharp lunar views and a surprisingly clever folding design.
Astronomy Accessories
Celestron Dew Controller and 8-inch Dew Heater Ring Review: Smarter Dew Control for Schmidt-Cassegrains
A close look at Celestron's dew controller and 8-inch dew heater ring, covering setup, hand controller and software control, and where this system makes the most sense.
Telescopes
Celestron FirstScope Review: A $50 Beginner Telescope That Rewards Tweaking
The Celestron FirstScope is a small 3-inch Dobsonian with real flaws, but with a few cheap accessories and some collimation work it can deliver surprisingly sharp views of the Moon.
Telescopes
Celestron NexStar 102 SLT Review: A Go-To Refractor Worth a Look
A 102mm computerized refractor with a friendly hand controller, upgradeable focuser, and views that punch above its portability.
Telescopes
Celestron NexStar 130 SLT vs StarSense Explorer 130DX: Which 130mm Reflector Should You Buy?
Two five-inch Newtonian reflectors with very different mounts. We compare the go-to NexStar 130 SLT with the phone-assisted StarSense Explorer 130DX.
Telescopes
Celestron NexStar 8SE Review: A Go-To Schmidt Cassegrain Built for Planetary Viewing
An 8-inch go-to Schmidt Cassegrain with a 2032mm focal length, optical coatings, and a no-fuss design that makes it a strong pick for viewing the planets.
Telescopes
Celestron Omni AZ 102 Review: A Rare Budget Refractor Worth Hunting For
A 102mm refractor on a smooth altazimuth mount with slow motion controls, sold at a budget price. Here is what it does well and what to check before buying.
Smart Telescopes
Celestron Origin Mark II Review: A Smart Telescope With Serious Imaging Muscle
The Origin Mark II pairs a fast 6-inch RASA optical tube with full automation, making deep space imaging far more approachable without giving up control.
Telescopes
Celestron Origin Review: A Smart Home Observatory That Gets Astrophotography Right
Celestron's Origin pairs a fast 6-inch RASA optical tube with an accessible smart app, AI image stacking, and a user-serviceable camera.
Telescopes
Celestron PowerSeeker 60 Review: A Budget Telescope With Real Limits
We put Celestron's entry-level 60mm refractor through a full beginner telescope test, from lunar viewing to a hunt for Uranus, and found clear trade-offs at this price.
Telescopes
Celestron StarSense Explorer 130DX Review: A Beginner Telescope That Actually Delivers
A straightforward setup, a genuinely useful smartphone app, and a 30-minute session that found 19 deep sky objects make the 130DX a strong pick for new stargazers.
Telescopes
Celestron StarSense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian Review: Big Aperture, Easy Finds
Celestron's 8-inch StarSense Explorer Dobsonian pairs serious light gathering with a push-to smartphone app that makes finding deep sky objects genuinely simple.
Telescopes
Celestron StarSense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian Review: A Beginner-Friendly Telescope With Smart Guidance
An 8-inch Dobsonian with a clever smartphone-based plate solving system that makes finding night sky objects far easier for beginners.
Telescopes
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX5 SCT Review: A Compact Telescope That Finds Targets for You
A Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a smartphone-guided alignment system, easy setup, and the flexibility to grow from planetary viewing to imaging.
Astronomy Accessories
Cosmic Shards Messier Deep Sky Objects Card Set: A Handy Field Reference for Stargazers
A 110-card boxed set covering the full Messier catalog, color-coded by season and packed with practical observing info for beginners and seasoned amateur astronomers alike.
Astronomy
Daystar Quark Chromosphere vs Solar Spectrum 0.3 Angstrom: Solid Etalon H-Alpha Filters Compared
Two solid mica hydrogen alpha etalons for solar viewing: an affordable grab-and-go entry and a precision instrument. Here is how they differ and who each one suits.
Astrophotography
Deep Sky Astrophotography Gear Guide: The Equipment Worth Starting With
From a manual Dobsonian to strain wave mounts and narrowband filters, a practical look at the gear that makes deep sky imaging click.