Gear guide

Your first astronomy gear

Start with binoculars, then pick a telescope you'll actually carry outside. Picks are based on specs, retailer info and owner reviews, not lab testing.

Start here

7x50 or 10x50 binoculars

Photo: 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars
Example of this type. Image: VSchagow. Feldstecher Dekarem 10 x 50.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Cheaper than a telescope, wide view, great for the Moon, bright star clusters and Milky Way star fields from either hemisphere.

  • BudgetEntry
  • WeightAbout 1 kg
Best first telescope

150 mm Dobsonian

Photo: 150 mm Dobsonian
Image: James Stewart 669. Dobsonian telescope.jpg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lots of aperture for the money, simple to use, no tricky mount setup.

  • TypeReflector
  • Good forPlanets and deep sky
Grab and go

Small refractor on alt-az mount

Photo: Small refractor on alt-az mount
Example of this type. Image: Kosebamse. SmallAltAzMount.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick to set up on the balcony, good for the Moon, planets and bright clusters.

  • TypeRefractor
  • Good forMoon and planets
Accessories

Red torch and planisphere

Illustration
Illustration of this type, not the actual product.

A red light keeps your night vision. A planisphere for your latitude teaches you the sky.

  • BudgetLow
  • TipMatch your latitude

Creator picks

Summarised from the creators' own video titles and descriptions. Follow the links for their full take.

Best first smart telescope

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro / S50 Pro

Photo: ZWO Seestar S30 Pro / S50 Pro
Seestar S50 shown. Image: El Mexicano. Seestar S50 smart telescope.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Both creators gave full reviews. AstroBackyard shows real backyard results on galaxies and nebulae and frames them for beginners.

  • PriceLow to mid
  • LevelBeginner

As covered by: AstroBackyard, Cuiv, The Lazy Geek, Nebula Photos

Fast deep-sky scope

Askar N160

Photo: Askar N160
Example of this type. Image: Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia. Newtonian Telescopes.jpg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

AstroBackyard calls it an incredibly fast astrograph that, with live stacking, feels like a super-powered smart telescope.

  • PriceMid
  • LevelIntermediate

As covered by: AstroBackyard

Cloudy-climate light bucket

Apertura CarbonStar 200

Photo: Apertura CarbonStar 200
Example of this type. Image: Rawastrodata. Orion 8" Newtonian on Celestron CGEM Mount.jpg, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

AstroBackyard: if clear nights are rare where you live, a big fast 8 inch makes sense.

  • PriceMid
  • LevelIntermediate

As covered by: AstroBackyard

Budget harmonic mount

MLAstro SAL-33

Illustration
Illustration of this type, not the actual product.

Cuiv reviewed it as a possible better AM5N at half the price.

  • PriceMid
  • LevelIntermediate

As covered by: Cuiv, The Lazy Geek

Budget cooled camera

Touptek AE676C

Illustration
Illustration of this type, not the actual product.

Cuiv's detailed first look at the cheapest cooled astro camera on the market.

  • PriceLow to mid
  • LevelBeginner to intermediate

As covered by: Cuiv, The Lazy Geek

First mono camera

QHY miniCAM8

Illustration
Illustration of this type, not the actual product.

Dylan O'Donnell recommends it to any beginner who wants to switch to mono.

  • PriceMid
  • LevelBeginner to intermediate

As covered by: Dylan O'Donnell

Light strain wave mount

Sky-Watcher 100i

Illustration
Illustration of this type, not the actual product.

Dylan O'Donnell's first strain wave mount, and he liked it: 10 kg payload at 4.3 kg.

  • PriceMid
  • LevelIntermediate

As covered by: Dylan O'Donnell

Where to buy

  • Amazon, through the local Amazon store in your country. Handy for binoculars, torches and books.
  • High Point Scientific, a large US telescope retailer.
  • Astroshop, a large European astronomy shop with stores for several countries.

Buy locally where you can, for warranty and real advice. A local specialist shop in your area is always worth a visit.